Thread: Newest horse in the stable

Being still very inexperienced wet shaving, each time I get something new it is my instant favorite and the best of all time.

This just in from Shavetools. The Premium feels like badger with great backbone. Probably similar to those $200plus dollar Silvertip brushes but in horse hair.


Hair mix: 50% mane hair; 50% tail hair
Overall Length-108mm
Handle Length-48mm
Loft-60mm
Knot-23mm

It sure is a handsome brush. Have you saddled her up and gone for a ride yet?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It sure is a handsome brush. Have you saddled her up and gone for a ride yet?

Yes I just loaded Valobra and the soap is great the brush is what I had hoped. It is nearly as soft at the badger brushes I have tried but it
has more backbone. It lacks the wet mop feel. Smells like horse backside when new. I am learning to love my Semogue OC as it breaks in.

I'm glad somebody else with a horse hair brush said something about the stank. When I started using mine it was intense, it faded very quickly though with use. I think they are very soft, I've grown pretty fond of mine. Good purchase!

Mine smelled like moth balls. It is the best brush, of the whopping two in my collection, that I have. I like it better than the badger that I have. I went for the cheaper Vie-Long. Yours looks even nicer.

Originally Posted by dlmarmon

Mine smelled like moth balls. It is the best brush, of the whopping two in my collection, that I have. I like it better than the badger that I have. I went for the cheaper Vie-Long. Yours looks even nicer.

I have the smaller one as well. It is stiffer but it is softening with use. The horse hair seems to be slightly more scritchy when new than bristle or badger.

Originally Posted by jaswarb

I have the smaller one as well. It is stiffer but it is softening with use. The horse hair seems to be slightly more scritchy when new than bristle or badger.

SCRITCHY..?....?..............................

I got my Vie-Long 50/50 in the mail today. Mine had a funky smell to it also. I washed it a couple times and then soaked it in hot water. I used it this evening and was very well pleased. Not only did it feel good it but it also looks good.

They aren't as fragrant as boar, but there is a little stink to them the first couple of uses. A good rinsing and a couple of test lathers (especially if you use Arko!) pretty much fixes it, though, in my experience.

These Vie Long brushes (horse hair) love VDH. Van Der Hagen always whips up to a nice creamy lather but the horse hair bristle seems to get extra air and the lather is voluminous like it was shot out of a can.