Thread: Il famoso penello

So I finally purchased a real brush, an Omega pro 49, il famoso penello.




Since I took this photo, it got washed with shampoo and spent a few days soaking in cold water. I used it twice so far, and this is an upgrade over my Wilkinson brush - which will now be my travel brush.

nice acquisition!!!!!! and it is FAMOSO!!!

A have two of the big Omega Boars. Fun brushes as you learn how to load and lather with it!
Good choice.

I've never used a boar brush, but some guys really like them. Please let us know how it performs for you.

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

I've never used a boar brush, but some guys really like them. Please let us know how it performs for you.

They are definitely what you put into them. Dry brush, wet the tips a bit at a time.
The ratio is everything. I only face-lather, so keep that in mind...
Keeping the shafts stiff (not soaking!) seems key to getting that nice light pressure lathering.
Let the brush stand-up!
I have been able to lather most anything with them so far!

Certain disappointment will come as tossing any brush in hot water. JMHO

Originally Posted by sharptonn

They are definitely what you put into them. Dry brush, wet the tips a bit at a time.
The ratio is everything. I only face-lather, so keep that in mind...
Keeping the shafts stiff (not soaking!) seems key to getting that nice light pressure lathering.
Let the brush stand-up!
I have been able to lather most anything with them so far!

Certain disappointment will come as tossing any brush in hot water. JMHO

I was already letting my brush stand up - because I didn't invest in one of those stands to have it dry reverse.

As for the rest, I'm intrigued... That goes against the advice I saw everywhere... which was 'soak a few minutes in hot water, let it drip until it stops, shake once'

Once a boar brush is broken in and the tip of the bristles split after about 2 weeks of continuous use it will feel like a different brush.


I shave with cold water and just swirl the brush in cold water shake a little and start loading the brush adding a little water as I go till I have a pasty lather on the brush. Then go to face and build the lather there adding a bit of water till I get the lather to where I like it for shaving.


Me, I don't soak any brush be it boar, badger or synthetic, especially synthetics.

For me, a well broke in boar brush is very satisfying to use since I used one for decades. If you took away my badger and synthetic brushes I would not be too heart broken.

Bob

I got my first boar brush earlier this year. I was curious because of BobH and others liking them so much.

I have never looked back. It was stiff and scratchy to start with (compared to what I was used to), but it handled the hard soaps so well I stuck with it. In about 8 to 10 days it just got better and better. Now I hardly ever use my badgers at all.

Congrats on your purchase, I am sure you will love it.

+1 on the above comments.
I recently got an Omega boar as a present and it keeps getting better.
I also only get the first inch wet and leave the stiffness in the dryer lower area.
Great for the harder soaps.
Congratulations. I’m sure you’ll like it.

I used these brushes for years, then tried lots of others, both Badger and Boar, Muhle, Thater, Semogue. All were fine, but I'm back to the Omega, it does everything I need.

Previous ones I had, all ended up with the handle splitting, I had always assumed that the bristles swelled when they got wet and caused this. however, the latest one that I bought around three years ago does not seem to manifest this trait, maybe I just got lucky with this one.