Item Description
In some ways it is strange that I am reviewing this brush now. After all it was the first brush that I bought. I thought it was expensive at $14 but I was willing to pay that high price for a “professional boar hair brush.” I was pretty happy with the brush too, until I got a badger brush and thought “I’m never going back.” With that said, I now find myself going back on occasion and finding it superior to my premium brushes for certain situations.
Construction: designed for professional barbers, this brush is more about function than form. It has a sturdy, easy to grasp black plastic handle and a very tall knot.
The knot: The longer than usual boar hairs provide better than average water retention. In addition the overall stiffness of the knot is reduced. Like most boar hair brushes, if you press it dry into your face it is prickly. However, when wet and soapy it is not prickly, just a bit stiff. I’m not saying that it is as luxurious as a badger brush, but it works just fine. In addition, I have yet to see a stray hair from this brush in the shaving bowl.
Smell: It did have a bit of an odor on purchase.
Benefits: I love my badger brushes but their higher quality soft hairs are less useful when used on hard or inexpensive soaps. This brush is great in those situations. I tried it this morning on a Williams’s puck and the soap burst into heaps of lather (shocking, I know). Tomorrow I’m going to try it with a puck of Tabac.
Conclusion: I firmly feel that there is a place in the shaving world for the humble boar. This brush can be had for less than $15 and (IMHO) deserves a place in your shaving brush arsenal. Now, I’m not getting rid of my fancy badger brushes any time soon, but I’m also not going to get rid of this little marvel either.
Construction: designed for professional barbers, this brush is more about function than form. It has a sturdy, easy to grasp black plastic handle and a very tall knot.
The knot: The longer than usual boar hairs provide better than average water retention. In addition the overall stiffness of the knot is reduced. Like most boar hair brushes, if you press it dry into your face it is prickly. However, when wet and soapy it is not prickly, just a bit stiff. I’m not saying that it is as luxurious as a badger brush, but it works just fine. In addition, I have yet to see a stray hair from this brush in the shaving bowl.
Smell: It did have a bit of an odor on purchase.
Benefits: I love my badger brushes but their higher quality soft hairs are less useful when used on hard or inexpensive soaps. This brush is great in those situations. I tried it this morning on a Williams’s puck and the soap burst into heaps of lather (shocking, I know). Tomorrow I’m going to try it with a puck of Tabac.
Conclusion: I firmly feel that there is a place in the shaving world for the humble boar. This brush can be had for less than $15 and (IMHO) deserves a place in your shaving brush arsenal. Now, I’m not getting rid of my fancy badger brushes any time soon, but I’m also not going to get rid of this little marvel either.
