A good Boar Brush?

[Wemshie]

Hello!

I started my wetshaving journey about a year ago and bought the cheapest boar brush (Men-U) I could find to start off. I (deep breath) became quickly addicted to buying shaving... stuff... and so within a month I bought a £50 Edwin Jagger Super Badger. Within a week, the boar was put in drawer somewhere, never to be found again.

I love the badger brush and it's broken in to perfection, but thus far I have only really used creams. I want to get into soaps (mainly because I it gives me more things to buy, collect and hoard!!) but the one soap I have doesn't really like the badger.

I understand that boar brushes are stiffer and more 'scruffy' and I imagine would be much better for soaps than badger.

My question is, which boar would you recommend? Money isn't really an object (no platinum covered, diamond encrusted brushes though please.)

All recommendations considered! And then probably bought anyway...

Thanks guys

 

[damooshki]

First off, boars take much longer to break in and undergo a far more significant change from new to broken in than a badger brush. The tips of the individual boar hairs will split into two or three ends per hair after 2-6 weeks of regular use depending on the brush, making the tips incredibly soft when soaked for 2-3 minutes prior to a shave.

Semogue makes outstanding boar brushes. the 830 breaks in very nicely and becomes quite soft and almost floppy. Conversely the Owners Club is quite dense for a boar and retains much more backbone and stifness but still breaks in with soft tips though it takes about twice as long.

Omega also makes fine boar brushes. I only have the "pro 49" which is a massive brush. It is quite "floppy" and incredibly soft when broken in. It rivals my Best and Silvertip badgers for softness when fully broken in. I've had this brush for about 8 or 9 months and I use it and the 830 far more than any other brushes.

A properly broken in boar really is a thing of beauty. At least in my opinion.

 

[BWagner]

I'm a big fan of Semogue boar brushes and have/use the SOC, 1305, 1460 and 620. Waiting on a 1250 as we speak. I use all of these brushes regularly except the 620 which I'm not sure will stay in my rotation. Would highly recommend Semogue brushes.

Although I've never used one I read a lot of positive comments about Omega boar brushes here on B&B. Will probably end up with one (or more? ) of these sometime if the future when SBAD kicks in again. Good luck!

 

[Red Horn]

Semogue 620.

 

[beginish]

I'm a big fan of Semogue boar brushes and have/use the SOC, 1305, 1460 and 620. Waiting on a 1250 as we speak. I use all of these brushes regularly except the 620 which I'm not sure will stay in my rotation. Would highly recommend Semogue brushes.

Although I've never used one I read a lot of positive comments about Omega boar brushes here on B&B. Will probably end up with one (or more? ) of these sometime if the future when SBAD kicks in again. Good luck!

+1 on the 1305. What a great brush.

 

[talibeard]

Apart from Omega and Semogue there are also Vulfix and Mühle (HJM) with outstanding boars.

 

[Sledgehammer39]

Another vote for Omega

 

[edwinguz]

I have an Omega 31064 wich is pretty much broken in after a few lathers. It is a bit floppy but surprisingly soft. Not what I expected for a boar. I have a Semogue 1438 which is more in lines with what I expected. It is not fully broken in yet, but it's getting there after about 12 lathers. It is lathering better now and starting to soften up. It's getting better.

Another brush you may consider is the Vulfix Grosvenor boar/badger mix from Bulgoose. It's mostly boar and it's my first brush with any boar. At first, I didn't like it because it did not produce lather any where near as well as my pure badger. It's pretty much broken in after about 20+ lathers and it's become one of my favorite brushes. It has a great combination of stiff bristles with soft tips. I really like this one because unlike my Omega boar, this one is not floppy at all and I don't believe it will ever get floppy.

 

[Drubbing]

A good badger should be able to whip up excellent lather from soap though. Could be your soap technique isn't working, you need to really load up a damp brush on the soap, none of this 3-4 swirls nonsense shown on some videos - and different soaps may need different amount of water to load up well, and them make into good lather.

I have 4 semogues, but my silver tip will make just as good lather as any of them. Boars aren't going to cost anything as much as a badger. $30 is about the most expensive.

I've no experience with Omegas, but can suggest either the 1305 or 830. Very similar brushes - the 830 has a more durable handle.
THe 620 is a soap machine, but may find is prickly compared to a badger.
A 1460/70 are good little brushes that break in very easily IMO.
SOC only if you're sure you like big brushes.

 

[Charles Darwin]

My Semogue Owner's Club is loving my puck of Tabac, and it's not even fully broken in yet.

 

[Wemshie]

Hmm... It could be an expensive month. Obviously I can't favour any one of you, so I better buy a few of them... Thanks guys!

 

[beginish]

Unlike buying multiple badgers, it won't break the bank!

 

[talibeard]

Hmm... It could be an expensive month. Obviously I can't favour any one of you, so I better buy a few of them... Thanks guys!

That is the spirit!

 

[Marco]

I'm a big fan of Semogue boar brushes and have/use the SOC, 1305, 1460 and 620. Waiting on a 1250 as we speak. I use all of these brushes regularly except the 620 which I'm not sure will stay in my rotation. Would highly recommend Semogue brushes.

Although I've never used one I read a lot of positive comments about Omega boar brushes here on B&B. Will probably end up with one (or more? ) of these sometime if the future when SBAD kicks in again. Good luck!

+1 Semogue boar brushes are truly excellent and my all-time favourite among boars. I currently have and use the SOC, the 1800 and the 1250. All amazing!

 

[oversaturn]

Another fan of Semogue boar brushes. I have, use and highly recommend the 1305, 830 and 1438 boars.

 

[altshaver]

I really enjoy the Semogue Owners Club brush. I have a Semogue Custom 2010 Boar on its way (hopefully) as well. I am interested in the Semogue 1305 and the Omega 48. The Koh-I-Noor #SC68 Boar also looks nice.

Does anyone have any experience with the Omega 48 and Koh-I-Noor SC68 boar brushes?

 

[Moai]

Buy a used boar brush off a dead guy on e-bay. Or just go to Walgreens and spend 9 bucks on a Van Der Hagen brush. They're great, last forever and are cheap, mainly because the handle is not fancy.
I still like the dead guy idea though.

 

[damooshki]

Buy a used boar brush off a dead guy on e-bay. Or just go to Walgreens and spend 9 bucks on a Van Der Hagen brush. They're great, last forever and are cheap, mainly because the handle is not fancy.
I still like the dead guy idea though.

I've never had any luck with the Van Der Hagen brushes. They shed at least 10 hairs per shave. I'd rather not spend my shave getting angry and picking boar hairs off my face.

 

[Moai]

That's true. They do shed a lot. I forgot about that.

 

[RazorbackFan]

The only boar I own is the Omega 49. It's the only one because my search for a good boar brush ended as soon as I bought it and broke it in. I should confess that the only other brush I own is the Shea Moisture Target special (badger), but I've been hooked on this boar since the day it came in the mail and haven't pursued any other brushes since. The ultimate test? It makes sweet music with MWF and any other hard soap. Sounds like Semogue has made quite a name for itself also.