I have been breaking in a couple of new Semogues, the SOC and the 610. Both great, so far. I love the handles and the different lofts, each for its own reasons. But I notice both of them start to lose the lather in between passes. By the second pass, it's like the lather just dissipated. Is this because they're not yet fully broken in? Will they hold more lather the more I use them?
A question about boar brushes breaking in.
- Thread starter Monsieur Blaireau
- Start date
Never really paid it much attention. Maybe you aren't loading them well enough?
They will perform better as they break in. The first few shaves with a new boar are usually the worst. After that you should begin to see noticeable improvement. Once they finally break in full (in a few weeks to a couple of months) they will be fantastic.
The SOC is a lather beast. If you can't make copious amounts of lather with it you're doing something wrong. Be sure you're loading the brush long enough.
The SOC is a lather beast. If you can't make copious amounts of lather with it you're doing something wrong. Be sure you're loading the brush long enough.
Before my 610 broke in, I also noticed thin, watery lather by the second pass and needed to hit the puck a second time to get a multipass shave. Once broken in, I get plenty of quality lather.
Mike
Mike
+1 Be patient and go back to the puck for more soap for now. You could load longer than usual, also.
On my boars i tend to load twice as long when they are not broken inn, more product really helps.
+1 on loading longer. Don't give up on those little piggies!
The only boar brush I have is the B&B essential brush and this baby needed no breaking in to provide superior lather. It must be the badger logo on the brush! 
This. The first couple of lathers with a new boar you really can't have too much product. This will improve in 5-10 shaves (which is still a long way from completely broken in) so don't judge your boars just yet!
Same problem (new boar brush) 
This might help, from Marco. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...ith-Italian-soft-soaps?highlight=marco+method
Use MORE product.
Load it and when you think you have enough load it again, then again, and finally load some more.
Oh did I say.... USE MORE PRODUCT!!!
Load it and when you think you have enough load it again, then again, and finally load some more.
Oh did I say.... USE MORE PRODUCT!!!
- Thread starter
- #13
So I'm getting the idea - tell me if I'm missing anything here - that I need to use more product. Got it.
Actually, my experience tracks pretty well with what Mike said - I get great lather, it just doesn't last. Wanted to know if that would improve with break in, which it sounds like it will. Til then, it sounds like I should use more product, and, failing that, use more product.
Thanks for the great input, gents!
Actually, my experience tracks pretty well with what Mike said - I get great lather, it just doesn't last. Wanted to know if that would improve with break in, which it sounds like it will. Til then, it sounds like I should use more product, and, failing that, use more product.
Thanks for the great input, gents!
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You may want to use your boar every other day (or every 3 days), allowing for it to fully dry out between use until it has split its ends.
I find that doing this will help the brush break in faster and better than using it every day and keeping it damp.
I find that doing this will help the brush break in faster and better than using it every day and keeping it damp.
