I am curious to try a shaving brush made of horse hair someday. Is this hair type suitable for face lathering? Is there an efficient model adapted to this technique? I guess the best brand for such an experience is Vie-Long. I am all opened to your astute recommendations, gentlemen.
Best horse brush for face lathering
- Thread starter Folace
- Start date
Most of the horsehair brushes are 35% mane and 65% tail. And that's the only ratio in the brushes I've used.
They're scritchy, though they do soften up over time.
I have a special edition "JL Petree" Vie Long. It has a Simpsons-Rover type handle which I love. Plenty of backbone for face-lathering, but, as I said, some scritch (which I find a bit annoying on the face, myself). I don't know if a 50%-tail, 50%-mane knot would be better in re "scritch". I think it should be, given that mane hair is softer, but it only takes the occasional "prickly" hair to annoy.
All that said, my brush has softened a bit over time, and I do like it. I just don't like it as much as I wish I did -- I prefer badger and synthetics. I've almost bought a 50-50 horsehair knot to compare a few times, but... I really don't need another brush.
They're scritchy, though they do soften up over time.
I have a special edition "JL Petree" Vie Long. It has a Simpsons-Rover type handle which I love. Plenty of backbone for face-lathering, but, as I said, some scritch (which I find a bit annoying on the face, myself). I don't know if a 50%-tail, 50%-mane knot would be better in re "scritch". I think it should be, given that mane hair is softer, but it only takes the occasional "prickly" hair to annoy.
All that said, my brush has softened a bit over time, and I do like it. I just don't like it as much as I wish I did -- I prefer badger and synthetics. I've almost bought a 50-50 horsehair knot to compare a few times, but... I really don't need another brush.
There isn't any particular model that is really better than the others for face-lathering. Most of the Vie-Long ones will work very well.
Good luck.
Good luck.
+1. I have the 13052, which, I think, is 50/50 mane to tail. It started very scritchy but has really softened up. It does well with soaps or creams, bowl or face lather, and is one fine little brush. I highly recommend the Vie-Long.
They do have an aroma that can only be described as smelling like a stable. It goes away after a half dozen shaves. I wouldn't let that discourage you from trying one but you should be aware of that quality.
I have a Vie-Long 12705B which is has white hair, 50/50 mane/tail. Is is very flat and I would regard it as a great brush for face lathering - just a tiny bit of scritch...
I have a Vie-Long brush coming, that Juan at Gifts & Care is special ordering for me. It's a 13066B which has a 50/50 unbleached white horse hair knot, but instead of having a bulb shape, I've ordered it with a fan shaped knot with the loft set at 48mm. From what I understand, white horse hair is softer and has less scritch than brown horse hair. I wish I already had it so that I could report on it's performance, but with that being said, I have high expectations for it to be an excellent face latherer.
Looking forward to your review.
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I get good face lather with the Vie-Long 50-50 19mm Barber Pro "Extra" brush,although it takes a little longer,and the technique is more involved.For quick,efficient lathering try a 50-50 horse knot at either 23 or 24mm,these horse hair knots don't come fully packed (dense) like silvertips,the hair is different.If you get a shorter loft you will get more exfoliation,if that's what you are looking for,but the face feel will not be as soft.
I just tried my Vie-Long 12750 (35M/65T) for the first time today. I used it for a bowl lather but I think it would be ideally suited for a face lather and I will try that next time. Not that much scritch but enough backbone.
- Thread starter
- #10
By experience, I do not like that much a long big tuft on my face (when face lathering, with bowl lathering it is OK). This is why I am currently interested in shorter lofts, though I do not own any really short loft/big knot brush therefore I am not even sure it will work well for me. The horse hair is more of a curiosity, since I never tried it but I am willing to. And exfoliation property is fine with me.
- Thread starter
- #11
I received my Vie-Long 13066B horse brush!
Sorry in advance for the bad pictures: I have a low end camera and the sky is cloudy today, I did not manage to get a decently bright room. I included the infamous Turkish #6 purchased earlier this month as a comparison.
From left to right:
Vie-Long 13066B
Brown-mahogany ergonomic handle with a fan-shaped head
Natural white horse bristle
Hair mix: 50% mane 50% tail
Knot: 24 mm
Loft: 48 mm
Turkish #6
Wooden handle with a fan-shaped head
Claimed horse hair, presumed boar hair (honestly I cannot tell, I own no boar brush)
Knot: 25 mm
Loft: 50 mm
Both are pre-bloom.
The overall finish on Turkish #6 is so cheesy: both hair and handle provide a rough touch, the cut on the knot head is irregular (not evident in the picture because of the camera angle). On the other hand, whereas Turkish #6 seems to be made haphazardly, the Vie-Long 13066B craftsmanship is just perfect: the handle is handsome (its shape has a kind of B&B Essential Boar vibe) and the hair is much softer than its Oriental counterpart. The quality does not compare here, but fundamentally you get what you pay (27.75 vs. $2.65).
As you can figure out, Vie-Long 13066B (left) has got a much denser knot than Turkish #6 (right).
For my next shaves, I will use them in turns to go deeper in the comparison.
Sorry in advance for the bad pictures: I have a low end camera and the sky is cloudy today, I did not manage to get a decently bright room. I included the infamous Turkish #6 purchased earlier this month as a comparison.
From left to right:
Vie-Long 13066B
Brown-mahogany ergonomic handle with a fan-shaped head
Natural white horse bristle
Hair mix: 50% mane 50% tail
Knot: 24 mm
Loft: 48 mm
Turkish #6
Wooden handle with a fan-shaped head
Claimed horse hair, presumed boar hair (honestly I cannot tell, I own no boar brush)
Knot: 25 mm
Loft: 50 mm
Both are pre-bloom.
The overall finish on Turkish #6 is so cheesy: both hair and handle provide a rough touch, the cut on the knot head is irregular (not evident in the picture because of the camera angle). On the other hand, whereas Turkish #6 seems to be made haphazardly, the Vie-Long 13066B craftsmanship is just perfect: the handle is handsome (its shape has a kind of B&B Essential Boar vibe) and the hair is much softer than its Oriental counterpart. The quality does not compare here, but fundamentally you get what you pay (27.75 vs. $2.65).
As you can figure out, Vie-Long 13066B (left) has got a much denser knot than Turkish #6 (right).
For my next shaves, I will use them in turns to go deeper in the comparison.
The Vie-Long with the natural white 50/50 knot is the only horse brush that has stayed in my rotation. I have the 13061B from Giftsandcare.com with custom loft.
I had my loft set at 50 mm and this brings the loft to a very nice backbone. The tips are soft, very soft, almost on par with a synthetic. As a matter of fact I use the brush like a synthetic, only tips are at play. The brush holds water much more than a synth though.
I had my loft set at 50 mm and this brings the loft to a very nice backbone. The tips are soft, very soft, almost on par with a synthetic. As a matter of fact I use the brush like a synthetic, only tips are at play. The brush holds water much more than a synth though.
- Thread starter
- #13
I did the same loft customization but asked for 48 mm instead of 50! My knot is also a 24 mm.
Boar, ι think you presume right !
Soon i will test it and i have a dozen of Boars,let's then see the similarities.
This is not from the camera,it's the true !
Plus some of them have poor craftsmanship handle and over-flue glue problems.
Common with many turkish BOAR brushes,enjoy it is good for face lathering but can not reach the standards of other BOAR brushes as Omega,Semogue,TGN.
- Thread starter
- #15
With a better camera angle, the irregular knot cut of Turkish #6 is more obvious. I really do not care, I am not expecting much of it!
I have the 13066B with the 24mm 48mm measurements. I only face lather, and it's an excellent brush. Kudos to Folace and ScIrish - you guys are in for some nice shaves.
I have a Vie-Long 13061b, which is a 50:50 mane/tail mix with a particularly beautiful handle. I've only ever used it for face lathering, and it's terrific. That being said, I think any of the horse brushes will be great face latherers. You just can't press too hard against your face; if you use just the tips, they'll produce a great lather with nice backbone and good feel on your face. Get whichever of the Vie-Longs whose handle appeals to you, and you won't be sorry.
Same happens to me with my other 2 turkish Boars.
Both knots have inclination,still in 2014 some manufacturers there can not glue proper a knot
While lathering can not feel it but can not hide in the photos.
- Thread starter
- #19
Hey compadres, what is the best Vie-Long handle according to you? In ergonomic terms. The 13061 one looks quite tempting.
I have a 13066B white horsehair 50/50 mix, set at default height and shape. The handle is great, handles with a skinny waist just fit my hand better than anything else. This knot is great, I like it as much as my two band TGN badger - actually a little better I think, I face lather only.It took a good while to get rid of the funk though...
