Boar Brands

[FlyingGuillotine]

What are some of the best made Boar brushes? I thinking about getting one for traveling something with a long life and durable.

Are there any American made boars hair brushes currently being made?

 

[SliceOfLife]

My personal favorite are semogues. Omega's are also quite popular.


You'll have a hard time finding American made shaving brushes period. It's mostly a UK/China/EU business these days (Turkey if you include horsehair brushes too). The only American company making brushes (aside from custom makers who use Chinese knots) that comes to mind is VDH. I would suspect their brushes are almost certainly made in China too.

 

[Oscroft]

Yep, Semogue and Omega seem to be the tops for boar brushes in the opinions of most people round here - I'm a Semogue man myself.

 

[Coler]

Happy Semogue user (SOC & 2000, prefer the former).

 

[mistercitizen]

Can't go wrong with Semogues. I use the SOC, 830 and 620 boar brushes.

Ben

 

[attime6]

Semogue, they can take awhile to break in but when they do they can lather soaps or creams with ease.

 

[SteveWY]

1. Semogue
2. Omega

No US brands that I know of. Even if you found one branded that way the knot would have come from Europe or China.

I suggest you look at both brands and their qualities. It really comes down to preference in the handle styles and knot choices. But honestly you can't go wrong with any of the highly-praised models. You may also want to keep your eyes out for the Badger & Blade Essential boar brush when it comes in stock again at WCS. It has a fabulous premium Omega knot. Truly a top performer.

 

[cdrross]

Another Semogue fan. 2011 LE 2

 

[Graybeard57]

Well, I just have to chime in and say Omega. I don't know one knot from another, but the Omega 0049 Professional is the brush I use. It's only about $10! You can pay a lot more for a brush that may indeed be better, but is an $80 brush really $70 better? I can't see how, when mine quickly makes an abundance of excellent lather from all of my soaps.

Happy hunting. Hope you find the perfect brush for you! Enjoy your shaves!

 

[FlyingGuillotine]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I was looking at the Semogue 1305 pure bristle. How long usually is the break in period?

I hear that you can leave the brush lathered up overnight to speed up the process.

 

[Nick Danger]

Another vote for the SOC boar. Mine was great right out of the box, and the experts here say it's only going to get better. Love the handle shape, which feels very natural in my handle. Excellent backbone, surprisingly soft tips, and a monster at lathering soaps.

I did use the trick of leaving the brush lathered up overnight to speed up the break in process. Not sure if it helped or not, but I've been happy with this brush from the very first use.

Nick

 

[SteveWY]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I was looking at the Semogue 1305 pure bristle. How long usually is the break in period?

I hear that you can leave the brush lathered up overnight to speed up the process.

I surmise that the 1305 is in the top 3 recommended Semogue brushes. It is a fine brush with plenty of classic charm.

Read this for break-in and care tips: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/How_to_Break_in_a_Shaving_Brush

Some will say just start using it. Most will say (I agree) it helps to give it a couple good soak and clean cycles Drying in between steps seems to allow the hairs to start splitting, increasing the felt tip softness. I can't help but having to do some test lathers right away so i just started using it. You should be able to start using the brush right away and it will perform OK. After a couple weeks you will be amazed at the difference. I think many here say it takes a good 15-20 wet/dry cycles to really get it on game. I find it part of the fun getting new brushes and breaking them in. Heck at $10-$20 for a great boar brush you should have a whole drawer full! (Just ask anyone around here!)

 

[Oscroft]

I was looking at the Semogue 1305 pure bristle. How long usually is the break in period?

A very good brush indeed - I have one, and I like it a lot. I can't remember exactly how long it took to break in, but it wasn't that long - nowhere near as long as the SOC. I agree that giving it a few soak/lather/dry cycles is a good way to start - be sure to let it dry thoroughly each time, as that's when the bristle ends start to split and soften.

 

[The_Anderman]

I have a Semogue SOC, 620 and the B&B Essential brush. All are great performers – I think that the SOC might be my favorite, though. Only time will tell. I'm thinking I might like a 1305 as well.

 

[Sir_Eider]

In my short experience:

- Semogue uses the densest boar knots around, but excepting 90% tops hair (1305, 830, 610 models) usually they have a long break in time. Maybe the closest boar hair compared with badger in performance and sensations. Many boar grades to choose: 75% tops, 90% tops (softer), mixed of both, SOC grade, 2000 grade, tinted or not. BTW be careful with painted handle models like 1305, they are "delicate". They are other models with natural wood or acrylic handles anyway.

- Omega are cheaper (at least here in Spain), uses less dense hair knots (and less foam hunger in consequence) but usually really quick to break in, specially the tinted hair ones. It doesn't "flow" like a Semogue thought, they have a more "rigid" look. Only two hair grades: "natural" or badger-like tinted (softer). Usually cheaper models have low quality plastic handles, but for a bit more you can find some wood & resin ones.

- They are other brands which work with boar hair, like Vie&Long, Kent or Vulfix. But IMHO they are a step or two away of above ones.

Cheers!

 

[cryhavoc]

Omega Boars are the best, Like others have said no US made brushes

 

[urkel]

semogue 1305 is a great brush. i've been using the ib limited edition which is basically a 1305 painted in the colors of the italien flag. not sure the 1305 would hold up so well used for travelling. maybe an acrylic handle would be better for that but the brushes don't cost that much anyway

 

[FlyingGuillotine]

Yeah I hear the 1305 can be fragile especially if dropped. I went ahead and order the Semogue 2K.
I'll see how it turns out. I like the fact that members say its good for soap bowl lather.


Also picked up some Mitchell Wool Fat to go with it.

 

[SliceOfLife]

The 2k is a nice soft brush, but once it's broken in, it is absolutely massive. If you like a big brush, great. I found it a bit big and moppy for me. A step down from that in size and a bit firmer was the SOC brush. For a cheap all-arounder at a good smaller size, the 1460 is my favorite.

 

[GuyW]

Semogue 2000 and 1438.