Boar brush for sensitive skin.

[Stinkis]

I have very sensitive skin and can't use anything but silvertips when it comes to badgers. I exclusively face lather and I do this with both soaps and creams. I have recently bought a Rooney Heritage Stubby 2, and it is my favorite so far, but I am finding it too much of a lather hog.

I figured that before I go looking for a new badger brush for $120+ I could try a good boar for 1/6 of the price.

Any recommendations?

 

[Ignatius]

Omega 31064. Softest brush I've used, boar or badger. Has a nice acrylic handle, though I guess thats a persoanl thing.

 

[Stinkis]

Omega 31064. Softest brush I've used, boar or badger. Has a nice acrylic handle, though I guess thats a persoanl thing.

Thanks for the tip. They even had it at the "UK store that we are not allowed to mention". I will put down an order for that and 1 or 2 #49 (for a few starter sets I am creating.

Anyone have any other recommendations?

 

[Klarion]

The Semogue 830 would be a nice complement to the 31064. It's similar with an acrylic handle, with a slightly smaller knot and loft.

 

[Stinkis]

The Semogue 830 would be a nice complement to the 31064. It's similar with an acrylic handle, with a slightly smaller knot and loft.

Hmm, I will see if I can find it in one of my regular stores. The one I am ordering from only has a bunch of Omegas and a few Vulfixes, any model from one of these brands that complements the 31064 well?

 

[Peto]

Hmm, I will see if I can find it in one of my regular stores. The one I am ordering from only has a bunch of Omegas and a few Vulfixes, any model from one of these brands that complements the 31064 well?

There are people who likes their Vulfix boar brushes. They are supposed to be very soft, so you can try them they are quite cheap. You get my vote for Omega 31064, great brush.

 

[talibeard]

I agree on the Vulfix boars. An Omega will get very soft in time but Vulfix is a lot softer right out of the box. I cannot compare them with a Semogue but in my boar collection (8 boars +2 mixed) the Vulfix is by far the softest and mine only has a 45mm loft (the travel boar in a container #?).

 

[Stinkis]

Okey, I will go for the Vulfix No. 2234.

Just because I like the handle and I have understood that the boars hold less lather than the badger and therefor fear than <22mm knot wont be enough lather for 2-3 passes, is this correct?

 

[gollum83]

Omega 31064. Softest brush I've used, boar or badger. Has a nice acrylic handle, though I guess thats a persoanl thing.

Definitely a great suggestion. The 31064 is pretty soft right out of the box so it would have probably fit the bill just fine, although it will likely break in some more with use and get even better. Still you can't go wrong with a Vulfix boar either.

As for a small boar not holding enough lather for at least two passes, I don't really recall having that issue once the brush broke in. I have both an Omega 10077 and an Omega 21047 (All boar, not mixed although I have one of those too) and, honestly, they now produce and hold enough lather for multiple passes. Heck, I actually prefer in some ways to my much larger Omega 71278, which is an absolute lather hog.

 

[talibeard]

Even small boar brushes will hold enough lather after they are properly broken in for 2-3 passes. Depends a bit on your technique and how much of what product is loaded.

Do give it some time though; the first shaves it will seem it can't hold lather at all! After 15-30 shaves it will do well and will also be a lot softer but the process has not yet ended by then so don't give up too soon on your new boar!

 

[Stinkis]

Even small boar brushes will hold enough lather after they are properly broken in for 2-3 passes. Depends a bit on your technique and how much of what product is loaded.

Do give it some time though; the first shaves it will seem it can't hold lather at all! After 15-30 shaves it will do well and will also be a lot softer but the process has not yet ended by then so don't give up too soon on your new boar!

Is there a way to quicken this progress up a bit? I can/need only shave 2-3 days a week and 15-30 shaves will take quite a while. And since I easily get brush burn I will probably give up before it breaks in.

 

[talibeard]

Is there a way to quicken this progress up a bit? I can/need only shave 2-3 days a week and 15-30 shaves will take quite a while. And since I easily get brush burn I will probably give up before it breaks in.

You could make lather more often without using it for a shave; the palm of your hand will work too. Take care it gets dry in between though; some use a hair dryer but don't let your brush get too hot either.

Don't overdo it; some things are best when giving them the time they need. You might consider bowl lathering at first and use a paint stroke to bring it on to your face. In your situation that could even be the best method no matter the brush.

Best of luck with it!

 

[Aaron01]

Is there a way to quicken this progress up a bit? I can/need only shave 2-3 days a week and 15-30 shaves will take quite a while. And since I easily get brush burn I will probably give up before it breaks in.

You could buy a used one...

 

[gollum83]

You could make lather more often without using it for a shave; the palm of your hand will work too. Take care it gets dry in between though; some use a hair dryer but don't let your brush get too hot either.

Don't overdo it; some things are best when giving them the time they need. You might consider bowl lathering at first and use a paint stroke to bring it on to your face. In your situation that could even be the best method no matter the brush.

Best of luck with it!

Exactly. No one ever said you had to only make lather for a shave.

 

[warlandsboy]

I also use the Omega 31064, very soft, and I have sensitive skin as well. You will not experience any sort of "brush burn" whatsoever.

 

[Stinkis]

You could buy a used one...

But then I won't have a reason to order other stuff from the same place. It's all about being your own enabler.

You could make lather more often without using it for a shave; the palm of your hand will work too. Take care it gets dry in between though; some use a hair dryer but don't let your brush get too hot either.

Don't overdo it; some things are best when giving them the time they need. You might consider bowl lathering at first and use a paint stroke to bring it on to your face. In your situation that could even be the best method no matter the brush.

Best of luck with it!

I think that I will lather them on my hand for a while. What do I know, my face might be fine with them from the start.

Bowl lathering is not an option, I just really enjoy face lathering too much. After all the Heritage Stubby 2 has tips that are soft enough but I just don't like its lather hogging properties too much.

I also use the Omega 31064, very soft, and I have sensitive skin as well. You will not experience any sort of "brush burn" whatsoever.

Thanks, great to know.

 

[domino]

Is there a way to quicken this progress up a bit? I can/need only shave 2-3 days a week and 15-30 shaves will take quite a while. And since I easily get brush burn I will probably give up before it breaks in.

To help speed up the break in I use a warm hair dryer. The hair will begin to split much quicker. Another nice brush for the money is the Omega #10005.
happy shopping!

 

[Klarion]

The way I like breaking in boars goes something like this:

-Start with a little shampooing, then run a couple of somewhat aggressive test lathers the first day/night (I like to use the Zach Method, or lathering soap on my hand). This helps to loosen up the knot so you can comb it out later, and gets rid of a good portion of the smell.

-Make sure the brush dries between uses. The wetting, absorbing water, and drying of the bristle is what encourages splitting. I don't care for blow drying, though. While it makes the tips of the boar bristle split quicker, I don't really find it does much for the water retention and lathering capabilities of your brush. It's spring time, just leave your brush by an open window if you can.

-I try at least lathering with the brush every day to get the most use out of it in the beginning, even if I'm using something else for my daily shave,


And whatever you do, don't let anyone talk you into trying to get a Semogue 2009 Limited Edition.