Boar Brush Recommendation

[DrakeMegrim]

I need a boar brush recommendation for face lathering. I've got a SOC Mistura and really enjoy it. I've had it for a few months now and it feels proper broken in. My other brush is a T3 and I think I've only used it when I'm traveling and even then, not much!

I'd like to get pure boar brush and would love some advice. I'm looking for a bit more backbone and scritch. I'd like to stick with Semogue and was considering a 610/620, SOC Boar, or Pegasus Boar. Any advice is appreciated and I look forward to reading your responses.

 

[wldecker]

Favorite Boar Brush

My favorite boar brush is the Whipped Dog 30mm. I own 15.

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[NorthernSoul]

A good choice would be the Semogue C5 Torga premium boar. Similar to the SOC boar, but with a more compact knot with 50mm loft.

2nd choice for me would be the Semogue 610. A smaller knot, more or less ideal for face lathering.

 

[1e4]

I recommend the SOC boar. You already know you like the mistura! And an all-boar knot will naturally have a bit more backbone and scratch. Personally, I find the Torga's loft to be too short relative to the knot, and the Pegasus too big — while the SOC is just right.

 

[InkStainedWretch]

More backbone and skritch: you probably want a shorter loft, and denser knot. The Zenith pictured below fits the bill. I didn't have a model number, but i I bought it from yourshaving.com.

 

[DrakeMegrim]

I forgot to mention that I really like the size of the SOC handle. I do worry the 610 will be too small for my hands. Even my T3 is uncomfortable compared to my SOC. My concern with the SOC boar is it will be floppy so the C5 Torga might be the better option there.

 

[NorthernSoul]

I forgot to mention that I really like the size of the SOC handle. I do worry the 610 will be too small for my hands. Even my T3 is uncomfortable compared to my SOC. My concern with the SOC boar is it will be floppy so the C5 Torga might be the better option there.

The C5 Torga handle is larger than the 610's. Similar in diameter to the SOC, but a slightly more compact barrel shape. That said, the 610 handle is comfortable, as well.

The C5 Torga has a similar knot to the SOC boar, but it is ~5mm shorter. That gives it more backbone and it keeps its compact shape after break-in. The SOC boar blooms out to a much larger size. IMHO, you made a good choice for the SOC with the Mistura knot.

 

[Alex Jr]

SOC for sure.

But in the event you would like to venture into other brands I’d definitely suggest the Proraso pro by omega.

 

[musicman1951]

I need a boar brush recommendation for face lathering. I've got a SOC Mistura and really enjoy it. I've had it for a few months now and it feels proper broken in. My other brush is a T3 and I think I've only used it when I'm traveling and even then, not much!

I'd like to get pure boar brush and would love some advice. I'm looking for a bit more backbone and scritch. I'd like to stick with Semogue and was considering a 610/620, SOC Boar, or Pegasus Boar. Any advice is appreciated and I look forward to reading your responses.

I have a handful of SOC boar brushes and the Mistura has the most backbone of my collection. The SOC TSN LE is a favorite, but much softer tips than the Mistura. A straight SOC boar when fully broken in also has pretty soft tips and considerably less backbone than the Mistura. I don't have the Semogue C5 Torga premium boar, but that sounds like a better bet.

 

[LJS]

Don’t be afraid to try a basic Omega and go through the break-in process. The classic 10098 is so inexpensive it’s hard not to consider. Great bristle and become excellent brushes. I have bought a number of them just to harvest the knots.

 

[Lane101]

@DrakeMegrim , seconding @InkStainedWretch 's Zenith recommendation. My one boar is a Razorock Blondie that is a rebranded Zenith 80N. Classic barbershop brush and knot with a 26mm by 64mm bleached boar knot that requires minimal break-in. Plenty of skritch to easily load even the hardest soaps yet thanks to the longer knot is it very comfortable when I face lather with it.

 

[flask28]

I'm looking for a bit more backbone and scritch.

I enjoy SOC and other Semogue boars for sure, but they are pretty soft and pillowy in comparison to others. That's not a knock, but an observation as someone who likes a healthy amount of scritch in his life. I'd say the SOC Mistura might have a tad more scritch than the SOC boars.

My path to the right amount of scritch took me away from Semogue and I eventually zeroed in on two boar knots I really like. The first is the "kinda, maybe?" bleached Omega knot in the Connaught Jade (far right):

I can't recommend this brush highly enough. It's short, wide knot dimensions give it a firm but bouncy backbone that seems perfectly tuned for face lathering. The tips get luxurious over time but never "do I even feel it?" soft like synthetics or, frankly, some Semogue boars like the SOC. Not that there's anything wrong with a pillowy brush!

Be warned though, the Jade requires an extensive break-in period to show it's true colors. 60ish shaves for me.

The other knot I found that had great scritch was the Zenith Unbleached boars (the white and butterscotch brushes above) that you can get at Your Shaving. They come in a variety of handle styles, I really like the shape of that butterscotch one, it's very comfortable. The knots are a little less firm than the Jade - you can that tell just by looking at the relative lofts - but not much less and the tips have a healthy amount of scritch. We're not talking boot brush stiff here, it's still soft, but you feel like you are using a brush brush not a makeup brush.

The two brushes on the left are Zenith bleached boar knots. They have more backbone than most Semogue but I felt their tips got too soft quickly and eventually lost most of their scritch. Like they are supposed to do, these are Italian boars we're talking about .

Here's a shot with the SOC boar and the Jade from last Decemboar:

Of this group my favorites were the Omega Jade on the far left and the Omega Model 40033 on the far right, which I swear uses the same type of semi-coarse hair the Jade does. Not a fan of the handle though, that knot has been rehomed since that photo:

 

[TOVT]

Don’t be afraid to try a basic Omega and go through the break-in process. The classic 10098 is so inexpensive it’s hard not to consider. Great bristle and become excellent brushes. I have bought a number of them just to harvest the knots.

Have it in red, white, chrome, and black!

ETA: Actually, I'm not sure of the model number. But it's the 28mm knots.

 

[cryhavoc]

Sorry the Semogue's never worked for me, had the 610, 1250 and something else I can't remember. Folks love the SOC's but I'm not paying that much for a boar.

I love Omega's, pretty cheap and are great brushes. The 10290 is my favorite brush and I'm a face latherer also.

 

[DesertIguana]

I forgot to mention that I really like the size of the SOC handle. I do worry the 610 will be too small for my hands. Even my T3 is uncomfortable compared to my SOC. My concern with the SOC boar is it will be floppy so the C5 Torga might be the better option there.

Budget?

Size preference?

Could help with advice.

 

[DrakeMegrim]

Budget?

Size preference?

Could help with advice.

I'll try! I don't have many items.

Budget doesn't seem to be an issue with boar brushes, outside of custom builds, but something below $50 would be nice but not a deal breaker.

I'm not sure about the size. I have a T3 and SOC Mistura and the size of either doesn't bother me. I suppose if it were tiny it would be an issue as I 3+ pass every day and a small brush might not hold enough lather. I think the 610 is probably about as small as I'd like to go and nothing bigger than a T3.

The thing I'm most interested in is getting more backbone and a big more scritch. I loved the face feel of the Mistura when I was breaking it in. It's great now but I do wish it had a bit more face feel.

 

[Pat Puma]

I have an Omega 49 and an SOC. Both are great, but I prefer the SOC right now. It seems more robust than an older one that I had.

 

[KW Driver]

An Omega 10065 or 10066 have a great scrub to me. Cheap try out as well. My SOC broke in plenty soft (after a year). It’s a great brush, but probably too soft for your taste. I picked up a Zenith 2000 CSE(?) from your shaving that’s unbleached and an even better than a SOC knot.

24mm is my limit on knot size, so that’s the best I can give you.

My opinion is that most Omegas are denser, most scrubby backboned than most Semogues. My Zenith is a sample size of one, so I don’t know how the bigger knots perform.

 

[DrakeMegrim]

Thank you for all the inputs everyone. Seriously, it means a lot that so many gave their input. I ended up going with the Omega Jade from Connaught. Once broken in I'll report back here and let y'all know how I get on with it.

 

[gdawg55]

Thank you for all the inputs everyone. Seriously, it means a lot that so many gave their input. I ended up going with the Omega Jade from Connaught. Once broken in I'll report back here and let y'all know how I get on with it.

Well played.