so i just got my b&b boar brush from wcs today. it goes with out saying that i had to break it out and use it. coming from using a whipped dog silvertip and vdh best badger, it was a big difference. i used about an almond sized dollop of TOBS shave shop and i couldnt get as much of a lather as i could with those two brushes. i used a little more water than i usually use, and before mixing, i ran water over the brush for 10 to 20 seconds. i did get a good enough lather to shave, and aside from the brush being a bit rough (which i was expecting), im wondering if there are any other tricks to getting a good thick lather. thanks for any tips you guys can give
boar brush tips needed
- Thread starter hawklet00
- Start date
With a boar brush you want to soak it for a few mins in hot water to soften the bristles. When i use boars I also don't shake much water out of the brush before I start to build lather (though I am mostly using shave sticks and face lathering) You may find if you start with a drier brush that you need to add more water than with a badger.
As far as its feel, Boar brush bristle tips split and soften as you use it so they do have a break in time that Badgers don't have so much.
As far as its feel, Boar brush bristle tips split and soften as you use it so they do have a break in time that Badgers don't have so much.
- Thread starter
- #3
yeah, i wondered if letting it soak would make much of a difference. i do look forward to the hairs splitting and the brush getting softer. i have read that they can be almost as soft as a silvertip...
Needs to be broken in a bit before it really produces that lather and you may need to load it a bit longer. Good luck.
- Thread starter
- #5
cool, thanks!
Not enough soak time - minutes required.
Not enough break in time - I know, you get a new brush and you naturally want to use it right away. With this brush I did palm lathers after my shaves with the left over lather. It's pretty stiff for the first week. The general recommendation is to make sure it dries completely between sessions.
Small brush - it will make a fine lather when broken in, but don't expect it to be quite as fast as a big brush.
Not enough break in time - I know, you get a new brush and you naturally want to use it right away. With this brush I did palm lathers after my shaves with the left over lather. It's pretty stiff for the first week. The general recommendation is to make sure it dries completely between sessions.
Small brush - it will make a fine lather when broken in, but don't expect it to be quite as fast as a big brush.
- Thread starter
- #8
so i spent some time with the brush the other day making some test lathers, while also trying to get rid of the new brush smell, and i was defintely making some progress. its going to take some more breaking in and practice, but i will get the hang of this brush. im very much looking forward to getting the brush broken in as its pretty scratchy, and i seem to be getting a little more irritation while shaving. anyways, thanks for all the help you guys have been giving.
That smell lingers for quite a while - keep it away from your nose.
Or wash it a few times with shampoo ... at least that works for me.
- Thread starter
- #11
the smell is starting to weaken. i think that when i used three different creams to practice making lathers with the brush helped. the creams i used were: co bigelow, c&e sienna, and aos lemon. Ive also used tobs shave shop when i actually shaved.
I got a boar brush coming in soon and these tips are great.
- Thread starter
- #13
which boar brush did you get?
Definitely needs to be broken in. I'm in the same boat as you, used badger brushes first. At first I wasn't getting much lather out of my B&B brush but it gets better and better after every use.
I think 20-30 lathers/wet then dry cycles is the bare minimum for a boar...the difference between my 2 year old Semogue and my 2 week old Semogue is night and day. The only one that lathered out of the box was the SOC boar, and even that got a lot softer after a month or two. I find during break in, if I want to use the boar, I have to hit the soap again after each lather on my face, it just doesn't hold enough soap or water to make more than a single decent lather at a time. But once it's broken in, it'll be all you want to use - backbone and cloud-like softness all in one! I haven't touched my badgers in over a years except for my EJ that I use for travel, but if I'm at home, it's Boar all the way.
+1
Its worth the work, when properly broken in they are wonderful on even the hardest of soaps!
Its worth the work, when properly broken in they are wonderful on even the hardest of soaps!
http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/10/10/a-beginners-guide-to-boar-brushes/
Best written Boar endorsement I've found mixed with very useful information.
Best written Boar endorsement I've found mixed with very useful information.
I have a Semogue 620 and it didn't smell when I got it.
I have always tossed my brush in water (my sink or shave bowl) while I shower...even my badger. With my semogue I squeeze out the excess water then shake a few times and i load my soap with a fairly dry brush . Well, dry from excess considering I soaked it for 15-20 minutes of showering. I haven't had any problems and usually I can hardly control the lather building on my soap while I'm loading.
I have always tossed my brush in water (my sink or shave bowl) while I shower...even my badger. With my semogue I squeeze out the excess water then shake a few times and i load my soap with a fairly dry brush . Well, dry from excess considering I soaked it for 15-20 minutes of showering. I haven't had any problems and usually I can hardly control the lather building on my soap while I'm loading.
The best tip for a boar brush is to use it. The more you use it the better it becomes
- Thread starter
- #20
yeah, its getting softer with each use, and im making a better lather each time. im going to really like this brush when its completely broken in.
