Boar help please!

[ChesterPulley]

Hello all!

So, I am admittedly still kind of new to wet shaving in general but, I do have some sweet face lathering ability with a Crabtree & Evelyn soap and any of either my AOS pure, Edwin Jagger Best, or my Vulfix Super badger brushes. However, I recently acquired a Semogue 830 Boar brush and am having some difficulty with it. I know there is about a 1 month break in period with 2 day dry times and all that business, but I couldn't stop myself from using it this morning! I should've taken pictures, but as with all my test lathers, the bristles were clumped together with a large gap in the center and the lather left something to be desired. This as using TOBS sandalwood soap. Towards the end of my final pass the lather on my face started to go a bit chalky and flakey on me. I did have the brush sitting in a bowl on a coffee mug warmer to keep the lather warm while I shaved.

As far as the brush not looking like my lathered up badgers, is this normal? And due to the different qualities of the hair (Shedding water vs. absorbing it) is there a different process for making wicked lather with a boar?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Mick]

Don't let the lather get too hot. Warm is the ticket. Hot is a lather killer.

Keep using the boar. Eventually enough ends will split and you should not see the clumping you notice now. You are about the mid break in period. It just needs a few more months of use before it will become a brush for you.

 

[cryhavoc]

Don't let the lather get too hot. Warm is the ticket. Hot is a lather killer.

Keep using the boar. Eventually enough ends will split and you should not see the clumping you notice now. You are about the mid break in period. It just needs a few more months of use before it will become a brush for you.

+1 turtle's advice is spot on.

 

[ChesterPulley]

Thanks for the advice guys. Boars are so frustrating because I want instant gratification! From what I've read though, the break-in period is like proving to a lady that she is worth the effort, it all pays off in the end!

 

[Graybeard57]

At first my boar was rough and frustrating. Once it was broken in, it was the best, softest brush around. A few months in, I used my badger best again, and it felt scratchy and irritating. I put it away in a drawer, where it will stay till the boar breaks down and I await delivery of its replacement.

Enjoy your shaves!

 

[celestino]

Don't let the lather get too hot. Warm is the ticket. Hot is a lather killer.

Keep using the boar. Eventually enough ends will split and you should not see the clumping you notice now. You are about the mid break in period. It just needs a few more months of use before it will become a brush for you.

+ 1 Great advice here. Keep using it and good luck. i believe you got yourself the best overall boar brush there is.

 

[johnh]

Thanks for the advice guys. Boars are so frustrating because I want instant gratification! From what I've read though, the break-in period is like proving to a lady that she is worth the effort, it all pays off in the end!

You have an 830 -- I've one of these too and when broken in it is truly and excellent brush. Congratulations on getting this brush, be patient and you will not be sorry.

 

[Gref]

the worst thing about getting an 830, in my own personal experience, is that you will want to try every other semogue.

 

[theologist]

Perseverance is the key to any boar brush. Every time I get a new one, it takes three months' continuous break-in before it is really shaveworthy. But they are worth it... boar (or horsehair) works brilliantly with hard soaps.

 

[talibeard]

Apart from Turtle's good advise one more thing; use your boar lightly with little pressure. This really helps in getting a better lather, your gap in the middle will be smaller and in the end it will give your piggy a longer and happier life! Just don't give up as the rewards are great!

 

[pcumby]

just try this link
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/199887-My-lathering-technique-with-Italian-soft-soaps

This is the Marco method

I find it goes beyond Italian soft soaps and works with everything

 

[ChesterPulley]

just try this link
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/199887-My-lathering-technique-with-Italian-soft-soaps

This is the Marco method

I find it goes beyond Italian soft soaps and works with everything

Perfect! Thanks for the link! I can't wait to try that method tomorrow. I think I've been squeezing out too much water and pumping too hard with the brush. I have a razor arriving tomorrow so hopefully it shows up quickly so I can get to lathering!