i am wondering if my technique is in question. i have a very nice dovo silvertip brush and an omega boar brush. read so much about the benefits of badger but yet i actually prefer the boar brush! it is stiffer and seems to lather much quicker especially with soap pucks than cream. the badger seems to hold much more water, should i be shaking the water out of the badger brush so that it is just moist? the boar brush seems to work best rather wet. maybe just a personal preference? anyone prefer boar to badger?
boar vs. badger
- Thread starter kansascutthroat
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Yes, and horse to boar.
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- #3
never seen or heard of that. you serious or just messing with me? where would a guy get a horse hair shave brush?
No, very serious. I have been using a horse brush for a few months now, and I am very pleased with it. But as always, YMMV. You can find them on the Bay (check store34 for instance, he has a cheap Turkish horse brush with wooden handle, for about 6 usd shipped). I use the professional horse brush he carries, as I prefer bigger brushes.
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- #5
thats great! thank you i will check that out!
B
buyandhold2018
It's a personal thing. I also prefer boar because I mainly use a soap.
I too prefer the boar brush, especially after it is properly broken in. there's nothing like the soft tips and ample back bone. Also I generally use soaps.
With regard to badgers holding more water than boars, I have recently found this video that de-bunks that common misconception. I thought it was interesting and informative. Enjoy
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Hello,
I prefer badgers for creams and boars for soaps.
But that is a personal preference, of course.
To answer your first question, I do not think your technique is in question.
You should be able to get good results with any knot IMHO. For instance, I went to Tuscany lately and I loved a week of Semogue 620 boar with Mugo Real cream. Just great.
I also love the combination of my Duke 3 (*) and some tallow soap by Prairie Creations. Also great.
As for the moisture question, yes there is some technique involved. No rocket science technology ;-)
I do agree that with most soaps it is wise not to over-wet the brush. But soaps do differ enormously, so just work out what works fine for your brush - soap combination.
To illustrate, I like to have my badgers pretty moist when lathering up MWF. But there's also great advice of hon. forum members who prefer to soak the puck a bit before lathering up. What works for you, works for you I guess
So, all in all, we are lucky to have both boar and badger and synthetic and horse and probably even more exotic knots available!
(*) Pure badger
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In addition to being a myth, most people have never stopped to consider why it would be important to hold more water: most of it get's squeezed out at the start of the shave anyway, before the brush is even used. Both Badger, and Boar retain enough water after squeezing to allow you to load your brush, and that is all that counts.
Never got that one either; if it is anything at all it is a disadvantage since both boar and badger easily hold too much water anyway. Why would it be a bonus to have more to squeeze out?I prefer boar too btw. Both are up to the job but I just like boars better with soaps/face-lathering.
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