Boars still prickly after months of use!

[milesandcoltrane]

Hi Gents!

I seem to have a bit of a problem with my boars. I've got an omega 100098 the 60mm lofted 27mm knotted extra large pro model which I love and the omega 100059 50mm lofted 23mm knotted baby pro which I find too stiff.

I've spent the last 6-7 months breaking them in using the big 100098 every day for the recent 2 months as well and they're still prickly. I take a hair dryer after each use and quite a number of ends have split. The 100098 has also bloomed very nicely but when I lather I still get pricked.

I really hate that and it aggravates my already sensitive skin.

What gives?

 

[dwestenk]

... I seem to have a bit of a problem with my boars. ... they're still prickly. ...

I really hate that and it aggravates my already sensitive skin.

What gives?

+1 I could not overcome the prickly, stiff bristles. I ended up leaving boar behind, especialy when my badger brushes work so well for me.

As always, I'm sure YMMV.

 

[spindlecone]

Sort of the nature of the beast

 

[gsurko]

Hmmm. I was just thinking how soft and floppy my boars were becoming.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Hmmm. I was just thinking how soft and floppy my boars were becoming.

+1, if the OP finds his 10098 prickly, then he may have a problem with boar...

 

[talibeard]

Hm, I find my broken-in boars a lot less prickly than my mix and pure brushes. And even my Simpsons best is (slightly) more prickly than my oldest boars. Beats me!

 

[takeshi]

I really hate that and it aggravates my already sensitive skin.

What gives?

YMMV, as always. Your skin doesn't like boar. You can try yet another boar that others claim is soft but your skin seems to be more sensitive. You should should probably look into badgers.

 

[Red Horn]

I take a hair dryer after each use and quite a number of ends have split.

I would advise against that. Best to let brush dry naturally away from heat source or sun. Utilizing heat will dry bristles fast leaving them stiffer and less soft than overnight drying. Try using a gentle pet shampoo and follow with a conditioner before you switch to natural drying if you choose to give it a try. Good Luck...

 

[JPDyson]

Huh - haven't had that with my Omegas. The few I've had are really soft in a matter of two weeks. The Semogues I've tried take longer, I think due to density.

There's no accounting for taste, though - you simply may not dig the pig.

 

[Voomie]

Silly question, Do you let your brush soak for at least 15-20 min before using it? I noticed that once I started letting soak while I was in the shower, that my brush got very soft. This might help, if not try a different brand or type of brush.

 

[milesandcoltrane]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Yeah I soak my boars while I take a shower. That's at least 10-15mins before I shave. I've always been doing that and compared the brush to not doing a pre soak. Definitely pricklier! But even a soaked brush gives me the needle pricks

Point noted on the hair dryer. I've read somewhere that it helps the tips get flagged and speeds up the break in process. But I've always taken the cautious approach putting the dryer on low and keeping a saf distance.

Tried the overnight leave in lather and just washed it off this morning. Might take till tmr to dry completely so will give it a go then. Will also try drying it naturally from now on: hopefully it helps!

Also looking at boars that are known to be softer like the semogue 830 or the omega 8 series. But at these prices just a little more and I could get a silvertip like the new forest 2211 which is tempting cuz I've yet to try badgers. The Kent bk4 is also on the radar due to it's reputation for pillory softness.

 

[ouch]

Lots of guys enjoy their boar brushes, but remember that the name of the site isn't Badger and Boar.

 

[milesandcoltrane]

Haha good one ouch! I can only imagine that for some people badgers feel alot softer and more luxurious. And I reckon I might belong to this group. Like jpdyson said in the end I just don't dig the boar.

The brush chronicles post has reignited my search for a good badger. I've posted a number of times about which badger to get but after all this time its still hard to decide.

And with badgers' prices experimenting freely isn't an option.

One question though given how even a broken in boar feels prickly to me I should get the softest badgers available yeah? Like a Kent bk4? Or would a Rooney style 3 in size 1 be as soft?

Unsure about the softness of badgers having had no experience with them

 

[Red Horn]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Yeah I soak my boars while I take a shower. That's at least 10-15mins before I shave. I've always been doing that and compared the brush to not doing a pre soak. Definitely pricklier! But even a soaked brush gives me the needle pricks

Point noted on the hair dryer. I've read somewhere that it helps the tips get flagged and speeds up the break in process. But I've always taken the cautious approach putting the dryer on low and keeping a saf distance.

Tried the overnight leave in lather and just washed it off this morning. Might take till tmr to dry completely so will give it a go then. Will also try drying it naturally from now on: hopefully it helps!

Also looking at boars that are known to be softer like the semogue 830 or the omega 8 series. But at these prices just a little more and I could get a silvertip like the new forest 2211 which is tempting cuz I've yet to try badgers. The Kent bk4 is also on the radar due to it's reputation for pillory softness.

In all honesty tip softness is sorta a moot point for me so far. When able to work up a correct thick lather I find that the brush does not actually touch face as much as one would think. I am still learning how to get all the nice lather out of my Simpson T1 2B and may easily change my tune after receiving ordered Semogue soon.

I did however find my lowly Vulfix 1000 series pure badger starter brush to be immensely soft and am now trying to find a short loft Vulfix pure to try face lathering with.

 

[filedog]

Hmmm, those broken-in Omegas ARE as soft as most badger brushes. Maybe you have VERY sensitive skin. You didn't mention if you face or bowl lather, I would recommend the latter, for less scrubbing on the face. Then, shoot for the SOFTEST brush you can find, like a Saville Row.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Lots of guys enjoy their boar brushes, but remember that the name of the site isn't Badger and Boar.

No, Horse and Boar

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Haha good one ouch! I can only imagine that for some people badgers feel alot softer and more luxurious. And I reckon I might belong to this group. Like jpdyson said in the end I just don't dig the boar.

The brush chronicles post has reignited my search for a good badger. I've posted a number of times about which badger to get but after all this time its still hard to decide.

And with badgers' prices experimenting freely isn't an option.

One question though given how even a broken in boar feels prickly to me I should get the softest badgers available yeah? Like a Kent bk4? Or would a Rooney style 3 in size 1 be as soft?

Unsure about the softness of badgers having had no experience with them

I do not have experience with badger either (principle), but I may have a tip. When I started (and could not go for badger) I used a Bamboo Blush Brush. VERY soft, and only some 7 or 8 dollars. If you do not like it (or find it prickly) give it to your wife or daughter. There are reviews on this brush in the reviews section. Really works very well. I still have mine, and use it from time to time. As my face does not mind some prickliness I am happy with my horse and boar brushes. My last one (came in today) with the extra softened tips is also very soft. Perhaps this is what badger feels like