Breaking in a Boar?

[oldtrout]

Yesterday my first boar brush arrived in the mail. It is a
Semogue 610. I've read that boar brushes take a month or so to break in, I
didn't know what to expect. In fact, I don't even know how one breaks in a
brush.

This morning I used the brush on some Classic Shaving Brand wool
fat soap. Previously, I found this soap to be worthless, I could not lather it
no matter what I tried. I did some research and found out that this particular
soap has a bad reputation with many folks (I have hard water).

So, I figured that I would break the brush in playing with this worthless (for me)
soap, thereby making the soap useful for something.

Amazingly, with the boar brush I was able to create usable lather! Not great lather, but good enough
for a comfortable shave.

I have a question...you see this new boar brush
felt great on my face.
What am I doing wrong that a brush which needs breaking
in should feel great?
What can I expect from the brush in a month?


Thanks, Don

PS Although boar is no where as beautiful as
Silvertip, I might just end up a boar (guy).

 

[Graybeard57]

You're not doing anything wrong. Just keep using it, and it will keep getting better. I've heard break in takes 2-4 weeks, depending on the brush, or the person, I suppose. For me, my Omega '49 took about 2-3 weeks. Enjoy!

 

[dpm802]

The dry part of the break-in cycle is the most important. This is when the bristles split so the knot will get softer and hold more water.

Let it dry for at least 24 hours, better yet, 48 hours, in between each test-lather or usage.

If it turns out you like the boar brush well enough that you use it every day, buy two of them. They need not be identical models. This will allow them to dry out completely in between uses. If nothing else, alternate back and forth between the badger and the boar.

 

[celestino]

Don, congratulations and keep doing what you are doing! If the 610 feels good now, then you are going to love it when it fully breaks in. Enjoy.

 

[OldSaw]

Yesterday my first boar brush arrived in the mail. It is a
Semogue 610. I've read that boar brushes take a month or so to break in, I
didn't know what to expect. In fact, I don't even know how one breaks in a
brush.

This morning I used the brush on some Classic Shaving Brand wool
fat soap. Previously, I found this soap to be worthless, I could not lather it
no matter what I tried. I did some research and found out that this particular
soap has a bad reputation with many folks (I have hard water).

So, I figured that I would break the brush in playing with this worthless (for me)
soap, thereby making the soap useful for something.

Amazingly, with the boar brush I was able to create usable lather! Not great lather, but good enough
for a comfortable shave.

I have a question...you see this new boar brush
felt great on my face.
What am I doing wrong that a brush which needs breaking
in should feel great?
What can I expect from the brush in a month?


Thanks, Don

PS Although boar is no where as beautiful as
Silvertip, I might just end up a boar (guy).

I think what you can expect is that it will continue to have the same backbone that it has right now, but the tips will only get softer with use and you will just enjoy it even more than you do now.