Breaking in a boar

[bryan1980]

I've been in the process of breaking in an 830 for the last few weeks. So far, I've done about a dozen "hand lathers" with it. The tips seem to be starting to split. It's a monster with soaps, as most of you are well aware. I'm ready to start using this baby for real.

So how do you break in a boar, by hand-lathering or do you jump right in and start using it?

 

[Kentos]

I would say just use it. Depending on the brush it may or may not need extensive breaking in.

 

[celestino]

I would say just use it. Depending on the brush it may or may not need extensive breaking in.

+1 Might as well have the full experience!

 

[KindestCutofAll]

Use it!

Hand lathering is a waste of soap and time. If you use it daily for about a month, you get to feel the progress. IMHO

 

[dpm802]

I don't start the test lathering until its gone through about a dozen wet/dry cycles. The drying time is more important, so give it at least 24 hours in-between, better yet, 48 hours. After about 5 test lathers, then its ready to hit the face, but it still won't reach its full potential for at least another month.

 

[Lexbomb]

Just keep at it and over time it will start to split.

 

[seanusa]

its when it dries out that the hairs split so its important to let it dry completely, but as far as using it I would say right out of the box, I just wont perform as well as after it is broken in

 

[grump]

Hand lather with bar soap and let dry for 2 days. I do this 10-12 times, then start using it. Most, if not all of the boar funk is gone and it has started splitting nicely.

 

[Leon]

Use it! That's the best way!

 

[musicman1951]

I have no desire to use a skritchy brush on my beautiful face. I palm lather at the end of my shave with the left over lather from the badger I'm actually using for the shave. After a week I get impatient and use it.

The SOC is an exception - I used that after one day.

 

[mistercitizen]

I do a combination of both.... although I agree that those first few lathers are lacking in potential to say the least. After a few months with my SOC, 830, and 620 I still do palm lathers when they haven't been used the previous day. I give them at least 48 hours of drying time and if I'm not going to use one for a shave I will lather it up with some cheap soap. Mine are a joy to use now and have very soft tips.... but I still think that some of the bristles still have some splitting to do.... and then they will be even softer on the face.

Ben

 

[bryan1980]

I used it for my shave this morning with some VDH Luxury, and with a little work, it already makes gobs of lather! Just have to keep adding water more frequently while making lather, which is common for any boar brush, I think. I'm a bowl latherer, so scritchiness isn't too much of an issue for me. I also shave every other day, so it should have adequate drying time between shaves.

I have way more creams than soaps, so I'll keep using my badger with creams primarily, and work the boar with soap in every now and again until its fully broken-in.

 

[barbapapa]

1. soak in tepid water in mug for 15 minutes. no soap. no water on handle.
2. shake and flick thoroughly but gently - hang to dry 48 h.
3. flick tips occasionally while drying.
4. repeat for 1 month - ready.

 

[rts9364]

One of my favorite things about shaving brushes so far is getting a new boar brush and experiencing the break in. Lucky for me, most of them are under $20...why don't I have more? I just got a new Semogue 1438 last week. I washed it with hand soap one night and then used it to shave with Cella a few nights later. It produced excellent lather (as does anything with Cella, but still...).

It is probably worth mentioning that some of the tips on my 1438 were already starting to split before I ever touched it. But, to summarize, I just use them!

 

[bryan1980]

The only thing stopping me from using it ever shave is that it's not too good with creams just yet, which is what I primarily use. I'm sure it'll be excellent with those as well once it's fully broken-in.

 

[rts9364]

The only thing stopping me from using it ever shave is that it's not too good with creams just yet, which is what I primarily use. I'm sure it'll be excellent with those as well once it's fully broken-in.

That is a good point. I find myself using soap when I pick up a boar. (Until tonight...?)

 

[Ducati Scotty]

I usually do a few shampoos to get the initial funk out and a few test lathers to get the feel of it. After that, just jump in and use it. It's reported that if you let it dry completely between uses the tips split faster but if it's already making decent lather who cares? As others have said, enjoy the process of feelling it break in and get better every day over the first few weeks.

Scott