I have a boar from the 70's that has worn to the point that it only gets occasional use. I have three in the rotation at present with this one falling in once in a while.
Yep. I have worn out boars. Bought my first brush in 1971....
I used a T&H turnback brush for more than ten years. It was made by Vulfix for T&H.
Eventually the crown had worn down to the point where the bristles were too short and stiff and caused some mild discomfort while lathering. So I retired it.
I am supremely pleased with my current turnback from T&H and I am doing everything I can to make it last (using only painting strokes while lathering and not overly-stressing the bristles in any way).
Chris
I have a boar from the 70's that has worn to the point that it only gets occasional use. I have three in the rotation at present with this one falling in once in a while.
I wore an Omega boar brush down to stubby bristles after 24 years of exclusive use. Still usable condition, but not what it once was.
Through most of that time I was not a daily shaver, and for a short while I was bearded.
The hunt for a replacement brought me to B & B.
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I wore out two English brushes which I alternated daily over a 35 year period.Wow! That is worn. That's what I was looking for. An actual picture of a brush worn down from use. So it took you about 24 years to do it.
What about synthetics though? Id expect a natural hair brush to break down over time because the hairs are still natural but synthetics are just plastic, which may or may not ever break down.
So you did wear out a badger brush. Interesting.
I've been shaving since the late 50s. I have not paid attention to the drug store boar brushes that I have worn out. I mostly used them one at a time and I would guess two or three. That was using them until hair was falling out or the bristles became too short. Now my grandfather's Erskine badger is another story. I don't know when he bought it. He passed away before I was born. It was passed on to my Dad, then to my older brother. The knot was beyond it's prime, but I still used it, sometimes continually or sometimes occasionally as it continued to age. It finally fell into seldom used. Then I discovered this forum and that badger was really still available.
So I reknotted it. I guess this brush fits both categories of being worn out. The knot was shot, but the brush lives on with a new knot. I really love this brush.