First boar help

[socks_mtg]

Looking to add my first boar to the rotation - GAD in full swing .

Hear lots of good things about Semogue, and was going to pull the trigger on a 1250 (I've read enough to leave the painted handles well alone), when I've seen an insane deal on an Omega 10048 (bigger but i can dig it), and an Omega 11126 which is a much more similar knot.

Is there much difference between the Omega and Semogue knots in terms of performance, or is it all just brand name and handle aesthetics?

 

[Tanuki]

Typically Omega will be scrubbier and may take more time to break in than Semogue. I enjoy my Omegas more, but Semogues are great too. I like my 1250 better than my SOC, but I prefer smaller, less dense knots.

 

[socks_mtg]

Typically Omega will be scrubbier and may take more time to break in than Semogue. I enjoy my Omegas more, but Semogues are great too. I like my 1250 better than my SOC, but I prefer smaller, less dense knots.

Thanks, leaning towards the 1250 & the 10048 so I’ve one of each and two differing knot sizes. That 11126 handle is lovely though. Damn gear acquisition

 

[Leverspro]

Zeniths are also excellent at yourshaving.

 

[Mart_the_ness]

I've only used Omega.
I currently own the proraso pro which is similar to the 48 but with a shorter loft.

Omegas tend to have more backbone and not the best quality handles (the proraso pro and the 48 have similar hollow plastic handles, if not the same)

I really want to try semogue and zenith but dont know where to start.

Good thing is you can always buy more, boar brushes tend to be quite cheap for a really good product.

 

[1e4]

Aside from the knot itself, Omega handles have a very cheap feel, which is one key reason why I prefer Semogue.

My recommendation: Semogue Owners Club, boar, with a cherry wood handle. It’s a perfect brush.

 

[Hu3ir0 Hu3Hu3]

any Semogue with Premium or Extra Premium bristle.

830, Galahad-C3, Torga-C5, Pegasus-C7, SOC

 

[Valerius]

The SOC boar is, as suggested above, an excellent brush. Do also consider the Semogue 830 as an alternative.

 

[Andris83]

if Omega, go with the Proraso Pro.

 

[SydneyShaver]

+1 for the SOC. I had a cheaper boar and the thing I hated was the kinda rough pointy feeling the tips had no matter what. The SOC has a very gentle scrub but its not sharp or pointy. Breaks in really well, no shedding, plus a great ergonomic handle. Would definitely say the bristles of the semogue are a cut above the rest.

 

[Jayson74]

Semogue 1250 and 1305 (painted handle) are 2 of my favorite brushes. The handle shape is nearly perfect for me.

Enjoy
Jay

 

[Mart_the_ness]

any Semogue with Premium or Extra Premium bristle.

830, Galahad-C3, Torga-C5, Pegasus-C7, SOC

Have you tried the semogue pegasus boar?

I'm interested in buying one, but coming from omega, I'm afraid it won't feel scrubby enough or just plain sloppy.

 

[Mart_the_ness]

The Omega faux jade from connaught shaving is also often considered the best boar shaving brush.
That one has a solid handle but shorter bristles and a much more premium feel to it.

As long as you soak your brush properly, you'll most likely enjoy it.

 

[Captain Howdy]

The Omega faux jade from connaught shaving is also often considered the best boar shaving brush.
That one has a solid handle but shorter bristles and a much more premium feel to it.

As long as you soak your brush properly, you'll most likely enjoy it.

Omega jade is my personal favorite boar. SOC is a great brush, but doesn't splay as easily as i prefer. I much prefer the lesser backbone of the jade. And it's the only omega handle that isn't serviceable garbage. Ymmv etc

 

[Mart_the_ness]

Omega jade is my personal favorite boar. SOC is a great brush, but doesn't splay as easily as i prefer. I much prefer the lesser backbone of the jade. And it's the only omega handle that isn't serviceable garbage. Ymmv etc

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the SOC didn't have much backbone, which is the reason I hadn't aquired one.

 

[ChriWilson]

any Semogue with Premium or Extra Premium bristle.

830, Galahad-C3, Torga-C5, Pegasus-C7, SOC

Excellent choices, but for testing the brands overall I would suggest a Semogue 2000.
Premium Bristle at a significant cost savings over the SOC, also in a wooden handle. The 1305 is another recommended, essentially a touch smaller handle than the SOC, in a hand painted finish; again in a Premium Bristle.

The SOC boar is, as suggested above, an excellent brush. Do also consider the Semogue 830 as an alternative.

Complement. While they are both excellent brushes, you really could stop here with both of these in the stable.
But, as this is B&B - we know how unlikely that is to happen. Besides @socks_mtg you haven't stated whether this addition would be for bowl or face lathering...

Semogue 1250 and 1305 (painted handle) are 2 of my favorite brushes. The handle shape is nearly perfect for me.

Enjoy
Jay

Love my 1305

Omega jade is my personal favorite boar. SOC is a great brush, but doesn't splay as easily as i prefer. I much prefer the lesser backbone of the jade. And it's the only omega handle that isn't serviceable garbage. Ymmv etc

Omega's Connaught Jade is the only Resin handled boar that I am aware of; also issued in Ivory correct? There is another in Black/Clear acrylic as well. I'm not fond of the plastic handles used, but I don't hate them over my Semogues or Zenith's.

In fact, OP - I would also toss out there the Omega Proraso along with the 10048; Similar but different - just wait until you get into a Mistura (oh dear, now I've done it)...

This morning's shave with the Pro48:

 

[ChriWilson]

The Omega faux jade from connaught shaving is also often considered the best boar shaving brush.
That one has a solid handle but shorter bristles and a much more premium feel to it.

As long as you soak your brush properly, you'll most likely enjoy it.

Another point this raises - be patient with whichever brush(es) you select.
There IS a break-in period for all boars. Though Zenith's tend to lessen that with their bleaching, all of mine still underwent a breakin period. Italian Barber's "Blondie" gives a solid entry point for new to Zenith users - j/s

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the SOC didn't have much backbone, which is the reason I hadn't aquired one.

The SOC is a marvelous brush, as is the Connaught Jade - but here is how I suggest to settle "backbone"

 

[NorthernSoul]

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the SOC didn't have much backbone, which is the reason I hadn't aquired one.

If you'd like to go with Semogue, take a look at the C5 Torga boar. This has similar bristles to the SOC boar, but has a shorter loft. It is a dense, scrubby brush that is ideal for face lathering. Not floppy at all.

Omega does have some nice handles. Check out the 11137 ash wood boar, for instance. This is a very good all-around brush with 24mm knot and 55mm loft. Comparable to the SOC in many ways, but the knot is firmer and does not bloom out to such a huge size as the SOC does.

 

[Jens]

I am a long time fan of, and have extensive experience with boars.

For your first boar -- if you want only one (LOL) -- I would recommend an Omega, over a Semogue (never mind handles).

There are two reasons for this:

__ first, Omega boars are usually cheaper than Semogues. One of my favourite boars, the Omega 10066, retails at around 5 $. Semogue boars typically start at around 4X that (around 20 $)

__ second, as you may be aware, a great feature particular to boar brushes, is that the bristle will keep splitting more and more as you keep using the brush, meaning that your brush will keep getting softer and denser with use, as the (increasingly split) tips get still thinner/finer and softer.
But, this continuing splitting and improvement of the brush is notably more pronounced with so-called "natural" bristle, than is the case with bleached and colored bristle. And Omega offers a much wider selection of natural bristle than does Semogue, whose brushes are mainly either bleached or colored bristle.

A final point I will make is, get a smaller boar, rather than a larger one. I have witnessed many people start out with one of the most famous and talked about boars, such as the Omega 10048 "Pro" or the "Proraso" boar (or even the Semogue SOC or 2000), which are all natural bristle, but also all knots in the 26 - 28mm neighborhood. They then gradually abandon them again, because they find them too big (and sometimes abandon boars altogether, because they think all boars are this big).
I would advise getting a knot no bigger than between 22 -- 24 mm. And again, Omega has a much bigger selection in this range than Semogue does, also in natural bristle. In this knot diameter range I can recommend for example the Omega 10066, 10081, 11137, 11819, 80097, or the 10029 if you like a little more backbone, all of these are natural bristle. There are more options, check Omegas website for yourself.

Among the smaller Semogue boars, I personally really love the Semogue 620 (although it's colored bristle), but for a first boar, I would stick with a small Omega with natural bristle.
I also really love Semogue's acrylic handles, especially the octagonal ones, but over the years I have just found that for me, a pretty acrylic handle is not what makes me keep returning to a brush. What does, are the knot / bristle qualities I have considered above.

Hope you find a boar brush that will give you a good experience.

 

[Captain Howdy]

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the SOC didn't have much backbone, which is the reason I hadn't aquired one.

I was also expecting SoC to be floppy, so it does seem to have that reputation, but it doesn't deserve it. The only reason it's not my favorite boar is because it's actually too firm... Which is unfortunate because otherwise it's a perfect boar. Though SoC backbone isn't as extreme as, say, Proraso Pro brush by omega.