If I like soft bristles, will I like a good boar brush or not?

[cvac]

So I've tried a few different brushes with different grades of badger hair. Started off with pure badger, then tried a mid-grade one, and now I'm using a Semogue silvertip brush. I sold the others because I prefer the silvertip.

Anyway, after seeing on this board how boar brushes have surged in popularity I'm wondering if I should try one. I keep reading that they really soften up over time. Just how soft do they get? How long do they take to get there?

 

[scott69]

I use a Colonel Conk blended badger brush. I have a pure badger and it's too soft for me, and some of the boars are too stiff. The Conk badger/boar blend seems to be balanced just right - not too stiff & not too soft. And it lathers up a storm.

 

[ChrisG]

My girlfriends father has an Omega and I was completely surprised at just how soft it was when it gets broken in.

 

[Klarion]

I think you may, actually. I've enjoyed my Boreal, which has a ton of backbone, but relatively soft tips after having used it for several months now. In fact, I prefer it to my Rooney 1/1 Super. And, you know, there's a certain Semogue making the rounds....

 

[Leche]

Boars get incredibly soft while retaining great backbone. So cheap you have to try.

 

[domino]

Hi, the softest brush that you can get is a synthetic. I have the, Semogue silver tip brush also, but non thing I have is as soft as a synthetic. The best synthetic is the one made by, Taylor. It holds lather for several passes when I use it for shaving with a straight razor and I use tallow soaps primarily. I perfer the synthetic brush over the two boars that I have, Semogue, and the Omaga pro.

 

[insomb]

I dunno'. I've had mine since... I beleive September. It's gotten soft, way softer than it started but it's not soft enough for me. I haven't used silvertip yet, but I'm shopping for one now for the same reason you're looking for a boar lol. Who knows. I did take a look at that Taylor synth, synths are another one that don't get much mention around here. At the moment I was looking at this http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=E&t=5689 (that lather looks sexy) based on ChrisG's rec... in this http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=123064 Totally forgot to mention that Taylor. Too many options, system overload, must buy everything.

 

[domino]

I was lucky and found the, Taylor brush on sale. The performance has been a pleasant surprise. It is part of my permanent rotation.The cost is a heck of a lot less than some of my other brushes

 

[insomb]

I was lucky and found the, Taylor brush on sale. The performance has been a pleasant surprise. It is part of my permanent rotation.The cost is a heck of a lot less than some of my other brushes

Can you compare it to any silvertips? Is this the old one or the new 100% synthetic also?

 

[domino]

It is unlike any bager or boar brush. The tips are much softer. It is the new model with the crimped hair to help retain water. Check this link for the review: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105486&highlight=synthetic+brush

 

[insomb]

It is unlike any bager or boar brush. The tips are much softer. It is the new model with the crimped hair to help retain water. Check this link for the review: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105486&highlight=synthetic+brush

I know I've seen it. It sounds great. I haven't heard anyone actually say the tips are softer than any badger brush though. What badgers are you comparing it to?

 

[insomb]

Also where did you find it on sale?

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Boars get incredibly soft while retaining great backbone. So cheap you have to try.

Jaguars are silky...Try the medium (1056) or the large (1071).

 

[Ignatius]

I know I've seen it. It sounds great. I haven't heard anyone actually say the tips are softer than any badger brush though. What badgers are you comparing it to?

Synthetic brushes are incredibly soft. I saw one in a Dept. Store here recently for £60 and it was, aside from being a gorgeous brush generally, the softest thing I'd ever handled by far. The knock against them is that they just don't work as well as badger/boar in the retention of water and lather. There is however a new TOBS synthetic that some feel goes some way towards rectifying this.

 

[WhosYerBob]

I use a VDH Deluxe boar brush that I bought new. Now - a couple months of use later - it's getting much softer, with nice back bone.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Synthetic brushes are incredibly soft. I saw one in a Dept. Store here recently for £60

For about 35 pounds you have a Semogue 2009 LE....
For about 8 pounds a Jaguar 1056.....

 

[kingfisher]

My Omega came pretty soft, and softened up over the next two weeks or so. Now it is very soft, without losing its backbone. I am sure you would be surprised how soft they are.

Try one of the Omegas; you can get one for 10 bucks or so. Stinks like a wet dog for awhile, but it's a really nice brush.

 

[richmondesi]

My Omega came pretty soft, and softened up over the next two weeks or so. Now it is very soft, without losing its backbone. I am sure you would be surprised how soft they are.

Try one of the Omegas; you can get one for 10 bucks or so. Stinks like a wet dog for awhile, but it's a really nice brush.

among other things

They are nice, though

 

[Kevan]

Once broken in and wet, a good boar like an Omega is as soft as any silvertip.

 

[Suzuki]

Once broken in and wet, a good boar like an Omega is as soft as any silvertip.

But not in the same way - my silvertips do seem to have a more luxurious feel to them.

That being said, boar brushes do soften up quite nicely (and there are various tricks to speed up the process) and a broken in boar is softer than many pure grade badgers will ever be.