In Praise of the lowly Boar

[neatokino]

OK, I've had a lifetime of shaving with badger brushes. I bought my first one at 15, 41 years ago, and until I started visiting B&B's site, I'd never used anything but badger. I remember my ex mother in law (lovely woman) once gave me an omega boar brush as part of a gift, and internally I scoffed. Never used the brush. Wish I could find it now.

After reading about the qualities of different brushes here on this site, I decided to test the waters and try a boar. I ordered the latest B&B green-handled special edition brush from West Coast Shaving the day it was announced, and I've shaved almost exclusively with it since, which is just a little over a week. In other words, it's still not broken in yet. And it's amazing. Cella soap lathered the Marco method (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...70#post2981170), it is amazing. Face lathered with Valobra stick, it is amazing. Face lathered with Proraso, it is amazing. Lathers like crazy, has great backbone, obviously, and really works up the skin on my face.

I own probably 10 nice badger brushes, silvertip, TGN Finest, pure badger, etc etc. They're all lovely and lather extremely well, and they leave nothing to be desired. So I'll still use them, I'm sure. But I gotta say, for pure quality of lather and quality of shave, nothing beats the boar. Soon I'll be getting my cherry-handled Semogue SOC, and something tells me I may never turn back....

 

[Niles]

I prefer boar brushes, too. But especially with soft soaps such as Proraso and Cella.

 

[RobW]

So long as you stick to the Omega and Semogue lines, I doubt you are going to find too many harsh criticisms about boar brushes around here...they definitely have a devout fandom. Not all boars are made the same. Try the Semogue 830 or 610 varieties, if you're into face-lathering.

 

[neatokino]

I will definitely give the Semogue 830 or 610's a shot... though god knows, I don't need another brush....

 

[Graybeard57]

I prefer the boar over badger as well. A little over a week ago, I received my own green B&B Omega boar, and it is terrific.

 

[Emanon]

Badgers? We don't need no steeenking badgers!!!

 

[Jut]

good call:

 

[Chesterfield]

good call:

that is freaking hilarious, jochums!!

 

[TBoner]

I am very fond of boars. I have used them exclusively for long stretches (a year or more) during my wetshaving career. I vacillate between preferring boar and preferring badger, but I can say I have never been disappointed by a boar brush from a reputable maker (i.e. Semogue, Omega, Vulfix) and have repeatedly been disappointed by badger brushes from the big names. It may be something to do with high expectations associated with $100+ purchases, but I also think it has to do with the fact that bad badger brushes not only feel lousy on the face, they often don't work - lather vacuums, low-flow brushes, etc. Even my worst boar brush worked for lathering.

Current boars in my den that I am sure will stay forever: 8
Current badgers in my den that I am sure will stay forever: 1, maybe 2

 

[patten1969]

Omega 10049 pro is sittin' right next to my Plisson Euro white horn, T&H/Rooney Classic and Simpson 58. I love it and will never let it go!

 

[BarbaGnosa]

From my reading it seems boar and horse were most commonly used, and in some places clearly preferred, for shaving brushes in much of Europe and the Americas for the past few centuries. There's a reason. I'm also loving the new B&B Essential boar. Thanks for the tip on Marco's face lathering method. I find his information and advice typically well informed and valuable.

 

[Toothpick]

Been doing this wet shaving thing over a year now. VDH boar was my first brush, I used the heck out of it until a fellow member PIFed me a Semogue boar. Been using the heck out of that one since. Never used a badger brush.

 

[Batman]

Down to one badger - now working a Semogue 2012 LE, 620, SOC, and 1305.

 

[JCinPA]

You can use a boar with creams or a badger with soaps, of course, but I find myself gravitating more and more to all boar with soaps and all badger with creams.

I'm a huge Omega fan, I like the softness of their tips, they break in super-easy and don't get as unruly as the Semogues. I've given my Semogues away.

 

[Acmemfg]

Taking all the love for boar brushes into consideration (me also..4 Omega and 1 Semogue boars are in the mix-3 badgers and 2 synthetics as well) does anyone else think "Badger, Boar, & Blade" would be out of the question in the future?

 

[NewTyme]

I prefer boar brushes, too. But especially with soft soaps such as Proraso and Cella.

Why do you prefer them with soft soaps? My first boar is on its way now, so I'm trying to figure out if it is supposed work better in certain applications.

My first thought was that a boar (stiffer backbone) would work better on hard soaps. Is this wrong?

 

[Emanon]

Why do you prefer them with soft soaps? My first boar is on its way now, so I'm trying to figure out if it is supposed work better in certain applications.

My first thought was that a boar (stiffer backbone) would work better on hard soaps. Is this wrong?

That depends (see I didn't say "YMMV"). Obviously a more firm bristle will work better on soap. (imo). But again it's a preference not a rule. 20 swirls as opposed to 15? Whatever. But then there is also how someone likes the feel on their face. Softer? Stiffer? scritchy? Then what if you use soap and cream/soft soap? A boar and a badger?

You get many good ideas from reading and taking advice. But you also get convinced of things by way of popular views. You have to experiment.

 

[brother cavefish]

i love boars and have had the for 18+ years, i am a hard soaper/face latherer and these brushes dig into the bowl and scrub your face great

 

[LatherLoco]

I'm right there with you! I rarely use my badger brush. It just can't out perform my boar brush in terms of making a really nice lather and in less time. And it applies the foam wonderfully on my face

 

[TripleG]

I use an Omega 20102 on a daily basis and for me, it's perfect.