My First Boar Brush

[doctordial]

Well..... my Omega 10066 brush came in yesterday. I used it and to me it didn't hold on to water to long. Although it lather up ok, it's not what I was hoping for. I can use one of my hair brushes to get whiskers to come out more. I was expecting something more scrubby. I'm disappointed.

 

[Old Hippie]

Well..... my Omega 10066 brush came in yesterday. I used it and to me it didn't hold on to water to long. Although it lather up ok, it's not what I was hoping for. I can use one of my hair brushes to get whiskers to come out more. I was expecting something more scrubby. I'm disappointed.

Just one use, mind you. It's a boar. Give it a month or two and it'll just be breaking in.

I've been using the same Omega 10005 for the last three years now, every single shave and it's a great brush.

Soak it about five minutes first. Then just use it. If ever you're thinking it's not working, try using a synthetic brush one day. That'll show the difference.

Although the Omega has pretty stiff bristles when dry, if you're looking for a stiffer brush have a go with the Semogue Owner's Club boar. I've got one of those, too -- thinking I'd need a spare. Maybe when I'm 90 I'll be pulling it out when the Omega finally dies. (I am old but 90 is still 27 years away...)

O.H.

 

[Hairy Callahan]

Yep. Need to give that pig a proper break in period. Also need to soak that hog before use. Tell Siri to play Dean Martin. Do your pre shave routine. Then shake that hot water off that boar brush. Those bristles will whip some lather. You are working with a natural product. It can't perform un-natural acts. Let it soak. That pig hair is gonna become your best brush. But you've got to work on that hog's timeline. Dino will be well into his third song before you're ready to whip up a lather. That's Amore!

 

[Alex Jr]

Soak it, use it, wait for it…

There’s nothing like a broken in boar.

They absorb, hold and release water differently from other hair types. The result is a creamy, slick, bubble free lather.

I haven’t touched my badgers and synthetics in a long time. I’ll keep them just for the hell of it, but I’m forever a boar man.

 

[Garry357]

I have an Omega Pro 48 Boar.
3-4 day break in
soak while in the shower.

It is a lather bomb, easily my favourite brush now, incredibly soft once the hairs split.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Don't judge it before it has had a chance to break-in and bloom!

If you want a scrubbier boar brush, you might go with a denser knot with a shorter loft. For example, the Semogue C5 Torga boar has a dense 24mm knot with a 50mm loft. That's a much stouter knot around 6mm shorter than the 10066, IIRC.

Another approach is the traditional Italian pro barber style brush which is a thick boar knot around 27-28mm with a tall loft 56-60mm that holds a ton of soap. For this, I'd suggest the Proraso Pro boar brush (made by Omega).

 

[JCinPA]

Breakin can take a long time with a boar, but they are hands-down my favorite brushes.

Try this. Put it in a glass of plain water in the fridge overnight, next morning shake it out, and rub just the tips of the bristles on a terry towel for about 10 minutes. It's a PITA, but it really speeds up the breakin process. What happens is what your wife/GF would call "split ends", which is a good thing on a boar brush.

Then use it not every day, but every other day, for about 2 months. As has been said, soak it while you're in the shower. Let it dry for an off day between shaves. By the time you've gone that amount of time, it very well may be your favorite brush.

My favorites are an Omega 10049, an old B&B Anniversary brush, a Zenith, and a vintage Surrey. Love the boars.

 

[GR5233]

My favorites are an Omega 10049, an old B&B Anniversary brush, a Zenith, and a vintage Surrey. Love the boars.

The omega 49 is a great brush. The one I have broke in seemingly overnight. I also have one of the Stirling branded Zeniths. That one is still breaking in but it’s becoming almost as good as the Omega

 

[musicman1951]

I don't have this brush (and I've never had a $9 boar), so I don't know how it will perform for you, but the advice to wait until it breaks in before you decide is right on the money. Semogue boars can take up to 8 weeks before they're fully broken in.

If you want something specific - like scrubby - from a brush this is a great forum for asking advice. Plenty of shavers will give you good information on what's available for that request.

 

[Trollky]

A bit of patience is needed with any new boar brush. They need to break in and some take longer than others (Omega faster, Semogue slower in my experience). Initially you may also need to load your soap for longer.

BUT when it does break in there is not much better in all of shavedom!

For the longest time the Omega 10048 was my favourite boar brush but recently the slightly smaller 10049 unseated it as top dog!

Bonus - they are cheap as chips

 

[dreadpirate]

Soak it, use it, wait for it…

There’s nothing like a broken in boar.

They absorb, hold and release water differently from other hair types. The result is a creamy, slick, bubble free lather.

I haven’t touched my badgers and synthetics in a long time. I’ll keep them just for the hell of it, but I’m forever a boar man.

This ^^^ I have nothing to add.

 

[ChriWilson]

I have an Omega Pro 48 Boar.
3-4 day break in
soak while in the shower.

It is a lather bomb, easily my favourite brush now, incredibly soft once the hairs split.

In no particular order, my fave Omegas are the Pro48, Proraso, and the Connaught Jade

Don't judge it before it has had a chance to break-in and bloom!

If you want a scrubbier boar brush, you might go with a denser knot with a shorter loft. For example, the Semogue C5 Torga boar has a dense 24mm knot with a 50mm loft. That's a much stouter knot around 6mm shorter than the 10066, IIRC.

Another approach is the traditional Italian pro barber style brush which is a thick boar knot around 27-28mm with a tall loft 56-60mm that holds a ton of soap. For this, I'd suggest the Proraso Pro boar brush (made by Omega).

Semogue's Torga is a gem - but I fully support the Omega Proraso and the Connaught Jade as well.

The omega 49 is a great brush. The one I have broke in seemingly overnight. I also have one of the Stirling branded Zeniths. That one is still breaking in but it’s becoming almost as good as the Omega

The 49 is such an underrated brush at a great price point - I'd say these (have 2)were my gateway into my stash of boars

 

[Keyvan]

In my experience the Omega brushes have more backbone than the Semogue brushes. Within a brand, a brush with an equivalent knot set at a lower loft will will have more backbone than one with that knot set at a higher loft.

I have knot heard anyone complain about the backbone of the 49, but the Connaught Jade Omega, which I have, and the Proraso Omega, which I do not have, are set at lower lofts than the 49 and should have more backbone and scrub. The Jade Omega does have more backbone than the 49, but the difference is not between night and day.

The Razorock/ Zenith brushes use much finer hair than the Semogue and Omega brushes, and the hair is more densely packed, but IME that does not translate to greater backbone.

If you really want backbone, I would stick with Omega Boars. A good option for a large brush would be the Proraso and a good medium sized option would be the Jade.

I can’t think of a good small Omega with more backbone than the 10066, but you would basically look for a larger knot with an equivalent or lower loft. Alternatively, look for the same sized knot set at a lower loft.

Yaqi made a small boar with a very short loft (pictured below). The tips are gelled, so the feel is a bit different, but it has a great deal of backbone and scrub.

Before doing anything, I would let your current brush break in. The splitting of the hairs will give it a fuller feel on your face. That doesn’t mean it will have more backbone, but the feel will definitely improve.

 

[ButterfaceX]

 

[DesertIguana]

I too own a Price Point Omega Brand, EL-CHEAPO Boar Brush under $10.00, as I say it works. Lathers up good, puts layer of lather-soap on face well.

I often wonder why some brush cost way above $100.00, or more. If you get desirable results with a price point brush, do you need anything more? Who is it you are trying to impress? Ghosts that hangs out where you shave, and watch's you shave your beard, or ?

But if you want that custom Brush, have the extra bucks, plus it is on your bucket list go for it.

I too can appreciate some of the artistic materials, exotic wood handles on customs brushes, but they are do not improve the performance of the Knot. Knot does work.

 

[NorthernSoul]

In my experience the Omega brushes have more backbone than the Semogue brushes. Within a brand, a brush with an equivalent knot set at a lower loft will will have more backbone than one with that knot set at a higher loft.

I have knot heard anyone complain about the backbone of the 49, but the Connaught Jade Omega, which I have, and the Proraso Omega, which I do not have, are set at lower lofts than the 49 and should have more backbone and scrub. The Jade Omega does have more backbone than the 49, but the difference is not between night and day.

The Semogue C5 Torga boar is actually firmer than many smaller Omega boars. I would not generalize all Semogues as softer than Omegas.

Omega Jade has quite a bit more backbone than the Omega 49. About 53mm loft for the Jade compared with about 60mm for the 49. The same brush is also available now with an ivory color handle. Great brush.

I can’t think of a good small Omega with more backbone than the 10066, but you would basically look for a larger knot with an equivalent or lower loft. Alternatively, look for the same sized knot set at a lower loft.

Omega 80080 beehive boar is firmer than the 10066, with about 25mm/55mm knot.

Omega 11137 ash wood boar is a bit firmer than the 10066.

 

[GR5233]

The 49 is such an underrated brush at a great price point - I'd say these (have 2)were my gateway into my stash of boars

Totally underrated. The quality is way above what the price would suggest.

Pretty much what it looked like after the first use. It’s probably broken in more since then but still looks a lot like the picture. No fancy break in routine. Just soaked in warm water during my showers and used

 

[Keyvan]

The Semogue C5 Torga boar is actually firmer than many smaller Omega boars. I would not generalize all Semogues as softer than Omegas.

Omega Jade has quite a bit more backbone than the Omega 49. About 53mm loft for the Jade compared with about 60mm for the 49. The same brush is also available now with an ivory color handle. Great brush.



Omega 80080 beehive boar is firmer than the 10066, with about 25mm/55mm knot.

Omega 11137 ash wood boar is a bit firmer than the 10066.

I did not mean to imply that every Omega has more back bone than every Semogue, but on average Omega boars have more backbone than Semogue boars. My Omega 11126, however, definitely does not have a great deal of backbone. The C5 Torga looks like a densely packed brush and I can believe that it has a good deal of scrub.

The thing about the Semogues is that they bloom out more than the Omegas and they lose a great deal of backbone after full break in. My SOC boar has about the same amount of backbone as my SOC two band, far less than my Omega 49.

I don’t mind less backbone and love the SOC’s craftsmanship and the general feel of the Semogues.

 

[ajkel64]

I used my Omega 10066 Boar this morning. Great brush and mine was purchased second hand off eBay. I hope that yours is settling in well.

 

[amateur]

As I wrote here, I have five Omega boars. And I've never regretted buying them. Today I shaved with a great Omega 10108 brush. A sea of foam and a gorgeous result.