Need Help With Boar Brushes

[GunzRX]

I have two boar brushes atm but I can't get them to lather. I can get the O, I just put a huge amount of product on my cheek Looky Looky affect but not real lather like I can with my pure badger (which is a ***).

I can provide photos I've tried soaking for awhile, letting it drip, and then a few shakes; I've also tried squeezing out the water and trying.

I have a feeling lather is over-hyped as the only way I learnt to make lather with the badgers was to mostly dis-regard online advice and just wet a little and go at it.

From my reading and my opininon so far it seems the Kent Visage Brush I have is clipped and so should probably be in the garbage..

I got a better lather using the just go for it method, but I have an omega sitting on top of my fridge and I'll try the just go for it method in the morning.

Also have a another one or two in the mail so I'll see.

Any further advice would be appreciated.

I can get a lather going it seems but after a bit more water the lather just vanishes. Might be too much water, but might be that the brush is too wet from soaking it. Like I said, I'm going to try not soaking it entirely after.

I've tried wilk sword soap, trumper almond, and proraso white with the Kent vs60; and, the proraso, and wilk with the Omega.

 

[Chadtheguru]

Load your brush for longer than you think you need to. Use more product than you think you need to use.

Also, tell us your lather building process. Face-lather? Bowl-lather?

How much water are you starting with in the bowl? Wet face?

Details, man!

 

[pcumby]

First read this.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/199887

this is the Italian master barbers method for lathering (commonly referred to here as "the Marco method")
I like to let my boars soak for more than 30 seconds.
Don't be shy with the product as the previous poster said

Give us an update when you try again
good luck
Phil

 

[rockviper]

I had trouble with boars for a while as well, but now like them a great deal. It all came down to using a wetter brush than I used with my badgers and loading longer. Here's a thread on my boar "eureka!" moment.

 

[takeshi]

I have a feeling lather is over-hyped

Overhyped is overhyped. It doesn't mean "doesn't work for me" despite how it's commonly used.

How do you shave without lather?

I can get a lather going it seems but after a bit more water the lather just vanishes.

That's the typical "not enough product" problem. Have you read the lathering guide linked in the sticky at the top of the subforum for whatever you're using? If you're using a soap pay particular attention to the section on proper loading. If you're using a cream I really can't offer any input other than use more product. If you don't have enough product then, yes, you'll end up with nothing when you add water or the lather will be thin and dry out.

Many find that a wetter brush helps with boars. However, if you can tell when your brush is properly loaded then it really doesn't matter what type of brush, soap or water you're using -- you'll be mostly good to go if your brush is properly loaded.

 

[tinashubby]

I started with boar, then got a badger. I have much difficulty even using the boar now it just doesn't create lather well. I won't buy another.

 

[gmgaj]

I love my omega for face lathering. I wet my face, then apply soap over my whole face from a stick. I take a soaked brush, shake out the water and start swirling. After I get a white coating, I dip the tip of the brush in hot water, and work one side of my face, then dip again and do the other. Repeat until the lather is at the consistancy that you want. Usually I end up with a liberal coating of thick fluffy lather, and my pro 49 completely filled as well. It takes a minute or 2 at the most for me.

The only other question I have is whether you have hard or soft water. I had hard water, and added a softener. It made a huge difference in how my lather built up. Soft water definitely lathers much easier.

 

[edgerunner]

@ OP: Are the brushes new? How many times have you used them since you bought them?

 

[Leon]

I have a feeling lather is over-hyped as the only way I learnt to make lather with the badgers was to mostly dis-regard online advice and just wet a little and go at it.

Funny. I get lather easier using boar brushes than badger. YMMV I suppose.

My go-to brush is the SOC boar. Here's how I do it with any kind of soap with guaranteed results:

1) Let it sit upside down in a small bowl with warm water (not hot, hot water will kill the piggy in the long run);
2) 5-10 minutes later, get the brush, let it drip, once it stops, do a gentle pump, not shake;
3) Start using it with circular motions on top of your soap puck. 30-60 seconds later you'll have enough lather for 3 passes and touch-ups.

Guaranteed.

 

[PFP_Dad]

I don't soak my brush at all most days. I just run it under hot tap water for 15-30 seconds and then hit the soap until it begins to show signs of lathering. Add a couple drops of water to the tips and then to the face for lathering. It sounds like your soap to water ratio is too much water not enough soap. Wet lather is good, but moderation is the key.

 

[Attila]

Overhyped is overhyped. It doesn't mean "doesn't work for me" despite how it's commonly used.

How do you shave without lather?


That's the typical "not enough product" problem. Have you read the lathering guide linked in the sticky at the top of the subforum for whatever you're using? If you're using a soap pay particular attention to the section on proper loading. If you're using a cream I really can't offer any input other than use more product. If you don't have enough product then, yes, you'll end up with nothing when you add water or the lather will be thin and dry out.

Many find that a wetter brush helps with boars. However, if you can tell when your brush is properly loaded then it really doesn't matter what type of brush, soap or water you're using -- you'll be mostly good to go if your brush is properly loaded.

+3. Excellent information throughout this thread, but Takeshi nailed it right on the money.

 

[celestino]

Load your brush for longer than you think you need to. Use more product than you think you need to use.

Also, tell us your lather building process. Face-lather? Bowl-lather?

How much water are you starting with in the bowl? Wet face?

Details, man!

+1 Boar do require more product. Good luck.

 

[brucered]

@ OP: Are the brushes new? How many times have you used them since you bought them?

I would also like to know if these brushes are broken in yet? some of my boars, took 20-30 uses before they started to shine.

more product is also a good recommendation.

 

[OldSaw]

Looks like you're getting some good advice here. I've had very good results with several boar brushes over the years. Keep using it and it will get better. Also try giving it a shampoo a couple of times or wash it with some borax. Once your boar brush is broken in it will serve you well.

 

[AjaxLepinski]

The thing I like about boar brushes is that they are inexpensive. This means you can beat the heck out of them without worry. Boar brushes need to be whipped and pumped into the soap, cream, bowl or face. Slap that boar silly and you'll get a better lather.

 

[brothers]

Funny. I get lather easier using boar brushes than badger. YMMV I suppose.

My go-to brush is the SOC boar. Here's how I do it with any kind of soap with guaranteed results:

1) Let it sit upside down in a small bowl with warm water (not hot, hot water will kill the piggy in the long run);
2) 5-10 minutes later, get the brush, let it drip, once it stops, do a gentle pump, not shake;
3) Start using it with circular motions on top of your soap puck. 30-60 seconds later you'll have enough lather for 3 passes and touch-ups.

Guaranteed.

Long before I read this post I had developed the same process for using my well-broken-in boar brush, a Semogue 2000. Now I also have two other boars, and Omega and a Zenith. These three simple steps have given me a dependable and ample lather every time with all of my boars. Don't overlook the importance of step 3. Loading means just that, at least a half a minute, but in my case I love a lot of lather so I usually go a full minute when loading the brush.

 

[doug1066]

My daily brush is an Omega 10049 and my travel brush is a VDH banded boar. I never have a problem getting a good lather from them. I let my boars soak for about 30 seconds to one minute while I get my razor out and apply deodorant. I then wet the top of my soap, currently ARKO, shake out the brush a couple of times and start whipping lather in the mug. Usually in thirty seconds or less I have more lather than I need. I have been using this technique for 35 years or so and have never had a problem.

 

[Matt_Bloodletter]

I literally was going to throw my boar away out of frustration. Then one day - poof. I'd say it takes a lot of practice, which no matter how many videos and guides you look at, will be trial and error. What I love about boars is that you ride 'em hard and put them away wet. Lather it even if you do not use it in your rotation that day. Palm lathering will give you a great simulation of face lather and you can see very quickly the effect of adding more product, more water, or less. There are also vinegar and hair conditioner options to soften the bristles.

What's neat about boars is that it's kind of an accomplishment when it's dialed in and you will be rewarded. It isn't hype.

 

[superkreep]

I load my boar with hella product, and it goes into beast mode. Load and hydrate. I mostly use soaps and bowl lather. Don't give up!

 

[GunzRX]

Wow I accidently deleted my entire post (on a phone). Short version: Used in shower to test (omega boar) with pear's body soap. Best lather ever!

Couldn't repeat at the sink, suspect it has to do w/ humidity level, and soak time on brush.

Amazed the brush will get better from this! Could only feel soap on skin no bristles. 2nd shave on brush. Will post photo I took once at pc.

Edit - O yea, thanks everyone. (Forgot my manners there for a second. :$ )

Photo: Not as good here as in the bathroom where it looked like photos I see but progress is progress.



edit - O yea that's basically all from Pears which I just posted a thread about. $1 a puck for something that beats out things 10x the cost (proraso white for example) is thumbs-up in my books.