Pure Badger hair works better?

[apothecary11]

A couple of weeks back I decided to try a puck of soap I had neglected from when I started wet shaving. I loved the shave so much that I decided to build lather with my first brush (http://www.amazon.com/Colonel-Conk-Progress-247-Shaving/dp/B001XURHAC/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_43) that I have abandoned since I started using an EJ SB brush 6 months ago.

I have continued to use the pure badger brush with soap for 2 weeks now and have found that the shaves are much better. This is counterintuitive and I was wondering how this could be. Does this mean that I might be a "boar hair" guy, in that stiffer brushes are better for me? I have a theory about why the pure hair brush works better: which is that my especially coarse hair is better lifted with a stiffer brush, where the softer brush cannot accomplish this as efficiently.

What do you think?

 

[WhosYerBob]

Works for me. I have both types of brushes and prefer my $7 VDH Deluxe boar to all of my $$$ badgers.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I'm a firm believer that one has to find just what works best for them. I find this true in almost everything. A good example of this could be that 100 people use a certain thing, and it works wonderful for them, so you decide to give it a try. But for you the results are terrible, everything about this item seem bad.

Same goes with shaving items and gear. What works for one just might not work for another, hence the trial and error. A good example of this is that a large number of our members, myself included, find Merkur blades to be lousy, yet others like them.

Just continue to experiment with different things until you find just what works best for you. Good luck.

 

[JPM]

I think it is pretty much a YMMV thing. I have a boar brush (and another on the way) a Super badger and a Silvertip badger. I like them all for different reasons. I seem to be able to lather soap better with the boar and the Silvertip is just so soft with a cream. My favorite is probably the Super because it is a nice cross between soft and stiff, if that makes sense. I guess it is all about finding what works best for you.

 

[karzbi]

I used to be of the mind that my pure badger brush "worked better" than my best badger brush. After mucking about and spending a lot of time with the best badger, HMW and finest badger brush varieties, I discovered that different grades of badger simply "work differently" and that I simply had worked out a process on my pure badger brush (aka my first) that didn't work very well with the other badger grades. after some experimentation, I learned how to use each to their maximum effect, all are more or less functionally equivalent when in come to making lather.

Play around with your lather routine and you'll nail all your brushes and then, after a while, determine which one "works best" with your particular style, preferences and ethos.

Happy lathering
Karl

 

[richmondesi]

I used to be of the mind that my pure badger brush "worked better" than my best badger brush. After mucking about and spending a lot of time with the best badger, HMW and finest badger brush varieties, I discovered that different grades of badger simply "work differently" and that I simply had worked out a process on my pure badger brush (aka my first) that didn't work very well with the other badger grades. after some experimentation, I learned how to use each to their maximum effect, all are more or less functionally equivalent when in come to making lather.

Play around with your lather routine and you'll nail all your brushes and then, after a while, determine which one "works best" with your particular style, preferences and ethos.

Happy lathering
Karl

I agree. I can build great lather with everything from HMW Plissons to Omega Boar brushes. They have different characteristics, but lather building isn't a problem. FWIW, after my brush cleanout, 3 boars and 1 Pure survived the cut along with my Plissons and Rooney Finest brushes

 

[Mink]

I have continued to use the pure badger brush with soap for 2 weeks now and have found that the shaves are much better. This is counterintuitive and I was wondering how this could be. Does this mean that I might be a "boar hair" guy, in that stiffer brushes are better for me? I have a theory about why the pure hair brush works better: which is that my especially coarse hair is better lifted with a stiffer brush, where the softer brush cannot accomplish this as efficiently.

What do you think?[/QUOTE]

This is a little confusing to me. You say you are enjoying your "pure badger brush", and then "does this mean that I might be a boar hair guy"

Pure badger and boar are 2 very different brush hair types. I think badger are easier to learn on because the soap/water balance is easier and the badger brush that has been shaken "dry" (I know, it's not dry) after soaking loads soap easier - and more soap. Once you have some experience with making lather though, you learn how to make good lather with either type.

Not to lose sight of your original comment though, I do feel that Pure and Best badger brushes do generate really good lather easier than the softer, higher quality (more expensive) badger brushes. I would put the boar brushes between them (my opinion). My best lather making brush is an Omega Stripey that has pure black badger. I think it's the stiffer (clipped) hair. The boar brushes, once you get the soap/water balance down, and it is different, also make huge amounts of good lather. Again, I do think it's the stiffness and the additional flex in the bristles that comes with the stiffness. Oh, I'm a bowl latherer, so the face lathering may be different.

 

[apothecary11]

thank you for all the responses. I think the "stiffer" grade of badger hair is a good fit right now for the mix of soaps and face lathering. Its good to know there are others on B&B that also get consistently great shaves with some of the lower grade brushes. I just felt a little strange using the lower grade of hair to shave while looking at the SB brush on the counter.