Semogue 1470 & 830 have arrived!

[JPDyson]

Well gents, the wait for shipping from Portugal has born great fruit! I received the slip in my mailbox yesterday that said I could come claim my lovelies today. I said to myself "Self, you have a couple of coffee mugs and some Dawn at the office - why not go ahead and give 'em a bath?". I agreed with myself.

First notes: I've owned a couple brushes here or there (eh heh...) so I've seen and smelled some funky stuff with new brushes. Had some fun with these guys. For starters, the 1470 smelled like it got ahold of some "mature" ladies perfume. Not sure what that's all about - it didn't share with the 830 though, because it just smelled very mildly of Eu de Animal. I gave them a soak in some hot water, about 70% up the bristle, for a good 8 minutes and 16 seconds. I shook out the 1470 a bit and palm lathered some Dawn. Crap lather, btw - far too airy for any useful protection, but pretty slick. I might give it a try. Dropped her back in her mug, and picked up the 830 when I noticed - is that water PINK now? What the? Anyway, fresh water for that mug, and a quick dance with Dawn. After a few seconds, I noticed that the foam was darkening, so I gave it a more thorough rinse and repeated the lathering. Rinsed em both out really good, dried off on my trusty Target microfiber (automotive grade, only the best). Here they are, gents - straight from the spa. These are classy ladies (even if the 1470 prefers the natural look).

photo disclaimer - something wonky w/the white balance here, still - nice, huh?

 

[Derty]

I actually have the same pair with some 444asb on the way. Now I really cant wait!

 

[auk1124]

Received an 830 today. Breaking it in alongside an Omega 49, will be interesting to see which one I prefer (to be fair they are quite different in size).

 

[Blue_2]

My 1470 also produced garbage lather for the first two or three times. It got dramatically better after that, especially after a hair dryer treatment.

 

[JPDyson]

My 1470 also produced garbage lather for the first two or three times. It got dramatically better after that, especially after a hair dryer treatment.

You fell into the sar-chasm! Notice the product from which it made "crap lather"...

 

[oversaturn]

I have a Semogue 830 and love it, it is my weapon of choice for everyday use.

About the "pink water", Semogue uses pre-treated bristles.
That's why the brushes don't have that strong animal scent, and any residual smell will disappear in the first 3-5 uses, at maximum.
In the first use, the water becomes pink because of the powder they put to treat the bristles (I don't know for sure what it is, it looks like pink talc powder or something like that).

Oh, and greetings from Portugal - homeland of Semogue brushes!

 

[Maineac]

Congratulations on the two new members of your brush family!

I have three Semogues here that receive regular use.

 

[Blue_2]

You fell into the sar-chasm! Notice the product from which it made "crap lather"...

/facepalm

 

[oversaturn]

Do you shave with a dishwasher detergent? That's amazing!

 

[JPDyson]

I'm not sure how thoroughly I'm going to chronicle the breaking-in of these brushes, but my hope is to use or lather each one every other day. Each started with a good soap in hot water, and two cycles of wash/rinse with Dawn dish soap yesterday before lunch, and a single test palm-lather with MWF last night. I selected the 1470 for it's first shave this morning, and so it's first lather under normal use for me (that is, face or scuttle). If I keep this up like I think I will, I may do a report on the first 7 uses, then do a weekly update until week 4, then a monthly update for as long as it's meaningful (probably at least until 6 months).

1470.1 - Short Soak (-3 min), face lather w/AoS Sandalwood

This was actually a pretty bad idea from the start. A brand new boar brush needs far more time soaking than this. I woke up late, and forgot to get it soaking before I jumped in the shower. Once I got out of the shower, I dropped it in some hot water, 70% up the bristles. Brushed my teeth, slapped on some deodorant. Had to get moving. Left it pretty wet, and started loading on the soap - super sudsy. I gathered what suds I could, and went to my face. Not a ton of success. I figured the bristle is stealing my water and my soap, so I rinse and re-load. Better. Scrubbing on the face - not really whipping up into good cushion, but it's slick and it looks serviceable. I put the straight away and grab my Injector - my never-fail, insta-smooth, irritation free (but not that fun) shaver. Two-passes to DFS without irritation, but I could "feel" the blade more than usual.

Thoughts: Soak longer. Perhaps load longer while it's breaking in. Noticing a few split ends already!

830.1 - Longer Soak (while shaving), Palm-lather AoS Sandalwood

Better lather than I got from the 1470, but too much changed to figure out why (soak length, softening of the soap while it sat there wet, palm vs face, etc). In any case, it was better lather.

Thoughts: We're on the right track, just need to wait out the break-in. Again, already seeing split ends. A few more than the 1470. It's still leaving the water it soaks in slightly pink.

Whew. Am I really going to keep up this brush break-in diary? If nobody else finds this useful, I may abandon it.

 

[goby]

I have a Semogue 830 and love it, it is my weapon of choice for everyday use.

About the "pink water", Semogue uses pre-treated bristles.
That's why the brushes don't have that strong animal scent, and any residual smell will disappear in the first 3-5 uses, at maximum.
In the first use, the water becomes pink because of the powder they put to treat the bristles (I don't know for sure what it is, it looks like pink talc powder or something like that).

Oh, and greetings from Portugal - homeland of Semogue brushes!

The 830 is my only brush. It's so perfect I sold my other 3 brushes.

I've had it about a month or two, and it is so soft! It is unbelievable. It really feels like a badger, but with more backbone.

Thank goodness I got the 830 and won't have to try $100+ badgers for face lathering. It gives me more money to spend on CAD.

 

[mdevine]

Well gents, the wait for shipping from Portugal has born great fruit! I received the slip in my mailbox yesterday that said I could come claim my lovelies today. I said to myself "Self, you have a couple of coffee mugs and some Dawn at the office - why not go ahead and give 'em a bath?". I agreed with myself.

First notes: I've owned a couple brushes here or there (eh heh...) so I've seen and smelled some funky stuff with new brushes. Had some fun with these guys. For starters, the 1470 smelled like it got ahold of some "mature" ladies perfume. Not sure what that's all about - it didn't share with the 830 though, because it just smelled very mildly of Eu de Animal. I gave them a soak in some hot water, about 70% up the bristle, for a good 8 minutes and 16 seconds. I shook out the 1470 a bit and palm lathered some Dawn. Crap lather, btw - far too airy for any useful protection, but pretty slick. I might give it a try. Dropped her back in her mug, and picked up the 830 when I noticed - is that water PINK now? What the? Anyway, fresh water for that mug, and a quick dance with Dawn. After a few seconds, I noticed that the foam was darkening, so I gave it a more thorough rinse and repeated the lathering. Rinsed em both out really good, dried off on my trusty Target microfiber (automotive grade, only the best). Here they are, gents - straight from the spa. These are classy ladies (even if the 1470 prefers the natural look).

photo disclaimer - something wonky w/the white balance here, still - nice, huh?

A brush or two it would seem. I think I remember you selling an Eagle G3 and a Semogue Owner's Club brush (two of my favorites BTW). Good luck finding the brush that is right for you. Keep up the diary as it is interesting reading.

 

[Fozz7769]

I have both of these amongst other Semogue & Omega boars. I seem to remember that they both broke in quite quickly, 10 days or so. Good luck & enjoy em.

 

[Derty]

I'd love to follow this daily. Keep it up JP... My 830 and 444 asb should be here today! Still waiting on the 1470!

 

[auk1124]

Used my 830 this morning for the first time too - shed one bristle, completely sucked up what should have been a large bowl of Bigelow - I mean that bowl was sucked dry. My first experience with a lather hogging brush. Hopefully it'll start letting go of the lather after break in.

 

[JPDyson]

Used my 830 this morning for the first time too - shed one bristle, completely sucked up what should have been a large bowl of Bigelow - I mean that bowl was sucked dry. My first experience with a lather hogging brush. Hopefully it'll start letting go of the lather after break in.

This is purported to improve with breaking-in, yes.

 

[oversaturn]

This is purported to improve with breaking-in, yes.

And it will. A lot, believe me!

 

[Drubbing]

This is purported to improve with breaking-in, yes.

SOC was hard to get enough lather to begin with, so probably. The 2 passes I did get were good though.

Shock the sucker. Load it like it was your last ever shave. Show it no mercy and see what happens.

 

[JPDyson]

SOC was hard to get enough lather to begin with, so probably. The 2 passes I did get were good though.

Shock the sucker. Load it like it was your last ever shave. Show it no mercy and see what happens.

Also, soaking the brush longer and leaving more water in it helps a lot.

 

[JPDyson]

830.2 - Medium soak (-5 minutes), bowl lather w/T&H UC

Needs more soaking. Get it through your head, Josh! Sucked the lather dry, even with a wet brush, it vanished right out of my bowl. Had to re-lather to get through a single pass w/my straight. Decided 1 + touchup was plenty for today...

Thoughts: Needs. MOAR. SOAKING!

1470.2 will be this afternoon; I plan to attempt a bowl lather w/T&H UC that doesn't vanish. I'm trying to break these in with roughly the same use.