So, I got a Vie-Long 13800 horse hair brush

[Klarion]

Got one second hand from a member who wished to get a larger one; deal was good enough for something that had been used once. So, upon initial impressions of a Zach Method lather MWF, face lathering AOS soap, and palm lathering Monsavon, I'd say.......

It falls between boar bristle and badger.

I know, I know. Some help, right?

The tips are quite a bit softer than my well-broken in Semogue 830, but lacks the certain feel a boar has when it has a ton of split ends, like a wall of hair against your face. It favors comparably with my Rooney super silvertip. However, and I think this may be because of the 50% tail hair, but there is quite a bit of prickliness about 5mm beyond the tips and to the shaft. In this manner, it's like you'd imagine a blend of boar and best badger, with the boar about 3-5mm longer than the badger hair, with the clipped ends. Just a bit of pressure, and it felt a bit scratchier than I was looking for, but quite a bit better than pure or best badger alone.

Something about the spring though, makes it feel quite a bit floppier than boar or badger of equivalent and density. It soaks hair like boar, but the horse hair has much more spring. Immediately, I don't like it. Hope the hair doesn't develop more flex in time. Upon initial observation, it doesn't have near the backbone of my Semogue 830 or 620, or a Rooney 1/1 Super (if anyone else has more experience, please chime in). In fact, after using the zach method in the beginning, it was easy enough to mash down the hair, which immediately became matted and tangled right in the middle of the knot. Argh! I combed it out, but ended up with over a dozen broken hairs.

It lathers just fine. More like a boar actually, producing lather that's a bit creamier and well hydrated, like my favorite boar brushes do. I'm wondering how it will perform after a bit more use, as I've heard horse hair brushes do break in like boar, instead of being like 90% ready to go like a badger. The handle is nice - Lucite I believe. Very comfortable in the hand.

All in all, I like it. I'd recommend trying a horse hair brush to anyone, if you're looking to try things out and have already experienced a quality boar and badger. The hair is mixed in a ratio of 50% mane, and 50% tail. Supposedly, all the hair is collected from grooming of horses, so it's a good natural alternative for people who eschew types of hair because of religious and ethical reasons. It's possible I may try a larger one in the future, or a special edition brush *wink wink* made of 100% mane hair.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

It lathers just fine. More like a boar actually, producing lather that's a bit creamier and well hydrated, like my favorite boar brushes do. I'm wondering how it will perform after a bit more use, as I've heard horse hair brushes do break in like boar, instead of being like 90% ready to go like a badger.

All in all, I like it. I'd recommend trying a horse hair brush to anyone, if you're looking to try things out and have already experienced a quality boar and badger. The hair is mixed in a ratio of 50% mane, and 50% tail. The hair is collected from grooming of horses, so it's a good natural alternative for people who eschew types of hair because of religious and ethical reasons. It's possible I may try a larger one in the future, or a special edition brush *wink wink* made of 100% mane hair.

+1, and it will get even better (my Turkish brush did, anyway). Do not what mix my brush has: all the hairs seem the same, apart from one or two that seems thicker. (I deleted a word in your text: "supposedly": the horses are shaved).

 

[LarryAndro]

Mine is very floppy, but lathers very well. I like badger hair brushes. But, after using the horse hair brush I realize that badger holds onto lather too much.

My neighbor boards horses and it is time for spring clipping of the manes and tails. He is going to bring me a sack of hair. I'm going to craft my own brush.

My first attempt will be a brush with mostly horse hair, but some stiffer hair (synthetic, boar?) hair mixed in with it to offset the horse hair floppiness.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

It lathers just fine. More like a boar actually, producing lather that's a bit creamier and well hydrated, like my favorite boar brushes do. I'm wondering how it will perform after a bit more use, as I've heard horse hair brushes do break in like boar, instead of being like 90% ready to go like a badger. The handle is nice - Lucite I believe. Very comfortable in the hand.

How is it now?

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

How is it now?

Bump. Am still curious about the Spanish horse brushes (with a mix of tail and mane hair).

 

[Klarion]

To be honest, I like it even less than I did upon my initial impression. I lther with it ever couple days or so to help it break in, but have only used it maybe 6 times for shaving (face latherer right here). It's changed very little since the beginning of the month, though I've also used the Ambrose method for de-stinkifying and breaking in brushes. Tips are very soft, but there's a distinct scratchiness of the brush when lacing pressure on my face, which I'm not pleased with.

The very tips of the hair are soft inded, but the knot is tight and the fineness of the horse hair holds far too much water for my tastes, even after trying to squeeze the water out.

If you're interested Wil, I can send it out to you on loan for a proper evaluation. Just send me a PM.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

To be honest, I like it even less than I did upon my initial impression. I lther with it ever couple days or so to help it break in, but have only used it maybe 6 times for shaving (face latherer right here). It's changed very little since the beginning of the month, though I've also used the Ambrose method for de-stinkifying and breaking in brushes. Tips are very soft, but there's a distinct scratchiness of the brush when lacing pressure on my face, which I'm not pleased with.

The very tips of the hair are soft inded, but the knot is tight and the fineness of the horse hair holds far too much water for my tastes, even after trying to squeeze the water out.

If you're interested Wil, I can send it out to you on loan for a proper evaluation. Just send me a PM.

Thanks Jessie. I have been holding of on these. Perhaps male intuition . The Turkish brushes do very well: I face lather too . I still feel/think they only have one sort of hair: mane. On the other hand I had a Spartan up bringing, so may be I do not notice the scratchiness
Have you tried a Turkish horse brush? If not may be we can do a double loan. I have been stocking up on the the Turkish brushes, so I can spare one.

 

[ziplepingouin]

Nice! It would be great to have a "cross" feedback!

 

[wrl]

Nice! It would be great to have a "cross" feedback!

I was this brush's first owner. I first spent a couple of days removing the stable odor. The dry tips were quite prickly to my soft face. However, they softened up nicely when soaked in warm water. I used the brush once and found that it was a bit small and not dense enough for my liking. It face-lathered fine with Castle & Forbes cream, but struggled with MWF.

I also have a Vie-Long 13071 from their olive wood handle collection. It's larger and marginally more dense than the 13800. It lathers satisfactorily with all of my products, but I still plan to sell it at some point. Early on, I fell in love with a different brush and have been pining for another since I sold the first one.

 

[ziplepingouin]

Thanks for the reply!
Currently the Vie Long professional is my eyes... It seems closer to your brush, Wil Dorenbos (single type of hair). Btw, anybody tried the vie long pro?

 

[Klarion]

Have you tried a Turkish horse brush? If not may be we can do a double loan. I have been stocking up on the the Turkish brushes, so I can spare one.

Hey, that'd be a pretty nifty idea.



I took a look at those Vie-Long pros. I seem to recall about posting an extensive review about one of these.... but my search really turned up nothing. Anyone familiar with the thread? Handle is metal, with a yellowish rubber/plastic base?

 

[ziplepingouin]

I didn't know there was a review about it already...
I "googled" and found the following thread:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=136657

It seems to be the vie long brush, but the name is different...

 

[ziplepingouin]

Ok, I couldn't resist blushing ...I ended up ordering a Vie Long Professionnal brown horse brush (size 2)!
Little feedback ahead!

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Ok, I couldn't resist blushing ...I ended up ordering a Vie Long Professionnal brown horse brush (size 2)!
Little feedback ahead!

Well done!

 

[Klarion]

I've had the Turkish Shaving Brush come in today from Wil Dorenbos, courtesy of our little brush exchange.

It's available on eBay, through store34. Here it is for anyone interested:

Shaving brush (There is no bristle. Is for Muslims.)



Okay,. So, immediately upon opening the package, I can smell the overpowering scent of horse. However it smelled, if Ididn't know better, I would have thought it was comprised of boar bristle, or at least a boar bristle/horse hair mix. Seriously. Immediately, the way it absorbs water and the way the tips feel on my face, I'm reminded of the Extra hair on the Semogue 620/1520 brushes but set in a knot similar in size loft to the 1305. Tons of backbone, which says a lot, as it isn't a hugely dense brush. Basically, it'd be how I imagined a 1305 filled with Extra bristle would turn out. Just a bit more prickly, although nothing like a Boreal 976. Of course, it is brand new.

For you guys that like exfoliating brushes, I'd say this would certainly be a brush to try, considering you can get it for $6.49 shipped. Unlike the Vie-Long I'd traded out to Wil, these do seem to be made of the same sort of hair throughout. Based on the thickness and scratchiness, I'm inclined to say tail. Any thoughts on this Wil? However, with a consistent feel through the whole knot, even under pressure while face lathering, I really prefer the feel of this inexpensive Turkish brush to the Vie-Long 13800.

How does it lather? Similar to the face feel, the lathering ability is similar to a 1305 filled with the slightly lesser grade hair of the 1520. It produces the thick, creamy lather I prefer, which is most consistently created by boar. I find the lathering abilities to be similar enough to boar, that there was virtually no learning curve involved. It really did murder my soaps... Tabac, MWF and AOS... like a good scratchy boar. Very little loading time, which will probably change as it breaks in (since I can see some of the tips splitting like boar bristle).

I favor it immediately, though I'm wishing for a higher quality build of horse hair brush. One day, I'll likely splurge on one of Vie-Long's higher quality Professional series brushes to really give the horse a fair shot, and see how it compares with my highest quality Semogues. If only I could figure out the differences!

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I received the Vie-Long yesterday. First impressions: small (for me that is, I am used to a 30/60 pro horse brush ), lathers well, less backbone than my usual horse and some prickliness. Perhaps it will soften further with use. I will use it for a week or so and report back.

 

[Klarion]

I am seriously unsurprised the brush took much longer to get to you than yours did getting to me. Are you a face latherer, Wil? I forget... but I am, and it really did not "do it" for me as a possibility of an everyday brush. Perhaps if I'd used bowls to lather, it would be fine, as I have no issue on the way it creates lather.

Now, I've been using the turkish brush every day and it really is breaking in well. It's breaking in so well, I'm still very much surprised it isn't a horse/boar mix. Did your other horse brushes wear the same way? I've gotten the smells out, and now its only fragrant of glorious sandalwood soap. For a low density knot (IMO), it really does have a surprising amount of backbone, and already lathers on par with my Semogue 620.



Your pro brush sounds monstrous. It must create some awesome lather, though. Which model is it? The Vie-Long site is maddeningly low on description of the brushes.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I am seriously unsurprised the brush took much longer to get to you than yours did getting to me. Are you a face latherer, Wil? I forget... but I am, and it really did not "do it" for me as a possibility of an everyday brush. Perhaps if I'd used bowls to lather, it would be fine, as I have no issue on the way it creates lather.

Now, I've been using the turkish brush every day and it really is breaking in well. It's breaking in so well, I'm still very much surprised it isn't a horse/boar mix. Did your other horse brushes wear the same way? I've gotten the smells out, and now its only fragrant of glorious sandalwood soap. For a low density knot (IMO), it really does have a surprising amount of backbone, and already lathers on par with my Semogue 620.

Your pro brush sounds monstrous. It must create some awesome lather, though. Which model is it? The Vie-Long site is maddeningly low on description of the brushes.

I am a face latherer (sticks). It did a nice job on its first shave. I only have Turkish horse bushes from the same supplier. He carries the one you have now, and a pro brush. You should not be surprised to find a simple horse brush is on par with a top boar. Horse hair is very much suited for shaving brushes. A simple horse brush will outperform many more expensive brushes, boar and badger alike. And yes my pro does create loads of good lather. I like that luxurious feeling of a lot of lather on your face.

 

[malocchio]

Bump. Am still curious about the Spanish horse brushes (with a mix of tail and mane hair).

I have 3 vie-long pure horse hair brushes..they are all top quality...I would recommend a medium or larger size,the small is a good brush,but the bristles are not as dense as I prefer....lathers good,just takes more time...

 

[malocchio]

Thanks for the reply!
Currently the Vie Long professional is my eyes... It seems closer to your brush, Wil Dorenbos (single type of hair). Btw, anybody tried the vie long pro?

yes...I have the pro with black hair....it is a real treat to use....of course it is not as soft or dense as the silvertips ! it is scrubby,not scratchy or irritating..many italian barbers still use this brush...it does get better with a few shaves....it looks floppy,high loft,but it needs LESS pressure to do its job,so it is not a floppy brush...all 3 of my vie-long pure horse brushes had only the slightest odor,not unfriendly at all,and the initial wash and first shave eliminated even that faint odor...for horse hair brushes no one beats vie-long for quality..one footnote...of my 3 horse hair vie-long brushes I prefer the medium and pro size...the small brush takes more effort due to its size and would be better with bowl and hard soap than cream and face lather....it's still a fine little brush though...