Splitting Hairs

[Pogo]

Gentlemen:

There are many posts referring to hairs in boar brushes splitting with use.

Is this splitting meant figuratively or literally?

Does anyone have photomicrographs to document the splits?

Thank you.

Pogo

 

[mblakele]

Splitting, or "flagging", is quite visible to the naked eye. You can see some pictures of my brushes if you like: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=142036 - in the third picture there's a nicely-flagged bristle at 12 o'clock. You can make out other split ends in the same picture, but that one is easiest to spot.

 

[Fairlight]

I'm a noob, but it was quite apparent when it started happening with my Omega 66.

Not only were the splits visible, but the brush is getting noticeably softer over time.

However, my Wilkinson brush has failed utterly to split at all. My understanding is that if the bristles are clipped, which is common in cheap brushes, they will not split. My Wilkinson sheds like no tomorrow too, whereas I've only seen one or two hairs come off my Omega.

 

[kevtex]

Splitting boar hair (close up)
http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35880&highlight=31064

 

[Pogo]

Gentlemen:

Thank you, especially for the links.

Your information answered my quesions completely and I have a much better appreciation and understanding of boar brushes and how to use them.

Pogo

 

[Fairlight]

I suspect misunderstanding of this process has a lot to do with the percieved lower quality of boar brushes versus badger, when this is actually an advantageous phenomenon.

 

[jedc53]

A hair can be split today without much trouble, but once it was thought to be so fine that an effort to split it would be a waste of time.It has a lot to do with the perceived lower quality of boar brushes versus badger.