Synthetic to boar?

[Dondoh]

I bought an Omega Synthetic brush:
http://www.italianbarber.com/omega-643167-100-synthetic-badger-imitation-shaving-brush
and I really like it. But it is my first brush and I am curious what I am missing.

I have been thinking about getting the B&B Essential Boar Brush as it gets great reviews and doesn't break the bank.
Can anyone give me an idea of what I can expect to be different in going to the boar from the synthetic? Should I even experiment at this stage?

Thanks, I'm new wetshaving, but I am enjoying it.

It occurs to me that you might want to know what soaps I use. I am currently using MWF and Proraso white croap.

Additionally if anyone knows of a good inexpensive horsehair brush, I might be talked into that as well.

Cheers!

 

[oscar11]

If your curious about other brushes, I guess you need to try a few more types. I use boar, badger and synthetic on a regular basis and enjoy them all. A good boar is relatively inexpensive and would suggest a Semogue or Omega. I believe the B&B Essential Boar Brush uses an Omega knot so would, no doubt, be a good one. Personally, I don't have much interest in horse so someone else will have to fill you in on that. I have used a Vie Long HH that Bullgoose used to sell and it was a good brush, just not my cup of tea.

 

[JerYnkFan]

I've got a Vie Long 13710 Horse that cost me like 20 bucks on Amazon. Works really well.

 

[GDCarrington]

If your curious about other brushes, I guess you need to try a few more types. I use boar, badger and synthetic on a regular basis and enjoy them all. A good boar is relatively inexpensive and would suggest a Semogue or Omega. I believe the B&B Essential Boar Brush uses an Omega knot so would, no doubt, be a good one. Personally, I don't have much interest in horse so someone else will have to fill you in on that. I have used a Vie Long HH that Bullgoose used to sell and it was a good brush, just not my cup of tea.

+1 for Omega or Semogue to find out the differences.

Don't be afraid to go longer in a boar loft wise. One of my favorites is the Omega 10049. Once it is broken in properly it is a really nice brush and as Steve said relatively inexpensive.

http://www.shoeboxshaveshop.com/omega-10049--quotcolorsquot-brush-in-pure-br10049.html

 

[Deano]

You cant go wrong with an Omega boar. I have a B&B Essential, a 10066 and I restored an Ever Ready 100T with an Omega knot from TGN. Love them all.

 

[echotron]

I do have 1 Synthetic in my current rotation of 5 brushes; the others are Boar!

The synthetic is stiffer than my boars and I dry my synthetic brush with the bristles up ... squeezed together!!! (Yes, I shake and hang my boars down.) I found drying the synthetic this opposite way keeps the bristles close together & straight.

Boars beat Synthetics hands down!

 

[Eeyore]

I use an Omega boar as my home brush, and I love it!

 

[CyberJCM]

First, IMO, skip the horse.

I think trying a boar is a great idea, and I don't recommend any other than the Semogues. I've used the others, like the B&B Omega and other Omegas, and the cheap VDH's, but the Semogues are the best. Any Semogue will serve you well but if you want to try a great all arounder, I suggest highly the Semogue 1305. In my experience boar is not scritchy or scratchy as some say, especially the Semogues, and the backbone and flow of boar is awesome. I've used them to great success on hard soaps, Italian soft soaps and creams and they've never let me down.

A great place to get a Semogue would be my favorite vendor, Italian Barber. You can find the 1305 here for $19:
http://www.italianbarber.com/semogue-1305-premium-boar-bristle-shaving-brush

But if you want a unique LE 1305 I suggest the Italian Barber version for $20:
http://www.italianbarber.com/italianbarber-com-limited-edition-2012-semogue-brush

Just a plug for Italian Barber, orders over $60 get free shipping to the US, and while you're shopping there I suggest grabbing some Razorock soaps and such. I doubt you'll be disappointed! (Disclaimer: I just really like IB and their products, I get nothing for mentioning them or supporting them.)

Now theres one caveat to boar you have to account for! It is what turns guys off of them before they know what they will be missing. That is the break in period. A boar takes a couple weeks of routine shaves on average to break in. This means the bristles will get split ends and become softer and more effective in lathering. It may also smell a little funky for a few shaves, this is normal and goes away. Some have an elaborate process for breakin, but the easiest process is to just use it! Shave with it, let it dry between. Shave again. Repeat. Stick with it, be a little patient and you will be rewarded with a great brush!

 

[Eeyore]

Now theres one caveat to boar you have to account for! It is what turns guys off of them before they know what they will be missing. That is the break in period. A boar takes a couple weeks of routine shaves on average to break in. This means the bristles will get split ends and become softer and more effective in lathering. It may also smell a little funky for a few shaves, this is normal and goes away. Some have an elaborate process for breakin, but the easiest process is to just use it! Shave with it, let it dry between. Shave again. Repeat. Stick with it, be a little patient and you will be rewarded with a great brush!

This is excellent advice! A good boar brush gets better the more you use it.

 

[Dondoh]

Wow. What a lot to think about. I'm glad that everyone is so enthusiastic about the boar brushes. I really like the italian barber hand painted one too.

 

[Galhatz]

Do you have any other brushes?
Boars are nice feel wise. Out of the box they stink to high heaven but it gets better over time.
The B&B boar has a good Omega knot in it, I didn't care much for the handle so I sold it.
In spite of the funk, I am tempted to give one a try again. I'd consider the semogue LE at italianbarber, the Proraso (made by Omega, shaveabuck has the best price on that). Connaught has very good prices on the other Omega models. Stay away from the VDH boar, it did not smell but it shedded badly, was a floppy mop (how they managed a boar brush with no backbone is amazing) and has the worst handle I have ever seen used in a shaving brush.

Boar brushes need some breaking time but the above two I mentioned are said to have been treated so the ends are already somewhat split.

Btw, I also have a vie-long horse brush and I like it very much. Bullgoose now have them on clearance.

 

[Dondoh]

The only brush I own currently is the Omega Synthetic. I like it fine though. I'm just feeling the urge to try something different and the boars seem reasonable.

 

[Eeyore]

The only brush I own currently is the Omega Synthetic. I like it fine though. I'm just feeling the urge to try something different and the boars seem reasonable.

Boars may be all you ever need. I'm using boar brushes already for some 30 years, and I think they are great performers. The good ones; I had one or two shredders, and once I tried a brush with clipped bristles (wrong decision!). Once they are broken in, a good boar brush provides an excellent mix between stiffness of the core, and softness of the bristle ends.

 

[Andy]

+1 on the boar.
Will take a little while to break in a new one, but certainly worth it, I use an Omega 20102 daily, works great for both soap and cream.

 

[JPDyson]

My regular rotation of brushes is made up entirely of Semogue boar or boar/badger mixes (all LE's at that, but that's another story). I prefer boar to badger, because it works better for me. I prefer the consistency of the lather and the feeling of broken-in boar.

Omega boars are excellent, so the B&B Essential would be no doubt a great brush. Mind that the break-in period is real and not a myth; your brush will get better over a couple of weeks. You might find it a tad fussy, but if I get a new boar brush, I palm-lather it every other day for a week or two just to get the initial break-in started. I think the every-other day is the key (gives is a day in-between to dry more thoroughly).

I tried horse. Wasn't impressed; it's a compromise where it doesn't make sense to be. If you have objections to badger or boar, synthetics have come a long way.

 

[CyberJCM]

You know what Dondoh, just go for it! Pick up a Semogue and give it a solid try. If for some reason you don't feel its working for you, sell it on the BST! Semogues don't usually sit unsold and they hold value well.

And be sure to share with us whatcha get, and when it arrives share the experience as well!

Wanted to ask too, is your synth Omega one of the Syntex type? If it is, then you truly owe yourself the upgrade!

 

[dreadpirate]

I have a Semogue 830 and have never looked back ever since.

 

[Dondoh]

I don't know if it is Syntex or not. How would you tell? It is Omega model #643167. I haven't had any trouble working up lather with it but I'd love to try the "real" thing. If I like the boar better, then I can always use the synthetic as a travel brush.
Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[CyberJCM]

The Syntex is several different models, but the one I have experience with is my travel brush, the 90077. See it here:
http://www.shoeboxshaveshop.com/omega-90077-s90077.html

It is a very cheap feeling plastic brush with floppy, light packed, synthetic feeling bristles. It works fairly well for my travel needs, and cost me $8 so I have no worries about what happens to it. But as far as shave and feel, it is so dramatically different then a boar, or badger, or even one of the newer and better synths similar to what you have. So I was saying, if thats all you'd ever used, then you've GOT to try something else!

 

[Eeyore]

I don't know if it is Syntex or not. How would you tell? It is Omega model #643167. I haven't had any trouble working up lather with it but I'd love to try the "real" thing. If I like the boar better, then I can always use the synthetic as a travel brush.
Thanks for the encouragement.

Those are not the cheap Omega synthetics; they are white and plasticy. I bet that you synthetic actually is a very decent brush.


Btw, boar brushes need a few minutes soaking before each use; that softens the bristles, and prevents them from breaking off.