DecemBoar

I posted this on Eric's journal, but thought it should also have a place here. FYI to all, Maggards now sells Boar knots. Don't know how they rate vs others, hopefully they're good.

DEcemBoar!

Omega 10290 pictured post shave, post towel stropping.

DecemBoar 13

It is really bothering me, the horrific lather I have been getting from the Turn N Shave. I can be very stubborn, and apparently today is one of those days. I decided, I have to keep pushing on. So, I chose to use the turn N shave One more time, despite other brushes not yet being used in DecemBoar.

I chose Mick's Grooming Tomas this morning, and I almost switched up to Proraso Red based on Bryan's shave... But I held to my earlier decision.

I couldn't find it again, but I swear I saw a post by you Bryan stating the cream was better. I'm in agreement, but I still prefer a tub lather. The only option in this situation is to dry out your cream so you can tub lather it. So, I have a tub full of dried out cream (2 tubes) and it absolutely outperforms their red jar soap.

Nonetheless, today was a Mick's shave, and it was great. The brush is definitely getting better (I feel). I got three passes worth, even if the third was a bit on the light side. The tips were soft (as they should be, it's half-gelled).

Three passes and some clean-up (with the Henson TI) and I'm good to go. Happy Monday folks!

Great write up! I didn't know you could dry out the cream...interesting!

Semogue Mistura, this sure is a smooth soft brush as I break it in more. Backbone & soft, very nice!

DecemBoar Shave #10

Razor: Henson Al 13 mild
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Omega 49
Soap: Tabac
AS: Pinaud Vegetal


I have spent the first two weeks of DecemBoar trying to break in two Omega 10077s that I purchased in September. I did not realize how uncomfortable they are until tonight. The Omega 49 was my first brush, and it is one year old. I rarely face lather, but felt compelled to do so tonight. After two weeks of lathering with what feel like broom bristles better suited to home plate on the baseball diamond, this well-used brush felt delightfully soft and comfortable. Definitely the most enjoyable boar experience all month. Those 10077s may be relegated to boot scrapers.

Am I too impatient with the newbies? Is there hope for them? Is it possible they are made from a lower grade of bristle?

DecemBoar Shave #10

Razor: Henson Al 13 mild
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Omega 49
Soap: Tabac
AS: Pinaud Vegetal


I have spent the first two weeks of DecemBoar trying to break in two Omega 10077s that I purchased in September. I did not realize how uncomfortable they are until tonight. The Omega 49 was my first brush, and it is one year old. I rarely face lather, but felt compelled to do so tonight. After two weeks of lathering with what feel like broom bristles better suited to home plate on the baseball diamond, this well-used brush felt delightfully soft and comfortable. Definitely the most enjoyable boar experience all month. Those 10077s may be relegated to boot scrapers.

Am I too impatient with the newbies? Is there hope for them? Is it possible they are made from a lower grade of bristle?

You may be selling them short, but I can't say for sure as I don't have any experience with that model.

One suggestion: stick to the broken in one for now, but hand lather the other rough ones for a week or so to see if they break in. No need to damage the face, the palm of your hand will suffice to give them the workout they need to split, wear, and become softer (of they ever will).

Might be worth a try.

DecemBoar Shave #10

Razor: Henson Al 13 mild
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Omega 49
Soap: Tabac
AS: Pinaud Vegetal


I have spent the first two weeks of DecemBoar trying to break in two Omega 10077s that I purchased in September. I did not realize how uncomfortable they are until tonight. The Omega 49 was my first brush, and it is one year old. I rarely face lather, but felt compelled to do so tonight. After two weeks of lathering with what feel like broom bristles better suited to home plate on the baseball diamond, this well-used brush felt delightfully soft and comfortable. Definitely the most enjoyable boar experience all month. Those 10077s may be relegated to boot scrapers.

Am I too impatient with the newbies? Is there hope for them? Is it possible they are made from a lower grade of bristle?

You may be selling them short, but I can't say for sure as I don't have any experience with that model.

One suggestion: stick to the broken in one for now, but hand lather the other rough ones for a week or so to see if they break in. No need to damage the face, the palm of your hand will suffice to give them the workout they need to split, wear, and become softer (of they ever will).

Might be worth a try.

I agree. For DecemBoar, I bought 5 new knots/brushes. What worked for me was giving each one at least 5 hand/bowl lathers. Several softened up quick, while some still feel a bit stiff. So for those, I bowl/scuttle lather for a bit, then move to my face. Still, I may be moving some stuff on to others who would like them more than me!

Thank you mrdoug and MaineYooper . I had been using them regularly since September. The 3-day soak/rub on a towel treatment at the beginning of December has probably softened them up as much as they will ever get. The extra hand lathers sound like a good idea. I bowl lather 99% of the time, so it si not a big deal. They build a very nice lather from hard soaps, so they are very much worth the $5 each I paid for them

DecemBoar Shave #10

Razor: Henson Al 13 mild
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Omega 49
Soap: Tabac
AS: Pinaud Vegetal


I have spent the first two weeks of DecemBoar trying to break in two Omega 10077s that I purchased in September. I did not realize how uncomfortable they are until tonight. The Omega 49 was my first brush, and it is one year old. I rarely face lather, but felt compelled to do so tonight. After two weeks of lathering with what feel like broom bristles better suited to home plate on the baseball diamond, this well-used brush felt delightfully soft and comfortable. Definitely the most enjoyable boar experience all month. Those 10077s may be relegated to boot scrapers.

Am I too impatient with the newbies? Is there hope for them? Is it possible they are made from a lower grade of bristle?

You may be selling them short, but I can't say for sure as I don't have any experience with that model.

One suggestion: stick to the broken in one for now, but hand lather the other rough ones for a week or so to see if they break in. No need to damage the face, the palm of your hand will suffice to give them the workout they need to split, wear, and become softer (of they ever will).

Might be worth a try.

I agree. For DecemBoar, I bought 5 new knots/brushes. What worked for me was giving each one at least 5 hand/bowl lathers. Several softened up quickly, while some still feel a bit stiff. So for those, I bowl/scuttle lather for a bit, then move to my face. Still, I may be moving some stuff on to others who would like them more than me!

I totally agree with your suggestion to hand lather. I hand lather new boars frequently & many times (5 - 10 times). I like to expedite the breaking-in process. Others prefer not to hand lather & begin using the brush right out of the package. That works great for them! But I like to get a head start on getting the brush softened up.

I've used my new Omega 10077 only a couple of times, so far. I got it because I loved the look of the lower loft. It reminds me of the loft on my favorite brush, the Premium Jade. The 10077 doesn't have any floppiness, it is all backbone. But I'm looking forward to getting 30 - 40 shaves in with this to see if the bristles soften to where this is an ultra backbone brush with soft tips. Time will tell. I try not to declare a brush "not for me" too early.