Newbi ; Boar or badger for my first brush

It is all personal preference. In December I had the opportunity to try many boar brushes on a passaround. Yes, the Semogue brushes are well loved, but my preference is for tall loft, so the Zeniths and Omegas with longer bristles are more to my liking. Those who prefer scrubbing action from their brush prefer shorter lofts.

It is all personal preference. In December I had the opportunity to try many boar brushes on a passaround. Yes, the Semogue brushes are well loved, but my preference is for tall loft, so the Zeniths and Omegas with longer bristles are more to my liking. Those who prefer scrubbing action from their brush prefer shorter lofts.

Thank you, very important info regarding loft hight, I did notice that Zeniths have taller lofts and your comment explains why. I am also a person who prefers less scrub

This will be completely a personal preference, for you, but here are a few links to peruse. Not sure you'll find anything better than your synthetic, for easy of use, but who knows. Good luck and enjoy experimenting.

https://damnfineshave.com/thread-what-is...Bvs%2Bboar

https://damnfineshave.com/thread-badger-...Bvs%2Bboar

https://damnfineshave.com/thread-brush-l...Bvs%2Bboar

If you’re going to go the boar brush route, make sure you use them properly which as far as I’m concerned means soaking them in warm (not too hot) water for 10-15 minutes before you use them. Every time. Boar bristles benefit from the soak more than badger which really only needs to be thoroughly wet. Synthetic doesn’t need any soaking just wetting. Also too hot water can damage any natural bristles, boar or badger. Horse too. So after soaking the boar go ahead and lather up but also temper your expectations for the first few uses because boar does need to break in and some take longer. I find the Semogue boars break in fairly quickly while Omega takes a bit longer. I recently bought a Zenith boar and it’s going to take a while to break in. It’s also much stiffer and scrubbier than Semogue or any other boar I have. I have a “premium “ boar knot that I bought from a brush handle artisan and set into a handle myself. The bristles are breaking in nicely but the knot itself isn’t as well shaped at Semogue or omega knots. Not as aesthetically pleasing but functional. I’ll post a picture later to show what I mean. If you use the brush every day it will obviously break in faster than if you use it every week or two. That can make the break in seem to last forever.  Good luck

... In fact, of the 2 boars I have, one is the Semogue Owners Club with the Cherry wood handle. The other is a Maggard Razors premium knot that I friend gifted me, set in a vintage Ever Ready handle.

SOC Boar in a cherry handle is a very acceptable way to go.  I would call it classic.  You do have to break any boar brush in to make the bristles split at the ends.  Some people do that by just using it.  Others do it by soaking it in the refrigerator, removing and drying it, working the tips lightly on a towel, then putting it back in the fridge to soak more.  Repeat every 10-12 hours for a couple of days.  The heat difference seems to speed up the splitting of the bristle ends.

Also, you should soak your boar brush in warm (not hot) water for at least 3-5 minutes each time before you use it.I

If you decide to go with badger, just go with a Silvertip badger.  Semogue has some nice options here.  Again, you should soak the Silvertip for at least 3 minutes before you use it.  

The classic option for badger is a Simpson Duke 3 in Best.  This is a bit more spendy.

Also, you could opt for a Semogue Mistura which is a mixed boar and badger brush.  

All of the Semogue options seem to come in the same handles--SOC style in various wood cherry, ash etcetera as well as other styles.  Semogue makes an economically priced brush.  Just go to their website and you''ll find what you are looking for.  These are just my suggestions.  There are lots of other acceptable brushes.

Finally, I really wish I could get back to Ecuador if only to pick up another "Panama" hat.  The real ones are made in Ecuador and are the best hat of its kind in the world, IMHO. Wonderful country.

I’ve tried the refrigerator soak and I didn’t really notice a difference in break in. Each to their own.  Below is the premium boar knot from Trotter (provenance unknown), SOC Taj resin and Semogue 2000.  You can see what I mean about aesthetics. The Semogues are nicer and more cleanly shaped. They’re all great brushes.

If you’re going to go the boar brush route, make sure you use them properly which as far as I’m concerned means soaking them in warm (not too hot) water for 10-15 minutes before you use them. Every time. Boar bristles benefit from the soak more than badger which really only needs to be thoroughly wet. Synthetic doesn’t need any soaking just wetting. Also too hot water can damage any natural bristles, boar or badger. Horse too. So after soaking the boar go ahead and lather up but also temper your expectations for the first few uses because boar does need to break in and some take longer. I find the Semogue boars break in fairly quickly while Omega takes a bit longer. I recently bought a Zenith boar and it’s going to take a while to break in. It’s also much stiffer and scrubbier than Semogue or any other boar I have. I have a “premium “ boar knot that I bought from a brush handle artisan and set into a handle myself. The bristles are breaking in nicely but the knot itself isn’t as well shaped at Semogue or omega knots. Not as aesthetically pleasing but functional. I’ll post a picture later to show what I mean. If you use the brush every day it will obviously break in faster than if you use it every week or two. That can make the break in seem to last forever.  Good luck

Thank you very much for you important guidance,

I am fortunate to have on the way a broken-in Boar sent by Eric and a trial brush. Will do the soaking and after 7 uses will share my experience

... In fact, of the 2 boars I have, one is the Semogue Owners Club with the Cherry wood handle. The other is a Maggard Razors premium knot that I friend gifted me, set in a vintage Ever Ready handle.

SOC Boar in a cherry handle is a very acceptable way to go.  I would call it classic.  You do have to break any boar brush in to make the bristles split at the ends.  Some people do that by just using it.  Others do it by soaking it in the refrigerator, removing and drying it, working the tips lightly on a towel, then putting it back in the fridge to soak more.  Repeat every 10-12 hours for a couple of days.  The heat difference seems to speed up the splitting of the bristle ends.

Also, you should soak your boar brush in warm (not hot) water for at least 3-5 minutes each time before you use it.I

If you decide to go with badger, just go with a Silvertip badger.  Semogue has some nice options here.  Again, you should soak the Silvertip for at least 3 minutes before you use it.  

The classic option for badger is a Simpson Duke 3 in Best.  This is a bit more spendy.

Also, you could opt for a Semogue Mistura which is a mixed boar and badger brush.  

All of the Semogue options seem to come in the same handles--SOC style in various wood cherry, ash etcetera as well as other styles.  Semogue makes an economically priced brush.  Just go to their website and you''ll find what you are looking for.  These are just my suggestions.  There are lots of other acceptable brushes.

Finally, I really wish I could get back to Ecuador if only to pick up another "Panama" hat.  The real ones are made in Ecuador and are the best hat of its kind in the world, IMHO.  Wonderful country.

Good advise, thank you,

Most welcome to visit Ecuador again, you are 100% right about the Panama Hats (they where made for the workers in Panama Canal at the time), Ecuador is the best producer and the Hats and the  process is very nice to see,
I use one on a daily basis

I’ve tried the refrigerator soak and I didn’t really notice a difference in break in. Each to their own.  Below is the premium boar knot from Trotter (provenance unknown), SOC Taj resin and Semogue 2000.  You can see what I mean about aesthetics. The Semogues are nicer and more cleanly shaped. They’re all great brushes.

The green resin complements the Boar, looks very hi-end, must be expensive?

I’ve tried the refrigerator soak and I didn’t really notice a difference in break in. Each to their own.  Below is the premium boar knot from Trotter (provenance unknown), SOC Taj resin and Semogue 2000.  You can see what I mean about aesthetics. The Semogues are nicer and more cleanly shaped. They’re all great brushes.

Provenance:

https://maggardrazors.com/products/magga...tural-boar