Question on Synthetic vs Boar ease of lathering

I also started with boars and made a transition to synthetics, then back to boars, then back to synthetics.

The past two shaves have been with my Semogue 1250, and I have to say, the "boars make a creamier lather" statement above was true for me as well, and I've been working through the same puck of B&M Seville. While the synthetic makes a volume of lather faster, the boar makes the same volume but it takes a bit longer. The extra "working" of the lather I believe to be the difference, along with water content and how the water is introduced. If I was to spend time working the lather with a synthetic beyond creating volume, I would likely be able to achieve similar results.

Will test tonight using my Semogue 830 vs Razorock Plissoft.

Wow all these answer are great & all make sense.
I started learning to lather using a Bluebeards Revenge boar brush, which was hard work at first but once I got the knack & the boar hair was softer I could make great lathers. I now have a Semogue 830 which I find it lathers alot better. I also own a Kong & a Satin Tip which I find the Satin to be better at lathering. But when compared to my 830 they are equal at lathering. It might be down to technique as well, I don't know.

This is something I have never paid attention to but maybe I should. I have always attributed a poor lather to either the soap or my technique and never thought of boars (or badger or horsehair, for that matter) as more difficult or easier to generate a lather. As I said, I shall have to pay more attention to this.

Do a light load on both and try it. I find there's a significant difference. That said, styles matter too I suppose so that could come into play as well.


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When I first started using boars again, I struggled big time trying to get a thick lather. Before that I was using the "userper" exclusively. When loading my semogue 1305 I loaded as lightly as I would with a synthetic and was just getting lathers that were waaay too thin. Also for some reason I had a tendency to over hydrate the lather with a boar. In my use case I found that I just needed to load heavier with a slightly wetter brush (unlike nickshaves). This seemed to help build the lather between the hairs more effectively. I also found this significantly lessened the scritch . I know it uses more soap, but I need to make a dent in my hoard anyways. I've been on a boar kick ever since I've made these tweeks.


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No idea behind the WHY. I will confirm your findings though. It was like night and day when I got my first synthetic. It's one of the primary reasons I got rid of all of my boars. My soap started lasting about twice as long too.

Hmm perhaps I should revisit synths again. I didn't care much for the barber Plissoft, maybe I didn't like the barber handle too much. I find that I'm liking brushes with shorter handles; maybe I should try again with the RR's bruce.

Though I have lots of soaps, being more efficient wouldn't hurt.

I feel like the odd duck, who never really like synthetics. I get so much more out of my boars, especially when it comes to the "thirsty" soaps like Mikes, B&M, Stirling, etc. Because the synthetic doesn't "hold" water very well it's pretty sloppy and messy and needs a fair amount of correcting back and forth to get right. I've also had very limited luck with using synthetics on my favorite performer, MW.

Maybe it's a learning curve issue, but the only clear thing that draws me to the synthetics is drying time, for travel purposes.

TSEvangelist I like that you emphasized "easier not better" and I will agree that boars and synths load and lather differently - I'm not even sure I'd say easier, I'll stick with different.

When I first started out I wasn't preparing or using boar correctly and determined that badgers were superior. Then I learned about soaking and this wild idea of a break-in period. Wow! The boars stepped up to the plate and I found myself questioning everything I thought I "knew" about brushes. I was getting comparable or better lathers from a $10 boar as a $200 badger. Crazy. My first synth was a dreadnought bluebeard's revenge I think and it didn't perform well, or at least I didn't think so but of course that was early on in my shaving adventure. I formed a negative anti-synth bias from that experience that lasted for several years. It wasn't until Joe put a RazoRock plissoft up on IB for $9 that I was tempted back into the synth world and I'm glad I went back. Great brush great lather - I've got 3 synths now and they get equal time in my rotation. I enjoy the differences in how the brushes load and lather - it keeps me mindful and prevents me from becoming a morning automaton. I have to pay attention to the process. Joy
Marko

No idea behind the WHY.  I will confirm your findings though.  It was like night and day when I got my first synthetic.  It's one of the primary reasons I got rid of all of my boars.  My soap started lasting about twice as long too.

Hmm perhaps I should revisit synths again. I didn't care much for the barber Plissoft, maybe I didn't like the barber handle too much. I find that I'm liking brushes with shorter handles; maybe I should try again with the RR's bruce.

Though I have lots of soaps, being  more efficient wouldn't hurt.

I really hope Joe does something similar to The Bruce in a larger knot. I really like that handle style, but I'm a fan of the 26mm knot.

I feel like the odd duck, who never really like synthetics.  I get so much more out of my boars, especially when it comes to the "thirsty" soaps like Mikes, B&M, Stirling, etc.  Because the synthetic doesn't "hold" water very well it's pretty sloppy and messy and needs a fair amount of correcting back and forth to get right.  I've also had very limited luck with using synthetics on my favorite performer, MW.

Maybe it's a learning curve issue, but the only clear thing that draws me to the synthetics is drying time, for travel purposes.

I'm sure it's a combination of water and technique. As you can see from this thread, there are plenty here who agree with you.

I just ordered a synth Plisson, so we shall see what these synthetics are all about!

I started with omega 1066 and another in different handle. I used them for 6 months until I saw your video on satin tip, so I bought one and been in love with synths since. I don't feel my boars ever broke in or if they did they didn't get softer. I also tried badger in my first attempt to find a softer brush, but it just kept getting its hairs in knots so I only used it maybe 4 times. I seem to get more lather from my synths then my boars all with no soaking time required and a faster drying time. I wish I'd started with synths. I'm now at the 6 month mark with my satin tips and year anniversary of wet shaving

I just ordered a synth Plisson, so we shall see what these synthetics are all about!

If you're expecting backbone you'll be disappointed


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