Synthetic vs Boar and Soap use

I have a Muhle black fiber synthetic and a Semogue boar hair. 

In use, I feel like the Boar hair gives good lather only   works better with soaps, while the synthetic seems to have easier use with soaps, creams, sticks, etc.  Also, it seems like the synthetic "uses" less product to get an acceptable lather.  It is not the boar hair can not be used with the creams, sticks, etc. it just seems, to me, that it takes a lot more product to get the correct ratio for a good lather.

Does anyone have this experience as well? or am I just using the brushes incorrectly?  Lol

I haven't noticed that. But let me ask, is the boar broken in? What brush is the boar?

The reason I ask is that Omegas are pretty much broken in (or were) before they are sold. Other boars require possibly 30 lathers to break in sufficiently. Once broken in they are really good.

It is an 830.  I don't think it is 100% broken in as of yet, I have lost count of uses on this brush so far, but there have been quite a few.  It performs very well and it is a great brush, just that it seems to like to use more product.  Maybe it is larger, hairs hold more moisture, hair soaks in the product?  Synthetics don't really "hold" water, per se, but they hold the product, and the product holds the water, in my postulation at least.  Does my theory "hold water"?  

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In my first post, maybe I shouldn't have said the it is only good for soaps.....  I should have said works best with soaps.

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My observation when using a cream such as TOBS sandalwood... I must use more cream to get enough lather from the boar brush to do a three pass shave without running out of lather. Seems like with the synthetic I need only about a nickel sized gob to have more than enough for three passes.

My observation when using a cream such as TOBS sandalwood...  I must use more cream to get enough lather from the boar brush to do a three pass shave without running out of lather.  Seems like with the synthetic I need only about a nickel sized gob to have more than enough for three passes.

I seem to have the opposite happen.  With a cream like TOBS I think I could lather it with a 2x4 and still have extra lather when I am through shaving.  I do notice with hard soaps that I really have to load my boars a little more, especially if face lathering than I do with synthetic or badger.  If I take it to a bowl and create the lather with the boar I can get away with less.  I'm not sure why that is, just seems to be what happens for me.

You can tell if it's broken in by looking at the ends of the hairs. When it's broken in they'll be seen to be split. But it still gets better for a time after that. I only have 2 brands of boars, Omega and Semogue and the Semogues took quite awhile to break in.

If your climate allows for fast drying what I did was to hand lather the brush to be broken in 3 x a day. Another gent breaks in a boar in 1/2 an hour by using only water and the brush on a rubber sheet with lathering motions.

I have a Muhle black fiber synthetic and a Semogue boar hair. 

In use, I feel like the Boar hair gives good lather only   works better with soaps, while the synthetic seems to have easier use with soaps, creams, sticks, etc.  Also, it seems like the synthetic "uses" less product to get an acceptable lather.  It is not the boar hair can not be used with the creams, sticks, etc. it just seems, to me, that it takes a lot more product to get the correct ratio for a good lather.

Does anyone have this experience as well? or am I just using the brushes incorrectly?  Lol

Natural bristle brushes hold the lather better than synthetics but I have to say I have several synthetic brushes and overall they are the best and most convenient brushes to use. I have 2 Omega Hi Brushes, Plisson from L'occitane, Whipped Dog 30mm, Fine Angel Hair, H.I.S. 1794 and they are all great synthetic brushes and are better than all my other brushes except for my Simpson and Wolf Whiskers.

My observation when using a cream such as TOBS sandalwood...  I must use more cream to get enough lather from the boar brush to do a three pass shave without running out of lather.  Seems like with the synthetic I need only about a nickel sized gob to have more than enough for three passes.

I seem to have the opposite happen.  With a cream like TOBS I think I could lather it with a 2x4 and still have extra lather when I am through shaving.  I do notice with hard soaps that I really have to load my boars a little more, especially if face lathering than I do with synthetic or badger.  If I take it to a bowl and create the lather with the boar I can get away with less.  I'm not sure why that is, just seems to be what happens for me.

Yes, I also forgot to mention that my experience is on face lathering.  Bowl lathering can be a little easier, IHMO.

You can tell if it's broken in by looking at the ends of the hairs. When it's broken in they'll be seen to be split. But it still gets better for a time after that. I only have 2 brands of boars, Omega and Semogue and the Semogues took quite awhile to break in.

If your climate allows for fast drying what I did was to hand lather the brush to be broken in 3 x a day. Another gent breaks in a boar in 1/2 an hour by using only water and the brush on a rubber sheet with lathering motions.

Looking at the brush, many hairs are getting the split ends.  It is also much softer face feel than when I first got it.  It is maybe 80% broken in, in my estimation.  Thanks for the tips, I will try some hand lathering when I rotate the synthetic, that way it'll get a daily workout.

I have a Muhle black fiber synthetic and a Semogue boar hair. 

In use, I feel like the Boar hair gives good lather only   works better with soaps, while the synthetic seems to have easier use with soaps, creams, sticks, etc.  Also, it seems like the synthetic "uses" less product to get an acceptable lather.  It is not the boar hair can not be used with the creams, sticks, etc. it just seems, to me, that it takes a lot more product to get the correct ratio for a good lather.

Does anyone have this experience as well? or am I just using the brushes incorrectly?  Lol

Natural bristle brushes hold the lather better than synthetics but I have to say I have several synthetic brushes and overall they are the best and most convenient brushes to use. I have 2 Omega Hi Brushes, Plisson from L'occitane, Whipped Dog 30mm, Fine Angel Hair, H.I.S. 1794 and they are all great synthetic brushes and are better than all my other brushes except for my Simpson and Wolf Whiskers.

I have a Fine Angle hair on the way now, looks to be an awesome value.  I do like the convenience of the synthetics.  Speed and efficiency of result is great on those time crunched days.  I use my boar when I have a little more time to enjoy the longer ritual of using the natural hair.