Looking for recommendations for my first Boar Brush.

If you like larger knots definitely go with a Zenith. Otherwise the Semogue Owner's Club is a great starting point.

I do like my badger and synthetic brushes, but just wanted to see if I would like a boar.  I like a large knot, maybe a little exfoliating than my badger and I bowl lather.

Hmmmm.......I'm not sure that bowl latherers get much benefit from the extra backbone of a boar brush.  Most of us who love boars are face latherers and love a good scrub .  For a bowl latherer, the main benefit of a boar brush would be easier loading of hard triple milled soaps.  An inexpensive Omega would be good at that.  Look at a 10065.  They are cheap, and very stiff.  They will never have tips as soft as a Semougue, but if you are not face lathering I don't think it really matters much.

Thanks, I didn't realize that.  I appreciate the information!

If you enjoy soft soft then the boar is not going to do it for you.  Sure, you can break in a boar to have softer tips after awhile. And the longer you soak a boar, if you like that sorta thing, the bristles will get softer as they suck up water but it will never he as soft as a badger.

I like to switch it up and use a different brush often. You just have to learn how to use a boar as it handles water and lather differently.

You can never have enough brushes...

If you enjoy soft soft then the boar is not going to do it for you.  Sure, you can break in a boar to have softer tips after awhile. And the longer you soak a boar, if you like that sorta thing, the bristles will get softer as they suck up water but it will never he as soft as a badger.

I like to switch it up and use a different brush often. You just have to learn how to use a boar as it handles water and lather differently.

You can never have enough brushes...

I am overwhelmed.

My least favourite boar is the Omega 49. I find it to be way too large and floppy. Better to use it as a neck duster.  
Most boars do not have enough backbone to suit me.

My favourite identifiable boar is an Omega 10086, an 18 mm travel brush. Small, but (like the Wee Scot badger) punches well above its weight class. 
It has just the right amount of backbone.



This one is a great brush but, sadly, it has no identifying marks on it. I found it in a thrift shop.

If you enjoy soft soft then the boar is not going to do it for you.  Sure, you can break in a boar to have softer tips after awhile. And the longer you soak a boar, if you like that sorta thing, the bristles will get softer as they suck up water but it will never he as soft as a badger.

I like to switch it up and use a different brush often. You just have to learn how to use a boar as it handles water and lather differently.

You can never have enough brushes...

That is awesome!  Unfortunately, I would be kicked out of my house if I had half that many!

My least favourite boar is the Omega 49. I find it to be way too large and floppy. Better to use it as a neck duster.  
Most boars do not have enough backbone to suit me.

My favourite identifiable boar is an Omega 10086, an 18 mm travel brush. Small, but (like the Wee Scot badger) punches well above its weight class. 
It has just the right amount of backbone.



This one is a great brush but, sadly, it has no identifying marks on it. I found it in a thrift shop.

Did you mean to say, "most badgers do not have enough backbone for me"?

I like the baby omega. It goes on trips with me. I have a couple dozen more brushes than what was in that picture. Here is the baby brushes. I believe I have only 120 or so 

I have an assortment of badger, boar, horsehair and synthetic brushes. Vie Long was the primary maker of horsehair brushes and they recently discontinued making them. They were never a popular as the other types, but I enjoy using them occasionally as a change of pace. I have three boar brushes, two from Semogue and one from Omega. I think you will find that many owners of boar brushes either tend to prefer Semogue or Omega. There are other brands such as Zenith that seem to be similar to Omega. I tend to prefer the Omega knots, but I like the Semogue handles, go figure.

My face is too sensitive to go through the agony of breaking in a boar brush through shaving. Thus, I took a chance on doing a quick break-in. This process worked extremely well with the Omega knot, but made little difference with the Semogue knots. I took an Omega Professional 10098 brush which costs less than $15 and used it for my experiment. I filled a small pan with water and brought it to a boil. I then removed the pot from the heat and allowed the water to cool for about 5 minutes. Then I dipped the tips of the boar brush into the very hot water for a few seconds until the fibers wilted. Do not dip it more than 1/2 deep or you might destroy the backbone of the brush. After a few seconds of heat, I removed the tips from the water and allowed the brush to cool. Once it was cool to the touch, I repeated the dipping process. I repeated this dip and cool sequence several times until I started to notice the tips of the boar bristles begin to split. The fine split tips makes this brush as soft on my face as premium silvertip badger brushes costing ten times as much as the boar, yet the brush retains its original backbone. While I prefer badger brushes for lathering soft artisan soaps, the Omega boar is ideal for lathering harder soaps.

I have also heard of people putting wet boar brushes in the freezer to break them in, but my hot water process only affects the tips, which is what I wanted.

Did you mean to say, "most badgers do not have enough backbone for me"?

Nope. I meant boar, whether new or vintage, except for the two examples I showed.
Often I have to wrap the knot with an elastic hair band to keep the knot from splaying out too much.
Either that or tuck the butt of the handle into my palm and reach around it with my thumb and fingertips to squish the base of the knot.