I usually face lather using a cream and badger brush. I just bought a boar brush and when I try to use it my lather is either to dry or water runs down my hand. Do boar brushes work good for face lathering or are they best in a bowl? Maybe I am doing something wrong or have a bad brush. The brush seems to hold very little water. Thanks for any ideas Doug
Doug, What boar is it and what cream are you using? I've handful of creams as I'm more soap guy. But I never encountered difficulty unless I bowl lathered with boar or badger. Generally for me I use dollop size bout nickel and generally good for 4-7 passes. I'm a 2-pass and once over but all my boars have yielded more than enough for a shave. Some creams take getting used to while soaps on the other hand are idiotproof. The more water used on the latter simply means you'll need more soap to compensate for the generous water. Cream however is not so forgiving. Too much water and you've meringue-like lather that wouldn't last 1-2 passes. Hence the term "latherhog." I've actually experienced difficulty with one home-made cream from member and you literally have to make sure the bristles are nearly water free otherwise it won't work. Every other cream I have this isn't an issue. In my experience, boar just holds enough water while badger retains more. Water retention to me is stupid argument because the water needs to be shaken anyway. In which case, with badgers I have gently shake 3x after allowing it to drip so it's just enough for the cream. Whether it's fingerdip or brush dip I've not encountered any problems with boar. Sometimes all you need to do if you find lather to be dry is simply dip the brush into hot water and rework it into your face. Also, badgers are for most part 90% ready to go out of the box while boars need good break-in period. At which point the tips split into trident-like allowing for softer tips. It's been claimed that it allows to hold more lather. I found no difference in that regard. Anyway, boars take literally 2 weeks of shaving and others more. Semogue take longer to break-in than Omega. Vulfix brushes not so much. Because you are dealing with natural bristles even if you've 2 of same model it can yield different results.
Doug, SiR-ed8 hit much of it and gives some great tips - you just have to experiment with his ideas, and the suggestions of others, to find what works for you. I've found every brush to be different, even comparing badger to badger or boar to boar. Different sizes, different hair, different soaps or creams, different water hardness around the world. Everyone's stuff is different. You and I may have the very same brush and cream, but our water hardness is different, so what works for me may not work for you. Keep gathering ideas and trying different ideas. You'll find what works! One other thing - are you soaking your boar prior to using? I let mine soak in hot water while I'm in the shower. It softens it up and works better for me.
I have an Omega boar that I use to face lather soaps and creams. The thing you have to keep in mind is that boar brushes retain their water through absorbtioninsead of capliary action. Let your bush soak in hot (or cold) water while you shower, like swarden43 said. On my brush you can actually see the bristles change color as the water travels up the brush, it's quite amusing. Don't worry about water dripping down your hand. I usually do that to myself while face lathering as well. It's excess water being squeezed out by the force of you lathering on your face. Just keep practicng till you find what works best for your brush and face. If it helps. Try bowl lathering to see how much water you use. Then when you face lather and the brush drips you still know how much water you need.
The brush is a very small prototype brush I bought for travel. I have used it with GFT lime, Proraso and DRH marlborough. It has only been used 6-8 times.I have no issues with my badger brush on which I dip the tip for the third and fourth pass. It just seems strange having to dip the boar for a good lather for the first pass after having water run out. I will try soaking it a little longer and see if it breaks in with more use. Thanks again Doug
Another thing I just thought of. I have been using the same amount of cream as I use on my badger which is much larger. I will try using less cream maybe I am overloading it.
Swarden hit the nail mate. I neglected to mention water hardess as well. Also bear in mind everyone has different lathering skills. What you could also do is get dollop sized cream and dab that on your face and work the brush that way. Just remember to start with less water. As you swirl you'll form it and if the lather is a bit dry don't worry as I said dip the bristles ever gently into hot water and go from there. It'll moisten the lather. Too much water and you'll destroy the whip cream lather mate.
I think you have nailed the difference between a boar brush and badger brush. The boar stimulates you face more because it is stiff, but the badger caresses your face because it holds more water and lather. I use the boar with a shave soap stick (Irisch Moos is the one I use). I let the brush rub against the shave stick and apply it to my face and lather up there. With other soaps or creams I use the badger brush and whip up the lather in a bowl. I use the boar brush and the shave soap stick once or twice a week. The fun part about this traditional shaving is there is enough variety to keep it fresh and exciting.
I bought an Omega Boar Brush and face lather. I will try it after letting it soak and see if it works any better for me.
I face lather creams with my omega boar. I just add a bit of cream to knot and start. The thing that helps me is I start to lather on my chin. That is the area of the greatest amount of stubble. It works on the same principle of the soap stick, you rub the soap stick against the stubble to catch the soap in the stubble,the brush then works against the stubble embedded with soap. Rubbing the brush/ cream against the greatest amount of stubble creates the friction that activates the lather building up.
Boar brushes are, in my useage, FANTASTIC face latherers. Make sure it's fully broken in though! For soaps: Take a damp brush and a damp puck, and load the brush with 10-30 swirls with pressure on the puck, then take it straight to your damp face and lather away. Wonderful feeling (like a face massage) and luscious lather. For creams: I use a plastic, disposable butter-knife and scoop out a half-almond of cream, then slap it on my right cheek, another half-almond (or less, depending on the cream in use) and "butter" my left cheek. Hit it with a damp boar and the lather is fantastic. Again, the brush being broken in is the key
I have 2 Semogues, with a third on the way. I only face lather. What you are experiencing is pre-break in. Badgers rock n roll from shave one. Boars will need a bit of time. They gradually retain water better, and the tips will start to split, which is quite normal. Contrary to much of the advice above, to use only a damp brush, or less product, my experience with a dense boar is to do the opposite for a while. Use it wetter than usual and really load up with soap, or use more cream. As you feel it give up more lather (might take a couple of weeks), you can use less product and water. Give it a couple of weeks to settle in, even add a practice lather in there to move it along.
