After trying badger, boar and a horsehair brushes, I decided that the horse was my love. So I ordered two other horsehair brushes to see if I could find one I liked better. I ordered a Veg from China for $9.99 that was quite soft it had the backbone of a mop. I also ordered a Vie-Long 14080, 35% mane and 65% tail, one of the higher quality Vie-Longs. It has more backbone than the Veg, but not enough for me. I am going back to my Vie-Long 13710, 50/50 mane/tail. I even ordered a second one for $18, as a back-up. It is softer and has better backbone of a good boar or badger, and beats anything for face lathering. I know "Best Grooming and Shaving Tools" still has these in stock.
I'll give the 13710 a look. I'm actually thinking a 24/75 mix for me for the next horse. I really like scritch. I just hope the backbone is there with it as well. For now I'm loving the 12601 with the 12705 a close second. Seriously thinking of going about 90% horse and using boar to fill the gaps when I want.
Bruce Everiss the dean of shaving in England is very big on horse brushes. Here is an article by him on horse hair brushes. http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/10/04/why-horse-hair-shaving-brush Anthrax killed them in the 1920s. Today few of us rave about them, so many don't try them.
If I ever buy another horsehair brush, it will be the Vie-Long pony, just to add to my "miniatures" brush collection.
Good article. It is unfortunate that horses don't get the press I think they deserve today. Perhaps if the hobby continues to grow we will see more fans as we go. I find it a bit puzzling that so many embrace synthetics because they are "animal friendly" while ignoring a natural hair brush that is also friendly to the animal. Horses get haircuts just like we do. No harm done and I don't even think anyone could argue exploitation of the animal for that reason. Horse racing? Now that's another story, but simply using a product that they grow and have trimmed as part of their care shouldn't raise alarm.
You can't beat Vie Long brushes, I have four and a Vig special order with a 30mm knot. I use a horse brush about 3 days a week, boar about 3 days a week, and sneak in a badger here and there. There is no other brush that feels like a good horse hair brush!
I agree. I don't even sneak a badger in the lineup. For me it's horse and boar in rotation at the moment. I only own one badger, a cheapo I started with and it sits and gathers dust. And for feel the horse wins everytime.
I too am puzzled why synthetics are so popular while horse hair brushes are not. I know the synthetics can be great performers but the feel unnatural on my face. While I don't care about Vegan and use badger and boar brushes I use a Vie Long horse hair brush for travel.
I keep thinking I should try a synthetic but then can't think of a reason why. Maybe since I don't travel much I don't have that particular problem but yes, I am a traditionalist when it comes to brushes too.
