Based on comments in this thread I just ordered an SOC from Maggard...what is the typical break-in period? I just want to be sure I give it a fair timeframe to become the brush that is raved about here LOL. (This is my first boar BTW)
It should be very usable out of the box but will get noticeably better the first month. After that it keeps getting better but a little more slowly. I used mine for 3 months straight when I first got it and it probably still has some more breaking in to do. On the SOC I have not noticed very many split tips. I think this is because they use a finer grade of boar hair that's thinner than what you find in most boar brushes.
If I remember right, mine took about 3 weeks to a month, but I didn't use it daily. Its broken in well though and even though I forgot the break in time, it was well worth it.
You inspired me to use mine this morning with some Tabac soap. It really is a nice brush. Not prickly at all and just as comfortable on the face as the silvertip badger I've been using the past few days.
I've actually played, and have had her play, the "what is the silvertip" game with my wife using my SOC boar and my EJ 25mm silvertip. Neither she nor I can pick correctly and often the SOC is thought to be the silvertip. As far as break in time goes, I think it took about 10-12 shaves before I noticed the end tips splitting. It's been a year or so now and mine is super luxurious
And don't try anything "special" to "help it break in faster." Just use it the way it is intended to be used!!!
Thanks for the heads up - is there really a way people try to break it in faster using special methods? Never thought about doing it any other way, but I'm sure Google has plenty to say now that I think about it.
I heard about one guy who "painted" a brick with his - just used it like a paint brush on a brick, sans paint, of course. Some folks will take time out of their day to whip up 30-40 practice lathers to help with the break in. I just use mine, and like Bob said, they've become as soft as a silvertip. Here's an old thread on the very topic ---> *click*
I just used pucks of inexpensive soap, and lathered while watching a movie. Only once or twice though as the brush drying out is part of the break in process, allowing the hairs to split. I'd avoid using bricks, sandpaper and other abrasives to speed it up, to avoid wrecking a new boar.
I have heard that you can use a brick, in fact I think I recall GD Carrington posting something at one point that a manufacturer actually uses similar methods for breaking a brush in. I wouldn't though. If I had several thousand and could just shrug it off, sure, but since I don't, I'm into letting nature take it's course....one shave at a time. It isn't like those first shaves are brutal or anything, they are just very less refined from what the brush will be once it starts breaking in and after.
My opinion, if you don't want to take the time to break in a boar, then maybe you need to get a badger.
http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/a-quicker-boar-break-in.35266/ Is from Portugal A guy uses a method on his SOC.
I really enjoy my Vie Long 12705 Horse Hair. It does a great job of building lather and feels great on the face.
I am still in break-in process For face lathering is good but i expect more I am not so enthusiast although is the best Boar that i have.
Used my SOC in Cherry Wood handle about 6-7 times now. Not loving it yet...and the bristle knot looks kinda 'ratty' and not as elegant looking as a nice, even badger 'plume'. From what I've read it may take 20-30 uses until it comes into its own and I have all intentions of doing so...I just hope there's a pot of shaving gold at the end of the rainbow here
