Badger vs. Boar

[rgm1960]

I understand badger is superior to boar bristles. I own a badger brush but get a much better lather with a VDH brush. Why is this? Thanks.

[a Rose's thorn]

Don't get caught up into "superior" to badger. It is "different" than badger. It sounds like you know how the VDH brush works, you just have to figure out how the badger works. Loft size, diameter, density, material - all will influence how you produce lather. All brushes can make lather, you just have to unlock their potential. YMMV, and that is part of the fun.

[Bengal Tiger]

Most of what anyone says here is their own preference and experience. If one was better in everything, everyone would get it and our purchasing decisions would be much easier and collections would be smaller. Having success with your brush has a lot to do with your technique and how well its been broken in.

Boars are often stiff and scratchy and may even smell bad out of the box. They are a completely different brush in a week, and still completely different in a month. Using it is one way to break it in. There are methods here for how to wash, break in, maintain, and use different brushes. Using it correctly and taking care of it probably vastly improves your experience.

[Oblique Human]

They aren't superior.. one over the other. Each offers a different experience and perform better with either soap or cream. Just trust your own senses and judgment more.

[dpmtherrien]

Just find which you prefer, and that you get the best results from. That's all that matters.

[attime6]

What type of badger brush do you have and how long have you had it vs. the boar. I personally feel that size can be a factor as well as how you lather, face, bowl, hand.

In the end use what works best for you.

[takeshi]

I understand badger is superior to boar bristles.
Where are you getting this understanding from?


I own a badger brush but get a much better lather with a VDH brush. Why is this?
Technique and other differences between the brushes. The bristles do behave differently so if you're using the same method with both then that's probably why one seems to work better than the other. There is some adjustment required when switching from one to the other.

[mandoman]

I like to use my badger for creams & my boar for soaps :walkman:

[Vivasanti]

Hope the OP learnt his lesson.

[jsj_297]

they all work!!! Just different ways, and techniques for each one. Throw in horse hair and synthetics, soaps and creams, and this is where it becomes an art. Experience will tell you how to lather a boar with williams vs a synthetic brush with DR harris creams. A silver tipped badger lathering MWF, vs a boar lathering KMF creams.......This is only resolved by time, and experimentation. I feel comfortable with badgers, boars, and synthetics to the point I can use all three with soaps and creams, and know enough to use each brushes strong points and weak points now. They are all capable of making lather, its up to the user to add or remove water, add more product, use less product,etc etc......just my .02 cents, spend it where ever you like.

[celestino]

Just find which you prefer, and that you get the best results from. That's all that matters.

+1

[Brianggilbert]

I ran out of the house on a business trip this morning and completely forgot my travel brush and soap for the road. I ended up stopping off at a CVS and grabbed a VDH boar brush (my first boar) and a puck of Williams soap. After returning from dinner I was just curious to see what sort of lather I could make with a not-broken-in boar brush of lower quality and it proved to me that with time a patience you can pretty much make anything work if you need to.

Now if I can do it tomorrow AM when the pressure is on - that's another story! :-)