I’ve noticed less irritation on my face when I use my boar brush. Does anyone else notice this? Wonder if my skin reacts to something in the badger. It’s not bad but I feel like I have less redness and bumps with my boar.
Boar better for skin?
- Thread starter Miketorrge
- Start date
I have both boar and badger and haven't noticed this.
There’s a lot of unasked questions and answers here about all the variables…
What kind/manufacture of each? Size, loft, density, treatment, hair grade … your specific face condition, how you use pressure and application technique. What soap… I'm sure there’s more.
This is the YMMV jackpot
And I assume you’re talking just two brushes in direct comparison (not very B&B if I’m honest. Buy both is always the B&B answer according to the bylaws).
If you prefer the boar… use it. Have you tried changing up your technique to get maximal performance you want out of the badger?
I like boar and badger, have gone through a fair number of both to dial in what I like from/with each because they’re all variable. I don’t like synths or horse.
You’re the only one that can figure out what’s your best for you. There’s an investment cost to that and not just financial.
What kind/manufacture of each? Size, loft, density, treatment, hair grade … your specific face condition, how you use pressure and application technique. What soap… I'm sure there’s more.
This is the YMMV jackpot
And I assume you’re talking just two brushes in direct comparison (not very B&B if I’m honest. Buy both is always the B&B answer according to the bylaws).
If you prefer the boar… use it. Have you tried changing up your technique to get maximal performance you want out of the badger?
I like boar and badger, have gone through a fair number of both to dial in what I like from/with each because they’re all variable. I don’t like synths or horse.
You’re the only one that can figure out what’s your best for you. There’s an investment cost to that and not just financial.
a man goes to the doctor and says "doc, Everytime I turn my head like this, it hurts". The doctor replied, "then don't turn your head that way."
Use the boar then. it really is that simple.
Use the boar then. it really is that simple.
Yup!
I experience this.
Although it depends on the boar brush characteristics, but overall, i get a smoother shave with less brush irritation with my boars, two of my best being semogue Torga C5 and semogue 610.
Soft badger brushes are ok as long as they are low density as my skin doesn't handle high density knots.
Synthetics are a funny one because they may feel ultra soft but when i actually use them on the face, they can cause a strange irritation.
I have an old ej synth which feels a little tricky to the touch but bizarrely, during use, it never irritates my skin! It's low density, low backbone so maybe that's where the magic lies?!
Just to rule this out but have you washed your badger? I mean deep clean, vinegar bath, warm water, neutral detergent, dandruff shampoo, dry and repeat at least 2 times.
I almost started a thread on this. I said it here before that my experience with Simpson best badger wasn’t the best. Harsh, just painful to use on my face.
One day I asked myself if there was something more to it than the bristles. So I read a few threads here of people having allergic reaction to badgers that went away after a deep clean. So I went for it.
And I’m happy to report that, while the best hair grade is STILL a little harsh on my skin, I was certainly having an allergic reaction to something, dandruff or chemical stuff they put on the hair or whatever.
I still feel the exfoliation, but no itching, red dots or anything like that.
Bottom line, try it.
That's really interesting!
I do 6 monthly vinegar soaks of badger and boar brushes so i can't say it applies to me but i can see how it may be an issue, especially if the natural hair has some mildew build-up and the skin reacting to that.
I actually do vinegar soak to remove limescale from deep in the knot, followed by copper sulfate soak to remove any possible mildew because during the monsoon season, natural hair brushes don't dry out completely for 3-5 days!!
I get on well with both badgers and boars. But that’s me.
Try Lathering Face with Bore, then do not shave. Then Wash soap off. Is face irritated?
Try Lathering Face with Badger, then do not shave. Then Wash soap off. Is face irritated?
Do this two days apart with same SOAP.
Might be Brush, or Both Brushes?
Could be Soap?
Report finding, or if you narrow down problem.
Last question is do you ever sanitize your Razor? To kill bacteria?
OP was asking if anyone noticed something. It really is that simple.
Only mentally irritated.
I want the scrub I get out of a boar. My badgers (Simpson, Plisson, SHD, vintage) just don't stimulate my face.
I want the scrub I get out of a boar. My badgers (Simpson, Plisson, SHD, vintage) just don't stimulate my face.
It makes no difference to me.
Both badger and boar feel very comfortable to me, but I believe that people don’t give well broken in boar shaving brushes enough credit for feeling very supple on the skin when wet. Softer, in fact that many badger brushes and almost without exception softer than pure badger brushes. That people don’t realize this may be because boar brushes feel rather stiff when dry.
Around the Mediterranean, even in Muslim countries, barbers have a strong preference for boar brushes and in this part of the world boar brushes also rule supreme for home shavers.
B.
Both badger and boar feel very comfortable to me, but I believe that people don’t give well broken in boar shaving brushes enough credit for feeling very supple on the skin when wet. Softer, in fact that many badger brushes and almost without exception softer than pure badger brushes. That people don’t realize this may be because boar brushes feel rather stiff when dry.
Around the Mediterranean, even in Muslim countries, barbers have a strong preference for boar brushes and in this part of the world boar brushes also rule supreme for home shavers.
B.
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What badger brush are you using?
I have many badger brushes (including modern Simpson Best) that will never be as gentle to sensitive skin as even my cheapest broken-in boar brush.
I have tough wiry beard.I started with a Proraso boar brush aka Omega 83.After I used various grades of badger brushes, horse brushes and of course some new Yaqi synthetics.All the brushes that I tried are good.I like them all.But the best results for my tough wiry beard come when I use the boar brushes.Plus the exfoliation of the old skin.They are excellent brushes when you learn how to use them.
Boar bristles offer a little scritch. The lather these brushes build can be very rewarding once broken in. I like a good badger brush but I love a good boar brush.
You need a better badger brush. You can get a nice boar brush for under $20. You couldn't pay me to use a badger anywhere near that price.
If you purchased a pair of brown shoes and they pinched your feet you wouldn't assume all brown shoes were a bad choice for you.
If you purchased a pair of brown shoes and they pinched your feet you wouldn't assume all brown shoes were a bad choice for you.
I use both with no problem...
...though I would expect (speculate) that if one with sensitive skin were prone to brush burn, that a boar brush (due to its inherently "scrubbier" nature) would cause more irritation than a badger or even a synthetic, which are generally much softer.
...though I would expect (speculate) that if one with sensitive skin were prone to brush burn, that a boar brush (due to its inherently "scrubbier" nature) would cause more irritation than a badger or even a synthetic, which are generally much softer.
Could be an allergy, but then wouldn't it (does it?) occur with any badger brush?...notably Simpson, if it is a treatment used in processing.
I just really want to concur with both of the above. My Simpson Best Badger is one of the scritch-ier badgers I own...nowhere near as soft as my Shavemac 2-band, or even my inexpensive Yaqi and Maggard badger 2-band knots.
Not knocking Simpson...it is a lower grade knot (as reflected in the price), just noting that they are not as soft as higher grades of badger. Still, I like my Commodore Best, and use it often.
