Omega Pure Bristle Shaving Brush 10098

I am returning to shaving with a safety razor after years of using cartridge types. I initially decided to take the "don't pay too much in case you don't like it" route and bought an inexpensive shaving set, that included a cheap boar bristle brush. That brush seemed to do an ok job, but i wasn't getting the kind of lather I was led to expect. So, I decided to buy an upgraded brush.I saw this big boy and i was intrigued. I'd heard the Omega brushes were pretty good and they were priced reasonably, so I took a chance. I'm a big guy with big hands and the idea of a long, large handled brush appealed to me. The brush arrived about a week ago. I took it out of the box and immediately shampooed and conditioned it. It had a very feint animal smell and I wanted to "wash" it out. I used the brush the next morning and it was a revelation.This brush makes a gobload of lather in just a few seconds. I'm using a VDH deluxe soap (part of the starter kit I bought), and I was having trouble getting a good lather with my old brush. But, with the Omega brush it lathers like magic in just a second or 2. I can fill the brush with lather in just a few seconds. The only problem with this is that the lather can be a bit dry, but I just add water to the brush and the lather puffs up fine. This brush feels fabulous on my face when applying the lather. It is actually a pleasure shaving with this brush. It wakes me up every day it feels so good.I've yet to use a badger brush of any sort but I would be surprised if any brush of any kind was much better than this one. It does everything a shaving brush can do, and it does it well, and it feels great on my face! I'm looking forward to many years of shaving enjoyment with this one!

To be fair, this is the first shaving brush that I've ever used, so i really don't have a reference base for comparison. The reason I chose this brush is because of the reviews, the size since I have large hands, and quality vs cost.The brush seems well made. I've used it twice and I've counted 2 total bristles that I've lost on the first use, and none on the second. The bristles are stiff enough to lift my stubble for a close shave, and feels really nice against my skin. They build lather like crazy and can hold a ton of water. Overall, it seems like a great brush.I know there are more expensive brushes with "higher quality" materials, but for my first brush, I'm very happy. I see no need to purchase anything else until this one just becomes unusable for whatever reason.After only two shaves, I know that I'll never go back to a can again. I get a better and closer shave with a soap and brush, even with a cartridge razor, than I ever have with any can, gel or foam, with much less irritation.Next task is to switch to a DE razor, that arrives tomorrow.

Adding to the kudos here for this Omega boar.I will agree, though that there is a break-in period for this brush, and it really does have a foul smell at first, particularly when you wet it. I gave mine a good washing in dawn detergent and warm water, let it air-dry, then shampooed it and built a lather with it every day for about a week and a half (again, letting it air dry overnight in between).As soon as I got rid of the smell, this brush performed like an absolute champ. I have big hands and am a big guy, and appreciate the longer 'paintbrush' style of this brush. It builds a lather beautifully, and performs particularly well with pucks. The firm backbone combined with an assertive but comfortable bristle (once its broken in) are a pleasure to use. I find I'm reaching for this brush instead of my badger on a regular basis now.If you're looking for a wonderful boar brush and can deal with the longer length of this Omega, look no further.

This is a large brush; the handle is large and the knot is large. I have large hands, so it works fine for me.Some people have complained about the bristles being too stiff and having an unpleasant smell. This is quite typical of boar brushes. There are some things you can do to improve this situation. Although It will probably shorten the life of my brush, I heated some water in a pan on the stove to about 165 degrees F. I dipped the bristles only (not the handle) into the hot water for just a couple of seconds and then allowed the brush to cool. I repeated this process a couple of times. This kills most germs that might remain in the brush, softens the bristles, and removes much of the odor. I then washed the bristles a couple of times in warm water and a scented shampoo. By then, most of the unpleasant odor should be gone. For the first couple of time you use the brush, you might want to use a highly scented shave cream such as Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood to mask any remaining odor.When using the brush, soak the bristles in very warm water (around 125 degrees F) for 5-10 minutes to soften the bristles before developing your lather. Whether using a hard soap, or a soft cream, this brush will quickly whip up a rish lather. When you are through shaving, rinse the brush thoroughly, dry it on a towel, and then allow it to air dry. Although I hang mine upside down for a minimum of 24 hours to dry, some claim it does not matter whether you hang it or stand it upright; just do not put it in a closed cabinet until it is thoroughly dry.

Fits good in a mug.

Purchased for my husband. He loves it. Good qualm and works perfectly.