Horse Hair Brushes

[Nanook]

What are peoples thoughts on horse hair shave brushes?

I prefer a natural brush, boar being my favourite. I also own several badger and synthetic ones that I have no problems with. I thought I'd give a horse hair brush a go after reading some positive reviews. I've used it a few times now and tried it again last night but I just can't warm to it.

Everything I read about them was that they are soft however have a decent backbone. My Vielong, is as floppy as a limp d. To me it's so bad that I can't even get a decent lather up in my bowl that on every other style of brush would whip up a storm.

I guess its going to be written off as a bad investment.

 

[rbscebu]

Horse hair has been used for centuries in brushes. They have never been overly popular as shaving brushes. There must be a reason.

PS, I have never tried one.

 

[MrPeanut]

Havent tried one but it is intended on being my very next brush purchase

 

[Ebonysw45]

I have several. I would recommend buying from https://www.thegentleshave.com/collections/horse-1
I grabbed the XL copper and like it more than my boar and badger brushes. The loft is set lower which fixes the floppiness problem.

 

[SpeedyPC]

If you’re going to get a horse hair shaving brush, for goodness sake don’t be an ASSHLE!!! Okay

 

[alfredus]

I have tried a variety of horse hair brushes and as always there are huge differences...

I have one Epsilon left in the stable, which I used just this week and it is as lovey to use as I remembered. I prefer them to boar, but of course nothings beats a good badger

 

[rhodes96]

If you’re going to get a horse hair shaving brush, for goodness sake don’t be an ASSHLE!!! Okay

What the ....

 

[Chad]

I've got this

https://flic.kr/p/2mEzH6L

It's mixed mane/tail. It's pretty great. Doesn't tangle, not too floppy and paints on a great lather. I'm a fan of the shaped handle but it's not wearing particularly well with soaking and getting wet.

 

[alfredus]

I believe this is the one I have...

 

[Holiday]

I have a few NAG's on RHS

Epsilon LE 2015 Brown Horse Hair 30mm knot - same as @alfredus but dark hair
Vie-Long 22mm Brown Horse - just off photo with only 1/2 brush showing. This one is a nice little performer

TBH: I don't reach for them often enough because I have too much variety and sharing the love amongst all brushes in the den but if I had no other brush and only the little 22mm Vie Long Brown would be happy. It's just a good solid little performer.

 

[Gargravarr]

I'm glad this poll came up (and I have an OT question: how do you set one up?)

I've been considering a nag as a replacement for the Tux knot in my 26mm Forgotten Art handle. I may even be prepared to cannibalise a nice Zenith like this one if I can't find a suitable "naked" knot. I'm interested to know what people think...

 

[Ebonysw45]

https://paste-and-cut.com.au/community/threads/shave-of-the-day-thread-2021.6618/post-182992

I have several. I would recommend buying from https://www.thegentleshave.com/collections/horse-1
I grabbed the XL copper and like it more than my boar and badger brushes. The loft is set lower which fixes the floppiness problem.

 

[Holiday]

I'm glad this poll came up (and I have an OT question: how do you set one up?)

I've been considering a nag as a replacement for the Tux knot in my 26mm Forgotten Art handle. I may even be prepared to cannibalise a nice Zenith like this one if I can't find a suitable "naked" knot. I'm interested to know what people think...

Waste of a good handle. I would donate the Epsilon LE 2015 Brown Horse Hair 30mm knot to a good cause and save that handle

 

[Gargravarr]

https://paste-and-cut.com.au/community/threads/shave-of-the-day-thread-2021.6618/post-182992

Great picture

 

[Ebonysw45]

Great picture

Cheers. It was a shave of the day post. The patina on the handle is more advanced and the TOBS is no more.

 

[Gargravarr]

Waste of a good handle. I would donate the Epsilon LE 2015 Brown Horse Hair 30mm knot to a good cause and save that handle

Nice, but it won't fit in a 26mm hole. The Forgotten Art handle just needs something more special than what it's got.

 

[Gargravarr]

Cheers. It was a shave of the day post. The patina on the handle is more advanced and the TOBS is no more.

I confess to quite liking the TOBS, even though the colour is a little alarming

 

[Nanook]

I'm glad this poll came up (and I have an OT question: how do you set one up?)

If you start a new thread, there's an option to create a poll.

 

[Gargravarr]

If you start a new thread, there's an option to create a poll.

Ah, I never noticed. Well well, thanks for that.

 

[mark123abc0]

I'm a big fan, I really like my horse hair brush. So much so it's been loved to death, might be time for a new one