Vie Long Horse Hair Break-In

[LookingGlass]

All,

Is someone able to tell me how horse hair brushes are to break-in? Attached is a picture of my three "little" brushes. In the Omega Mighty Midget, the boars are splitting and it is getting a bloom. The Wee Scot is blooming nicely. However, after a dozen or so shaves, the Vie Long looks about the same as when it arrived. A little bloom with no splitting. Do horse hair brushes eventually split like a boar? The little horse hair is nice for face lathering and hard soaps - just wondering what to expect.

I appreciate any advice/comment.

[malocchio]

The horse will fan out a little bit in time.You really don't want to put pressure on the knot when lathering,you will end up with a "hole" in the center of the knot..Try to use minimum pressure in your mug and on your face.An occasional bath in Ship-Shape keeps the brush clean and softens the hairs,but does not disinfect.A great little horse hair brush,Vie-Long makes the best.

[brothers]

Mine has served me well for a few years now. I think it's not in the nature of horsehair to split.

[wvbias]

For sometime now I've been considering
adding a horse hair brush to my collection.

I like the Vie Long model 2013 LE with the
beehhive handle. I don't really need it BUT
I want it.


Terry

[LookingGlass]

For sometime now I've been considering
adding a horse hair brush to my collection.

I like the Vie Long model 2013 LE with the
beehhive handle. I don't really need it BUT
I want it.
Terry

This is a small lower end Vie Long horse hair brush so I should not expect much. I wanted to try a horse hair without making a bigger investment. From what I can tell so far I am going to stick with boars. A Semogue 1470 runs about $14.00 shipped from Leon at Vintage Scent and is a very nice little boar. The little Vie Long is well built with an attractive resin handle (no plastic).

I think I will PIF it to someone who wants to try a horse hair. Really not a bad brush...just not what I was expecting.

[wvbias]

I like boars as well. I bought an Omega Bambino earlier
this month. I know, it's small and only cost like $6.00
but I really like it. My other boar is an Omega 10275
and I enjoy it as well.

I will definitely hold off on a horse hair for a couple
weeks. If the desire to own one still exists i'll buy one
but I have a feeling that the desire will pass.

Terry

[ShadowsDad]

I bought a (from my notes) Vie-Long 1307B 50% mane/50% tail, 23x53mm (as measured) unbleached blond, olivewood handle used from a b/s/t and while I don't have a huge # of shaves on it, I find almost no change to the brush from when I first bought it. I'll keep it just because it's so different from any of my other brushes, but a horsehair brush simply isn't my favorite, so far anyway. Maybe in 10 years I'll find it to be great.

[wvbias]

I think I will let the desire to own one
pass.

I also have two badger brushes. One is
a Vulfix 374 silvertip that I bought in
November 2005. That was my daily brush
until sometine last year when I bought a
Simpson's Berkeley best. I like the Simpson's
a lot. The Vulfix I seldom use. The thing is
just too soft and floppy.

In ways this group is like AA for those of us
with a shaving obsession. In other ways it
helps fuel the addiction...

Terry