Omega S synthetic brush - breakthrough or throwback?

[brothers]

Juan, owner of Gifts and Care, a well-stocked and well-managed web-based vendor in Spain, recently introduced his newly-stocked range of synthetic shaving brushes from Omega. I took an immediate interest in a handsome garnet colored Professional brush, and bought it. The total price, including shipping, was about $16 total. Shipped immediately, and delivered to my door in 10 days. I'll post photos later. Anyway, it's a good-looking shaving brush, resembling Omega's line of professional barber Boar brushes.

Now, to the point of my thread, a recent poster here on SMF remarked that he has a complaint in general against all synthetic brushes because they lack the familiar face feel which he found in the more traditional Badger and Boar brushes. I test lathered the big Omega S yesterday and shaved with it this morning. Now I can state positively, that it is not completely soft and pliable. It has backbone and a noticeable face feel, even to the point of being the tiniest bit scritchy on the face as do several of the other commonly used brushes which are appreciated for their face feel.

I believe this may be a breakthrough in the synthetic brush industry. This brush has the fast drying overall soft feel common to to synthetic brushes, but it also resembles commonly used Boar and Badger brushes due to these characteristics. I have been thinking about this, and it's my opinion Omega designed this new brush to emulate the large utilitarian Boar brushes that have made Omega famous.

In summary, I consider it a success in terms of price, size, and utility. I predict this range of brushes will become a standard in comparison to Omega's line of professional Boar brushes. Please remember to check back tomorrow to see the pictures.

[ShadowsDad]

Interesting.

I'm one of those folks who doesn't expect a boar to feel like a badger, or a badger to feel like a horse, or a synthetic to feel like anything but synthetic. I either like a brush or I don't; it's that simple. Time will tell if the brush catches on.

As for me, I don't really like scritch because I spend a lot of time out of doors, and a tiny bit of sunburn and scritch just don't mix for me.

[Squire]

I understand a personal decision to avoid consumer products made from hide or hair but really don't see the point of an imitation brush when I already have badger. That's like buying a chevy when there's a Mercedes in the garage.

[brothers]

Badger brushes were created as a replacement for horse or boar. Albeit a mighty fine alternative. Successor might be a more fitting description than imitation. The gents on the shaving forums seem to enjoy the wide bounty of products as options. Quite similar to a woman and her beautiful shoe collection. This is evolution.

[brothers]

. . . As for me, I don't really like scritch because I spend a lot of time out of doors, and a tiny bit of sunburn and scritch just don't mix for me.

I'm in the same boat regarding scritch, with or without a sunburn. It reminds me a bit of how a non-broken-in boar brush feels. Or some badger brushes. I do realize that some guys don't mind it.

[brothers]

Here is the photo I promised. From left to right, Omega 20107 boar, Omega S Brush synthetic, and H.I.S. 1794 synthetic.

[ShadowsDad]

It's a nice enough looking syn'. What are the dimensions of the knot?

BTW, I like it when the manufacturer doesn't make the (IMO) mistake of trying to make it look like badger. That predisposes one to expect "badger", at least to my mind. How exactly does badger feel? (what grade and manufacturer? It's doomed to failure.)

[brothers]

Sorry, I should have listed the specs earlier.

Omega 20107 28mm x 62mm
Omega S Brush 28mm x 59mm
H.I.S. 1794 28mm x 61mm

[Squire]

Badger brushes were created as a replacement for horse or boar.

Believe you've got that backwards Gary, horse and boar hair brushes were developed as cheap alternatives to badger even being dyed to imitate a badger appearance. That isn't evolution but is a sincere form of flattery.

[ShadowsDad]

All countries first used badger brushes? They didn't use what they had on hand? I find that very difficult to believe.

[Squire]

The countries (Anglo/Western European) to whose shaving traditions we are heir, yes. I believe the modern shaving brush was developed in 18th century France and was called a blaireau the English translation of which is badger.

[brothers]

I have read that in wikipedia. I have been known to get things backward, however. I see the synthetic shaving brush as successor to most brushes currently considered standard/traditional/classic bill of fare. I'm not a manufacturer, just a consumer. The ones whose vote counts regarding evolution are the big guns of the brush making industry, who are putting their money on the line to satisfy an obviously growing demand for synthetics. Only time will tell if they are on the right path. Actually the voters in this election are the customers, not the makers, who are only placing their bets on the outcome.

[ShadowsDad]

OK, I'll buy that. That it was the first practical shave brush accepted after trying other fibers/substances.

[Brutus]

I too believe that synthetic brushes have vastly improved in the last few years - simply because their first examples were just so terrible.

Looking for a brush for my overnight trips, I stumbled across a very positive Mühle Silvertip Fibre review, tried them and became quite fond of them.
They work well for me and I now use them regularly.

With respect to Squire's chevy vs. Mercedes comparison; for me its all horses for courses....
I might well have a S-Class Mercedes at home for well paved blacktop roads, but could still have some need for a more rugged vehicle to bounce around dirt roads in the boondocks.

Similarly; in my case it was the synthetic brushes' ability to quickly dry that attracted me in the first place and I was later positively surprised how far synthetics had improved in the years since I tried them the last time.


B.

[brothers]

It makes a heck of a lather, to be sure.

[Rufus]

Interesting.

I'm one of those folks who doesn't expect a boar to feel like a badger, or a badger to feel like a horse, or a synthetic to feel like anything but synthetic. I either like a brush or I don't; it's that simple. Time will tell if the brush catches on.

As for me, I don't really like scritch because I spend a lot of time out of doors, and a tiny bit of sunburn and scritch just don't mix for me.

My sentiments exactly. I have badger, boar, horse and synthetic brushes and I love them all. Each knot is unique and that's what I like about my collection. My Muhle Silvertip synthetic has turned out to be a wonderful travel brush because it dries very quickly and makes a great lather with my shaving soap stick. It's also in my day-to-day rotation and it competes very favourably with my other 25 brushes. My sentimental favourite is badger, but I must say that the one brush that never ceases to impress me each time I use it is my Omega B&B Essential boar. I must give an Omega synthetic a whirl.

[ShadowsDad]

Gary, I was originally taken aback by your posted knot dimensions, but then I remembered how large a synthetic knot can be and not be a problem. I have all the brushes I can tolerate in my cabinet and not a dog among them, so for now I'll just read about how you like them.

[Ouchmychin]

I got to their site but could not switch to English. Since I don't know Spanish for synthetic I had to give up.

[brothers]

I got to their site but could not switch to English. Since I don't know Spanish for synthetic I had to give up.

Pete, Juan's SMF post here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=53873 is in English I hope this helps!

[houlejames]

Just got the S10049, new synthetic Pro, that is very similar to the Pro Boar I used to have. Only difference that I could tell is cheaper price $7.99 at Imperial Shaving/StraightRazor Designs, no funk and dries almost immediately. Also no break-in, what's not to like? Maybe not as much of a lather hog either. Great brush if you like a larger brush, which I do in a boar or synthetic, not so much in a badger. The synthetic bristles really mimic the boar bristles in the S-Brush models. I also got a S10018 for $5.99. The handle is really nice for that price and a more manageable size. I haven't used it yet but I think it will work out well based on the synthetic pro that I am using now. These are the first synthetic brushes I have used that seem more like a boar bristle than the badger, quite nice if you like boars and you can't beat the prices.