How do brushes end their lives? (2025)

‘Doughnut holes’ or broken hair/bristle in the crown, from too much pressure on the soap or face. Many folks seem to like using the soap brush for a good face scrub, which is not what the brush was intended for.

Keep the knot clean and dry when knot in use

The only way a favorite brush ends it’s life is if it is dropped and broken (for me at least)!

I have had a few reknotted, and have been very happy with the results!

This one died

dailydeshaver said:

I used mostly the synthetic brush (KGC) I paid ~ $7 for (on offer), and it still looks like new. I rinse it thoroughly with warm water under the tap after each use (handle down, brush up) to remove as much soap residue as possible, shake it and dry it for a coupe minutes with a hair drier (warm air flow). It still looks like new after one year of use. But for me, synthetic is a bit too soft, a bit sloppy when face lathering.

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The sloppiness that I experience with synthetics is directly attributed to the springiness of the fibers. They tend to fling soap and water back.

Steve56 said:

‘Doughnut holes’ or broken hair/bristle in the crown, from too much pressure on the soap or face. Many folks seem to like using the soap brush for a good face scrub, which is not what the brush was intended for.

Keep the knot clean and dry when knot in use

dailydeshaver said:

On the other hand, I used a small boar brush half as much as the synth brush (~ once a week), but it's far from looking like when I purchased it. It lost some of its hairs, and the brush bristle are now wide spread wide. Still works fine, but doesn't look great. It that to be expected / normal , for boar brushes?

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One of my first boars was an older VdH that was absolutely horrible. Shed every single shave until I gave up on it. The previously made in Texas VdH is what I was after and from time to time still make an appearance here. Since then I've accumulated plenty from Omega, Semogue, and Zenith. By far my favorite configuration (in synths too) are the larger loft to knot ratios. Provides plenty of softness when the tips split and plenty of that lovely scrub. Try an Omega 10049, Pro48, or RazoRock Blondie as an example which won't hit the pocketbook much.

nemo said:

This one died
View attachment 2008124

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Sure looks like a life well-lived.

nemo said:

This one died
View attachment 2008124

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Wow!

ChriWilson said:

The sloppiness that I experience with synthetics is directly attributed to the springiness of the fibers. They tend to fling soap and water back.

One of my first boars was an older VdH that was absolutely horrible. Shed every single shave until I gave up on it. The previously made in Texas VdH is what I was after and from time to time still make an appearance here. Since then I've accumulated plenty from Omega, Semogue, and Zenith. By far my favorite configuration (in synths too) are the larger loft to knot ratios. Provides plenty of softness when the tips split and plenty of that lovely scrub. Try an Omega 10049, Pro48, or RazoRock Blondie as an example which won't hit the pocketbook much.

See Also

49 Home Products With Before After Photos That Are SO Dramatic

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I'm still learning / discovering. The first brush I bought for 7 Euro is small and short boar brush (18mm I guess). At the time I had never used a shave brush, no idea about the existence of synthetic, boar, badger, horse. When I was a kid I had only seen my grand father shaving with a Gillette DE and a brush, badger with a wooden handle...he'd show me when he was shaving outside of the house for the better light with a letter sized mirror hanged on the wall). My father shaved with an electric razor. When I first started shaving I used a Gillette TTO and my palm to apply canned foam, and later for 10+ years I just used regular bar soap with disposable Gillette blue II razors. I only recently discovered using a brush and how cool it is. Yesterday I saw an Omega 10083 (26mm knot I found online) and 80005 on the shelf of a hair dresser's shop and I was clearly impressed. There was also an Omega synthetic boar imitation, very different compared to my KCG very soft synthetic brush, so yes you're right synthetic brushes may have more or less thin bristle. Looking forward to get the Proraso boar brush (27mm knot /57mm loft). Not sure about the difference between 57mm loft and 65mm loft (Omega 10049) or 70mm loft (Omega 10048).

Steve56 said:

Another vote for the Omega 49. If you want to scrub your skin with it, it’s an excellent boar brush, cheap and readily available. Grab one or two when you buy something else, or get a 6-pack on sale, lol.

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I've seen the Omega 80083 and I was impressed by its size. I'm thinking about ordering the Goodfellas' Wild Hog brush available online for a very good price (same brush as the Proraso Pro, made by Omega) if what I read online is correct. I'm not sure about the difference between 57mm loft (Proraso), 65mm loft (Omega 49) and 70mm loft (Omega 48) for face lathering.

I have the Proraso, 48 and 49.

The Proraso has a good amount of backbone but it splays nicely and once broken in it’s plenty soft.

The 48 is amazing. Less backbone but feels like a scrubby cloud. A painter brush I like to call it.

My 49, well… I must have purchased a one of a kind. The backbone is simply out of the charts. I mean really excessive, to the point that actual force is needed to splay it. It’s that stiff. I don’t what they did to that brush, but it’s almost unusable (face lathering). I can’t believe all 49s are like that.

One of my Zeniths failed, it always shed a bit but i thought it would stop until way too many hairs started falling out. Going to try removing the knot and use the handle for another knot. This is the only Zenith brush ive had fail, all my others are perfect.

dailydeshaver said:

On the other hand, I used a small boar brush half as much as the synth brush (~ once a week), but it's far from looking like when I purchased it. It lost some of its hairs, and the brush bristle are now wide spread wide. Still works fine, but doesn't look great. It that to be expected / normal , for boar brushes?

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It's kind of hard to say without seeing the brush.

It is common for most natural bristle brushes to "bloom" with use....the bristles will spread out or bloom like a flower opening. A

of broken bristles or a hole developing in the center of the knot is either a really old, or an abused brush...of course it is also possible that the brush is defective.

The nice thing about boar brushes is that they don't cost a lot...compared to badger.

jasonco said:

This is the only Zenith brush ive had fail, all my others are perfect.

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Some knots do not get glued well in manufacturing. This looks more like defective knot than either normal wear and tear from use or even abuse. When they completely let go in one spot, it’s generally a defect. Not always, but generally.

dailydeshaver said:

I'm not sure about the difference between 57mm loft (Proraso), 65mm loft (Omega 49) and 70mm loft (Omega 48) for face lathering.

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I’ve found the longer lofted brushes allow me to use more of the bristle in this fashion. I prefer using larger fan synths like this also, to help manage their springiness.

Alex Jr said:

I have the Proraso, 48 and 49.

The Proraso has a good amount of backbone but it splays nicely and once broken in it’s plenty soft.

The 48 is amazing. Less backbone but feels like a scrubby cloud. A painter brush I like to call it.

My 49, well… I must have purchased a one of a kind. The backbone is simply out of the charts. I mean really excessive, to the point that actual force is needed to splay it. It’s that stiff. I don’t what they did to that brush, but it’s almost unusable (face lathering). I can’t believe all 49s are like that.

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My ‘49s are well broken in and what you describe here is more along my initial impressions of the Proraso.

Of these three, my preference is
1) Pro48
2a) 10049
2b) Proraso

Those are too close for me to call and really depends on how I’m feeling and which soap I’m using.

Scrubby with backbone = Mistura