what are horse hair brushes like? (2025)

I don't see much talk about horse hair brushes here.

How do horse hair stack up against boar, synthetic and badgers? Are they as rough and scrubby as boars?

Great question. I am interested too in horse brushes. They seem a love/hate type.

Some more info for you

Do you have a favourite horse hair brush?

I use a Vie-Long horse hair brush. I find it to be a great brush. Quick to break in, and mine had no smell at all when I got it.

It is an "in between" brush, less back-bone than a boar, but better than a badger.
I just give it a quick soak and use it for both soaps and creams.

There are as many varieties of horse hair as there are horses. It generally falls somewhat between boar and badger in feel and function; requires less soaking than boar but more than badger.

It's different; not better or worse, just different.

One important consideration is the ratio of mane to tail hair since tail hair is generally more boar-like and mane hair more badger-like. Colors can range from deep black to pure white as well as variations of browns and golds.

Just ordered a Vie-Long 14030, will see how it works! Do you de-funk it like a boar or badger?

Tom

airmech said:

Just ordered a Vie-Long 14030, will see how it works! Do you de-funk it like a boar or badger?

Tom

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I have the Cremo Vie long horse brush. The backbone is betwen boar and badger with some scrub and a little scritch. I gave it a few test lathers and used it for a week straight to de-funk it.

There must be enough interest in them for AP Shave Co. to come out with a synthetic horse hair knot:

Andrew said:

This knot only comes in 22mm, perfect for those looking to restore a vintage brush, or prefer a tad smaller knot!This knot has hair that feels slightly thicker than that of the tuxedo. Its extra density as well as its thicker hair provides it with a good amount of backbone for face latherers. The appearance of this knot is supposed to mimic the natural look of a horse hair knot, hence the name faux horse!

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John Rose said:

There must be enough interest in them for AP Shave Co. to come out with a synthetic horse hair knot:

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I saw that knot and was wondering how it compares to a horse hair knot, I can't see it being the same, but if one has a handle they want to save this knot maybe a good choice. Has anyone compared the synthetic vs. real?

Hi,

I've used 3 Vie-Long horses for around 10 years. And until I picked up a couple synthetics, they were all I used, preferring them to boar and badger.

There are a couple things to consider when looking at buying a horsehair. As mentioned, the tail to mane hair ratio greatly influences how the brush feels. More of the softer mane hair, the more badger like it becomes. The more coarser tail hair, the more boar like it is. And then if we mess with the loft, that changes the feel of the brush also. A longer loft makes for a softer feeling, easier splaying brush, while adding some "springiness" underneath. A shorter loft will make for a bit stiffer and scritchier brush without really loosing the splay or excessive harshness.

Overall, I think the horsehairs are worthy of more use and praise than they get around here. While they can mimic either boars or badgers, they really are their own class of brush. But because there are a number of variables you can play with, it can be hard to determine which brush might be for you. It could take a run or two to figure it out. But, I think they are something a true brush-oholic should really have in the den.

airmech said:

Just ordered a Vie-Long 14030, will see how it works! Do you de-funk it like a boar or badger?

Tom

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That's the same brush I have, the smell will go away in a few shaves and was not all that unpleasant when I first got mine. The brush only smelled when it was wet, but as I said, disappeared in a few shaves. All my animal hair knots have never smelled that bad and always faded away after a few shaves. Even my cheap-*** silvertip from China which was the worst smelling animal hair brush I ever owned, the smell went away fast enough.

My 21mm Vie-Long 14030 is my third favorite knot next to my 24mm High Mountain white badger knot in second place, and the number one position is my 24mm Manchurian white badger knot.

If money is no object, you can afford a premium silvertip badger brush and get a soft face feel plus good backbone. At the more affordable end of the spectrum (let's say below $30), you are either looking at a pure badger brush that is scrubby and has little backbone, a boar brush that is very rough until it breaks in, a horse hair brush, or a synthetic brush. I do not like pure badger brushes, but do just fine with boar (once broken in), horse, and synthetic. I find that horse hair brushes, along with synthetics, tend to be very versatile, lathering everything from a soft cream to a hard soap.

Horse hair is a lot like human hair and tends to tangle. Thus, it is best to comb out horse hair with a coarse dressing comb occasionally to prevent tangling.

RayClem said:

If money is no object, you can afford a premium silvertip badger brush and get a soft face feel plus good backbone. At the more affordable end of the spectrum (let's say below $30), you are either looking at a pure badger brush that is scrubby and has little backbone, a boar brush that is very rough until it breaks in, a horse hair brush, or a synthetic brush. I do not like pure badger brushes, but do just fine with boar (once broken in), horse, and synthetic. I find that horse hair brushes, along with synthetics, tend to be very versatile, lathering everything from a soft cream to a hard soap.

Horse hair is a lot like human hair and tends to tangle. Thus, it is best to comb out horse hair with a coarse dressing comb occasionally to prevent tangling.

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You are right. It does tangle bad. Whenever I washed mine I used shampoo and creme rinse.

jar_ said:

There are as many varieties of horse hair as there are horses. It generally falls somewhat between boar and badger in feel and function; requires less soaking than boar but more than badger.

It's different; not better or worse, just different.

One important consideration is the ratio of mane to tail hair since tail hair is generally more boar-like and mane hair more badger-like. Colors can range from deep black to pure white as well as variations of browns and golds.

Click to expand...

bluewing said:

Hi,

I've used 3 Vie-Long horses for around 10 years. And until I picked up a couple synthetics, they were all I used, preferring them to boar and badger.

There are a couple things to consider when looking at buying a horsehair. As mentioned, the tail to mane hair ratio greatly influences how the brush feels. More of the softer mane hair, the more badger like it becomes. The more coarser tail hair, the more boar like it is. And then if we mess with the loft, that changes the feel of the brush also. A longer loft makes for a softer feeling, easier splaying brush, while adding some "springiness" underneath. A shorter loft will make for a bit stiffer and scritchier brush without really loosing the splay or excessive harshness.

Overall, I think the horsehairs are worthy of more use and praise than they get around here. While they can mimic either boars or badgers, they really are their own class of brush. But because there are a number of variables you can play with, it can be hard to determine which brush might be for you. It could take a run or two to figure it out. But, I think they are something a true brush-oholic should really have in the den.

Click to expand...

I agree with this advice and the variables. My first Vie-Long was the square handled 65/35 model 12705. It's a 24mm knot with a 57mm loft. I like it, it's got nice backbone and has broken in well. My recent purchase was the 24mm 13066B, unbleached white horse in 50/50 mix. Vie-Long's normal loft for the 24mm knot is 57-59mm but Gifts & Care offers the 50/50 whites with a shorter 50mm loft for face lathering and use with hard soaps. They also offer custom lofts to fine turn your bush so I ordered my 13066B with a 48mm loft (I like scrubby brushes), it whips up a thick, rich lather when face lathering and handles my hard soaps very well. It's actually a gently scrubbing brush with little to no scritch at all.

The darker brush had a bit of odor when I first bought it but it went away within three or four shaves. The white had no odor at all. For getting rid of animal scents I just use a strongly scented shave soap and lather them a few times. I also wash all my brushes with Dawn and warm water when I first get them.