The next shaving brush I want to take a look at in our shaving brush review series is the Semogue 1305 superior boar bristle shaving brush.
Semogue is a family-owned company that is based in Portugal. And although they may not get the attention that some of the other more well-known shaving brush companies like Parker or Omega get, their products are just as highly regarded.
Semogue has an extensive line of shaving brushes and they makes some really good badger hair brushes, but I think where they really shine is with their boar hair brushes. They have several really good boar bristle brushes, but my favorite is their 1305. Why? Well it’s in the entry-level price range so it’s really affordable, but it is made with premium boar hair and is very durable so it performs more like a mid-range brush. Excellent bang for your buck.
So is the Semogue 1305 boar bristle shaving brush the right one for you? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Superior boar hair shaving brush in the entry-level price range
- Boar bristles are excellent at exfoliating face
- Top quality construction and craftsmanship
- Very quick break-in period
- Softer than most other boar hair brushes
Cons
- More rigid than most badger hair brushes
Product Overview & Specs
- Boar bristle shaving brush
- Painted wood handle in two-toned green and cream
- Total height: 110mm
- Loft: 55mm
- Knot diameter: 22mm
- Made in Portugal
Key Features
Premium Boar Hair Knot
Boar hair is typically considered inferior to badger hair by most wet shavers, but the Semogue 1305 has “premium” boar hair. So is it really that much better than other boar hair brushes?
Well personally, I’ve always used and preferred badger hair brushes, but the Semogue 1305 has really made an impression on me. The bristles defintiely are more rigid, exactly what you would expect from boar hair, but they are also surprisingly soft. Not quite as soft as badger hair, but it’s not a dramatic difference. In fact, I doubt many of you would really be able to tell the difference.
The bristles on the 1305 do a really good job of building a thick lather very quickly. I give it very high marks when it comes to lathering performance.
Overall, these bristles do a really good job of having both some stiffness which helps exfoliate and softness which still feels good on skin. It’s not quite as soft as a best badger or silver tip, but very comparable to a pure badger brush and it will lather just as well as anything else out there.
Mild Smell
One of the main complaints I hear about boar hair shaving brushes is that they tend to have a pretty strong and distinct smell. It’s not necessarily a bad or foul smell, but it can overwhelm some men if you are sensitive to strong fragrances.
But I’m happy to say the Semogue 1305 has a very mild smell to it. In fact, I barely noticed any scent when I first started using it. And the mild smell was pretty much completely gone after a few weeks of use. I’m not sure if Semogue uses some type of cleaning process or what, but it’s a noticeable difference from most other boar hair brushes.
I think the 1305 is very similar to badger brush in terms of how strong it smells. Of course the smell will always bother some men, but I don’t think it shouldn be a concern for most men with this brush.
Quick Break-in Period
Boar brushes typically take longer to break-in than badger hair, but this is another area where the Semogue 1305 is better than other boar brushes.
The hair on the Semogue 1305 is already noticeably softer than other boar brushes right out of the box, but I found it broke-in really quickly. In fact, after just a few shaves I thought this brush was in prime working condition.
Boar hair, like human hair, splits and that is why it softens it up. Again, I’m not familiar with Semogue’s construction process but I’m guessing they do some type of break-in before shipping out for sale. The other factor is that the boar hair is just higher quality. Either way, Semogue really does a great job at speeding up the breaking-in process.
Excellent Craftsmanship and High Quality Design
The Semogue 1305 is one of the highest quality entry-level shaving brushes on the market. It really looks and feels like a more expensive shaving brush than what you have to pay. I’m particularly really impressed with the wooden handle that is painted in a two-toned green and cream.
The 1305 doesn’t just look good though -- the craftsmanship is top quality as well. It’s very rare that I ever lose a hair when using this brush which really speaks to its durability. That’s definitely not always the case with brushes in this price range.
Overall, I just really like the look because it doesn’t have the plain wooden handle look like most everything else out there. And don’t get me wrong, my priority is always performance, but it’s nice when you can find a high performing brush that also looks sharp.
Who Do We Recommend The Semogue 1305
Boar Bristle Shaving Brush For?
Are you looking for a shaving brush in the entry-level price range that is slightly on the stiff side but still really comfortable on the face? Well then the Semogue 1305 superior boar bristle shaving brush is a great option for you.
I’m really impressed with the quality, performance and design of this brush. Lots of men are scared of boar shaving brushes because they tend to be much tougher/rigid and they smell. But the Semogue really doesn’t have those flaws.
If you’re looking for a super soft and plushy brush, this isn’t the one. But if you want something a little more rigid that will do a great job exfoliating but is still pretty soft, this is a great option.
What Are Some Other Shaving Brushes To Consider?
Omega Pro 48 Boar Bristle Shaving Brush
The Omega Pro 48 shaving brush is another popular boar bristle brush. I do think it is more rigid and has a stronger smell out of the box.
That said though, it’s still a really good quality boar shaving brush. If I had to choose between this or the Semogue 1305, I’d go with the 1305 because it does soften up a little more. But if you want something more on the rigid side, this is a really good one.
Escali Pure Badger Shaving Brush
The Escali pure badger shaving brush is probably the most bought shaving brush on the market right now. It’s a cheap entry-level badger brush, but it still is really good quality.
This is probably my recommended brush for most beginners. In fact, this is the first shaving brush I bought when I got into wet shaving. Overall, just a great affordable bush that is comfortable and will deliver a really good lather.
Vikings Blade Luxury Synthetic Shaving Brush
When you’ve decided you want to spend a little more money and get something more premium, take a look at the Vikings Blade luxury synthetic shaving brush. Yes, it has synthetic bristles. But in my opinion, those synthetic bristles rival the performance of a lot of silvertip brushes.
And the best part of the Vikings Blade synthetic brush is that it’s significantly cheaper than most silvertip brushes. You essentially get a premium shaving brush in the mid-range price range. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Not sure any of these are the right shaving brush for you? Then go read my comprehensive review guide of the 8 best shaving brushes on the market. It has all the information you need to find the best shaving brush in your budget.
