This will likely be my last attempt to like the Omega Pros. I still find the handle too uncomfortable for bowl lathering, but since i switched to facelathering, i am going to give this a try. Brush never used, i left it in overnight bath and letting it dry today. It's a rebranded Omega, custom made for a local shop. It's 27x57mm and the knot is 1/4 bulb and 3/4 fan. I found the Proraso brush too stiff (and too long to break in), so i thought this one would be worse, being shorter. But, after the first bath, my initial impression just by touching it, is that *maybe* the loft bends easier. Also, *maybe* the loft is a bit less dense than Proraso's.
It also seems to have this sort of "bristle halo" on the periphery, with bristles coming out like spikes all around the knot, which i don't remember the Proraso having at such extend.
I don't have high hopes and i prefer the 80266/65 handles for ergonomy, but, since i had bought it, i may as well give it a chance, right?
EDIT: Of the 4 Omegas i have used so far, this is by far the most stinky one, despite being the one with the longest bath in shampoo+hair conditioner. These bristles came from one very stinky pig, if you catch my drift.
EDIT: I am just doing a quick lather, hoping to accelerate the de-stinking of the brush and this is peculiar. I don't remember the Proraso doing this. It seems that the brush splays and stays splayed at the upper half, while stays compact like a brick on the lower half.
I can't recall the Proraso staying splayed on its own like this. This will be interesting, although with a 5 brush rotation, this will take quite a while.
There might be hope with this one: