Shaving brushes are essential for a complete shaving experience. A brush is the best way to apply shaving cream or any other shaving product to your face before the actual shave. To ensure you get only the highest quality shaving brushes, you should first familiarize yourself with the types on the market. The experience will be much more pleasant with the right type of brush for your needs and preferences.
How exactly does a shaving brush work?
Think of it like a sponge that soaks up water, which would then be mixed with shaving cream before you apply it to your face. The amount of water the brush absorbs will largely depend on the type of bristles used, so choosing the material the bristles are made from will be one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Brush types are also divided into the material used for the bristles.
Types of shaving brushes and hair used
Shaving brushes made from badger hair are some of the best available on the market; Shaving enthusiasts also claim that using these brushes is an absolute luxury. Badger hair bristles are extremely soft to the touch, which is important for use on sensitive facial skin. These are also the most durable brushes, superior to those that use synthetic materials for their bristles. Priced higher than brushes made from other materials, these brushes are still considered the best by wet shaving enthusiasts.
Boar hair brushes have a lower water retention capacity, less than badger hair brushes; the less amount of water retained by the bristles results in a less effective lather. Boar’s hair bristles often feel prickly and stiff, a far cry from the soft, fine bristles of badger hair.
Synthetic fiber brushes are available in different prices and qualities, mainly depending on the specific synthetic material used and durability. Some of these brushes are made exclusively of nylon; some are mixed with boar hair in hopes of making the brush more useful (which kind of defies the logic of having a synthetic brush in the first place, if you’re looking for a vegan option, for example). These brushes are the least expensive, although they are also known to be the stiffest and sharpest; they also contain the least amount of water. Users who are allergic to animal hair would benefit more from the use of synthetic fibers.
After establishing the different types of shaving brushes and the various materials used to make them, we can now concentrate on the material preferred by the majority of wet shaving enthusiasts: brushes made from badger hair. These high-quality brushes are further classified according to the type of badger hair used.
Silvertip: These are the badger’s neck hairs, considered the softest and most luxurious. It is the most expensive type of badger hair, due to its limited availability. During the colder winter months, the hair on the neck becomes very light at the ends. Brushes made from silver-tipped hair are mostly hand-assembled or handmade. Some manufacturers have been known to produce brushes made from a variety of high-end, carefully selected two-banded silver tip hairs: the now-defunct Simpsons Manchurian and Plisson High Mountain White.
Super Badger – These hairs are almost like silver tips, with the super badger brush tips having a silver, almost off-white color. The material is also very smooth, almost as luxurious as silver tip.
Best Badger – They are made from badger hairs that are found on 20-25% of the animal’s body. The hairs are lighter in color and longer compared to pure badger hair.
Pure Badger – These are dark brown or black in color and made from a lower grade of badger hair, which comes from the underside of the badger. He is also more relatable with his darker hair. Some shaving enthusiasts prefer this material for its stiffer qualities. In general, most pure badger brushes are machine made (i.e. Muhle pure badger shaving brushes). One notable exception is Vulfix, which still makes its pure badger brushes by hand.
After deciding on the material you would like for your shaving brush bristles, it is time to look for the brush handle that best suits your needs. Before discussing the different materials used for the handle, you must first consider the size of the knot, which is the diameter of the bristles at the end of the handle; this would give you a good idea of how big the brush would be against your face. Brushes with a larger knot size might produce more lather, but could pose problems for those with smaller faces. All things considered, determining the best knot size would still depend on your personal requirements and preferences.
shaving brush handles
Brush handles should be carefully considered to ensure you get the perfect shaving brush (at least for your personal use). Regardless of the material, the handle should feel perfectly comfortable in the hand, to eliminate or minimize any difficulty handling the brush before shaving.
Plastic handles are very common these days, even on the most expensive shaving brushes. As well as being a tough material that can withstand even the roughest of handling, plastic also feels very comfortable when held. Users also find fewer problems with plastic handles in the slippery, humid environment of the bathroom, where shaving primarily takes place.
Brushes with wooden handles are also very versatile and are also waterproof. These handles give a more classic look to shaving brushes and, if cared for properly, can provide years of service to the owner. Those who opt for wooden handles should take care of them diligently, as the wood will wear down over time; this process can be accelerated if proper maintenance is not performed.
Metal handle brushes are very stylish and classic looking. Some of the materials that can be used for shaving brush handles are gold, brass, chrome, and nickel. Like wooden handles, metal handles must be properly cleaned and cared for to maintain their distinctive finish. Metal handles are great for those who want to have a brush with a unique statement; They can also be personalized and given as gifts. The drawback of metal handles is their weight; heavy brushes tend to be more difficult to maneuver.
Other unique and exotic handle materials include tortoise shell and ivory, which give the brush a distinctive feel. However, it should be noted that the material of the handle does not affect the quality of the brush when used.
You can turn to several trusted manufacturers to help you in your search for the perfect shaving brush. Some of the most trusted brands in the industry include Edwin Jagger, Kent, Simpsons, Shavemac, Omega, Muhle, Plisson and Vulfix; these are the most popular brands among wet shaving enthusiasts around the world. Most of these brands can be purchased online at their respective manufacturers’ websites or through commercial sites; both options provide customers with convenient checkout and delivery processes.
If you are not sure which brands to buy, it would be best to check product reviews and testimonials from customers who want to share their views. This is a good way to start weighing your options, as you’ll get unbiased, direct feedback from people who have actually used the products (compared to ads that naturally only focus on the positive features of a brand).
Searching for the shaving brush that meets all your needs can take a considerable amount of time and effort; You may need to try several brushes first before discovering which brand or type is the best fit for your needs. When you finally find the ultimate shaving brush, expect your wet shaving experience to be that much more satisfying.