A quality shaving brush allows you to create a lather to your liking in the scent of your choice and to apply it to your skin in soothing, warm comfort. A quality shaving brush serves to create and distribute lather, exfoliate skin, and to lift and suspend hair for a comfortable and easy shave. The cost of a shaving brush varies greatly according to two factors: bristle type and bristle count (knot size). Economical shaving brushes will have fewer bristles (a smaller knot). Boar bristles are least expensive. They are coarse but split and soften after repeated use. Boar is often mixed with badger to enhance initial comfort. Horse hair shaving brushes are softer still but like synthetic bristles offer very little water retention so you will add a few drops of water more often when lathering. Synthetic bristle brushes are generally quite soft (comparable to Super Badger) but the extra comfort comes at the cost of poor water retention. They are still a great alternative for consumers who do not want to purchase animal hair.
The cost of badger shaving brushes varies the most and extends far higher than other bristles. Each successive grade is finer, softer and has better water retention. Another factor of cost is bristle preparation such as hand or machine selected, and hand or machine cut. The more efficient a shaving brush is at retaining water and infusing it into a shaving cream or soap the less shaving cream or soap you will need to generate lather. It would be reasonable to conclude the more you spend on a quality shaving brush pays back over time by yielding a superior lather using less product. Comfort and competence might then be enjoyed at no premium at all. You might find yourself with more than one shaving brush in your kit because one of your favourite shaving creams or soaps lathers best with a firmer or softer bristle then you generally like to use. Despite their differences each type of shaving brush is a favorite to an owner who wouldn’t want any other kind and will last many years when used and stored properly.
The Badger Grades
Pure Badger
Pure (and “black”) badger bristles are sourced from about 70% of a badger’s cover. The ends of the bristles are machine or hand cut. The blunt ends are not as comfortable as higher grades but this type of brush is quite inexpensive so it makes a great introductory brush.
Best Badger
Best badger bristles are longer and thinner and generally come from around the belly. With better water absorbing qualities than Pure Badger they are better equiped to allow you to generate a quality lather without having to repeatedly add more water.
Super Badger
Super badger bristles hand selected from the back offer even higher performance and greater comfort. The bristles retain heat and water quickly and efficiently to allow you to most effectively infuse water into a shaving cream or soap to generate a superior lather with the least amount of product.
Silver Tip Badger
Silver tip badger bristles from the nape are the least plentiful and the most expensive. They are remarkably soft and very comfortable to the skin. The bristles retain heat and water quickly and efficiently to allow you to most effectively infuse water into a shaving cream or soap to generate a superior lather with the least amount of product.