Badger Hair Shaving Brush

I answered this for myself by seeing that maybe it was not the best thing to continue to subject my shaving ritual to the 20th/21st century. We have become so good at making almost everything more efficient (some would say mechanical) that it has changed our very approach to things that used to take longer out of necessity, but that imbued our lives with a reality that was somehow more… enriching, or even life-affirming.

OK, OK, am I pressing my badger hair shaving brush a little too hard on my carotid artery and reducing circulation to my brain when I say this? I really don’t think so! Here’s why: When you reduce a repetitive task to only the actions that it takes to get you to the finished result, you will probably reduce the time that it takes— to accomplish the task! That’s fine if you are putting widgets together, but this is your life we’re talking about! Is it really so important that you reduce something that took you great-grandfather 10-15 minutes into a task that takes you five minutes? I’m sure you’ll find some latte line to wait in with the extra 5-10 minutes, but all else being equal, this is a small activity that can in itself constitute relaxation time, quality time.

Take a look here for more information on purchasing a Badger Hair Shaving Brush Kit for yourself or the man in your life.

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Why a Badger Brush? Three Considerations

Why is a badger hair brush better, as opposed to other kinds of brushes?
You have three primary choices when it comes to bristle material of a shaving brush: synthetic (usually nylon), boar’s hair, or badger hair. As sensitive as your face is, and with as much time as you spend shaving over the years, the choice between the three different types of bristle should be a pretty easy one. There are three main points to consider: how well the brush holds water, and how sturdy the brush is, i.e. how long it’s likely to last, and most importantly how the bristles feel on the skin.

As to retaining water, or more to the point here not retaining water, the plastic brush performs very poorly. Water wicks away very efficiently from plastic strands– that’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to conjure up a nice thick foam and apply it to your face. Being real hair, the boar’s hair bush will retain water better because it is an organic substance. However, of the three options there’s little debate that the relative softness of the badger hair brush helps it retain water the best.

Regarding durability, the plastic brush might last a very long time, in the same way that your favorite doorstop does, but performance shortcomings would seriously outweigh durability considerations in this case, for most men. The bristles of the boar’s hair brush are coarse and fairly stiff, so that over years’ use they will break more quickly than the synthetic brush, and certainly faster than the softer badger hair brush.

Conveniently, there’s not much debate as to the last point, for anyone who’s actually compared all three. The feel of a synthetic brush against your skin might be more (luxuriant) than a large toothbrush; on the other hand it might not be. The boar’s hair brush, being a natural fiber, might feel a little less stiff and harsh than nylon when you run it across your face (though after a few years it will tend to stiffen and be just as bad). For a feeling of real comfort though, you can’t come close to the feel of real badger hair.

The badger hair shaving brush is the sweet spot: perfect for making and holding a generous lather; unsurpassed durability; just firm enough to do the job without feeling rough on the skin, leaving your face feeling gently massaged.

Take a look here for more information on purchasing a Badger Hair Shaving Brush Kit for yourself or the man in your life.

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Badger Hair Brush Grades

The lowest grade of Badger Hair Shaving Brushes is the ‘Pure Badger‘ designation. The hair for this brush comes from the underside of of the animal. The color of this hair can be anywhere from a very dark ebony to a light cream color. There is a tendency of the hair designated as pure badger to be thicker and a bit less supple than the more expensive varieties of badger hair: there is quite a lot of variety in the consistency and delicacy of this hair grade.

‘Best Badger‘ Hair is less coarse generally than pure badger, but the main difference between the two would be the number of hairs contained in a given area of the brush handle: This brush will have a noticeably higher number of hairs, and they will be softer. The overall difference will be subtle, which is why graduating to this brush, or an even more expensive grade might not be appreciated by new wetshavers.

The ‘Super Badger‘ brush differs from the lower grades of brushes mainly in softness and still greater hair density on the handle. The tips of the hair are a slightly grey-tinged white. While it will be softer than the lower grades, it may be noted that usually the hairs are actually pure badger that has been dyed to distinguish the better hair grade.

The next grade of brush after super badger, is the ‘Silvertip Badger‘. With this brush, the light color at the tips extends further down the shaft of the hair. A true silvertip brush has tips that are an off-white, and they are this color without bleaching. Also, the hairs tend to be so fine that there is a noticeable flaring effect of the hair toward the end of the brush, a luxuriant fluffing that produces a sublime lather. There’s no denying the increased cost, but again, pro-rating it over a decade of use or even longer, many men find the cost acceptable.

For true aficionados, there is actually a grade of brush beyond silvertip, with the designation ‘Extra Silvertip‘. The differences in this grade are again subtle, and the brush is certainly more expensive, but in addition to the sublime lathering experience, each morning the lucky user will be assured that he couldn’t be pampering his face any more than he is doing!

Take a look here for more information on purchasing a Badger Hair Shaving Brush Kit for yourself or the man in your life.

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Badger Shaving Brushes: My Conclusions

Well, admittedly I am biased. My shaving experience each morning, wet shaving with a double-edged safety razor and using my badger hair brush to whip up a nice generous lather, has been a positive addition to my day. As I say, it’s transformed what used to be a bit of drudgery first thing in the morning into a little bit of quality ‘me time’.
Has it changed my life? Naaah.
But if I could take all the things that are ‘have to do’ in my life and enhance them the way I’ve done with shaving, I’ll tell you something: they might add up to a big improvement. Thanks for reading and all the best! —-Tom

Take a look here for more information on purchasing a Badger Hair Shaving Brush Kit for yourself or the man in your life.

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