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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