Whether you are completely new to wet shaving or just switching from shaving foam to shaving soap or shaving cream, the shaving brush plays an important role in your overall shaving experience. Choosing the brush that suits your facial hair and method of shaving is essential. Once you find a suitable brush, you'll never go back.
With a shaving brush, you generate a rich and warm lather by whipping it into soap or cream. The richer the lather, the better the skin is protected against the stress of the razor. The pleasant massaging friction of the bristles also ensures that pores open up and hairs become softer. This greatly contributes to the perfect preparation for a comfortable shave.
Furthermore, the shaving brush also ensures that moisture is well and evenly transferred to the skin and facial hair via the bristles. This is much more efficient than throwing water in your face with your hands. The friction of the bristles of a shaving brush also has an exfoliating effect on your skin. Dead skin cells are removed.
Enough benefits about shaving brushes! The hardest part is finding a suitable brush. There are so many different types and sizes that most men give up in advance. That's a shame and unnecessary. With the right information, you can easily filter and make your ideal choice. That's why we're going to tell you everything you need to know.
The different types of hair in a shaving brush
The first consideration you need to make is the type of hair used in the shaving brush. We will discuss the three most common types of hair here.
Badger Hair
Shaving Brushes with badger hair are known for their luxurious feel. The bristles are soft on the skin, flexible, and can absorb a lot of water. This makes it easy to create a rich lather. Badger hairs can be divided into different categories of price and quality. The more expensive types of badger hair brushes can last up to 10 years.
- Silvertip
Silvertip is the best and most expensive type of badger hair. They come from the neck of the badger and are the softest and most water-absorbing bristles. The bristles are known for their white tips that naturally appear that way.
- Super Badger
Known for their sturdiness. From the top of the badger. The bristles have a high density. The softness is still sublime and does not cause irritation on the face. This makes the super badger bristles suitable for sensitive skin.
- Best Badger
From the underside of the badger, slightly firmer and harder and suitable for the heavier beard growth. The best badger is popular among men who do not like very soft brushes but want a bit more resistance. Especially useful for the harder soaps where soft brushes have a bit more difficulty.
- Pure Badger
The Pure badger is the most accessible shaving brush made of badger hair. The Pure badger hairs are less soft than the more expensive variants but more flexible than brushes made of boar hair. The quality of the Pure Badger is still very good, lasts a long time, and is suitable for men who enjoy a massaging effect during the preparation of their shave.
Boar Hair
Cheaper than the shaving brushes made of badger hair and also very different. Boar hairs are much stiffer and harder. The advantage of this is that the brush easily picks up soap from the harder soaps. Boar hairs absorb less moisture than badger hairs and therefore need a bit more to create a rich lather. Over time, the tips of the hairs become slightly softer but are still stiff enough to nicely exfoliate your face.
Synthetic
Free from animal hairs and also very suitable for men who suffer from allergies or sensitive skin. Synthetic shaving brushes come in various price ranges, and the softness and firmness also vary. Some synthetic shaving brushes manage to match the softness and qualities of Silvertip badger hair. The quality is often just as good nowadays.
The hairs generally dry faster than those of boar and badger hairs, making the brush suitable for travel.
Here are the characteristics of each brush at a glance:
Badger Hair
- Soft for the face
- Absorbs a lot of water
- Easily creates a rich lather
- Lasts a long time
Boar Hair
- Sturdy hairs
- Easy with harder soaps
- Less soft for the face
- Accessible price
Synthetic
- Free from animal hairs
- Suitable for sensitive or allergic skin
- As soft as you want
- Dries quickly
- Price varies
The size of the shaving brush
An important factor when choosing a shaving brush is the size. This largely determines the ease of use for your needs. The size of the brush itself is determined by two properties:
The length of the brush (loft)
The loft is the length from where the hairs begin to the end. A longer loft spreads more when you press the brush against your face, allowing a larger surface area to be covered. Shorter lofts provide more control over the smaller parts of the face, for example, at the moustache.
The Knot
This is the base of the brush, where all the hairs come together in the handle. The thickness of the knot indicates the firmness of the brush and how many hairs have been used. The thicker the brush, the more water it can hold.
Men who are using a shaving brush for the first time usually buy a brush with a loft of around 50 mm and a knot around 20 mm. These are precise and provide good control. Larger brushes are suitable for larger surfaces. Ultimately, it all comes down to what you find comfortable.
The full length of the brush.
The most important thing is that a brush feels comfortable in your hand and is balanced. To find the right length, you can opt for a shaving brush with a handle that is approximately the same length as the distance from your palm to the tip of your thumb.
Ultimately, the size and thickness of the brush depend on what you want and what feels good to hold.
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