It is hardly possible to talk about razor brushes without talking about badger hair in the same sentence. But why is badger hair in shaving brushes popular? What is it that makes badger hair in particular have had such great success in shaving brushes? We will answer that this week.
Badger hair in shaving brushes and other hair types
Nowadays, there are mainly three types of hair used in shaving brushes, each with its pros and cons. The three types are badger, wild boar, and synthetic hair or bristles. Which one you choose is ultimately up to you.
Badger hair has many advantages but also the disadvantage that it can be slightly more expensive than the others. Much because it is the most popular type of hair or bristles in shaving brushes. What is appreciated about badger hair in shaving brushes is its softness, that they bend easily and have good absorption capacity of water.
Wild boar bristles or wild boar hair are cheaper but do not have the same quality and other good properties that badger hair is said to have. These types are also significantly harder and stiffer. At the same time, something that can be appreciated by some users.
Horsehair from the horse’s mane or tail also occurs. The advantage here is that the hair is cut off from the horse and therefore the same horse can be cut several times to get more hair. The disadvantage is that the hair is very hard and stiff. In addition, not nearly as good absorbency as badger hair in shaving brushes.
Synthetic hair varies in quality, there are everything from adequate alternatives to even the finest badger hair to simpler variants. It is both vegan and or suitable for those who are sensitive to animal hair.
Shaving brushes, a brief historical review
Badger hair in shaving brushes has been used for somewhere over 270 years and is said to have originated in France. Nicer shaving brushes already used badger hair, simpler variants used wild boar or horsehair in their brushes instead. The handle of the shaving brush could be considered something of a status symbol. Having a nicely decorated handle was considered very noble.
The design and function of shaving brushes have since looked almost the same. Badger hair in shaving brushes is still what is considered the best and most sought after.
Where did the hair come from?
Badger hair in shaving brushes usually comes from the European badger or from a Chinese type of badger. It is also the Chinese type of badger that most badger hair in shaving brushes nowadays comes from. The hair then usually comes from badgers that are bred.
Next, the hair comes from different parts of the badger such as the belly, neck, nose, and back. It depends on whether it is pure badger, best badger / fine badger, Super badger or silver tip badger. Different parts of the badger have different thicknesses of hairs that determine what type of hair it is.
Pure badger
Pure badger is the most common and easiest type of badger bristle in shaving brushes. The bristles come from the underside of the badger, the belly that covers most of the badger. Therefore, it is the type of bristles that are most abundant.
The bristles and bristles can differ greatly in their softness, plumpness, color and ability to absorb water. These characteristics are also what distinguish different types of shaving brushes and the quality of the brush. Since there can be a lot of difference in softness, flexibility, color and ability to absorb water between different bristles in a pure badger brush, it is difficult to get a result with high and even quality than other brushes of generally higher quality.
At the same time, pure badger brushes are usually slightly cheaper than the others, but it’s by no means a bad option. A pure badger brush is a very good brush.
In addition, badger hair in a pure badger shaving brush can be perceived as slightly harder and rougher than other shaving brushes, a feature that may be in demand by some.
For those who want to buy their first shaving brush, a pure badger is a very good option.
Badger hair in pure badger quality shaving brushes are available from a number of different brands.
A good example of this is Nom who offers pure badger shaving brushes in a number of different models at a good price. A brand and model we often recommend if you want to buy your first badger brush. In addition to pure badger, Nom also offers shaving brushes in pure bristle or pig bristles as well as black fibre, which is a synthetic alternative to pure badger brushes.
Another fine brand with a very long and storied history when it comes to making shaving brushes is Mühle. The shaving brushes from Mühle are characterized by very high and good quality. In addition to pure badger, there are also fine badger, best badger and of course also silvertip badger.
Simpson is another favorite among badger hair in pure badger quality shaving brushes. Their shaving brushes made in the Isle of Man are very popular among wet shaving enthusiasts, which is easy to understand. The shaving brushes are sturdy and of very high quality.
Fine Badger / Best Badger
Fine badger / Best badger is badger hair in shaving brushes of a slightly finer quality than those in a pure badger brush. Usually, the hairs or bristles are also thinner, which at the same time means that a larger amount of bristles is needed.
A brush knot, the part that holds the brush heads of the shaving brush together together with the shaving brush is made of a knot. The finest and most precious shaving brushes are tied by hand even nowadays. This is to be able to guarantee a knot of high quality.
Badger hair in shaving brushes is usually divided into different sizes of the shaving knot, for example, small, medium, and large. This means that the number of straws can vary depending on the size.
Another thing that distinguishes badger hair in fine badger or best badger shaving brushes from pure badger is the length and color of the hair. This hair is often slightly longer and more one-sided in color than pure badger shaving brushes. It also comes from, for example, the back of the badger.
But the key difference and why fine badger or pure badger is used as badger hair in shaving brushes is because of its good ability to absorb water, that it is relatively soft and bendable. All these factors allow the brush to easily create a good shaving lather.
Although D.R Harris Ltd. is perhaps best known for its shaving soaps, shaving creams and fragrances, they still have a range of very fine shaving brushes and safety sleeves. These shaving brushes feel as classically British as anything else with the good British quality befitting a gentleman.
Of course, Mühle also has shaving brushes in the fine badger and best badger range in their various design series. Something that means that there is at least one shaving brush for everyone from Mühle.
Silver tip badger
When it comes to badger hair in shaving brushes, silver tip badger is undoubtedly the absolute finest and best choice. Silver tip badger hair comes from the badger’s neck and snout.
Why then is silvertip badger considered to be the best quality of badger hair in shaving brushes? Of all three types, this is the type that has the highest absorption capacity of water, is the softest and the most pliable.
So why are soft and supple hairs something you want to strive for in a shaving brush? Because of one of the purposes of the shaving brush, namely to lift up the beard hairs and remove dust particles, dead skin cells and other things that have stuck to the skin. Using a shaving brush does more than just create a good lather that can be applied to the face or other body parts.
Silver tip badger shaving brushes are therefore generally also the type of badger bristles that are most expensive, this is because the supply is much smaller than other hair types and the demand for these is high.
Mühle has also developed a synthetic alternative to silver tip badger that is simply called silver tip fibre. Silver tip fibre is therefore excellent for those who, for various reasons, cannot have badger hair in shaving brushes but still want a shaving brush that is just as soft and has good absorbency in terms of water.
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Silvertip Badger Shaving Brushes
Original price was: 152,90 €.61,90 €Current price is: 61,90 €. Read more -
Which one we recommend?
As always, it is a matter of personal preference, badger bristles in shaving brushes always provide a brush head that is relatively soft, bendable and with good absorbency. It will provide a very nice wet shave and a lovely experience every time you use it, whether you have a pure badger brush or a silvertip badger brush.