There are three types of bristles or "hairs" used in shaving brushes: badger hair, boar hair, and synthetic hair. Each type differs in softness, water retention, and quality of shave.
Key factors affecting the price of shaving brushes are the types of hair used, whether the brushes are assembled by hand or machine, the type of material used for the handles (usually wood, metal or synthetic), and if the handles have any artistic etching.
After experimenting and trying all types, we recommend badger hair brushes for the most enjoyable shave and best results. Badger hair brushes hold the most water, and the fine tips of the badger hairs create rich, luxurious lather while gently exfoliating the face so you get a better shave and your skin looks great.- BADGER HAIR SHAVING BRUSHES – These are considered to be the best type of shaving brushes. Badger hair is soft, flexible, and comes in different grades. The fine tips of the badger hair help to make a smooth, creamy lather and lubricate the skin for a very close, non-irritating shave.
The brushes are made in several sizes and come with different styles of handles. The prices are affected by the grade of badger hair, the size of the brush, and the material and style of the handle. Most badger hair comes from China and the brushes are usually made in England and Germany.
Though there are no “formal” definitions or an “official grading organization”, most manufacturers use a similar system for classifying or grading their badger hair brushes. These are the major types or grades:
- Silvertip Badger Hair – The rarest, softest and most desirable grade with superior water retention. Highest quality grade available in shaving brushes - none better. Natural, untrimmed silver color tips with distinctive black band of coloring. Will provide years of luxurious shaving. Only used in hand-filled brushes. Both silvertip and super badger hair shaving brushes make outstanding lather but the silvertip has a feel and texture against your skin that can not be rivaled. Silvertip badger hair brushes are the most expensive with prices ranging from $100 to $500.
- Super Badger Hair – Outstanding grade with excellent water retention. Longer and softer hair than the “Best” Badger shaving brushes. The hair bundle has a black band capped with untrimmed white tips. Excellent shaving performance with prices ranging from $70 to $200. Handmade.
- Best Badger Hair – A high quality brush that is the most common and popular. Good water retention. Significant improvement over pure badger hair. These are not as soft as the super badger but not as firm or scratchy as the pure badger. Prices range from $40 to $100.
- Pure Badger Hair - Coarser and firmer than the best badger brushes. Usually darker in color than the best badger. Prices range from $25 to $75.
- BOAR HAIR SHAVING BRUSHES (sometimes referred to as "Pure Bristle" or "Natural Bristle") – Boar hair shaving brushes are coarser, stiffer and less expensive than than badger hair brushes. Boar hair will not hold as much water as badger hair. Their prices typically range from $15 to $25.
- SYNTHETIC HAIR SHAVING BRUSHES – Traditionally, these brushes are stiffer and coarser than natural hair brushes. Synthetic brushes do not hold water as well or compare in shaving quality to the boar or badger hair brushes. They are the least expensive shaving brushes with prices ranging from $5 to $25. Recently, new softer synthetic brushes have been introduced.
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