A quality brush is a crucial component of your shaving routine. Shaving brushes are essential to soften and lift facial hair off the face and exfoliate the skin. A good shaving brush combined with a great skincare routine helps clear the pores and moisturize the skin.
Table Of Contents
−- Best shaving brush: our recommendations
- Parker Safety Razor Silvertip Badger Bristle Brush
- Je&Co 100% Silvertip Badger Hair Shaving Brush
- Semogue Owners Club Boar Bristle Shaving Brush
- Parker “Long Loft” Pure Badger Shaving Brush
- Maison Lambert 100% Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush
- Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush
- Perfecto 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush
- Vie-Long 04312 Professional Horse Hair Shaving Brush
- Je & Co Luxury Synthetic Shaving Brush
- Alexander Simpson Trafalgar Synthetic Shaving Brush
- Vikings Blade The Chieftain Luxury Shaving Brush
- Legacy Shave Evolution Shaving Brush
- How To Pick a Good Shaving Brush
- Bottomline
That is why men nowadays are learning the pure satisfaction of the old-fashioned wet shave. The next step is to look for a high-quality shave brush. If you cannot decide yet what shaving brush to purchase, this article is for you.
- Best Silvertip Badger: Parker Safety Razor Silvertip Badger Bristle
- Best Affordable Silvertip Badger: Je&Co 100% Silvertip Badger
- Best Boar Hair: Semogue Owners Club
- Best Long Loft: Parker “Long Loft” Pure Badger
- Best Luxury: Maison Lambert 100% Silvertip Badger
- Best Grade “Best” Badger”: Edwin Jagger Best Badger
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Perfecto 100% Pure Badger
- Best Horse Hair: Vie-Long Horse Hair
- Best Affordable Synthetic: Je & Co Luxury Synthetic
- Best Synthetic: Alexander Simpson Trafalgar Synthetic
- Best Heavy: Luxury Shaving Brush for Men by VIKINGS BLADE
- Best for Aerosol Shaving Cans: Legacy Shave Evolution
Best shaving brush: our recommendations
Based on the quick guide above, here are some of our top picks to help you decide in case you are unsure what to buy.
Parker Safety Razor Silvertip Badger Bristle Brush
If you’re looking for a high-quality razor, go no further than Parker Safety Razor. Indeed, Parker is the most economically viable option. This luxury brush’s chrome-plated, faux-horn handle complements the finest quality three-band silvertip badger hair.
After only a few uses, this brush will have expanded into a full, fluffy bloom, allowing you to apply an impressively thick layer of your preferred shaving cream. If you use the right amount of lather, the badger hair that Parker picked for this brush will aid with bothersome shaving bumps.
- 100% Genuine Silvertip Badger Bristles
- 22 mm Brush Knot
Je&Co 100% Silvertip Badger Hair Shaving Brush
This Je&Co 100% Silvertip Badger Hair Shaving Brush is an absolute must-have for any grooming enthusiast. It’s handmade with deep-cleaned and sterilized hair and has a stainless-steel base, making it one of the most affordable silvertip badger brushes on the market.
The handle is made of fine resin and is curved to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. The knot size is 21mm, and the hair length is 50mm for a luxurious lather. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional shaver, this brush is perfect for giving you a smooth shave. For its price, it’s hard to beat the quality and durability of this product.
I decided to use this brush instead of the Parker’s simply because I am traveling, and I considered the thought of losing this versus Parker’s, which is almost double in price. But the experience is phenomenal. I enjoy and crave to shave every day with this one. Do I want the faux horn handle from Parker? Absolutely, if I had space in my luggage bag, I would use both.
- 100% Genuine Silvertip Badger Bristles
- 22 mm Brush Knot
Semogue Owners Club Boar Bristle Shaving Brush
A boar hair brush is good for those with longer, coarser beards. These bristles are a little more robust than badger bristles so they can cover a larger surface area. Though at first irritating, its use will greatly improve the quality of your shave. Hence, if you want a boar bristle, you should choose Semogue Superior Boar Bristle Shaving Brush
The high-quality boar bristles and sleek two-tone acrylic handle make this Portuguese-made beauty stand out. Its bristles are famously stiff, which makes them an excellent exfoliator. Though the brush head is the same size, the handle is only 44 mm in diameter. People have different preferences regarding size, but many have said this one is ideal.
- Handle Diameter: 29mm
- Handle Length: 59mm
- Loft: 56mm
- Knot: 24mm
Parker “Long Loft” Pure Badger Shaving Brush
The Parker “Long Loft” Pure Badger Shaving Brush is a great option for those looking for a luxurious shaving experience. This brush features a beautiful gray and rose gold ergonomic handle with a long loft brush knot for extra lathering ability.
The 100% pure badger bristles are stiff and retain less water, providing an exceptional lather for your daily shave. The King Size of the brush knot also makes it perfect for those with larger hands. This particular model has been one of our best sellers for many years, making it an ideal choice for any man looking to upgrade his grooming routine.
- 100% Pure Badger Bristles
- 20 mm Brush Knot
Maison Lambert 100% Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush
If you want to splurge on brushes and want the most luxurious option, go for the Maison Lambert 100% Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush. The shaving brushes made by Maison Lambert are without equal in terms of aesthetics.
You can’t go wrong with this handmade shaving brush, which has a classy, masculine design and feels great in your hand. It’s crafted entirely of real Silvertip badger hair, the highest quality of it. The fake horn resin grip is elegantly crafted with shiny silver details. As a plus, this is also very durable.
Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush
The Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush is an exceptional value brush made with pure badger hair. It is the standard benchmark for badger shaving brushes and is made using only the best materials and craftsmanship.
The Best Badger hairs are hand-fitted into the sturdy imitation ivory handle, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a luxurious shaving experience. With its superior quality and performance, the Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush is a great choice for those looking for a high-quality shaving brush.
Perfecto 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush
The Perfecto 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush is the perfect choice for those with sensitive skin. Its 100% badger hair bristles gently exfoliate the skin, bringing water to the face for a true wet shave. It’s engineered for the best shave of your life, no matter which shaving method you choose – safety razor, double-edge razor, straight razor, or anything else.
It’s easy to use, and it creates a luxurious lather for that perfect shave. If you’re looking for a shaving brush that’s gentle on your skin but still delivers a close, comfortable shave, the Perfecto 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush is the one for you.
Vie-Long 04312 Professional Horse Hair Shaving Brush
The Vie-Long Horse Hair Shaving Brush is the top of the line when it comes to horse hair shaving brushes. It has a long handle for precise control, and the soft horse hair bristles are gentle on the skin. The brush is designed to create a rich lather and provide an even coverage of foam to ensure a close shave.
Its luxurious design and quality craftsmanship make it an ideal choice for those looking for a premium experience. The brush is also durable, so it will last for years to come. The Vie-Long Horse Hair Shaving Brush is the perfect choice for those seeking a luxurious shave.
- Knot: 21mm
- Loft: 61mm
- Total Height: 117mm
- Hair: Vie-Long Horse hair
Je & Co Luxury Synthetic Shaving Brush
This brush boasts a sleek resin handle and soft, high-quality synthetic bristles. The curved, sturdy resin handle comes in blue or brown and is comfortable to hold. Moreover, the bristles are flexible and effectively soak up the liquid. This synthetic brush bristle is easy to clean. Simply soak it in warm water after each use, letting it dry on a hook. Make sure to avoid using any harsh chemicals.
- Knot: 21mm
Alexander Simpson Trafalgar Synthetic Shaving Brush
The Simpsons Trafalgar T3 is a highly esteemed brush with a short, compact design. Crafted by skilled English artisans, this brush is made with superior-quality materials, such as our uniquely sourced Sovereign grade synthetic fiber.
Ideal for face lathering, this exquisite brush has an eye-catching lathe-turned handle, making it perfect for the sophisticated shaver. True to its name, the Trafalgar T3 was designed with the intrepid traveler in mind and is sure to impress during your next outdoor adventure.
- Overall brush height – 103mm
- Handle height – 50mmm
- Knot loft – 53mm
- Knot diameter – 30mm
Vikings Blade The Chieftain Luxury Shaving Brush
The Vikings Blade Chieftain Luxury Shaving Brush is one of the best shaving brushes money can buy. It’s made from a combination of ultra-heavy acrylic and 316L steel, making it both durable and stylish. The strong knot backbone ensures minimal shedding, while its super-soft bristles make for a fast lather and an extremely smooth shave. This brush is perfect for anyone looking for a luxurious shave experience.
If you’re 6 foot or someone who doesn’t like to feel like using a toy when it comes to shaving brushes, this one will be the best for that manly feel!
- Length: 5.2 inches
- Loft length: 2.6 inches
Legacy Shave Evolution Shaving Brush
If you’re a fan of Shark Tank, you might have heard about this shaving brush.
If your primary goal is convenience, go for the Legacy Shave Evolution Shaving Brush. This is the only available brush that can be attached to a can for the hands-free application of gels or creams. When the top of the can is removed, the aerosol valve can be used. After that, turn the brush’s base until it clicks into place on the can. The fact that the Evolution Shave Brush can be used with any gel can or shaving cream is a bonus.
With the Evolution Shave brush, you can regulate the flow of gel or cream while you shave. If you run your shave brush under running water and give it a good shake before drying, you can extend its life. Since the high-quality synthetic nylon bristles dry more quickly than natural bristle shave brushes, this one is the cleanest option, too.
How To Pick a Good Shaving Brush
There is a wide range of options available for shaving brushes. These options come in different sizes, types, brands, and styles. To help you make your pick, we compiled some factors you should consider when choosing a good shaving brush.
Bristle type
Brushes apply water and heat to the face, and different bristles have varying qualities that either aid or impede this process. The tips of the bristles shouldn’t be too rough on the skin, or else they’ll scratch and irritate. There are generally four types of brush bristles:
Badger
Badger is known as the softest bristle material utilized in shaving brushes. Badger’s hair holds water well, is soft, elastic, robust, and retains its firmness and suppleness even when wet, making it the perfect material for lathering soap. It comes in four types— purse, silvertip, super, and best.
Pure
Taken from the belly of the badger.
Best
Taken from the badger’s other body parts. Characterized by softer as well as a finer hair.
Super
Also soft bristles
Silvertip
This is the rarest type. It is naturally white and is super soft. This also possesses great lathering characteristics and impressive water retention. Silvertip bristles are more expensive because they are more scarce and are found only in a particular section of the badger’s skin.
Horsehair
Horsehair falls between boar and badger bristles in softness and stiffness. With this, horsehair is a perfect alternative for shavers who find boar and badger bristles to be excessively stiff and soft, respectively. It is immensely popular in Spain, producing such high-quality horsehair brushes. However, it is the least frequent animal material used in bristle knots worldwide.
Boar
Boar hair is substantially stiffer than badger hair. In terms of price, these are also far less expensive than badger hairbrushes and aren’t graded according to bristle quality. Although less popular among wet shavers, especially in the USA and England, boar is still the second most widely used brush material today.
Synthetic
Artificial bristles are the ideal choice for people who want an animal-free brush or are sensitive to animal hair. Synthetic shaving brushes are becoming more and more popular. In recent years, synthetic shaving brushes with synthetic bristles have improved significantly, and contemporary examples now boast outstanding softness and flexibility.
Size
Shaving brushes are sized according to their loft, neck width, height, and overall height (including the handle). The more hair incorporated into the neck, which provides the shaving brush structure and durability, the thicker the neck is.
If the hair is shorter, lofts also appear denser. If the lather is too thick, the brush won’t move smoothly while applying it, and it will quickly become clogged with soap residue. There will be fewer hairs in a pure bristle shaving brush compared to a best or silvertip brush.
The handle design often determines the loft’s height, although shape also matters. The handle’s style and form primarily determine the loft’s height. The longer the bristles, the more air is pushed through.
Form
Bulbs or fans are the two most prominent shapes. Generally speaking, a fan will have greater structure than a long-bristled bulb, while a short-bristled bulb will be scrubbier. Since many pure badger shaving brushes have had their shapes machine-cut, the chopped ends are less soft. The natural, gentler hair tip is called a silvertip.
Look for the Right Knot Density
It is important to look for the right knot density when selecting a shaving brush. This refers to the number of bristles that are packed together in the knot of the brush. A higher knot density will provide a firmer feel and superior lathering capabilities, while a lower knot density will provide a softer feel and less lathering.
Generally speaking, a higher knot density also means that the brush will retain more water, which can be beneficial for those who prefer to use wet shaving techniques. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing the right knot density, as it is a matter of personal preference. However, by considering your own preferences and needs, you can select a brush that is best suited for you.
Material Construction
Various hardwood handles have emerged due to the growing demand for coordinated razor and shaving brush sets. To ensure their durability, these are often crafted from close-grained hardwood that has been treated to withstand continuous submersion in water.
Brand Reputation
In recent years, there have been an increasing number of brandsProgress Vulfix, the illusive Rooney, and Kent, who supply the lofts for many shaving brands, are well-known British shaving brush producers that grade the bristles and attach the knot themselves. Along with Chinese producers that sell directly to consumers, there are numerous additional smaller artisan craftsmen and American businesses whose identities can be found online.
Bottomline
The way a shaving brush feels on the face is the primary distinction between bristle kinds. The Holy Grail of shaving brushes is the silky, velvety feel of the silvertip, while some people prefer the brisker, exfoliating boar, or pure badger bristles.
A stiffer bristle may also be advantageous for places with hard water or soap. Meanwhile, the cost is also a consideration when choosing a bristle type. We hope our quick guide and recommendations above helped you make your pick. Happy shaving!
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links.
Jay Kang
Just because i'm asian does not mean I don't need shaving. I always wanted to grow a beard when I was young, now I need to shave because hair growth for me is a problem. I'm going through what every man will and has gone through before.
