How are shaving brushes measured?
Measuring the loft of the brush is done in millimetres and is measured from the top of the handle to the tips of the bristles. Conversely a brush with a higher loft will work easier with softer products such as shaving creams.
Are badgers hurt to make shave brushes?
A badger will regrow its hair and can be shorn on a regular basis. The brushes use only the hair, not the actual pelt. Things made from pelts or animal skin require the animal to be killed. There is no reason to kill badgers just to shave them.
What makes a good shaving brush?
Traditionally, shaving brushes are made from badger hair bristles. Best Badger: Finer and lighter in colour, best badger bristles are packed more densely in the knot and will hold more water than a pure badger brush. The bristles are trimmed to length and provide a coarser feel against the skin than higher grades.
How long is a shaving brush good for?
10 years
Keeping in mind that there are a considerable number of factors involved, even as a conservative estimate, 10 years is a pretty reasonable and typical lifespan of a quality shaving brush. But it is not unheard of for wet shavers to extol the virtues of their brushes 30, even 50, years down the road.
What is the best size for shaving brush?
The most common sizes are 21mm and 24mm. They are both good sizes and the only difference between them will be the price, especially on a natural hair brush, being the latter more expensive than the former as it has more hairs.
What is shaving brush loft?
The loft is the length of the actual hair from the top of the handle to the tip of the hair. The knot is an indication of the amount of hair packed into the handle. By the way, the knot dimension can be a little sketchy because hair can be packed in tightly or loosely.
Are boars killed for shaving brushes?
Natural hair shave brushes are generally made from the coat of one of three animals: horse, boar, or badger. Boar and badgers, however, are trapped and killed for their pelts.
What is the softest shaving brush?
Badger: Badger hair is the generally the softest bristle material used in shaving brushes and is further broken down into four grades (in ascending order of quality): pure, best, super, and silvertip.
What is silvertip badger?
Silvertip Badger is the softest grade of badger. Many shaving enthusiasts will use nothing other than silvertip. Parker Silvertip brushes are extremely soft and are superior to many brands costing 4 to 5 times more money. The silvertips are best for those with sensitive skin because of their super soft bristles.
Are shave brushes worth it?
A shave brush will bring extra moisture to the foam, thickening the lather and making the process that much simpler. Finally, there’s the matter of exfoliation. As you can imagine, the process of brushing your face with literal animal hairs helps to scrub away dirt, dust and dead skin cells.
How long does a silvertip badger brush last?
A shaving brush with silvertip badger hair is the highest quality shaving brush out there, but with high-quality, comes a high price (around $150 or more). However, the silvertip badger hair brushes can easily last more than 10 years.