Badger Hair Shaving Brushes

The best shaving brushes are still made with badger hair because of its unique properties.  Of all animal hair, it is the best at retaining water while being soft to the skin, yet tough and durable.  A good quality badger hair brush will last for many years if properly looked after (hang with the hair down on a brush stand in an open space after rinsing and shaking off the excess water).  There are differences in the badger hair used in making shaving brushes and four grades of hair are in general use with varying names given by manufacturers for each grade.  A table follows the grades below to indicate the corresponding names used by each brush manufacturer.

Grade 1 - This badger hair grey in colour, is the basic benchmark quality for machine made shaving brushes. It will produce a fine lather when used with a good quality shaving cream or soap. The feel of this badger hair is slightly firmer but it is far superior to a bristle shaving brush.

Grade 2 - this is an excellent quality of pure badger hair and ideal for a first time user. It is normally regarded as the benchmark standard of shaving brush manufacturers. The hair is harvested from the majority of the pelt, including the belly. It is generally darker in colour although the colours of individual hairs vary from grey and brown to black. This quality creates lather far superior to that resulting from the use of a bristle brush and will soften with use.  It should last a number of years of use.

Grade 3 - this is the finer hair from the back of the badger, it is longer and softer and, because it is finer, requires more hairs to fill a brush. This high quality grade of badger hair is only used in hand filled brushes. Visually, the badger bundle displays a distinctive black band capped with pure white tips and is presented in a natural fan shape, using the natural hair ends to create the shape and softness.   Upgrade to this as soon as you decide to use a badger hair brush regularly.

Grade 4 - this is the highest quality of all. The finely graded and sorted pure badger hair is the softest, rarest and most expensive badger hair; with natural untrimmed silver tips, it is the highest quality available in shaving brushes worldwide. The pure colouring of this hair is enhanced by careful hand grading and filling. The long hair from the neck of the animal is ultra soft, flexible and will provide many years of luxurious shaving with proper use and care of the brush.

Grade 1             Pure

Grade 2             Best                                                             Pure/Fine

Grade 3             Super                     Super                             Finest

Grade 4             Silvertip                  Best                               Silvertip

BADGER HAIR

All Badger Hair for modern Badger Hair products is imported from China .  Being the main exporter of Badger Hair , China does so so with very strict control on the amount exported each year. The Badger population is carefully monitored avoiding any decreases in their numbers. (It should be remembered that the Badger is a source of meat to the Chinese people and is available in the markets). Chinese Badgers are collected from the wild and this practise is not in contravention of the Washington Treaty of Endangered Species.

This has been an industry for the people of China for hundreds of years and it should also be remembered that an increase in the Badger population would quickly be regarded as vermin and a pest to agriculture. Britain , Europe and America all operate very strict import controls ensuring that any Badger Hair brought into these countries is done so with all legislative agreements being strictly adhered to.  Prior to the manufacture of brushes, all hair is sterilised.

The ecologists in both the exporting and importing communities of Badger Hair have created a system preserving the Badger, an important source of livelihood for hundreds of years in the Far East and ensuring that a small market does exist, creating valuable work in an industry which dates back to the time when wet shaving was first recorded.

A Note on Bristle hair brushes

These brushes make excellent starter brushes if you are unsure of investing in a badger hair brush and we stock a small range of these to allow customers this choice.  We do suggest, however, that if you intend to continue to use a shaving brush you upgrade to a badger hair brush in time.  As noted above, badger hair is much softer on the skin and its higher water retention properties makes it a better choice for wet shaving.

If you would like a copy of this Guide, please email us guides@artofman.com.au