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Shaving is typically an important part of every man’s skin-care routine. In the past shaving was more of a practice involving a complete set of tools required to get the job done correctly, and as modern conveniences came by shaving advanced as well, moving away from the old school barbering methods, and bringing forth a new era of disposable razors and aerosol shaving creams.
However, newer, easier, and faster does not always mean better, because some of the more traditional techniques might deliver better results, and be less harmful to people with sensitive facial skin. In general, shaving brushes are a good example of how lots of time tested methods are typically superior to most modern conveniences, and the goal is to make you have a great shaving experience.
In this post, we’ll assist you in finding the best shaving brushes for your needs and preferences, so read on to learn more about the benefits of including a shaving brush in your skin-care routine and factors to consider when shopping for one.
History of Shaving Brushes
Shave brushes have been in existence for a few hundred years, and its popularity has waned and soared over the years. However, in the recent past, we have seen an increase in the utilization of shaving brushes, with most men taking great interest in their appearances.
Generally, a shaving brush has either a plastic handle or a timber handle with some bristles which are knotted via the handle. These bristles are usually created from boar bristles or even the more expensive ones designed from badger hairs, which are usually softer and offers you a more luxurious shave.
Advantages of a Shaving Brush
Including a shaving brush in your care routine offers you various benefits, especially where your skin is concerned. Utilizing a suitable shaving brush leaves your skin well-conditioned and soft because it gently exfoliates your skin, in a non-abrasive and natural manner. Moreover, it opens your pores, and also results in less irritation on your face, minimizes razor burns, and reduces the probability of unappealing and painful ingrown hair.
Things to Consider When You Are Purchasing a Shave Brush
Whether you are excited to jump into a wet-shaving using your first shaving brush, or you are considering upgrading from your previous one, it’s important to assess the factors involved in choosing the appropriate brush for your skin type and shaving needs, including:
• Type
The kind or type of hair the shaving brush features is usually the most important decision that you have to make when selecting the best shaving brush. There are four major types of bristles that you will most likely come across, which include synthetic hair, boar hair, horse hair, and badger hair.
Each of these types of bristles comes with their negatives and positives. But boar hair bristles are by far the most common and easy to get in supermarkets and drugstores. On the other hand, horsehair is gradually increasing its popularity on the market. As the name suggests, the brush has been made from the mane or the tail of a horse.
• Handle material and fitness
The handles of shaving brushes come in different sizes and weights as well. These variations are usually determined by the manufacturers. When selecting the handle size, you should consider the right size of your hand. You should be able to grip the handle of the brush comfortably. The handles are also made with different materials, including horn, metal, synthetic, and wood materials. Look for a handle with good attributes and longevity as well.
• Size
The size and shape of a shave brush is also another important aspect that you should consider. The dimensions of this product are calculated in millimeters, and they are normally divided into three parts; the height, loft, and knot.
In general, large shaving brushes are usually the best because they lather fast and also cover a big surface area. On the other hand, small ones tend to have more control when you are applying lather to your face.
• Shedding of Bristles
It is normal when your brush begins to shed some of the bristles in the first couple of days, but the shedding will soon stop. However, you might want to hasten this shedding process by cleaning your brush by combing it or using shampoo.
• Price
The important part about shaving brushes is the fact that you will always find one that will best suit your budget. However, even with the price variations, you should still prioritize the quality of the shaving brush.
Best Shaving Brushes
1. Parker Long Loft Pure Badger Bristle Shave Brush
This high-quality shave brush utilizes pure badger materials in a plush and relatively wide bristle head. This unique feature allows the brush to hold alot of water and generate an amazing lather buildup to provide you a relaxed shaving experience in a short time.
When you purchase this shave brush, you will get a free drip stand that enables your brush to dry fast and also preserve the bristles for a long time. With its modern horn handle, this shave brush stands out because of its classy look.
If you’re looking for a quality shave brush that’s below $50, you can’t go wrong with this one. Besides its high-quality safety razors, Parker brand also makes great shaving brushes, with the pure badger brush being the best proof of that. The brush comes with prime quality badger bristles with good lathering and good water retention capabilities. With an affordable price tag of $30 or even below, the Parker Pure Badger brush is a perfect budget option for all your shave brush needs.
2. FS Synthetic Hair Travel Shave Brush
This shaving brush is manufactured utilizing synthetic hair that’s as soft as animal’s hair and similar, but it’s relatively smaller, easy to use, maintain and travel with. That is made possible by its small loft, unlike the thicknesses of bigger and awkward shave brushes that are made with natural hairs.
The FS Travel Shaving Brush lathers pretty well and dries easily due to its synthetic fibers. The storage of this brush is also incredibly simple since it easy to position and also lock inside the strong metal case that comes with it.
Even though the brush has a smooth and comfortable-to-hold handle, it can slip quite easily when moist. Therefore, you can apply some alum on your hands to make the handle relatively sticky and also avoid any accidental slippages. The bristles of this shave might not be as good as the natural ones when it comes to holding moisture, but it usually dries out pretty quickly for storage when you are traveling.
The FS Travel shave brush is an excellent alternative for regular travelers because of its compact design and the synthetic fiber bristles which dry up fast to allow storage.
3. Edwin Jagger’s Large Silver Tip Badger Hair Shaving Brush
Edwin Jagger is a renowned global pacesetter and leader in the distribution of high-quality wet-shaving products. Among the numerous badger hair shave products manufactured by Edwin, the Large Silvertip brush is the most esteemed when it comes to quality.
Its ebony handle and silvertip badger hair are made using cutting-edge technology utilizing polyester and crafted succinctly-picked materials. Its badger hair is also fine, natural, and high-quality yet flexible. Although the brush has a high absorption rate of hot water, it also evenly distributes it to your face to soften it and ensures your shaving and lathering is smooth and consistent.
If you want to have a gentle, soft, and luxurious shaving experience or an amazing lathering and pretty mild exfoliation or you have sensitive skin, then the Large Silvertip brush is your ideal option. This shave brush also features a plastic drip stand that’s beautifully-packaged in an Edwin Jagger case, with clear instructions on how to use and also care for it.
4. Frank Shaving Pur-Tech Synthetic Hair Shave Brush
Synthetic shave brushes have increased in popularity in the recent past. With synthetic shaving brushes, however, there are various factors that you should consider. One of the first things you will notice when you buy Frank shaving’s synthetic brush is its soft bristles. The bristles are just like animal hair brushes.
The brush is typically designed to be strong. It features a unique black handle that has a comfy fit regardless of your hand size. It works pretty well with shave soaps because it needs a lot of water. Apart from that, it also works well with shave creams as well.
Because synthetic brushes require relatively more water when compared to animal brushes, they require a short soaking time before whipping up a great lather. All you should do with a synthetic shave brush is wet them and then get on with your wet shaving.
In addition to offering rich lather, the Pur-Tech shave brush also spreads the lather evenly over your face. The bristles spread a reasonable amount of soap and shaving cream on your face providing a good amount of shaving foundation. In the end, your skin will feel pretty soft.
Frank Shaving is a brand that has built a reputable name for itself over the years. Although it is popularly known for producing this high-quality synthetic shaving brush, it also manufactures badger and boar hairs brushes. In short, this company is committed to delivering high-quality and cost-effective products as well.
If you like synthetic products, then this brush is a perfect selection for you. It has a pretty solid construction and is also softer than many other synthetics. It provides you with an amazing lather which can easily rival the quality offered by animal hair shaving brushes.
5. Escali 100% Pure Badger Shave Brush
The Escali shaving brush is made from 100% pure badger hairs. There are no synthetic bristles in this brush. The badger hair does a wonderful job of preventing skin irritations and exfoliating the skin. If you have sensitive skin, then you will benefit a lot from this shave brush. However, you will have to couple it with high-quality razor and shaving cream or soap.
While not all synthetic bristles lead to skin irritations, they are normally weaker than the badger and boar bristles. As a result, they usually break easily. For badger hair, particularly the pure type, it’s pretty hard to beat when it comes to producing a creamy lather. The lather obtained from the Escali Pure Badger brush is incredibly rich and doesn’t take ages to generate.
It’s also worth mentioning that Escali shave brush features solid and well-designed construction. It comes with a 100% natural wood handle that fits comfortably and perfectly in your hand. Apart from this, and just like all other high-quality badger brushes, the bristles of the Escali shaving brush retain water perfectly. These bristles are not only incredibly absorbent but are also easy to clean after use.
How to Use a Shaving Brush
There are numerous reasons why one should use a shave brush. It raises your whiskers, softens your skin, provides an exceptionally lubricated area for your razor, and generates some amazing lather as well. Here’s a guide on how to utilize a shave brush properly.
• Wet your brush. Begin by running the shaving brush under warm water to easily saturate the bristles. That will prepare it to accept the soap or shaving cream. Shake off the excess water.
• Add soap or shaving cream. Place a small amount of shaving cream on the center of the bristles. If you are using a quality soap or cream, you don’t need to use a significant amount to produce an amazing lather when shaving.
• Work into lather. Utilizing circular motions ensure that you work the shaving brush around the area of your beard. Take your time and enjoy the scent of your shaving cream or soap because this is the most relaxing part of the shaving ritual.
• Shave
• Rinse your brush. Once you are done with shaving, you should run your brush under cold water. Utilize your fingers to separate all the bristles to remove soap out of the brush. Squeeze any excess water from your shave brush and place it back in its stand.
How to Care for a Shaving Brush
Once you have invested in a perfect shave brush, remember to maintain it properly. There is little use investing in a quality item if you damage the value through carelessness. The following are some useful tips to help you care for your shaving brush.
• Keep it dry – Always shake excess water and dry your shaving brush hanging upside down to avoid compromising the knot of the bristles.
• Be pretty gentle with it – Load your shaving brush properly and avoid mashing it into the soap.
• Don’t face lather – Face lathering wears the badger tips faster than lathering in a bowl or mug.
• Clean the brush regularly – Rinse all remaining cream or soap after every shave, and deep clean it every six to eight months using a mild detergent.
• Don’t get it too hot – Using water above 104 F/40 C can damage the ends of the brush and make them curl. Use the shaving brush in warm water at all times.
One of the most vital tools for all wet shavers is the shaving brush. A high-quality shaving brush can have a significant impact on how comfortable your face will feel every time you make some passes with a suitable razor. Whether you opt for a quality razor specifically designed for men or an electric shaver, a shave brush will considerably boost your shave and grooming routine.
Shaving brushes come in different sizes, shapes, and materials. Regardless of the material or style you opt for in your shave brush, always try to select a trusted brand. That is because obscure imitation vendors might seem almost similar to more pricey counterparts, but the fakes will always degrade quicker and even cost you a lot more in the long run.
With proper maintenance and storage, shaving brushes can last for a pretty long time. Get one of the best shaving brushes discussed above the next time you are planning for a wet-shave, and you may discover one that suits your shaving needs and preferences.
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