Horse Hair Shaving Brush Buying Guide

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best horse hair shaving brushes, that are currently available on the UK marketplace.

When it comes to buying a shaving brush there are basically four choices to make when it comes to picking the type of hair that you like to have on your brush. These are:

1. Badger hair
2. Boar Hair
3. Horse Hair
4. Synthetic Hair

Badger hair is still the most popular as that hair holds a lot of water and is soft on the face. Men with tougher beards will prefer to use boar hair in their brush as it is slightly rougher on the face.

Some guys opt for a synthetic or man made hair as they don't like the idea of the hairs being taken from the badger or boar. That leaves us with the horse hair option.

With the badger and boar the animal does have to be killed, however, with horse hair some hair is taken from either the mane or the tail of the horse. That used to be quite popular at one time but men seemed to prefer the water retention features of the boar or badger hair.

Horse hair then dropped out of popularity, but some men still prefer to use it. Horse hair shaving brushes are more expensive than other shaving brushes and that does put some people off using them or buying them.

Generally speaking a good shaving brush helps soften the bristles on the face, helps raise the hairs up for the blade, and most importantly protects the skin from the blade that will be used on the razor.

Creams, gels and foams are typically applied by hand. If you want to use a proper shaving soap or a cream, then you will need something to whip that soap up into a rich creamy lather.

The shaving brush is designed to do just that.

Horse Hair Brushes vs Other Types of Shaving Brushes

As we explained in the introduction, there are a few different types of shaving brush on the market. The key difference in each type is the kind of hair that is used in the brush. Shaving brushes are pretty simple to understand in terms of construction.

They are made from a handle, which can be wooden, plastic or from a range of other materials. Into those handles the hairs are glued to form what is called the "knot."

The hairs used in shaving brushes come in a few different types which include:

• Boar hair - stiffer hair for tougher skin and bristles. Very good at holding a lot of water which helps create a very good lather.
• Badger hair - the best and the most popular. Excellent at holding a lot of water which helps create a very good lather.
• Horse hair - Returning in popularity but more expensive to buy
• Synthetic hair - for those who prefer not to have animal hair at all and yet want to use a shaving brush for wet shaving

Is Horse Hair the Best Type for a Shaving Brush?

Wet shavers seldom agree which is the best hair to use on a shaving brush. In terms of volume of sales in the UK, the badger hair brush still leads the way, and the synthetic brush is now a very popular choice.

The important thing to understand is that the hair on the brush needs to be able to:

• Retain a lot of water as this helps quickly create a lather
• Be strong enough to last for a few years
• Be good at getting into the bristles on the face and neck

It is also fair to say that any type of hair can achieve that. With horse hair you will get a better colour choice for the hair, and it does hold water pretty well. It is however the price point that will put many people off as they can be 3-4 times as expensive as a badger hair shaving brush.

Top 3 Horse Hair Shaving Brushes

Here you will find our summary reviews of the best horse hair shaving brushes. We have ranked these by the highest buyer rated first. There are not a lot of choices on the UK market so we have only included the top 3.

1. Genixart Shaving Brush
2. Vielong Brush (Horse Hair) – 42 Gr

Horse Hair Shaving Brush Buyer's Guide

We always like to write a full buyer's guide, which we believe is especially helpful for any new buyer. Shaving brushes on first appearance, seem to be little more than a wooden handle, and attached to that is some form of hair or bristles.

There is a great deal more to a shaving brush than first meets the eye. Some guys who use a shaving brush get very picky about which is the best, and there are often strong disagreements.

Here at the Shaving Emporium we do take a more pragmatic view and not the purist view of those who stress about the quality of their brush.

As you may have noticed most horse hair shaving brushes are made in Spain. They are then imported into the UK, and this partly explains why they are more expensive than other brushes.

What also adds to the expense is that many of this type of horse hair brush are hand made, and that will always push the price up.

Shaving brushes generally have two different types of lofts, short and long. Longer lofts are best for those who enjoy bowl lathering their shaving cream or soap.

On the other hand shorter lofts are for those that prefer face lathering or for those that use hard shaving soaps.

Best Badger Shaving Brush for the Money - UK Reviews & Buying Guide

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best badger hair shaving brushes, that are currently available on the UK marketplace.

Making the move to wet shaving is something that men will likely consider at some point when it comes to having a shave. If you plan on trying out wet shaving, then you will need to use some form of lubricant on your face.

There are a few types available and they include:

• Shaving soap
• Shaving cream
• Shaving gels
• Shaving foam

These do a number of things which include softening the bristles on the face, helps raise them up and most importantly protects the skin from the blade that will be used on the razor.

Creams, gels and foams are typically applied by hand. If you want to use a proper shaving soap, then you will need something to whip that soap up into a rich creamy lather.

The shaving brush is designed to do just that.

Badger Hair Brushes vs Other Types of Brushes

We think it is worth pointing out that with boar hair and badger hair, the animal does have to die to get the hair so it can be used. Mainly this type of hair will be imported from Asia.

Horse hair is taken from either the mane or the tail of the horse.

Synthetic hair is a man made hair, so no animal hair is used and no animal has to die.

Is Badger Hair the Best Type for a Shaving Brush?

It is fair to say that wet shavers disagree as to which is the best type of hair to use. We think it is a matter of personal preference.

The important thing to understand is that the hair on the brush needs to be able to:

• Retain a lot of water as this helps quickly create a lather
• Be strong enough to last for a few years
• Be good at getting into the bristles on the face and neck

It is also fair to say that any type of hair can achieve that. What really sets one apart from the other is how the hair feels on the face, and how well it keeps its shape and lasts.

Badger is the softest type of hair, retains a lot of water and is made to last. Those are the reasons many people prefer this type of hair. This is also the way that traditional shaving brushes have been made for years.

Boar hair is tougher and will feel rougher on the face, and most synthetic brushes also feel a little bit harder on the face. The horse hair brush is not that popular but it is making a comeback.

Different Grades of Badger Hair

Top 12 Badger Hair Shaving Brushes

Here you will find our summary reviews of the best badger hair shaving brushes. We have ranked these by the highest buyer rated first.

1. Anbbas Shaving Brush Handmade Pure Badger Hair Brush with Natural Manchurian Ash Wood Handle (94%)
2. MÜHLE RYTMO Steamed Ash Pure Badger Shaving Brush (94%)
3. Haryali Modern Black Silver Tip Badger hair Shaving Brush (92%)
4. Haryali Pure Black Badger Hair Men's Shaving Brush in Black ebony (92%)
5. Everpert Badger Hair Men's Shaving Brush Barber Salon Men Facial Beard Cleaning Shaving-Foam Razor Brush (90%)
6. Parker Safety Razor 100% Premium Black Badger Bristle Shaving Brush With Marbled Handle - Brush Stand Included Ivory (88%)
7. Parker Safety Razor 100% Silvertip Badger Bristle Shaving Brush (Chrome Handle) And Free Shaving Brush Stand shave brush (88%)
8. Taylor of Old Bond Street Pure Badger Large Black Shaving Brush (86%)
9. QSHAVE 100% Best Original Pure Badger Hair Shaving Brush Handmade. Real Wood Base. Perfect for Wet Shave, Safety Razor, Double Edge Razor (86%)
10. The Bluebeards Revenge Pure Badger Shaving Brush (86%)
11. Vtrem Shaving Brush Set for Men 3 in 1 Pure Badger Hair Shaving Brushes with Wood Handle, Stainless Steel Shaving Stand + Bowl Perfect for Wet Shave, Safety Razor (84%)
12. Edwin Jagger Best Badger Hair Shaving Brush with Drip Stand - Medium, Imitation Ebony (82%)

Badger Hair Shaving Brush Buyer's Guide

We always like to write a full buyer's guide, which we believe is especially helpful for any new buyer. Shaving brushes on first appearance, seem to be little more than a wooden handle, and attached to that is some form of hair or bristles.

There is a great deal more to a shaving brush than first meets the eye. Some guys who use a shaving brush get very picky about which is the best, and there are often strong disagreements.

Here at the Shaving Emporium we do take a more pragmatic view and not the purist view of those who stress about the quality of their brush.

We agree with most wet shavers that a badger hair brush is about as good as it gets. Now clearly if you don't like the idea of a badger being killed, then we understand these will never be on your list.

For those who take a different view, then overall badger hair is an extremely good choice. The hair is soft and fine and holds a lot of water which makes lathering a soap a great deal easier.

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best silvertip badger shaving brushes, that are currently available on the UK marketplace.

If you have decided to make the move to buying a shaving brush, then you may already know that you have four choices of shaving brush, which are:

1. Badger hair
2. Boar Hair
3. Horse Hair
4. Synthetic hair

In this article though we are concentrating on badger hair shaving brushes. In particular we are concentrating on brushes made from badger hair, but also have what is called the "silvertip" appearance.

Generally speaking shaving brushes are simple in design, in that they have long hair and a smooth handle that is comfortable to hold. They have been made in that design for years.

Why Pick Silvertip Badger Hair?

There is general agreement among all wet shavers that badger hair is the best hair to use. That is because it is the finest hair, and can hold significant amounts of water.

When that is the used with a shaving soap it does make a rich and luxurious lather.

The reason all wet shavers want that is that it prevents razor skipping and dragging. That in turn means that you get a closer shave free of any cuts or nicks. In other words the shaving brush is very important.

Badger hair is also stiff enough to lift hairs and stubble up from the skin, and that makes it much easier to shave off. Badger hair is a nice blend of hair for two reasons:

1. It is stiff enough to gently exfoliate the skin
2. It is soft enough to prevent irritating the skin

As an example boar hair is slightly better at creating a lather with soap, but has the downside of being quite aggressive on the skin, and not suitable for anyone with sensitive skin.

Different Types of Badger Hair

There are four different types of badger hair used in the making of shaving brushes. These are:

1. Pure badger hair
2. Best badger hair
3. Super badger hair
4. Silvertip badger hair

Pure Badger Hair

This is the cheapest form of badger hair and can be quite coarse but not as coarse as boar hair. It comes in slightly different colours depending on which manufacturer you buy it from. These colours are brown, grey or black or mix of these colours. Typically a pure badger hair brush will last 3-4 years, and are very affordable to buy.

Best Badger Hair

This is a step up from the basic pure badger hair, and feels a great deal softer on the skin. The colours range from light brown to grey but you will pay more for this type of shaving brush. These do absorb a lot of water and will last with average use for about 6-7 years

Super Badger Hair

This is a really good choice as the hair is very soft, and as such holds and retains a great deal more water, than any of the two hairs mentioned so far. The hair is noticeable as it will have a mid-section that has a distinct black colour.

You do pay for this additional luxury though, but likewise you will get a brush that will last for 10+ years.

Silvertip Badger Hair

And finally we have the best of the best badger hair. They are easy to identify as the hair on the tip is shaped into a bulb and a distinct off white colour (not silver) This is a soft and luxurious hair that offers the ultimate shave. Prepare to get your wallet out if you want to own one of these.

Silvertip Fibre Badger Hair Brushes

When real badger hair is used, then the reality is that the badger does have to die in order to collect the hair. Badger killing is not allowed in the United Kingdom under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992

This legislation was mainly to stop the practise of badger setting with dogs. It is a complex law, but essentially, it has stopped the killing of badgers. It is not outlawed in other countries though and can also be imported.

All badger hair is imported from China under very strict import laws. For many wet shavers it is a question of ethics as to whether they want to use real badger hair in their brush.

As such manufacturers have responded by making look alike silvertip shaving brushes using man made fibres.

Top Silvertip Badger Hair Shaving Brushes

The top 5 buyer rated silvertip badger hair shaving brushes are:

1. MÜHLE Classic Medium Black Silvertip Fibre Shaving Brush (93%)
2. Parker Safety Razor Large Silvertip Badger Hair Shaving Brush (91%)
3. Haryali Silver Tip Badger Hair Shaving Brush (90%)
4. Parker Safety Razor 100% Silvertip Badger Bristle Shaving Brush (89%)
5. Anbbas Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush (87%)

Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush Buyer Information

Hopefully we have provided you with enough information to point you in the right direction if you are thinking of buying a silver tip badger hair shaving brush. There are enough choices on the market to give you a decent choice.

This is the best type of hair if you can afford it. if you think this is not the right type of shaving brush for you, then check out our top 10 list of all shaving brushes by clicking here.

Most men understand that for wet shaving, you do need a good brush, and especially if you plan on using a shaving soap. They make a great lather, and also do an excellent job of softening and raising the facial hair.

Expect to pay anything between £20-65 for this type of silvertip, and towards the higher end of that range for the best quality. That will ensure you own a great brush that will last you for at least 10 years.

Best Boar Hair Shaving Brush for the Money - UK Reviews & Buying Guide

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best boar shaving brushes, that are currently available on the UK marketplace.

Shaving brushes come in 4 main types which we have listed below. These are:

1. Boar hair shaving brush - made from the hair of a boar
2. Badger hair shaving brush -  made from the hair of a badger
3. Horse hair shaving brush - made from the hair taken from the mane or the tail of the horse
4. Synthetic shaving brush - the hair is man made to replicate animal hair

In this article we are looking specifically at shaving brushes made using boar hair, and why some men prefer this type of shaving brush.

As you may already know shaving brushes have to main parts which are he handle and the knot. The "knot" refers to the hairs of the brush. 

These knots come in different sizes and they are measured by diameter size in millimetres (mm)  and also the height of the loft.

Generally speaking longer hairs will feel softer. Some men prefer a big loft while others prefer a small one. Larger diameter knot brushes with a high loft are generally softer and as such more expensive than the smaller loft brushes.

What is Boar Hair and Why Use it for a Shaving Brush?

For years both boar and badger hair have been used for making shaving brushes. The reality is that both animals have to be killed in order to get the hair. Some people do not like the idea of that, and as such a big change has been made to using synthetic hair.

What is a Boar?

A boar is a wild pig.They are classed as being intrusive in many areas of Europe and Asia, though they do not exist in the UK. They do have a thick winter coat that consists of long coarse bristles.

The length of the bristles vary a lot as do the colours. In their natural state these hairs can be brown, yellow or grey. The brown colour is the most popular in the UK.

Most boar hair is bought from China, India or Russia where these animals are plentiful, and regularly hunted to control them as they do cause problems for many farmers, as they dig a lot of crops up.

Why Use Boar Hair?

Boar hair is used in shaving brushes and is also used for hair brushes. In hair brushes the bristles are tightly spaced and increase tension while brushing, to smooth the hair.

Boar hair brushes naturally condition the hair, improves the texture, reduces frizz, stimulates the scalp and makes hair shiny.

With reference to shaving brushes, it is much cheaper to produce than badger hair or horse hair. Almost every wet shaver will tell you that a boar brush is much stiffer than any other shaving brush. That is certainly true when these are new but they eventually do soften over time.

Boar bristle is particularly good at holding water. This helps a lot when making a lather using a shaving soap. The harder bristles also help create lather with shaving soaps.

Men who should buy boar shaving brushes are those with a tougher beard and tougher skin, as the boar is very good at getting into that type of facial growth. They should also be used by men who prefer shaving soap to shaving cream.

You should not buy a boar hair shaving brush if you have delicate or sensitive skin as the bristles are hard, and you will not enjoy using one of these on your face.

Top 5 Buyer Rated Boar Hair Shaving Brushes

We have listed below the top 5 boar hair shaving brushes. They are:

1. Semogue Boar Shaving Brush Model 1305 model (98%)
2. Black Omega 49 Professional Pure Bristle Shaving Brush (92%)
3. Progress Vulfix 404 Grosvenor Mixed Badger and Boar Bristle Shaving Brush (90%)
4. Omega Shaving Brush #10048 Boar Bristle Aka The Pro 48 (90%)
5. Proraso Professional Boar Hair Shaving Brush (86%)

Beside each shaving brush name, you will see a number in brackets. This is the average buyer satisfaction rating scored out of 100%. The higher this number is, the higher the brush is rated by online buyers.

We calculated this value by visiting the various websites that sell boar brushes. We then made a note of their ratings. Finally we added these up and worked out an average.

Boar Hair Shaving Brush Buyer's Guide

In this section we get into a lot more detail about the types of boar hair shaving brushes you can buy. On boars, hair grows over all of their body. In some areas it is long and in other areas it is quite short.

The back and mane are long and under the body is quite short and finer.

With badger hair brushes, the hair is classified by the area of the body they are taken from, but that is not the case with boar hair. No classification is done for boar hair, and they are named in a different method explained below.

Boar Hair Shaving Brush Types

There are four main classifications used when it comes to boar brushes. These are:

1. Unbleached or Natural - these simply comes with the natural hairs which can vary in colour
2. Bleached - this is simply where those natural hairs have been bleached white in a factory
3. Clipped - the hairs are clipped into a round bulb shape to form the shape of the shaving brush and are quite popular
4. Sketched - the natural hairs are bleached white but they also get a black dye applied to try and make them look like badger hair

It is mainly a matter of preference as to which type you want to buy. Most men seem to like the rounded bulb style, whereas some other men prefer the natural look.

Knot & Loft Height

As we mentioned earlier this is really just a matter of your own personal preference. Mainly it has to do with the appearance of the brush. Some men will argue that the rounded bulb type gets into the beard better.

We have not found that to be the case, and a full knot works just as well. We think it has more to do with the style that you like. the natural hair we think works best in terms of the brush holding the water.

Almost always though men buy a brush with boar hair based on the overall look and the type of handle.

Boar Hair Shedding

Dealing with the Initial Smell

Despite various treatments in the factory, when yo receive your boar hair shaving brush, there will still be a distinct and quite poignant smell from the boar animal. It gets slightly worse when it is first wet.

That smell does disappear after about 10 uses. Our advice is when you receive it, and before using it is to wash it with warm soapy water, and allow to hang and dry naturally.

Don't put it inside a case or holder when damp. Never use any type of detergent or chemical cleaner to try and remove that initial smell. It will damage the hairs and weaken the glue that hold the hairs into the handle.

The smell does go away, but you just have to give it some time to do that.

How to Use a Boar Hair Shaving Brush

Shaving brushes can be used to lather up shaving cream or shaving soap. Shaving cream can also be applied by hand, but a brush is better for a couple of reasons.

You can use a smaller amount of cream and then use a wet brush to whip that into a thicker lather. That will save on the amount of cream you have to use, and make it last longer.

A boar hair brush really comes into its own though when using a shaving soap. Soap is harder to lather than cream. The harder boar bristles work a great deal faster than badger hair on soap.

Once you have made the lather, the brush should be pushed up and into the bristles using small circular movements. That makes sure all the hairs are softened and the skin is massaged underneath.

It also raises the hairs ready for the shave.

How to Care for a Boar Hair Shaving Brush

The same rules apply to this type of shaving brush as to any other. Always rinse with warm water when finished to remove any lather. When the water runs clear, then shake the brush out as much as you can.

Always hang the brush on a stand with the bristles hanging down. This allows the brush hair to dry naturally. More importantly, it stops the water from running back into the area where the knot meets the handle.

Water seeping in there degrades and weakens the glue used to attach the hairs to the handle. If that were allowed to happen then hairs would start to fall out quicker than they should.

Best Synthetic Shaving Brush for the Money - UK Reviews & Buying Guide

Thanks for taking your time to read our information and reviews on the best synthetic shaving brushes, that are currently available on the UK marketplace.

As many of you will know there are a number of different types of shaving brushes. What differentiates them is mainly what type of hair they use. The main types are:

• Badger hair
• Boar hair
• Horse hair
• Synthetic hair

People who decide to buy a synthetic hair are those who don't want to use the hair of an animal. The reality is that both badger and boar hair does come from the dead animal.

Horse hair, which is starting to make a bit of a come back, is taken from the tail of the horse, so the animal itself is not killed.

Shaving brushes made from the hair of animals also does tend to have a smell, especially at the start. That does disappear over time of course, but the initial smell can be quite strong, especially from a boar brush.

The main reason that many men pick a synthetic brush, is they simply do not want to use animal hair. Synthetic are of course a vegan friendly alternative and 100% cruelty free.

There are also some men who simply prefer the feel of a synthetic brush on their skin. What some people may not realise, is that synthetic bristles are actually a lot more durable than animal hair brushes, so a synthetic brush will last most men a life time.

The general move to a shaving brush is something that men consider, when they are in the process of making the move to wet shaving, or "real shaving" as it is better known.

Shaving brushes have been around for longer than any of us have lived. Most of the guys here at the website remember their dad and their granddad using these. They are certainly considered "old school," or as we prefer to call it traditional.

Synthetic is however a more modern version of the shaving brush, as for years it was made from some type of animal hair.

Top 5 Buyer Rated Synthetic Shaving Brushes

Just below, we have included our top 5 synthetic brushes. Beside each product name you will see a percentage score. That refers to the average buyer satisfaction rating. The higher this score is the better buyers rate the brush.

When we do our research, we make note of the different ratings buyers give to the product. We make a note of these and then calculate an average score.

Underneath this list you will find a review on each brush.

1. Synthetic Shaving Brush By PimplePopper.co - Vegan-Friendly Shave Brush With Synthetic Bristles (96%)
2. Benny's of London Luxury Synthetic Shave Brush (91%)
3. Well Groomed Wizard Synthetic Badger Hair Brush with Travel Case (96%)
4. Muhle Synthetic Silvertip Fibre Travel Shaving Brush (98%)
5. Parker Safety Razor Synthetic Bristle Shaving Brush and Brush Stand (77%)

Synthetic Shaving Brush Buyer's Guide

We always like to write a full buyer's guide, which we believe is especially helpful for any new buyer. Synthetic shaving brushes are made in exactly the same way that other types of shaving brushes are made.

Synthetic hair has improved a lot in recent years, especially when it comes to wigs and indeed shaving brushes. In some cases, if very well made, it is difficult to tell the difference.

That is simply because the density and texture are such that they feel almost like animal hair. The fiber used has "memory" for responsiveness, so allows the hair to bounce back and quickly reform.

Most synthetic materials have a mix of nylon and polyester. However with shaving brushes the products used are generally more complex than this. It is actually quite hard to describe these, as they are chemical formulas.

One major advantage of buying and using a synthetic shaving brush is that they do not lose hairs. If you use a standard shaving brush made from boar, badger or horse hair then you will know that all of those types will lose some hair.

Thousands of hairs are glued into the handle. Over time and with use some of these hairs weaken and come loose. With synthetic hair you simply don't have that problem.

Water Retention with Synthetic

Good shaving brushes should hold a lot of water, as that is what helps a lot when it comes to creating a rich creamy shaving lather. With the early versions of synthetic brushes, these were really bad at doing that.

Things have certainly changed a lot. When we used the different synthetic brushes we quickly discovered that this was no longer a problem. Almost all of the ones that we used did a good job at that. The only one that struggled a bit was the Parker model, but it gets better with use.