4 Best Shaving Brushes for Men

Wet shaving may be a forgotten art for some, but many of us still appreciate its merits.

Although choosing the best shaving brush and shaving soap may feel more intimidating than simply picking up a plastic razor at your local supermarket, the benefits of wet shaving make it all worth it.

Besides, it’s really not as complicated as you might think.

With literally dozens of options on the market today—from boar to badger to synthetic—choosing the right shaving brush is all a matter of personal preference.

Our comprehensive guide will break everything down for you—from selecting the right brush type to helpful tips and tricks for achieving the closest, smoothest shave.

First, what is a shaving brush?

You might be thinking, what makes shaving brushes so special? After all, we have perfectly good hands for applying shaving cream, right?

But shaving brushes elevate the entire shaving experience. Coupled with excellent quality wet shaving accessories, the right shaving brush will change your experience (and appearance!) for the better.

Simply put, a shaving brush is a small handheld brush that is designed to apply shaving lather or cream onto your face. The typical shaving brush consists of a handle (usually made of wood, horn, metal, or plastic) and bristles of either natural or synthetic origin.

Why invest in quality?

The better the quality of the shaving brush you buy, the faster and smoother your shave will be. Of course, using a high-quality shaving brush will also result in a better and more enjoyable experience overall.

Here are the other benefits of using the best shaving brush:

• A high-quality shaving brush will effectively soften facial hair, which leads to smoother results.
• Shaving brushes also exfoliate the face—ridding it of dead skin cells and rough texture.
• By removing dead skin and helping reveal a fresh layer of skin cells underneath, a shaving brush will help brighten up your complexion, making you look fresher and more radiant.
• The best shaving brushes will effectively whip air into your shaving soap, which results in a more luxurious lather.
• What’s more, a rich lather protects and lubricates the skin. This reduces the risk of skin irritation.

Without the right shaving brush, achieving ideal results becomes difficult. As such, if you plan to delve into the world of wet shaving, you might as well invest in a good quality shaving brush to really get the most out of it.

Which bristle type is the best?

As mentioned previously, four main types of bristles are commonly used in making shaving brushes: boar, badger, horsehair, and synthetic.

In this section of the buying guide, you’ll learn all the basics about these bristles, as well as their pros and cons.

Synthetic Bristle Shaving Brush

Although synthetic shaving brushes aren’t as popular as natural-hair varieties, they do have their own advantages.

The most obvious benefit to synthetic brushes is that there are no animals involved in their creation. As such, it’s a great option for vegans and people who are allergic to natural fibers.

Synthetic bristles also come in all shapes, sizes, and price points. There are cheaper variants that you can enjoy if you’re on a tight budget, but pricier and better-quality options are also available. What’s more, synthetic fibers generally require less upkeep than natural hairs.

The main downside here is that synthetic bristles are less consistent in terms of quality. It’s a bit more challenging to predict the quality you’re getting if you’re buying from a specific store for the first time. Also, synthetic fibers are naturally less porous than animal hairs. This makes a nice, thick lather harder to achieve.

Pros:

• There is a wide variety of options available.
• Synthetics are great for vegans and those who are allergic to natural hair.
• They don’t smell.

Cons:

• The quality isn’t as consistent as natural fibers.
• Cheaper varieties hold very little water.
• Some synthetic fibers take a while to soften up.

Boar Bristle Shaving Brush

Many would consider the boar bristle shaving brush as the “beginner” shaving brush. It’s relatively inexpensive, so it’s a great pick for your first foray into the world of wet shaving.

Boar bristles are pretty stiff and retain less water. This means you’ll get a firmer scrubbing once you use it on your face. The stiffness of the bristles enables the brush to efficiently lift facial hair away from the skin’s surface. This makes it extra easy for you to get the lather underneath each hair strand, something that wet shaving beginners will find helpful.

What’s more, the extra-firm bristles will also give you more exfoliating action.

Pros:

• The bristles make it easy for beginners to lift hair from the skin with minimal effort.
• It’s relatively inexpensive.
• The bristles get softer over time.

Cons:

• A brand new brush will most likely be uncomfortably stiff during the first few uses.
• It retains less water, which makes it a bit more challenging to whip up a good lather.
• It’s more prone to shedding than other bristle types.

Horsehair Shaving Brush

Horsehair shaving brushes are great if you want to stick to natural hairs but find boar bristles too stiff and badger hair brushes too expensive.

In a nutshell, horsehair is a good in-betweener.  The downside? They’re harder to find than other brush types. They typically require more maintenance, too.

Pros:

• Horsehair is softer than boar and synthetic bristles.
• It’s generally less expensive than badger brushes.

Cons:

• They’re high maintenance.
• They can smell off during the first few shaves (but this depends on your nose’s sensitivity and the source of the brush itself).
• Horsehair brushes are hard to find.

Badger Hair Shaving Brush

If you’re in it for the long run, badger hair brushes are widely considered the absolute best in the world of wet shaving. Simply put, badger hair brushes are the best you can buy quality-wise.

For one, badger brushes are soft without sacrificing durability. They will last for years and years if you take care of them properly. As such, they’re definitely worth the investment.

Badger hair is also more porous than other bristle types, which helps it retain more water. This makes it super easy to create a rich, luxurious lather using your shaving soap of choice.

Pros:

• It’s the best at retaining water and producing a rich lather.
• Badger hair is soft and gentle on the skin.
• Badger hair is exceptionally fine-textured and enjoyable to use.

Cons:

• They’re quite pricey.

Using a shaving brush: A step by step guide

So, how exactly do you use a shaving brush? And what guidelines do you have to follow to achieve the best results? Check out this step by step guide to know more!

Step 1: Warm your skin up.

Warming up your skin will improve the quality of the shave you’ll get. It helps open up the pores, which leads to softer hair and a closer shave. What’s more, added warmth also relaxes and softens your skin.

The best way to warm your skin up is to shave right after taking a warm shower. There is nothing better than warm steam for opening up the pores. But if you can’t take a shower before your shaving session, no worries! Dabbing your face with a warm towel works, too.

Step 2: Get your brush wet.

With your shaving soap already in a shallow bowl or shaving scuttle, start wetting your brush with warm water. If you’re using anything other than a badger hair brush (which easily retains moisture), it might help to soak your brush in warm water for a few minutes.

Step 3: Get whipping.

Dip the brush into the bowl of shaving soap and start whipping using circular motions. Keep whipping until you get the lather thickness you’re looking for. Remember: patience is key! A good lather is crucial to getting a close, comfortable shave.

Step 4: Apply lather on your face.

Once you’re satisfied with the thickness and texture of the lather on the scuttle, it’s time to apply lather up your face. Using your shaving brush, pick up some lather, and start brushing your face using gentle circular motions.

Make sure to cover all of the areas you’re planning to shave. If you need more exfoliation, you can opt to keep brushing until you’re satisfied.

Step 5: Shave away.

Take your razor and begin shaving until you’re satisfied with the results. This part is pretty self-explanatory, really. Feel free to re-apply more lather if necessary.

Step 6: Rinse and squeeze.

After shaving, carefully rinse the brush using warm water. Make sure to thoroughly remove any leftover soap or cream.

Gently squeeze the bristles to remove excess water. It’s important to avoid squeezing or wringing the brush too hard to avoid unwanted shedding. Finally, store the brush in an upright position with the bristles facing down.

What is the lifespan of a typical shaving brush?

Cheaper shaving brushes (that is, boar hair, horsehair, and low-end synthetics) should last you anywhere between several months to 2-3 years if you use them properly. This includes cleaning them regularly and making sure that they’re stored correctly.

Meanwhile, badger hair shaving brushes and premium synthetic brushes are far more long-lasting. They can last for as long as 10 years or longer provided that they’re well-maintained.

How to prolong the life of your shaving brush?

Blew big bucks on a shaving brush and want to secure your investment? Check out these tips!

• Always dry your brushes with the bristles facing down. Doing so ensures that any leftover water will not infiltrate the handle and weaken the glue. If not dried properly, shaving brushes might start to smell and eventually rot.
• If you can, go get a shaving brush stand. Although it’s not strictly necessary, having a shaving brush stand could help prolong the life of your brush—especially if you have an expensive animal-hair brush.
• Avoid hot water. While warm water is ideal for creating a rich lather, hot water is harmful to your shaving brush. Hot water damages the bristles. It can accelerate shedding, too.
• Use your brush gently. As much as possible, avoid splaying the brush’s bristles. Don’t push too hard on your shaving brush while lathering up your soap. Apply lather on your face using gentle circular motions. Being too rough and putting too much pressure on the brush can twist and damage the bristles.
• Clean your shaving brush with shampoo regularly. Regularly rinsing your brush with warm water after every use should be enough most of the time. However, thoroughly cleaning the bristles with shampoo will help extend the brush’s lifespan even more. We recommend doing this once or twice a month using a mild shampoo.

How much shedding is normal?

Is your shaving brush shedding way too much?

If you’re unsure whether the shedding you’re experiencing is normal or not, consider how long you’ve been using your brush. New shaving brushes typically shed during the first few uses. Some stray, loose, and short hairs that haven’t been picked up while the glue is setting will work their way out during the first month.

Shedding should stop or at least become minimal after the first month. If your brush continues to lose bristles at an alarming rate, you might be exposing it to water or environments that are too warm. Make sure to stick to proper usage and storage techniques to help minimize shedding.