Are you currently using a cartridge razor or electric razor but thinking about switching to either a safety razor or a straight razor? Or maybe you just made the switch but are still learning the ropes about how to wet shave.
If so, you're probably thinking to yourself “do I really need to buy a shaving brush?” I mean why spend $10, $20 or $30 on something I can just do with my hands?
Is a shaving brush really necessary or is it just a luxury item that shaving nerds like to use? Well in a way, it is a luxury item. Because believe me when I say your face is going to feel pampered after using a shaving brush.
But if you’ve spent any time reading my other articles, you already know that I am incredibly thrifty (some people might even call me cheap). And if using a shaving shaving brush wasn't so practical and beneficial, I would not be such a strong advocate for them.
The primary goal of using a shaving brush is simple: to adequately lather your face in preparation to shave. But if all a shaving brush does is help lather your face, why not just save some money and use your hands?
Because there are many advantages and benefits that come from using a shaving brush that your hands just can't replicate.
Looking to buy a shaving brush? Checkout my recommendations for the best shaving brushes for any budget.
Who Should Use A Shaving Brush?
Don't be fooled into thinking that shaving brushes should only be used by men that shave with safety razors or straight razors. Any man looking to apply some type of lather to their face to prep for a shave will see advantages from using a brush.
Well almost anyone. We think there is one category of men that should not use a shaving brush: men that lather using an aerosol cream or gel will see very marginal benefits from a shaving brush. After all, aerosol (aka propellant) cream/gel already comes out of the can “lathered”.
Can we make a recommendation to those men before moving on though? Stop using shaving products that come out of an aerosol can! Just take a look at the list of ingredients on the back and you'll understand why we make this recommendation. Why the heck is propane in something you are putting on your face.
Yes, aerosol shaving creams and gels are cheap and convenient. But in the long run, your face will thank you for not putting that stuff on it anymore. Instead, you should upgrade to a high-quality shaving soap or shaving cream.
Back to the original question though: who should use a shaving brush? Anybody that needs to apply a lather to their face before shaving!
Yes, shaving brushes are typically associated with wet shaving and/or straight razors, but anybody lathering their face can take advantage of a shaving brush and see some benefits.
Are All Brushes The Same? A Brief Introduction To Shaving Brushes
If you are brand new to shaving brushes but have already browsed what's available on Amazon, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. I mean there are hundreds of them available for sale and they all look pretty similar but can vary dramatically on price. How can you distinguish the good from the bad? Or are they all essentially the same?
Well in a way, they all are very similar in their basic, fundamental design. But there are noticeable differences that I will get to in a minute.
But first, let's focus on what design qualities all shaving brushes have in common. The two distinct parts of the shave brush are the handle and the bristles.
- Handle: the handle is where you grip the brush. Most modern day handles are typically made from synthetics like nylon, urethane or plastic because they are very durable and hold up well over time. However, you can still find more expensive brushes with handles made from a variety of materials like wood, ivory and tortoise shell.
- Bristles: we will get to what the bristles are made from in a second, but first let’s talk about the design of the bristles. There are 2 main measurements of the bristles.
- Loft: this is the length of the bristles from the top of the handle to the top of the hair. The average loft size is around 50 millimeters.
- Knot: the knot is a description of how much hair is packed into the handle. It’s tough to judge knot precisely though because it really depends on how tightly the hair is packed into the handle. The average knot size is around 20 millimeters.
Synthetic or Natural?
There are two main categories of shaving brushes: natural and synthetic. Natural shaving brushes use the hair from an animal while synthetic shaving brushes are made with synthetic materials.
Synthetic Bristles
Synthetic shave brushes are typically made using nylon bristles and they can vary pretty dramatically in both price and quality. There are some really good synthetic brushes out there, but we have always preferred the natural brushes.
A couple benefits of synthetic brushes are that they dry a little faster after use and are usually more durable.
Natural Bristles
You have several options of animal hair for a natural shaving brush but the two most common are badger and boar hair. Horse hair brushes are also available, but badger and boar hair is what dominates the market.
So how are badger and boar brushes similar and different? Well boar brushes are typically cheaper than badger brushes because boar hair is easier to acquire.
Additionally, badger hair just outperforms boar hair. Badger brushes typically hold water in the best which leads to a richer lather. So if badger brushes are better quality, you should always buy a badger brush, right?
No! Badger brushes are the premium and cream of the crop, but there are definitely quality boar brushes available on the market.
I don't want to turn this article into a shaving brush buying guide, but I did want to let you know there are typically 4 sub-categories of badger brushes as well.
- Pure: these brushes use the most common hair on the badger and are the cheapest. They are the most coarse of badger brushes, but they are still great at retaining water. You can identify a pure badger brush because it's bristles are usually all dark(er).
- Best: best are a step up from pure because the hair is finer and slightly longer. Additionally,the hair is slightly lighter in color. Because best brushes have greater hair density, they should help you produce a superior lather.
- Super: one step up from best is the super badger brushes. They are slightly more soft and dense.
- Silvertip: the rarest, most premium and expensive badger brush on the market is the silvertip. It had the finest quality and is known for being soft on the skin. You will definitely oh a premium for a silvertip brush, but they really help men with sensitive skin.
9 Reasons Why You Should Start Using A Shaving Brush
Alright, so now you have a basic understanding of shaving brushes and what they are used for. But here at A Superior Shave, I am all about performance. I don’t want to just use products that deliver the bare minimum. I want products that are efficient and deliver amazing results at an affordable price.
And that’s exactly what shaving brushes do. Yes, they are used to lather your face. But here’s 9 benefits from shaving brushes that you may not have even realized.
#1 - Makes it easier to get the ideal lather consistency
Is a shaving brush mandatory for being able to get the right lather consistency? No. But it makes it a heck of a lot easier. Look, your hands just were not made to work a shaving cream or soap into a lather.
Can you swim without using any other gear? Yes. Can you swim much faster and more efficiently if you are using swim fins? Yes
It’s the same way when comparing lathering with your bare hands or lathering with a shaving brush. You can absolutely do it with just your hands, but it is going to take a whole lot longer to be able to get the ideal lather consistency.
Using a brush will allow you to get the right lather consistency much easier and quicker.
#2 - You can lather quicker
In order to get a great shave, you really need to get a nice thick lather. Why? Thicker lather translates into a more hydrated and emollient lubricant on your face. As a result, the hair on your face will be much softer and the razor will glide over the hairs cutting them much easier.
It might be possible to get the lather to a satisfactory thickness using your hands. But are you really looking for just a satisfactory shave?
I didn’t think so. If you want that nice thick lather to keep your face lubed and and well-hydrated, pretty much your only option is to use a shaving brush.
#3 - Lubricates in spots that your fingers just can't reach
Alright, let’s say hypothetically we get two men to lather their face pre-shave. One uses a shaving brush while the other just uses his hand but they are able to achieve the same lather thickness and adequately cover their face.
If you looked at both men, you would assume that they both have the same amount of coverage. Well, you would be wrong.
Maybe to the naked eye they have the same amount of coverage, but the bristles on the brush can go places your hands and fingers can’t reach. The bristles really do an amazing job of essentially lifting up the hairs and getting lubricant in every nook and cranny in and around your facial hair.
Don’t be fooled into thinking brushes only cover the same areas you cover when using your hands. Those bristles really get down in there on a “microscopic” level.
#4 - You will save money by being more efficient with your soap or cream
Using a shaving brush will save you money in the long run. How so?
When using your hands, you have to use a greater quantity of soap or cream to work it into a good lather. Brushes are much more efficient with less product.
When we were using our hands to lather, were going through soaps and creams really quick and were thinking “man this is really getting expensive”. Now though, we can get a tub of cream or a can of soap to easily last 6 months or longer!
Yeah, brushes might set you back $20+, but you will save a lot of money in the long run. Think of it as an investment because it a brush will pay dividends for a long time.
#5 - Cleans and exfoliates your face
When most guys hear about “exfoliating” they think that's something just women do. Well, it's not!
Like most men, you probably don't include exfoliating the skin on your face into your daily routine. And you can get away with this while you’re young, but father time will catch up with you eventually.
But guess what? Shaving brushes exfoliate your skin without having to add any additional steps. Exfoliating removes dirt and dead skin and helps to make your face look “fresh” and younger.
Your morning and evening routines are already long enough without adding exfoliating to your list of things to do. So make it easy on yourself and just do it while you are shaving, ok?
#6 - Makes shaving more enjoyable
Ever heard the saying “half the battle is just showing up”? Well, I don’t want you to just show up and hopefully "win" the battle against shaving.
Try to make it something you enjoy doing instead of just another chore. I have found using a shaving brush is one of the more enjoyable parts of my shave routine. It really calms me down and just feels awesome on my face!
#7- Thoroughly preps your face and neck
One of the most common shaving mistakes men make, happens before they even pick up the razor. How’s that possible?
Well if you don’t properly prep your face before shaving, it’s pretty much impossible to get a good shave. Using a shaving brush really helped me slow down the prep process and improve my overall shave performance.
Instead of just slapping some shaving cream on my face and quickly shaving, now I take the time to make sure the lather is properly applied and at the right consistency. This makes a HUGE impact on performance.
I can't overstate enough how important it is to get your face prepped and a good lubricant applied before shaving. After all, the lubricant you are applying is the only protection your face has from the razor.
If you have trouble slowing down and making sure you’re getting the lather perfect, using a brush will really help you out.
#8 - You can start using higher-quality soaps and creams
Most guys have never needed to use a shaving brush because they have always used some type of shaving gel or cream that is sold at drug stores or grocery stores. All of those products come out of the can essentially fully lathered because they have propellants and other harsh chemicals in the ingredients.
Well hate to tell you this, but high-quality shave soaps and creams don’t come out of their tube or can lathered. You gotta work for it! But it’s worth it.
Premium soaps and creams use better, typically all-natural ingredients and are much easier on your face. The combination of a shaving brush and good artisan shave soap will do wonders for your face.
#9 - Efficiency
It takes patience to get the consistency and thickness right when lathering. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be efficient while doing it.
The size and texture of a shaving brush will allow you to spread the lather much more quickly and efficiently. I think it probably takes me about half the time to load and lather my face when using a brush instead of my hands.
Level Up Your Shaves and Start Using A Shaving Brush
I am not going to say you have to use a brush to get a good shave. But I do think it makes a huge impact on the quality of your shave experience.
The good news is that it is a relatively risk-free investment. I mean there are really good brushes available on Amazon for less than $15. So give it a shot, you might be shocked at how much it helps.
