The Escali pure badger shaving brush is the most popular shaving brush on the market. Why? Because it is so popular among beginner wet shavers which make-up the vast majority of market share.
And what makes it so popular with beginner wet shavers? It has an excellent price point. It is made with good materials. And it is pretty durable. What else could you ask for from an entry-level shaving brush?
I think the Escali brush is really good for men trying to figure out if they want to invest any more time and money into wet shaving. This was my first shaving brush and I highly recommend it to beginners or men with a limited budget.
But is it the right shaving brush for you? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Most bought shaving brush on the market
- Popular with beginners
- Excellent value of performance for price
- Made with 100% pure badger hair
- Works shave soap/cream into good lather
- Durable construction
Cons
- Handle is on the smaller side
- Loses some bristles over time
Product Overview & Specs
- Made with 100% pure badger hair
- Wood handle
- “Escali” logo on handle
- Bulb shaped tip
- No razor stand included
Key Features
Made With 100% Pure Badger Hair
The Escali shaving brush is made with 100% pure badger hair. And while pure badger hair may be the lowest quality of badger hair, the quality of the hair on the Escali brush is really good when compared to other pure badger hair brushes.
The main critique of pure badger hair is that it isn’t as soft as best badger hair or silvertip badger hair. And while that definitely is true, but pure badger hair still does an excellent job of absorbing and holding lots of water in it. And why is this important? Because it is this water absorption quality that allows the brush to help you get a really good lather from your shaving soap or cream. And isn’t that the entire point of using a shaving brush?
As I said earlier, pure badger hair is not as soft silvertip hair. However, the Escali is definitely one of the softest pure badger hair brushes I’ve used. It definitely softens up over time, but it might be a little more stiff for the first couple of weeks during the break-in period. Personally, I actually kind of like the stiffness in the Escali shaving brush. Why? Because it does an excellent job of helping exfoliate my face by opening up my pores and softens up my facial hair before a shave.
Lastly, one big positive of the Escali brush having pure badger hair is that it really keeps the costs down. If this brush had silvertip hair, it would probably be 3x or 4x more expensive.
Excellent Value -- Made From Good Materials
The biggest reason the Escali badger brush is such a popular shaving brush is that it is such an excellent value. Yes, there are softer and “better” shaving brushes out there, but they are going to cost quite a bit more.
But for most men, the Escali pure badger brush is exactly what they need. A durable brush that delivers an excellent lather while being very, very affordable. I bought this shaving brush about 5 years ago and it’s still going strong. I don’t use it as much anymore, but I’m still surprised that it can deliver a good lather after all these years.
Lots of guys don’t want to spend $50+ on a shaving brush, and I don’t blame them. Luckily, Escali gives you an option to pay in the entry-level price range but still get a brush that will give a good lather and won’t fall apart after just a few shaves.
Dense Bristles Hold Water Well For Excellent Lather
The bristles in the Escali may not be the softest, but they hold their own when it comes to water absorption and latherablity. If you do everything properly to load the Escali brush with your cream or soap, it will allow you to really work up a nice lather.
It also helps that the bristles are very dense and thick too. So overall, the Escali does an excellent job at what it’s supposed to do -- lathering.Handle is On the Lighter Side
The handle on the Escali 100% pure badger shaving brush is made from wood and in my opinion it’s noticeably lighter than some of the other shaving brushes I have. This really isn’t that big of a deal to me because this doesn’t affect performance at all. It’s not like a safety razor where weight is pretty critical to performance.
But if for some reason you prefer a heavier shaving brush, this probably isn’t the one for you.
Durable
I just want to reiterate how durable the Escali pure badger brush really is. I’ve had it for almost 5 years and although I don’t use it that often, it’s still going strong when I do use it. I mainly just keep it in my dopp kit and use it as my traveling shaving brush.
Like with all brushes, you are going to lose some hairs over time, but mine are usually just a few at a time, nothing major.
Who Do We Recommend The
Escali Pure Badger Shaving Brush For?
The Escali 100% pure badger shaving brush is a great shaving brush for anyone just getting into wet shaving. No, it’s not going to be as soft as a silvertip brush, but it’s more than capable of helping you get a great lather for a shave.
The Escali is also an excellent brush option for any wet shaver that has a very limited budget. In my opinion, you’re not going to find a better performing shaving brush in this price range.
What Are Some Other Shaving Brushes To Consider?
Perfecto 100% Original Pure Badger
The Perfecto 100% original pure badger shaving brush is very comparable to the Escali pure badger. As its name says, it is also made with pure badger hair. The handle is also wooden, but it is painted black instead of the natural wood look.
The Perfecto shaving brush performs really similarly to the Escali. The bristles are definitely on the stiffer side but they hold water really well and allow you to develop a really good lather.
I really don’t think there’s much of a difference between the two. If you blindfolded me and had me tell you which is which after using them, I probably couldn’t do it. In other words, I don’t think you can go wrong with either shaving brush.
Vikings Blade Luxury Shaving Brush
The Vikings Blade Luxury shaving brush is a nice step up in both performance and price from Escali’s.
The first noticeable difference is the quality of the bristles. The Vikings Blade brush is made with synthetic hair that is much closer to the softness of a silvertip brush. When it comes to latherability, I think it is slightly better but not a huge difference.
If you’re willing to spend a little more money than the entry-level price range, then I highly recommend the Vikings Blade luxury shaving brush. You’re really getting a premium quality shaving brush in the mid-range price range.
Parker 100% Silvertip
If you’re looking for a silvertip brush, the Parker 100% silvertip is probably my favorite. It is definitely in the premium price range, but it’s one of the cheaper silvertip brushes on the market.
For me, there are 3 advantage of upgrading to a Parker silvertip.
1) the bristles are much softer
2) the bristles absorb more water which leads to a better lather
3) it should be more durable and better made (i.e. not lose hairs)
So if you have the money and are looking for a premium brush, the Parker silvertip is a great option.
Not sure any of these shaving brushes are the right now? Well then go read my comprehensive review guide of the best shaving brushes on the market right now. It has all the information you need to get caught up on what's available and find the best brush in your budget.
