Collection: Badger Shaving Brushes

Badger hair has been the traditional choice for shaving brushes for over a century, prized for its natural water retention, soft tips, and ability to generate a rich, protective lather. The hollow structure of badger hair allows it to absorb water and release it gradually during lathering, creating a dense, creamy consistency that lifts facial hair and cushions the skin during shaving.

Our badger shaving brush collection includes brushes from three distinguished European manufacturers. British maker Simpsons has been handmaking brushes since 1919, producing iconic designs such as the Chubby, Duke, Polo, and Wee Scot. Portuguese manufacturer Semogue offers hand-tied badger brushes at accessible price points, with ranges including the Hereditas series (2015, 2015HD, 2020, 2040HD), the SOC, Pharos, Galahad, and Torga collections. German manufacturer Mühle contributes precision-engineered brushes with replaceable heads and a range of handle materials from resin to olive wood, including the KOSMO and PURIST ranges.

Badger hair is classified into several grades based on where it is sourced from the animal and how it is processed. Understanding these grades helps in selecting a brush that matches your lathering preferences and budget.

Pure Badger (also called Pure Black or Pure Grey Badger) is the most common grade, sourced from the coarser hair on the badger's body. It offers firm backbone with a slightly scrubby feel, making it effective for exfoliation and working lather into harder soaps. Pure badger brushes typically represent excellent value for money. Semogue offers extensive pure badger options including the Pharos Pure Black, Pharos Pure Grey, 740, and Hereditas 2010. Simpsons offers pure badger in their Duke Pure range.

Best Badger is a mid-grade hair with softer tips than pure badger while retaining good backbone. The majority of Simpsons brushes use Best Badger hair, including the Chubby Best, Colonel X2L Best, and Wee Scot. Semogue's 750 also uses best badger hair. This grade offers a comfortable balance between softness and structure, making it ideal for daily use.

Fine Badger is used by Mühle and offers a balance between softness and gentle exfoliation. The Mühle KOSMO Fine Badger demonstrates this grade's refined performance with natural olive wood handles.

Finest Badger is a premium grade used primarily by Semogue, featuring softer tips with excellent water retention. The SOC-C5 Finest, 2015HD, 2040HD, 730HD, Pegasus, Galahad, and Torga Finest all use this grade.

Silvertip Badger represents the highest grade, sourced from the neck area where the hair is naturally soft with distinctive silver tips. Silvertip brushes offer the softest face feel and excellent lather retention. The Mühle Silvertip Faux Ivory and Semogue Torga Silvertip exemplify this grade. Simpsons refers to their highest grade as Super Badger, which is equivalent to silvertip, found in the Emperor Super, Chubby Super, and Polo Super.

Selecting a badger shaving brush depends on your lathering style, skin sensitivity, and the products you use. Face latherers generally benefit from denser knots with good backbone, while bowl latherers may prefer larger, floppier knots that hold more product.

For beginners, mid-sized brushes with 21-24mm knots offer versatility and control. The Simpsons Colonel X2L, Duke, Semogue 750, and Hereditas 2015 are frequently recommended starting points. Those with sensitive skin may prefer silvertip or finest grades, which provide gentle application without scrubbing.

Travel brushes with protective cases offer compact dimensions without sacrificing lathering capability. The Simpsons Major features an ingenious screw-in handle that converts into a travel tube, making it ideal for business or leisure travel.

For those seeking larger brushes for bowl lathering or head shaving, the Simpsons Polo series provides extended handles and substantial knots up to 31mm. The Semogue 2040HD and Pegasus C7 with their 24-26mm knots also suit those preferring more coverage.

Budget-conscious shavers will find excellent value in the Semogue Pharos Pure Grey range from under £20, while collectors and enthusiasts may gravitate toward the Simpsons Emperor or Chubby Super for their exceptional craftsmanship.

For those new to traditional wet shaving or seeking a thoughtful gift, badger brush gift sets offer excellent value and convenience. Taylor of Old Bond Street produces elegant gift boxes combining pure badger brushes with their renowned shaving creams, including the Peppermint Gift Box and the Sandalwood Luxury Wooden Gift Box.

Mühle offers complete shaving sets that pair badger brushes with safety razors and stands. The RYTMO Pure Badger sets are available in steamed ash, mint, and black finishes, while the SOPHIST Silvertip set features hand-glazed porcelain handles for a truly premium experience.

The grades reflect hair softness and source location on the animal. Pure badger (also called pure black or pure grey) uses coarser body hair with firm backbone, providing effective exfoliation and excellent value. Best badger offers softer tips while maintaining structure, making it the most popular grade for everyday use. Finest badger, used primarily by Semogue, sits between best and silvertip with soft tips and excellent water retention. Silvertip (called Super by Simpsons) comes from the neck area and features the softest tips with superior water retention, representing the highest grade available.

After each use, rinse the brush thoroughly under warm water to remove all soap residue, then gently squeeze excess water from the knot without twisting. Shake the brush to remove remaining moisture and store it in a well-ventilated area. Many shavers use a brush stand to allow bristles to dry facing downward, though this is not essential if the brush is stored upright in open air. Semogue produces affordable brush stands designed for their ranges. Avoid storing brushes in enclosed containers while damp, as this can promote mildew and damage the hair.

For most wet shavers starting with badger, a knot diameter between 21mm and 24mm provides good versatility. Smaller knots (under 20mm) offer precision but hold less lather, while larger knots (26mm and above) require more product and are better suited to bowl lathering or head shaving. The Simpsons Duke 2 at 21mm, Colonel X2L at 21mm, or the Semogue 2015 at 22mm represent balanced starting points for beginners.

New badger brushes may have a slight animal scent and the tips can feel slightly prickly during the first few uses. This settles after approximately ten to fifteen shaves as the hair tips soften and the natural oils are washed out. Some shavers accelerate this process by lathering the brush with shampoo or pet shampoo and leaving it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing, though normal use will achieve the same result over time. Higher grades like silvertip and finest typically require less break-in than pure badger.

Quality varies by manufacturer and each brand has distinct characteristics. Simpsons produces hand-tied brushes with consistent density and is particularly known for iconic designs like the Chubby, Duke, Polo, and Persian Jar. Semogue offers exceptional value with Portuguese craftsmanship across their Hereditas, SOC, Pharos, Galahad, and Torga ranges. Mühle provides German precision engineering with replaceable brush heads and premium handle materials. Taylor of Old Bond Street offers quality gift sets combining brushes with their renowned shaving creams. Each brand offers reliable quality at different price points.

Both have merits depending on preferences. Badger hair provides natural water retention and develops character over time, with silvertip grades offering a distinctive soft feel many shavers prefer. Badger brushes excel at heat retention and building lather from harder soaps. Synthetic fibres dry faster, require no break-in period, and suit those preferring vegan options or who travel frequently. Some shavers own both types, using synthetic for travel and badger at home. Our synthetic shaving brushes collection includes alternatives from Simpsons, Semogue, Mühle, and other manufacturers if you wish to compare.

Knot shape affects how the brush performs during lathering. Fan-shaped knots splay wider with softer tips spread across the face, providing good coverage and a gentle, painting-style application. Most Semogue brushes feature fan-shaped knots. Bulb-shaped knots maintain a denser, more compact form with greater backbone, offering more precision and control during face lathering. Many Simpsons brushes feature bulb-style knots. Personal preference and lathering technique determine which works better for individual shavers.

With proper care, a quality badger brush can last many years of daily use. Simpsons brushes in particular are known for their durability, with some users reporting decades of service from their Chubby or Duke brushes. The key factors affecting longevity include thorough rinsing after each use, allowing complete drying between shaves, and avoiding excessive pressure during lathering. Mühle brushes with replaceable heads offer the option to fit a new knot when the original eventually wears out, extending the brush's lifespan indefinitely.

Badger brushes work effectively with both shaving soaps and creams. The natural water retention of badger hair helps build lather from hard soaps, while creams produce rich results with less loading time. Softer grades like silvertip and finest work particularly well with creams, producing voluminous lather quickly. Firmer pure badger knots can help break down the surface of harder soaps more effectively. The Semogue SOC and Simpsons Chubby are both excellent performers across soap and cream formulations.

Simpsons uses the term Super Badger to describe their highest grade of badger hair, equivalent to what other manufacturers call silvertip. Super Badger brushes from Simpsons feature exceptionally soft tips with natural silver colouration and superior water retention. The Chubby Super, Emperor Super, Polo Super, and Major Super all use this premium grade.

Shavers with sensitive skin typically benefit from softer grades that provide gentle application without excessive scrubbing. Silvertip and finest badger grades offer the softest face feel. The Mühle Silvertip, Simpsons Emperor Super, Semogue SOC Finest, and Torga Silvertip all provide luxuriously soft tips that glide across the skin without irritation. Avoiding excessive pressure during lathering also helps protect sensitive skin regardless of brush grade.

Hard soaps benefit from brushes with good backbone that can work the surface to release product. Pure badger and best badger grades typically perform well with harder soap formulations. The Semogue Pharos Pure Black, 740, and Simpsons Duke Best all offer sufficient backbone for loading hard soaps effectively while still producing a rich, protective lather.

Badger hair used in shaving brushes is sourced as a byproduct from regions where badgers are legally culled for other purposes. The shaving brush industry does not drive demand for badger culling. For those preferring alternatives, high-quality synthetic brushes now closely replicate the performance of badger hair. Our synthetic shaving brushes collection includes plant-based options from Simpsons, Semogue, and Mühle that offer excellent lathering performance without animal products.

The Simpsons Major is widely considered the finest travel badger brush available. Originally designed for the Himalayan explorer Major Victor Beeching, its ingenious screw-in handle converts into a protective travel tube, allowing the brush to breathe even when packed away damp. Available in both Best Badger and Super (Silvertip) grades, the Major combines compact dimensions with full lathering capability. The Simpsons Wee Scot, while not specifically designed for travel, is compact enough to pack easily.

Some hair loss during the first few uses of a new badger brush is normal as loose hairs work free from the knot. This typically settles within the first week of use. Excessive ongoing shedding may indicate a manufacturing defect or damage to the knot. To minimise shedding, avoid pulling at the bristles, use gentle pressure when lathering, and ensure the brush is thoroughly rinsed and properly dried between uses. Quality brushes from established manufacturers like Simpsons, Semogue, and Mühle rarely experience significant shedding issues beyond the initial break-in period.

Badger brush handles come in various materials to suit different preferences and budgets. Common options include high-grade resin in faux ivory, black, or coloured finishes, natural woods such as cherry, ash, olive, and plum, and acrylic in clear or coloured patterns. Simpsons primarily uses faux ivory resin handles. Semogue offers extensive wood options in their Hereditas and SOC ranges, plus acrylic handles in their 700 series. Mühle uses both resin and natural woods including the distinctive olive wood KOSMO range. Handle material is largely a matter of aesthetics and grip preference rather than performance.