About Shaving Brush Handles

 

            The shaving brush handle is obviously a very important part of the shaving brush.  While the bristles come in contact with your face, the handle comes in contact with your hand.  It’s important to find a shave brush that feels good in your hand, one that adds to the enjoyment of your shave, rather than detracting from it.  The shape and also the materials used in the creation of a shaving brush handle not only contribute to the feel of the shave, but they are also responsible for giving the shaving brush its “personality”.  Shaving brush handles are as individual as the man who uses them, and it is where you can really let show your individual personality.

            With shaving brush bristles, it’s pretty cut and dry, badger hair is the best, and silvertip badger is the best of the badger.  With handles however, there is such a variety that it is not unheard of to have several shave brushes in your collection.  You should try different shapes and sizes to find out what you like the most.

 

            Since there are as many shapes and materials that go into the handle of a shave brush, I’ll just hit on the highlights.  Handles can be short and fat, long and skinny, regular sized or travel sized.  With all the different variations, the most important thing is to find a shape that feels comfortable in your hand.  Generally there should be some heft to the handle as well.  Something about holding a shaving brush doesn’t lend itself to well to holding something that you can barely feel, so get something that you enjoy holding.

 

            Handles can be made out of just about any solid material.  These days, most shaving brush handles are made out of plastic.  Plastic holds up well in the wet environment of a bathroom, and even the most expensive of shave brushes can be made out of plastic handles.

            Some handles though are made of more exotic materials.  Once you start to move away from plastic handles, you are starting to become a true connoisseur.  Materials such as wood, tortoise shell, and even silver and gold are items that don’t necessarily contribute to the shaving experience, but do make a certain statement.  Keep in mind these materials take a little more upkeep to clean and keep from deteriorating, but if you are looking for something unique, or an interesting gift, you can easily find a shaving brush with a little more to it than just the standard plastic.
 
           My recommendation as always is to start out conservatively.  Go for something with a plastic handle.  Vulfix makes great shaving brushes that mostly have plastic handles, that feel more like ceramic than just a cheap piece of flimsy material.  Many other brands basically re-label the vulfix shaving brushes, so they are probably made of plastic as well, so you might as well get one from the source. 
           Once you find a shape that you like, and are really interested in finding great shaving brushes, then look for the pricier materials, just be prepared to spend some money.  Most of these brushes are made by hand, so you know that they are made well, but of course quality costs.