Why not (knot) try a nice boar brush?
OK. I'm listening. Why boar hair?Why not (knot) try a nice boar brush?
Boars are not harmed in making brushes from their hair.
You are entirely correct. My bad. i was thinking horse hair. At least they’re not killed for their hair or fur. I’m not sure if anyone eats badgers.Horses are not harmed when their hair is harvested but I think that Boar brushes are made from pigs who have been slaughtered for their meat?
Please correct me if I am in error.
OK. I'm listening. Why boar hair?
Badgers are considered vermin because they eat all sorts of commercial crops. So, they're hunted/trapped and the carcasses often find their way to meat markets. Sometimes, the hair is harvested beforehand. Over at Em's Place, there's some info about badger hair sourcing:You are entirely correct. My bad. i was thinking horse hair. At least they’re not killed for their hair or fur. I’m not sure if anyone eats badgers.
Bristle Sourcing: As a company dealing in badger brushes the question about the source for badger hair comes up quite often. We have had conversations about this with many of the manufacturers we work with. Mr. Philip Watterson, former Managing Director, Progress Shaving Brush (Vulfix) Ltd provided us with what we consider excellent information on this subject, and is our basic understanding within the industry. He said this information could be shared as necessary and we think it would be educational here...
In addition, sometimes a customer has mentioned hearing that badger are sheared like sheep and ask if this is true? Mr. Watterson indicated that from his vantage point badger are not sheared like sheep. Em's Place has never heard that from any of the other brush makers we communicate with either. In regard to boar brushes, our understanding is those bristles are primarily sourced from China, India and Russia."Badger hair is imported from China. British, American and Canadian Badger are of no interest to brush manufacturers and cannot be connected with today's limited trade. China being the main export of Badger hair does so with very strict control on the amount exported each year, clearly displaying their awareness of environmental conservation. The Badger population is carefully monitored avoiding any decrease in its numbers. (It should be remembered that the badger is a source of meat to the Chinese people and is available in the markets). Chinese Badger are collected from the wild and are not in contravention of the Washington Treaty of Endangered Species."
"This has been an industry for the people of China for hundreds of years and it should be remembered that an increase in the Badger population would quickly be regarded as vermin and a pest to agriculture. The high prices paid for Badger hair, its removal being a costly operation, means that any significant growth predicted in its demand has little foundation. Such an expensive product will never be part of the mainstream fashion boom. Britain, Europe and America all operate very strict import controls ensuring that any Badger hair brought into these countries is done so with all legislative agreements being strictly adhered to. The ecologists in both the exporting and importing communities of Badger hair have created a system preserving the Badger, an important source of livelihood for hundreds of years in the Far East and ensuring that a small market does exist, creating valuable work in an industry which dates back to the time when wet shaving was first recorded."
Thanks everyone.
Just ordered a white-handled 30mm Tuxedo Knot brush from Yaqi.
$23.12 including tax & shipping!
I wish I wasn't supporting a company that tortures Badgers but at least I'm supporting a product line that doesn't torture Badgers!
What a gentlemenIf you feel guilty about the shavemac, I’ll buy it.
If you feel guilty about the shavemac, I’ll buy it.
If you google “badger brush cruelty” it’s apparent it’s pretty bad. I won’t post specifics here but you can see for yourself if you want. I have a badger brush on the way from Shavemac that I ordered before I searched that, but all my future brushes will be synthetic.
I'm no expert on this at all. But, the coronavirus, like so many viruses, does not survive long outside a biological host. 3-4 days tops, in general (look at what scientists say about the 'table top'). I have a badger knot arriving in the next two days. I have no doubt it's fine. Even if I was engaging in my own FUD, I could quarantine the box (outside in non-frozen air) for up to 14 days. Everyone has to be comfortable with their own risk choices in the end. Badger knots and coronavirus? Not even on my radar, and I'm a fastidious fellow in general. In fact, Fastidious Fellow is probably better than merovirginian.I might be scaring myself for no reason
I have one badger brush left that I am unsure what to do with now that I have realized the implications of such a purchase. I have no problem using tallow soaps as to me it re-enforces the notion that every part of the animal is used and I do love me a good porterhouse steak and a nice leather pair of sneakers.That's a fair statement/offer. I'm going to see how I feel about it when I'm holding it in my hand. I eat meat and dairy. I don't know why a brush would feel different, but it seems like it might. We will see. And I would not hold you to that post.
Today I'm using a $16 Maggards 24mm Blue and White Two Piece Resin Handle Gray and White Synthetic Shaving Brush, and it works great, so I'm glad there's alternatives available.