Black Badger Hair Shaving Brushes

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

To One & All:

Could someone help me out here???

Generally speaking, I have been wondering for many, many years if there was any difference (in terms of quality, hair density, stiffness/softness of tips, ect...), between Black Badger Hair Shaving Brushes (regardless of hair grade), and the more usual types (again...regardless of hair grade)?

Thanx

Christopher

 

[Loric]

I have a black badger brush, and it is an alright brush. The ends are prickly like a pure badger brush, though I would venture to say it might be softer than other Pure brushes I have tried.

 

[Brownbear]

Only ones I own are from TGN. They are stiffer and the ends are mostly trimmed so they are a little scritchy. They lather like a mother and will work on soaps and cremes and sticks. I love em but then I like a good face massage.

I'm sure someone could tell a story about where on the badger they come from, whether they are harvested in the spring under a full moon and only from male badgers before puberty and so on, but all I know is they work great.

 

[Loric]

They lather like a mother and will work on soaps and cremes and sticks.

+1 This thing is in all likelihood the best lathering brush I have. It might also be the cheapest next to my SOC. The skritch goes both ways.

 

[xillion]

I own this one and it devours soaps.
It is a bit prickly but it is a great brush for when I want a good scrub:

 

[c0ry]

Only ones I own are from TGN. They are stiffer and the ends are mostly trimmed so they are a little scritchy. They lather like a mother and will work on soaps and cremes and sticks. I love em but then I like a good face massage.

I'm sure someone could tell a story about where on the badger they come from, whether they are harvested in the spring under a full moon and only from male badgers before puberty and so on, but all I know is they work great.

Black badger hair comes from the badger's rump.

 

[xillion]

Black badger hair comes from the badger's rump.

Very true. Here is a bit more info from the BGT site here:

"Black Badger Hair Shaving Brushes are not very common and only made by a few manufacturers. Black badger hair is harvested from the rear of the pelt and possibly from around the feet if found in sufficient length and quantity. The black naturally tapered tips usually extend a third or up to half the length of the hair shaft. It can vary in quality equal to the "pure" badger grade or is sometimes found in quality equal to the "best" badger grade or even higher. The Vie-Long Black Badger Hair is a high quality European Badger Hair."

And a little more info here:

"Black badger hair is not as common as the other grades of badger hair used in shaving brushes. The black badger used in Vie-Long shave brushes has a longer loft than most at 2.25 inches and has natural finely tapered black tips. The black tips extend almost halfway down the shaft of the hair. The Vie-Long Black Badger grade is unique in that the finely tapered tips seem almost as soft as the tips on a super badger shave brush but the rest of the shaft has more of the backbone similar to a best badger grade. It seems, to us, to be a nice combination of softness in the tips with a nice amount of loft and backbone in the shaft."

 

[SliceOfLife]

Very scritchy. Very scrubby. Very prickly. Loads of backbone. Just chew through soaps.

 

[Brownbear]

Black badger hair comes from the badger's rump.

That explains the smell

 

[RCC]

Very true. Here is a bit more info from the BGT site here:

"Black Badger Hair Shaving Brushes are not very common and only made by a few manufacturers. Black badger hair is harvested from the rear of the pelt and possibly from around the feet if found in sufficient length and quantity. The black naturally tapered tips usually extend a third or up to half the length of the hair shaft. It can vary in quality equal to the "pure" badger grade or is sometimes found in quality equal to the "best" badger grade or even higher. The Vie-Long Black Badger Hair is a high quality European Badger Hair."

And a little more info here:

"Black badger hair is not as common as the other grades of badger hair used in shaving brushes. The black badger used in Vie-Long shave brushes has a longer loft than most at 2.25 inches and has natural finely tapered black tips. The black tips extend almost halfway down the shaft of the hair. The Vie-Long Black Badger grade is unique in that the finely tapered tips seem almost as soft as the tips on a super badger shave brush but the rest of the shaft has more of the backbone similar to a best badger grade. It seems, to us, to be a nice combination of softness in the tips with a nice amount of loft and backbone in the shaft."

Chris,

So Vie Long black as compared to, say, Simpson's Best?

thx
bob

 

[xillion]

I can't thoroughly answer that question.

The only Simpson's that I use regularly is a pre-vulfix T2 two band super badger, which is a fantastic brush. Great backbone and nice soft tips. I use it for both bowl and face lathering.

I do have a Wee Scot, which has a best badger knot, but it really can't be compared to the Vie-Long.

The Black Badger Vie-Long is prickly but it is great for triple milled soaps like MWF. I have the same Vie-Long brush in Silvertip and I find myself reaching for that one when I use creams.

But I can say I do prefer the Vie-Long Black Badger to my old Edwin Jagger Best Badger brush due to the density and backbone of the Vie-Long knot.

 

[RCC]

I can't thoroughly answer that question.

The only Simpson's that I use regularly is a pre-vulfix T2 two band super badger, which is a fantastic brush. Great backbone and nice soft tips. I use it for both bowl and face lathering.

I do have a Wee Scot, which has a best badger knot, but it really can't be compared to the Vie-Long.

The Black Badger Vie-Long is prickly but it is great for triple milled soaps like MWF. I have the same Vie-Long brush in Silvertip and I find myself reaching for that one when I use creams.

But I can say I do prefer the Vie-Long Black Badger to my old Edwin Jagger Best Badger brush due to the density and backbone of the Vie-Long knot.

Interesting.
I have a vie-long as well. I like it.
As I'm sure you have, I have been reading all the threads recently about 2-band this - dense that - kills soap - soft tips but... etc
I like the looks of a black knot but believe that function should trump appearance (and fads).
maybe an order for something here is appropriate...

 

[JPDyson]

Chris,

So Vie Long black as compared to, say, Simpson's Best?

thx
bob

No. Not at all.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Loric / Brownbear / Xillion / cOry / SliceOfLife / RCC and PDyson:

Thanx for all of your info & input

I think I might purchase a Black Badger Hair Brush...say like;

http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Safety-Razor-Bristle-Shaving/dp/B002ET10S6

Christopher

 

[JPDyson]

Loric / Brownbear / Xillion / cOry / SliceOfLife & RCC:

Thanx for all of your info & input

I think I might purchase a Black Badger Hair Brush...say like;

http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Safety-Razor-Bristle-Shaving/dp/B002ET10S6

Christopher

Got a Target anywhere near you? Pick up a Shea Moisture Shave Brush for $9.

 

[c0ry]

Got a Target anywhere near you? Pick up a Shea Moisture Shave Brush for $9.

+1. The Shea Moisture Shave Brush is probably just as good as that Parker for about a third of the price, and it's locally available at many Target stores.