Introduction
On a shaving brush, the length of the visible bristles above the handle is the loft. Used for measurement purposes to describe the height of the brush, measured in millimeters. Brushes with a shorter loft are generally considered better for face lathering due to their increased stiffness, or backbone; those with a longer loft better for bowl lathering, as they maintain a softer overall feel. However, with proper technique and adjustments any brush can be used with any product or method and produce adequate lather. Much of the debate over ideal loft is purely preferential, as the biggest impact of loft is on the feel of the brush rather than its performance.