Where Does The Shaving Brush Hair Come From?

Not all shaving brushes are created equal. Most professionals come to rely exclusively on brushes made of badger hair. Yes, there are less expensive, synthetic versions available, such as nylon brushes or natural bristle brushes i.e. boar's hair. However, they do not hold a lot of water and tend to fall apart. They also don't last half as long as the badger hair but most importantly, they will not give you the lather you want.

If you want a shaving brush that will give you a great shave and last a long time, but are concerned about where the hair comes from, here are the facts about badger hair.

There are two types of badgers from which badger hair shaving brushes are typically made from: wild badger and hog badger.

Wild badgers are a disappearing species particularly in Europe where they are protected. Hog badger is mostly found in China and is a mix of pig and is part of the food chain in that country. badger meat is commonly consumed in Chinese culture, so the pelt is sold as a byproduct. In many regions of China, the badger is specifically farmed for their hair. This process helps to control the overpopulation of badger and provides the farmers with an additional source of income to augment their meager earnings from the land.