When it comes to choosing your wet shaving brush, the kind of hair you use is important. There is badger hair, boar hair, any type of hair you might imagine (except human hair, thank you very much) – however, horse hair has quite a few advantages as a shaving brush apparatus. Horse hair is animal-friendly, affordable, and much softer than boar’s hair. It is a nice middle ground between badger and boar in terms of hair stiffness, making them a perfect alternative to use for wet shaving. We did some research, and here are five horse hair shaving brushes we think are out there that you can use without going electric or growing a well trimmed beard.
Top Horse Hair Brushes:
History and Tradition of Shaving Brushes:
Shaving brushes have been around for a really long time…like 250 years kind of long. Around the early 1800’s the folding handle straight razor was introduced, which allowed men to shave at home if they had the funds to purchase the new razor. This was when the shaving brush first made the rounds in France and they were developed to allow those with straight razors to skip out on having to go to a barber, but still get the great shave they wanted.
It didn’t take long for shaving brushes to gain steam and become the “it” thing to buy as well as becoming an integral part of at home shaving routines. There was a variation in quality at first, but the growing popularity came better quality. Soon, handles were made out of exotic materials like ivory, porcelain, crystal, tortoise, shell and even gold. Many even had intricate designs carved on them to enhance the visual appearance. Badger hair shaving brushes with fancy handles became a status symbol in no time.
Selecting a Shaving Brush:
The quality of the brush you buy will depend on the quality of the hair that is used. The denser and softer the bristles are means that your brush will hold more water. More water retention will result in a super rich and creamy lather.
The handle of your shaving brush is more important than you might think and can make a difference in your daily shave. You want a handle that is comfortable to hold and durable so that it lasts you a long time. If you are really into shaving brushes, you can even get one that has a handle to match your personality. There are a variety of handles that are made out of many different materials , so there is likely to be something that strikes your fancy.
So, when shopping for a shaving brush find the bristle gradient that you like the most and then try to find a handle that fits just right too!
Using a Shaving Brush:
If you are new to using a shaving brush, we are going to tell you briefly how to do so. All of these same steps apply to all bristles styles no matter if you have one made with horse hair, badger hair or boar hair.
- Get your brush thoroughly wet with hot water, but not too hot while you hold it upside down over the sinks drain
- Take a small bit of shaving cream and stick your finger into the center of the brush (gently to keep the bristles safe). You can add a small amount of warm water again if you feel that you need it
- Massage the brush into your face in a circular motion and you should shorty see a lather start to build up on your face
- One you are nicely coated in lather, set the shaving brush aside and get your shave on
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Lastly, rinse your shaving brush really well and hang it upside down on your shaving stand if you have one
#1: Vie-Long PB14080 Special:
Most brushes come from the Spanish company Vie-Long, and for good reason – the Spanish seem to particularly love horse hair as a viable end to their wet shaving brushes, because of its rampant availability over there and the stiff-but-not-too-stiff feeling. With the Vie-Long PB14080 brush, you get a nice mix of style and function, with a nice inviting tuft of white horse hair atop a lovingly finished handle. The handle color combination is definitely a gorgeous sight to look at, and the sharply concave groove near the bottom of the handle gives it a nice grip for you to keep hold of your brush.
The craftsmanship, as per most of Vie-Long’s brushes, is superb, and you’ll really want to take care of this particular brush if you want to make sure it lasts you a long time. This is probably one of the more expensive horse hair shaving brushes out there, but it won’t break the bank to give you such a wonderful command over your shaving experience.
The PB14080 Special is a versatile brush for a beginner or a seasoned vet.
#2 Vie-Long 12705:
If you want something a little less conventional-looking in your horse hair shaving brush, the design of the Vie-Long 12705 is rather interesting. Here, Vie-Long swaps out a wooden, grooved handle for a straightforward red acrylic handle. While it may not have the old-school feel of the wooden handles you may be used to (or picture in your mind when imagining a cologne ad), this still gets the job done quite nicely.
The 12705 design is still nothing to sneeze at; the barrel-shaped handle is very unconventional for a brush handle, and it feels nice in the hand. The horse hair feels soft to the face, as per usual, but doesn’t scratch you as much as boar’s hair. The lather on this is very refreshing, especially for the cost.
You will certainly get your money’s worth, but be sure to clean it regularly, especially after each use. If you don’t wash it properly you’ll end up with some nasty scents coming out of your bathroom. (To be fair, this advice applies to all of these brushes.)
#3 Vie-Long 04312 Professional:
If you want something a little more heavy-metal, the Vie-Long 04312 is a rather interesting model to consider. It has a wooden handle not dissimilar to other models, but only on the bottom half. The top half is made of a large, chrome-like metal that contrasts beautifully with the grooved wood of the rest of the handle.
If you want a little more tactile coldness to your shaving brushstrokes, the 04312 would likely not steer you wrong. There is a textured ring around the metal component that makes it ideal for grip, and the glossy finish on the wood handle still keeps it classy enough that it doesn’t look too garish or obnoxiously futuristic. We can see a bit of an old-world poolhall feel to this particular brush, which wet shaving aficionados might take to quite well.
This brush is also a little on the long side, but this has other benefits in the form of a longer brushstroke. You’ll get much more of that soft horse hair to work with, making lathering easier. It’s economical as well, which makes it advantageous for any kind of shaving investment.
#4 Vie-Long 12601:
If you are looking for a classic and simple horse hair shaving brush then you will find it in the Vie-Long 12601. The brush has a light brown acrylic handle with soft horse hair bristles. As with other models, the concave handle gives you a nice grip when using the brush.
This brush has a much wider knot of horse hair, making for wider surface area when lathering and applying. However, it is stouter so you’ll need more brush strokes in general to get your lubrication on.
Of the 5 horse hair brushes reviewed, the 12601 is the lightest on the wallet. The 12601 is a good starter brush if you are a first time user.
#5 Semogue Pharos-C3:
While Vie-Long dominates the market in horse hair shaving brushes, there are other contenders as well. This one from Semogue, is a solid alternative to the Vie-Long family of brushes. The ocean green wood grain handle, contrasted with the solid black horse hair, provides a manly appearance. The concave and smooth handle provides a solid grip.
The soft, wide knot of horse hair gives a wider surface area when lathering your shaving cream. Given this is a Semogue brush, the horse hair might feel slightly different on the skin, although still soft. I am unsure what to attribute this to (different horses, I suppose?), but it is certainly a comfort on the chin.
Nonetheless, the Semogue provides a different option to the Vie-Long brands, which emphasize style over softness at times. Like the other brushes in this review, the Pharos-C3 price is not terrible, and a solid choice for a first timer.