How to Care for a Badger Shaving Brush

First clean off your badger shaving brush

Wash a new badger shaving brush well before using it. Prior to its first use, a new badger shaving brush should be washed gently but thoroughly, using warm soapy water. Be prepared for some hairs to come loose. When you get a new brush, it is quite natural for a few loose hairs to come away from the brush in the first few weeks–these are shorter hairs that did not quite reach the glue base and this should not be a cause for concern.

Let it dry. Place the shaving brush in its holder with the bristles facing down. Before storing, it is always important to allow the shaving brush to dry thoroughly, as leaving it wet and damp can damage the bristles. As shown in the image, run your clean thumb across the brush to check that it is dry.

Using the badger shaving brush

Wet the brush thoroughly before use. Dip the tip of the brush into the shaving cream or soap (you can use a shaving bowl). Lather gently using a light circular or up-and-down motion. When applying the shaving cream or soap, avoid applying so much pressure that the badger hair splays - be gentle.

Rinse the brush. After shaving, rinse the brush gently but thoroughly in clean, warm water.

Flick the excess water away and place the brush in a stand with the hair pointing down. If you do not have a stand, leave the brush pointing out rather than horizontal, so that air can get to all hairs and dry the brush naturally.

Be sure that your brush has air. Natural hair that is left wet can develop mildew; try to avoid enclosing a wet brush in a too small space. If you keep it in the bathroom cabinet, make sure that it has sufficient space to dry. If you shave away from home and keep your shaving brush in a travel tube or kit bag, give it an opportunity to dry as soon as you can.

Clean if needed. If your brush becomes affected by mildew or a build-up of soap, soak it in a solution of borax, which can be obtained from a pharmacy.