When it comes to shaving one of the most natural and primal instruments to promote the endeavor for BBS is the shaving brush. While many companies are producing amazing 
shave soaps and creams, a high quality brush is just as important as a good razor. We just received a handmade Parker Safety Razor 100% Best Badger Hair Brush in white with a chrome handle.
A little bit about Parker Safety Razors, they were established 40 years ago and have been creating shaving products that range from safety razors to shave soaps. The products are sold worldwide with a commitment to wet shaving that is indicative in their products and variety.
A quick reference to why a quality shave brush is crucial: 1. It retains warm/hot water that will open the pores, 2. Massages the skin and preps it, 3. Raises hairs and stubble that are beneath the surface of the skin, 4. Lathers the skin to provide a smooth and clean shave, 5. Efficiently applies soaps or creams to the face.
The most important aspects of a shave brush is the hair type and grade. While boar hair is extremely affordable the badger hair retains more water and provides superior performance. Secondly, the grade of the hair is debatable and the Best Badger Hair is #3. The rankings are determined by by the location the hair was taken from, color, softness and increased water retention (#1 Silvertip, #2 Super Badger).
Now on to the review of the Parker 100% Best Badger Hair Brush. The brush came in a little black box that reminded me of the Allen Edmonds shoe boxes that are solid and carefully protect the contents. Opening it up I discovered the bubble wrapped brush and black stand. After unwrapping it the brush felt solid and the bristles looked great. The chrome handle and white body have classic and high end appeal. One criticism I have read is that the brush is “heavy” due to the chrome handle. I completely disagree because
the brush already has a manly girth on the body and the bit of added weight on the handle reinforces that you are using a man’s shaving instrument.
The brush needed to be treated before the first use. I did this by soaking it in warm water with some soap for a few minutes then thoroughly rinsing. I repeated this process 5 times, then I placed it in the stand and let it hang dry. A few bristles came off the brush but nothing that was of any concern.
In the first test I used Shiner Gold Shave Soap, which is all natural with coconut oil and peppermint to name a few ingredients. The brush lathered extremely well and felt soft and firm but not abrasive on the skin. The softness came from the bristles spreading out as I rotated the brush in a circular motion while the firm bristles gently lifted the stubble off my face. The razors glided effortlessly on my face and produced a smooth and clean shave.
In the second test I used Suavecito Shave Crème, which I use with very little water in the brush and your face essentially becomes the mixing bowl to produce the lather. This test would be the real challenge because you do not rely upon generous amounts of water to create lather. I pulled the brush out of the warm water and removed almost all the water, I then dipped it in the shave crème and began to mix it on my face. I was pleasantly surprised because the lather was perfect! Not too thick and not too thin. The razor was happy to meet my face!
All in all, the brush is a great product from Parker Safety Razors and looks great on my counter! If you are looking for a shave brush that won’t break the bank and comes from a company committed to the wet shave industry then look no further because Parker delivers. Typically the words value and quality are diametrically opposed to one another but Parker has united them and produced an aesthetically pleasing product with classic style and great performance.
Mr. M
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