What Exactly Is A Shaving Brush Used For?

There’s never been a better time to be a man who shaves. From cutting-edge razors and science-approved shave soap to newfangled aftershaves lacking any hint of a kick, you’ve got access to no dearth of modern products specifically designed to make the experience of dragging a blade across your face more effective than ever before. Sure, old school grooming tools got the job done, but these new options do it quicker, better and way more comfortably. What more could you ask for, really?

And yet, while a lot of traditional grooming tools are better off being left in the dust, there are some that you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss. Among them: the shave brush. Just bear with us on this one, alright? Because while these badger-haired beauties may seem like some antiquated remnant of a bygone era—a time when men with steady hands used straight razors to shear away their whiskers, proud to hold their throat at the tip of a blade—they really do serve a purpose other than looking cool sitting next to your sink, and that is to make your shave as smooth as possible. How do they go about doing so? Well, your answer’s three-fold.

First and foremost, a shave brush is the best way to prep the facial hairs themselves before a shave. You see, without adequate stimulation, shave creams and gels are unable to penetrate the hair and soften it. At the same time, when you dab on products by hand, hairs tend to remain matted to the face, making them difficult to access. When used properly (read: scrubbing vigorously in a circular motion), a shave brush solves both of these problems simultaneously, softening hairs and lifting them away from your face so that you can more easily lop them off.

Next, let’s talk about foam. To get your best shave, you want as thick a lather as you can get; this allows the razor to glide across the skin, reducing drag and the irritation that follows. Now, most products are designed to self-lather these days, but that can only do so much. A shave brush will bring extra moisture to the foam, thickening the lather and making the process that much simpler.

Finally, there’s the matter of exfoliation. As you can imagine, the process of brushing your face with literal animal hairs helps to scrub away dirt, dust and dead skin cells. This leads to lessened risk of things like zits and ingrowns down the line.