A badger shaving brush is the ultimate in men's bathroom luxury. Most hair for these brushes now comes from mainland China. Badgers are protected in North America and in most European countries. In the rural regions of northern China, badgers are so common that they are regarded as pests. They raid crops and hen-houses. Licenses are distributed to farmers and village cooperatives allowing them to hunt and kill the animals. They then sell the hair to processors. Badger hair is graded according to strict criteria. The poorest quality is labeled 'pure' and comes mostly from the underbelly. Sixty percent of the body hair is labeled as pure. It is coarser and less fine because of its larger shaft on each fiber. The color fluctuates but is usually dark. The brushes are trimmed making the ends rather stiff and rough. 'Best' hair comes from longer and finer fibers. The handle holds more hair and a greater lather can be obtained. 'Super' brushes may have the ends bleached so it resembles the highest and most expensive 'Silvester' type. It is possible to distinguish between the two types because the white tips of the super brush do not extend very far down the shaft. Top quality silvertip hair is naturally white on the ends. The fibers are not trimmed but are chosen to give the correct shape. The bristles flare and appear fluffy. These expensive brushes hold more water and lather better. They also have a soft feel on the face. The cheapest brushes are made from boar bristles, horse hair and even plastic. These may be dyed to appear more authentic. Before the advent of electric razors, these brushes were highly valued. They were regarded as a status symbol. Handles were made of crystal, porcelain, tortoise shell and ivory as well as silver and gold. Today the cheapest handles are made of resin. Horn handles are more expensive but very attractive. Sterling silver is also popular as a badger shaving brush handle.
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