How to Choose the Right Shaving Brush?

The shaving brush is an essential accessory for traditional shaving. Used with shaving soap or shaving cream, it helps create a rich, creamy lather while effectively preparing the skin and facial hair before shaving.

The lather produced by the shaving brush helps to:

Better protect the skin from the razor blade;
Soften the facial hair before shaving;
Improve razor glide;
Enjoy a more comfortable and pleasant shave;
Transform shaving into a true ritual.

But which shaving brush should you choose? Natural bristles or synthetic fibres? Which size is best? What material should you choose for the handle? And why opt for a 100% natural shaving brush made in France?

Plisson guides you in choosing your shaving brush and helps you find the model best suited to your shaving habits, personal preferences and quality expectations.

Shaving Brush with Natural Hair or Synthetic Fibres?

The choice of brush filling is one of the first factors to consider when selecting a shaving brush. It depends on your shaving habits, budget and personal convictions.

Synthetic shaving brushes are, unsurprisingly, more affordable. They are also free from animal-derived materials, making them an ideal choice for men who follow a vegan lifestyle.

Natural-hair shaving brushes, on the other hand, can retain a large amount of water, allowing you to create a fuller, denser lather more quickly.

To meet the needs of every man, Plisson 1808 has chosen to develop both options, with authenticity and quality as its guiding principles.

Unlike some products on the market, which are sometimes made from boar bristles or even horsehair, all our natural-hair brush fillings are made from genuine badger hair, which is softer and better suited to the needs of the skin.

Our synthetic brush fillings, meanwhile, replicate the appearance and technical properties of badger hair so convincingly that they are almost indistinguishable. This result is achieved through advanced manufacturing technology and a long, meticulous development process.

Synthetic Shaving Brushes Natural-Hair Shaving Brushes

Why choose a 100% natural shaving brush made in France?

A shaving brush that hasn’t traveled around the world before ending up in your bathroom is an eco-friendly choice that applies to all our everyday products. But in addition to reducing your carbon footprint, buying a shaving brush made in France showcases local craftsmanship. What could be more rewarding?

Beyond the question of origin, French manufacturing can also be part of a commitment to quality and sustainability, prioritizing carefully selected materials and masterful craftsmanship.

At Plisson, this commitment is rooted in the history of our manufactory and in our approach to traditional shaving.

Choosing a French shaving brush means making the following choice:

local expertise

carefully crafted

made from selected materials

an accessory designed to last

How do you choose the handle for your shaving brush?

The bristles aren’t the only factor to consider. The handle of the shaving brush, also known as the frame—also plays an important role in choosing your accessory.

Its material primarily influences its appearance, feel, and the overall style of the brush.

Plisson offers a variety of finishes and materials to suit every taste:

- wood, for a warm, traditional look;

- horn, for an authentic, natural style;

- palladium or chrome, for an elegant metallic finish;

- a gold finish, for a more luxurious touch;

- and dual-material models, for a more contemporary aesthetic.

The choice of handle is therefore first and foremost a matter of style and personal preference. It allows you to make your shaving brush a true everyday essential.

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What size shaving brush should you choose?

Shaving brushes come in a wide variety of sizes. The smaller ones allow for more precise application of the lather. They are therefore ideal for shaving around the contours and/or hard-to-reach areas (under the nose, behind the ears, etc.). The larger ones make it easier to create a generous amount of lather and allow you to cover a larger area in a single stroke.

Plisson 1808 is the manufacturer that has developed the widest range of shaving brush sizes.

In our catalog, we are currently in the process of gradually reducing the number of sizes offered to simplify your selection. You’ll mainly find sizes 8, 12, and 16, which correspond to the most common dimensions in our line. The other sizes are less common and aren’t available for all of our models.

There is also a size specifically designed for travel shaving brushes. This is primarily size 8, which is gradually replacing the old size 6. These models are specially designed to be taken anywhere without getting damaged.

FAQ

Why use a shaving brush?

A shaving brush helps create a rich lather, soften the hair, and prepare the skin before shaving. It thus helps make shaving more comfortable.

How do you use a shaving brush?

Wet the shaving brush, scoop up some soap or shaving cream, and work up a lather using circular motions. Then apply the lather to your face.

How do you care for a shaving brush?

After each use, rinse the shaving brush thoroughly and gently squeeze out the excess water without twisting the bristles. Then let it air dry on a stand.

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