Up next in our shaving brush review series is the Edwin Jagger best badger shaving brush. I’m not sure what took me so long to finally getting around to writing up this review because it’s actually one of my favorite shaving brushes on the market, and I think by the end of this review you will understand why.
Edwin Jagger is an English-based wet shaving company. They don’t have quite as extensive a line of products as some of their competitors, but the few products they do make are top of the line and highly regarded. I highly recommend taking a look at their safety razor and shave soaps and creams as well.
But today we are reviewing one of their most popular shaving brushes. This best badger shaving brush is one of my favorites, but is it the best shaving brush for you? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Made with high-grade badger bristles
- Soft bristles
- Great knot with a strong backbone
- Excellent water retention for a premium lather
Cons
- Handle is on smaller side if you have big hands
Product Overview & Specs
- Best badger hair bristles
- Purchase includes a drip stand
- 2 handle options: imitation ebony or imitation ivory
- Total height: 99mm
- Loft: 53mm
- Knot diameter: 21mm
- Made in Sheffield, England
Key Features
Premium Bristles Have A Nice Balance of Softness & Rigidity
The bristles on the Edwin Jagger best badger hair brush are really high quality badger hair. They are not quite as good as those on a silvertip in my opinion, but it’s very close. The main difference between these bristles and a silver tip is just that they are not quite as soft as silvertip, but honestly once it gets broken in I don’t think most wet shavers would be able to tell a difference.
When it comes to water retention, the Edwin Jagger brush does an excellent job. They retain a lot of water and this makes it really easy to quickly whip up a nice frothy lather.
Personally, I like a little rigidness to the bristles because it makes it easier to work a puck of soap into a lather. When the bristles are too soft it’s more difficult to really get your soap broken into a lather. That’s why I actually prefer this brush to most of my silvertip brushes.
If you’re looking for the absolute softest type of shaving brush, you’re probably going to want to go with a silvertip. But if you want a really soft brush that still had a little stiffness to it which will make it easier to lather and exfoliate, this is one of the best.
Superb Knot
Most prospective shaving brush buyers focus on bristle quality, but the quality of the construction of the knot is just as, if not more, important.
The knot on the Edwin Jagger best badger is pretty thick and large. Having a large, thick know really helps lather quicker and better.
Best badger hair really soaks up and retains water well. This hair won’t dry out on you quickly.
I think it has a really good backbone too. A good backbone isn’t particularly important when using a cream, but it needs a strong backbone when you are lathering with a soap. If you have a new shaving soap puck, this can really go to work on it in your bowl and whip up a good lather.
Overall, this brush has a long loft with a good, tight knot. This is the perfect recipe for a good lather.
Durable Knot
Another great feature of the knot on Edwin Jagger’s best badger shaving brush is that it doesn’t lose bristles because of its excellent construction. I might have lost a couple bristles when I first unboxed and used it, but since then I haven’t lost any more hair.
Losing bristle hairs during a lather is incredibly frustrating, but that shouldn’t be a concern with this brush. This is one of the reasons it’s a little more expensive, but it’s well worth the investment in my opinion because it will last a really long time if you take care of it.
Sturdy, Durable, Good Size Handle
I’m a big fan of the handle on this shaving brush. It’s made of plastic but both the imitation ivory and imitation ebony are very good looking handles. The Edwin Jagger logo is emblazoned on the handle as a mark of authenticity.
The handle has a solid amount of weight to it and is very easy to grip and hold while using. It is a little bit on the smaller side but this hasn’t been a problem for me. That said, if you have trouble handing a smaller brush, this might not be the best shaving brush for you.
Functional Stand
The brush stand that comes with the purchase is functional and is good to use if you don’t already have a razor and brush stand, but I personally don’t use it. Why?
Well I have a couple other razor stands I use that hold both my brush and my razor. So I just don’t have need for it, but if you don’t want to invest in a separate stand yet, this will get the job done.
Overall, the brush stand does what it is supposed to do: ensures that the bristles dry out properly between shaves. If you didn’t know, it’s very important for bristles to dry quickly after a shave. Why? Because it helps to preserve it long-term and prevent bacteria from growing.
Who Do We Recommend
The Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush For?
Edwin Jagger's best badger shaving brush is one of my favorites on the market. It’s quite a bit more expensive than a pure badger hair shaving brush, but it’s also significantly higher quality. It is as good as any brush at retaining water and working a shaving soap or cream into a high-quality lather which is the ultimate goal of using a shave brush.
I typically recommend Edwin Jagger’s brush for the wet shaver that wants a soft shaving brush that has very comfortable bristles but the backbone of the knot is firm enough that it still makes it easy to work a shave soap puck into a nice, frothy lather.
Like I said, it’s on the higher end of the mid-range price range, but I think it’s a great investment. It is incredibly durable and this shaving brush will last for a long time if you take proper care of it. Edwin Jagger has a very respected reputation in the wet shaving community, and this shaving brush lives up to the hype.
What Are Some Other Shaving Brushes To Consider?
Perfecto Pure Badger Shaving Brush
If you’re looking for a cheap, entry-level price range shaving brush, the Perfecto pure badger shaving brush is my recommendation. It may look like all the other entry-level pure badger brushes, but I think it is a slight step up in both quality and durability.
The bristles are really good, not too soft but that’s what you should expect from pure badger hair. But they retain water really well and allow you to get a really good lather. My favorite part of Perfecto’s pure badger brush though is just the overall performance and durability. Most other brushes in this price range fall apart or lose hairs pretty quickly, but the Perfecto can get a lot of use and still be in great shape.
Vikings Blade Luxury Synthetic Shaving Brush
The Vikings Blade synthetic shaving brush is one of the best bang for your buck shaving brushes on the market. The synthetic bristles rival the feel and performance of a silvertip brush, but at a fraction of the cost.
Incredibly well made, durable and excellent at lathering. What else could you ask for? I don’t think it retains water quite as well as a silvertip, but you can still get a really, really good lather out of it. So if you’re willing to bump your budget up into the mid-range price range, this is an excellent option.
Parker Silvertip Shaving Brush
If you’re looking to buy one of the best of the best, take a closer look at the Parker silvertip shaving brush. It is incredibly well made with premium materials. There really are no design flaws in my opinion.
The biggest benefit of buying a silvertip is they are incredibly soft. They do retain water a little better so you might notice a slightly better lather, but it’s not a huge difference to me.
Parker’s silvertip is definitely more expensive, but it’s still on the lower end of the premium price range. You probably won’t be able to find a silvertip much cheaper.
Not sure any of these are the right shaving brush? Then go checkout my comprehensive review guide of the best shaving brushes. It has all the information you need to find the best shaving brush in your budget.
