Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Escali 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush

Top positive review

#2 on My Indispensable Shaving Products List …

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2014

Finally fed up with the mounting expense of buying the latest and not-necessarily “greatest” innovations in the disposable razor market, I discovered there are a few essential items I needed to buy before I could completely transform to using a safety razor. A decent quality shaving brush was one such item. The ESCALI 100% PURE BADGER SHAVING BRUSH proved to be the answer.

WHAT IT IS:

- Affordably priced, badger-hair shaving brush with a wood handle.

WHY PURCHASE A SHAVING BRUSH?

- After decades of spraying gel into my hand to apply shaving cream, I never really gave shaving brushes a thought. Using a shaving brush always seemed as nothing more than adding an expensive degree of sophistication to a rather mundane task (like using silk instead of toilet paper). Once I started using a shaving brush, I immediately saw the benefits.

- First of all, applying shaving cream with a brush simply feels better than using your hand as it messages the cream into your skin and helps generate a decent lather with little effort. Brushing a warm layer of shaving soap on your skin adds a level of enjoyment to the shaving ritual.

- A decent shaving brush can retain enough soap and liquid to allow several applications without having to “reload”. Using a brush, you can get more use from a smaller amount of soap/cream.

WHY BADGER AND WHY ESCALI?

- I’ve read several articles and reviews regarding the positives/negatives of badger hair/boar hair and synthetic haired brushes. The consensus indicates badger hair is best mainly because of its absorption quality, it retains water which is essential to the lubrication process. While boar hair is a worthy substitute, it doesn’t retain water as well and has a reputation of retaining a noticeable odor. Synthetic hair brushes don’t retain moisture as well.

- I’ve been using the ESCALI BADGER BRUSH for over 5 months and I am quite pleased with its performance. It is has a soft texture and retains enough moisture to generate a decent lather. Yes, the brush does shed (all animal hair brushes will), but we’re talking a hair here-and-there, not in clumps. Badger hair brushes are not cheap, but the price of the ESCALI takes the financial pain out of owning a good quality shaving brush.

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

SLO_JD

Pure/Best/Super/Silvertip: Worth knowing the difference

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2014

This brush is at a good price point, but my brush continued to have hairs fall out DAILY even after 3 months of use. I just got into wet shaving and did not know much about quality of brushes. I had heard that badger brushes are good and so I was quite intrigued to see such a relatively inexpensive brush that was "pure Badger" ... which I incorrectly assumed meant that the brush has nothing but Badger hair. Although pure Badger brushes do only have Badger hair, that's not the definition. If you look online, you'll see that there are different badger brush qualities where many consider the order (lowest to highest) being: pure -> best -> super -> silvertip. As such the pricing of these types of brushes also usually goes in that order.

The difference lies in what part of the badger body where the hairs come from. You can look online for the detailed explanations of this. But the names of these brushes aren't necessarily all that helpful. For example, "best" is not necessarily the best!

Despite the fact that silvertip tends to be the most expensive, that does not mean it is the best for everyone. It is regarded as the softest but some prefer that their brushes have a bit more "backbone" so that the brush can get into the beard and help the hairs stand up prior to shaving. Some have stated that pure badger brushes tend to be of poorer quality and are prone to having knots form within. I found this to be the case with my Escali brush.

I didn't want something too soft (silvertip) so I instead went with a best badger brush by Edwin Jagger (Model 1ej947sds):

Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush With Drip Stand, Imitation Ivory, Medium

Many reviewers have stated that the Jagger best brush has a great quality and has sufficient backbone. So far I found that this is true and this brush suits my needs better than the Escali. And, even in the first use, I found that NO HAIRS fell out for the Jagger. That was not the case with the Escali.

This is not to say that the Escali is a poor choice for everyone. At that price point it could be a very attractive brush, and it's hard to argue with the MANY high product ratings. But I thought it'd alert other new wet shavers who don't know much about badger brushes that there are other types aside from "pure" and that "pure" doesn't just mean "100%" in this case.

If you can, try visiting a store that carries various brushes (for example, Art of Shaving but beware that their prices are HIGH). When testing brushes, I wouldn't brush the face directly as you have no idea how much that brush has been handled and what's on it. Instead apply it somewhere like the back of your hand or on your forearm. I found that the sensitivity in the palm of your hand is not very good, but you could feel differences on your forearm. Try out the different brushes and you'll notice a difference between the pure and other brushes. Honestly, I could HARDLY tell the difference between a best and silvertip, but you might appreciate the difference. Good luck!

7,874 total ratings, 7,433 with reviews

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From the United States

DACHokie

#2 on My Indispensable Shaving Products List …

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

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..d..ecay

HIGHLY recommended, bought twice so far

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2014

Verified Purchase

After having shaved with only an electric razor for over 30 years, a few years ago I decided to try blade shaving again, using the wet shaving method. I've been slowly moving towards "upping my game" by using better shaving products as I find them. Upon hearing about and ordering an awesome shaving cream (Duke Cannon Superior Grade Shaving Cream), I figured the next step would be a shaving brush. Doing some research led me to bristle brushes.

Enter Escali. I found brushes ranging from $20-$250 and everywhere in between. I wanted an introductory brush at a reasonable price and Escali seemed to fit the bill. I read all the reviews, both good and bad, then ordered. I'm no expert at using a bristle brush, this being my first foray, but the Escali Badger Brush works perfectly well. It does exactly as it says, builds up a nice foam/lather, covers well/evenly, feels good, etc.

** UPDATE ** - I'm leaving this original review info in place for full disclosure/historical purposes, but *please* read my update at the bottom, about the scent being gone.

The one biggest criticism I read here is about the scent of the brush when it's wet. OK, so yes it does have a mild scent. BUT, I have found the following to be true:

- The scent is strongest when the brush is used for the first time
- It only lasts while you're shaving and does not "stick" to you
- You can use hair shampoo on the brush to help eliminate the residual scent
- The scent *does* decrease over time - and I've only used it a few times. If I really wanted to make a concerted effort, I could shampoo/rinse it a bunch of times in a row, but it just doesn't bother me enough to do so.

Keep in mind, folks, that MAYBE if they doubled the cost of the brush, they could deliver one with ZERO scent; maybe.

Let me close by saying that the scent thing is really No Big Deal; I merely included the info above to give a full & complete review, not glossing over anything. But at the end of the day (and the review), let me leave you with these final Q&A points:

Q: Do I like the brush?
A: Yes

Q: Do I enjoy using it?
A: Definitely - it does exactly what I need, and quite well

Q: Would I buy it again?
A: YES!

** Update ** 03/05/2016: TWO Major Points:

1. The scent is essentially GONE from their new brushes. Whatever Escali has done, they practically eliminated that "scent" which people talked about a few years ago. There's nothing noticeable when it's wet, unless you stick your nose INSIDE of the brush and inhale deeply, and even then, it's barely there. Plus, **NOTHING** comes off on your skin. Nice job, Escali! You got rid of the one major complaint.

2. I liked this brush so much, that after we bought some special Basin shaving cream for our 17-year-old son, I bought him his first Escali Badger Shaving Brush, and HE loves it, too. Says that it makes shaving more pleasant and even a little fun, which is saying a lot, coming from a teen. Now, you have two different generations who both enjoy Escali's product.

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M. Ross

Surprisingly Good, Awesome Value

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2011

Verified Purchase

Like double-edge razors, badger brushes have a finite life. Still, you expect the finer - and more expensive - brushes to last longer. The higher the quality, the longer you should expect them to last, in addition to being made of generally finer stuff. Still, over thirty bucks is a lot to pay for something you put soap on and expect to wear out eventually. But do you want to risk spending less than half that and wonder whether it will only last half as long and be of inferior quality? In this case, I would recommend that you do.

Enter the Escali badger shaving brush. First of all, I can attest that this brush shows quality where it counts, eliminating the question of whether a less expensive brush would fall apart at the first sight of water. This brush has held up well after many months of use, refusing to lose bristles, lose shape, or otherwise fail. The quality of bristles appears to be the same as brushes that go for more than twice the price. (Are there different grades of badger fur, I wonder?) This brush has held its shape and firmness, stimulating to the skin without being harsh or prickly.

The handle is made of wood and, while finished with lacquer (or varnish), care must be taken to properly dry the brush so the handle does not get soaked, dried out, and cracked; stone or plastic handles are generally preferable in this regard, but the Escali brush has held up well. Indeed, by the time this one wears out, I would feel that the full value of the product - and beyond - had been realized. I'm not sure if I could say the same for a brush I paid over twice as much more for.

But how does it work? It works great. The bristles are stiff enough to create a luxurious lather on your face (Proraso and Taylor of Old Bond Street in this case) while being soft enough to stimulate your skin and raise your beard without being harsh. In a word, every bit as good as the more expensive brushes that I've bought and tried.

I mentioned that this brush has quality where it counts, and which speaks to value. While this is true, the finish of the brush - namely in the imprinted name, the wood handle, and the lacquer finish - expose the budget side of this brush. If appearance is what matters here, then this one gets lower marks. Close inspection of the handle and its finish reveal that this is not where the attention was paid.

So, is this brush for you? If you care that your brush looks as good as it acts and have the dough to pay for it, then you may want to go with a higher end brush. If you are like me and appreciate a great value for a badger bristle shaving brush that feels as good, works as well, and lasts as long as its more expensive cousins, then this may be the brush for you. I can afford the pricier models, but I get this one and bank the savings in my little girl's college fund and feel good about the fact that I've gotten a much bigger bang for my buck. Recommended!

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Big Spoon

Over a year, still feeling fine

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

So I ordered this brush when I first got into straight-shaving. I didn't want to invest a ton of money on some fancy pants silver tipped badger brush, not knowing if I would continue using a straight razor. Over a year has passed and, while I don't straight shave very often any more, I use this brush ever time I shave.

Reading other reviews I expected to see some bristles falling out the first couple times I used it, and I wasn't disappointed. The first maybe 10 times I lathered up, I would lose 2-3 bristles each time. I also noticed the distinct "animal" smell some other users reported the first couple times I used it. Honestly, this is not a huge deal. I still got a wonderful lather with very little effort and the animal smell is long gone. If the animal smell turns you off, don't buy a product made from the hair of an animal.

The important thing to remember is that you have to care for this product correctly. Rinse it out VERY well BEFORE you use it for the first time. Also, if you put it away wet with soap still in it, the brush won't last as long for you. Rinse it out and flick the water out of it when you're done and it will last. I've had mine for over a year of daily use and I don't have any intentions of getting another one because I simply don't need to yet. Although at less than $15, I won't hesitate to buy this same brush again when I have to.

Those that complain about this brush and say "you get what you pay for" must be used to spending (wasting) a ton of money on an expensive, top-of-the-line silver tipped badger brush. I'm not knocking you if you have that kind of cash to throw around on frivolous luxuries, but if you're a working class guy like me, with 3 kids and a mortgage, I promise you won't be disappointed with this brush. You'll get a better, more comfortable shave lathering up with a brush than you do with that canned s*** foam and your hand. This brush is priced similar to boar's hair brushes, which are ALL crap, so don't torture your skin by trying to save a few nickels by buying one of them.

To summarize, this brush is WELL worth the small investment. With proper care it will last you quite some time, all while giving you a great shaving experience. I would also recommend that, while you're shopping for shaving gear on Amazon, grab some good quality shaving soap or cream. It makes a big difference.

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SLO_JD

Pure/Best/Super/Silvertip: Worth knowing the difference

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2014

Verified Purchase

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Rugged brush, quality construction, fits the budget

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2012

Verified Purchase

Recently a friend of mine bought two-bladed disposable razors at the store. "Two bladed?" I thought, "Ouch!" When I asked why, he mentioned that he was transitioning to an old school non-disposable razor because that's what his father used to use. He was working up to using a straight razor like his granddaddy had used.

Right now there's a fever for manliness*. Whether it's in the form of Ron Swanson, Mr. Rogers, Ronald Reagan, or Teddy Roosevelt, people want to feel self-reliant and they want to smell like the good old days when you had to walk to school uphill both ways. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the growing popularity of the barbershop cult.

My two-bladed friend and I were perusing Amazon, looking for the shaving products he wanted, and he showed me a soap he particularly liked. As soon as he was gone I bought the soap. I knew he had his father's razor but did not have a suitable brush. Part of the self-reliance mindset is buying items of quality while taking your budget into consideration; given these parameters I found a few brushes made of quality materials within my price range, but the Escali 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush had the best reviews. Not only was it made of durable, natural materials, but also the bristles were 100% pure badger hair-- the most frequently recommended bristle material for an old-timey shave. Even better, they do not shed as they would in cheaply constructed brushes. This is the kind of brush will last. The quality is outstanding.

When the Amazon box arrived, I gave it to my friend. He opened it, found the soap he'd been wanting, and thanked me. "Keep going," I said. "There's something else inside." When he pulled out the brush his eyes widened. He turned the box to view it from every angle. "Badger hair," he breathed reverently. "Do you know how long this will last? I can't believe you spent that much on me." Thanks to this shop, I didn't spend that much money at all, and every penny was worth it for the tears in my friend's eyes (he probably just had something in his eyes, of course, like TEARS) and the satisfaction of knowing that he has a quality brush that will serve him for many, many years.

I'd like to mention the politeness and punctuality of the shop vendors. As someone who has experienced unannounced months-long back orders and excuses from some shops, I appreciate being left alone but for polite updates letting me know that my item is in the mail, and quickly, too. These vendors are personable and although I'm being sent a form letter update, they manage to make it seem personal and respectful.

Fans of The Art of Manliness will probably like this brush. Gents, or hey-- ladies-- who want to return to wet shaving, the double-edge safety razor and shaving brush: This is the real deal. Badger hair. Affordable. Perfect size. Does not shed. Want to get back to basics? Want that rugged, clean WWI balanced budget feeling? Go for the combination of quality and economy in this brush. Make every morning shave feel like something Indiana Jones would do.

*Nota bene: I'd like to point out that the fever for "manliness" should more properly be thought of as a fever for self-reliance, integrity, and discipline, but "The Art of Self-Reliance, Integrity, and Discipline" sounds a bit punitive for a light-hearted popular website, I suppose. All the same, you can't argue with the cool factor of anyone that shaves with a brush and straight razor.

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M. J. Mccaffrey

This is the tool you need for a great shaving lather

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016

Verified Purchase

I experimented briefly in the late 1980s with using shaving soap, but quickly abandoned it because it took an inordinate effort to produce enough lather. I blame that chiefly on the synthetic bristle brush, whose main virtue was that it was cheap.

There matters rested until now. I've decided to abandon the candy-colored multi-blade cartridge razors that promise a "close shave"—but seem to deliver that chiefly to my wallet. Along with the DE razor and my favorite Williams Mug Shaving Soap in a stainless steel bowl, I decided to give this brush a try.

It's fair to say that this beautifully-made and -shaped brush needs a brief break-in period. Out of the box the bristles were a bit stiff, and as others have noticed they have a slight aroma. It smelled like fish oil. Having said that, the smell went away after a couple of uses, and the bristles fluffed up and softened so that the brush end looks as it does in the product photo.

The handle shape promotes the essential action you need to master: separating some shaving soap from the cake and whipping it into a lather. As this is almost exactly like whipping heavy cream or egg whites, you need a fast, flicking motion to do it properly. The Escali brush handle is perfectly shaped for this, and the tapered plume of the bristles multiplies your hand rotation. In short order you have plenty of lather for a great shave.

Applying it is a pleasure. The bristles felt stimulative rather than scratchy on my skin. Some with more sensitive skin may not like that feeling, but I enjoyed it. I have a light beard, and found it easy to work the lather into the base of my whiskers. The bristles were just stiff enough that I believe someone with a heavier beard would also have no trouble applying the lather.

The manufacturer stresses the importance of proper post-shave care for this brush. It's a simple matter of plunging it into the shave basin before emptying, rinsing in cold water under the faucet, then applying a few flicks of the wrist to force out water hiding near the handle. Hang it brush side down in your razor stand, and allow it to drip dry. I've found that the bristles fluff out as they dry, ready for the next shave.

The handle's knob is designed to fit many razor stands, such as this one .

Feels good in the hand. Feels good on the face. Produces great lather. Recommended.

One person found this helpful

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Darrell

I beg you not to make the same mistake as me...

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

Around December I decided to switch to wet shaving due to being tired of getting horrible irritation from any other form of shaving. I made the mistake of not doing as much research as I should have and wound up on the page for this brush due to the fact that it had such good reviews. I also got a few other popular products to begin my shave den such as Proraso Green, my Merkur 34C, and a decent brush/razor stand. Those turned out to be fantastic, the brush, however, turned out to be a disaster. Not only did it seem like a disaster, I also felt completely swindled into buying a totally crap product. On my very first shave, I may not have known exactly what to expect, but I knew I had watched enough videos on YouTube about loading a brush and creating a lather to know that the Proraso puck shouldn't have been caked with "badger hair" from the knot. I also use the term badger hair lightly. After using several different brushes at this point and knowing what REAL badger hair looks, feels, and smells (yes this is important) like, I am very hard pressed to believe that this vendor is telling the truth when they say 100% badger hair in the product description. Please, please, please do not waste your money on this product.
**New wet shavers and old alike, if you are looking for cheaper options (like me) for brushes, this is not your answer. There are plenty of other cheaper brushes that work wonders and will last you for ages. Some of these options can even be found here on Amazon. Check out Omega boar brushes. I got an Omega 10066 boar hair brush after this piece of crap and I still use it almost every day even though I have several different brushes now. Above all just do a little research about this stuff if you are new to wet shaving of thinking about getting into it. Don't waste your initial investment like I did, and don't let bogus products like this one take away from the enjoyment you can get from a good old school shave!

8 people found this helpful

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Amazon User

First brush and works good in my opinion, but I'll probably stick with shaving creme in a can

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2014

Verified Purchase

I decided to move from a Mach 3 razor that I've used the last 7-8 years over to a safety razor after constantly hearing how great it was. I bought this brush which was "recommended" with the Merkur safety razor along with some proraso soap. It had a lot of reviews so thats why I bought it. I've never used a brush in all my years of shaving or had any other brush so I have nothing to compare it to. The brush seemed to work as it intended. I have no intention of going back to cartridge razors after just 1 shave with my new safety razor but I'm not sure I'll continue making my own shaving lather. I don't have a sensitive face at all and I can just as easily shave with water. Makes no difference to me really and Razor burn is just not something I've ever had an issue with in all my years of shaving so a good shaving lather just really isn't that important to me. I just want a close shave, and need a sharp razor to do it and after just 3 shaves with a Mach 3, it can't do that leading my to buy more which are just too dang expensive. I just used the cheapest shaving creme that I could buy from the dollar store. I used to shave daily when I was in the Military for 4 years, but now I shave 2, maybe 3 times a week.

As other users here mentions, this brush seems to lose a lot of hair with each use which is kind of an annoyance and I would use a pair of tweezers to pick the strands out of my soap. I read that some users said it wasn't very soft on their face. Again, maybe it's because I don't have sensitive skin, but I thought it felt great on my face. I certainly couldn't justify spending any more on a brush though and I see there are some really expensive ones out there.. I'll admit, I did enjoy making the lather and have since practiced making a lather on nights when I'm not even shaving just playing with things like thickness, adding more or less water etc.

I purchased a small hanger at walmart that holds my new razor and this brush which stays on my bathroom counter but for those mornings when I'm in a rush, I'll probably just grab my can of shaving cream as I always have though. I'm knocking 1 star off for it losing the bristles but I liked it other than that. Brushes just aren't something for me.

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falcomo

good product, good price

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

I bought this along with a container of sandalwood shaving cream, a silver shaving bowl, an Edwin Jagger safety razor, and a stand to hold the razor and brush (just to give you an idea of how I'm using this item).

First off, the brush was delivered on time, looks as pictured, and is perfectly capable of doing its job. It also fits in the stand I ordered, so that's a plus. The bristles are very soft and apply the shaving cream in a smooth, delicate manner, while also raising the facial hair slightly to make for a closer shave. I don't know if it's as soft as those $60 silver-tipped brushes, but I can't imagine the difference in quality is worth the price. For 13 bucks plus free two-day shipping (with Amazon Prime), this was a great deal. At first I was concerned that the bristles would not return to their original quality after getting wet and left to dry, but this fear was undue. Granted, I've only used it two times, but the brush is still as soft as the day I got it. Just make sure to rinse it thoroughly after every shave and give it some air to breathe when it's not in use.

The only negative I can think of is that the bristles have a slight tendency to come out of the brush and stick to the sides of the shaving bowl if I mix the cream too vigorously. However, this may have just been a matter of breaking in the item, as this was only particularly noticeable the first time I used the brush. While I've only shaved with this setup twice, the number of loose badger hairs I noticed on the second time was significantly fewer. So it could have just been that I was getting rid of the loose hairs, and that now I will no longer experience that issue. And even then, it's hardly a problem, and the brush still applies the lather very smoothly.

All in all, this is a good item at a reasonable price. Would buy again.

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