Shaving Mug and Brushes
Shaving in yesteryear was a complex process requiring soap, a brush, razor and shaving mug.

The shaving brush is traditionally made from badger hair, and is graded according to the quality of the hair – the finer the hair the better the quality. (There are three grades of badger hair). Badger hair is expensive, so gentlemen of lesser means had brushes from different animals, but usually pig hair. The hair of the brush is designed to hold water and soap and create a warm foam on the face that cleans and lubricates the path of the razor. The finer the hair the softer and more comfortable the shave.
The photo of the brush tied with string is typical of a workingman’s brush and has coarse pig hair bristles.

The shaving mug was in two parts – the top section to place the soap and the lower part for hot water. The brush was dipped in the hot water and then rubbed on the soap in the top part of the mug to form a foam before being applied to the face.

Also shown is a gentlemen’s travelling brush from the 1920’s. The brush is in a steel tube that is pushed out and screwed onto the tube to form a handle. The bristles are low grade badger hair.