Brush to apply shaving soap before shaving with a razor knife or safety razor.
A shaving brush consists of a bundle of neck hair from the badger (1), pig bristles (formerly also horsehair), silk or nylon glued into a handle made of horn or bone, wood, metal, bakelite or plastic. The working part is conical or spherical.
The shaving brush is first wetted with hot water and rubbed over the jar of solid shaving soap with circular movements. When using a shaving stick, it is rubbed over the beard to be shaved and brought to a light foamy layer with the wet shaving brush. Shaving cream or gel are sprayed onto the wet shaving brush. The brush is held in such a way that you grab the base of the hair with your fingers. The shaving cream is applied to the beard hair with back and forth movements or with pumping and twisting movements (2). [MOT]
(1) The soft badger hairs have a high absorption capacity.
(2) DE BROUWER & VAN LIEROP: 96-97.