When you’re heading out of the road, you shouldn't let your love of travel get in the way of your love for the perfect shave. Baggage allowances are getting smaller and smaller so it's harder and harder to take the right tools for the job and perhaps leaving the shaving brush behind seems like an easy compromise. However, adding a travel shaving brush to your standard travel toiletry kit is an easy solution. There are many different models out there, each with its own set of pros and cons. Here is what we think about the various options available for prospective buyers:
Why You Should Travel With a Shaving Brush
A shaving brush will help you to enjoy a more comfortable shaving experience no matter where you are. There are two main reasons that come to mind: achieving a better lather, and preparing your skin of a softer shave. The former is simple enough to understand: the better the lather, the more evenly spread over your face with a sufficient coverage and cushioning. The latter, however, is a bit more complicated. A shaving brush will lift the hair and soften it when you apply shaving cream or soap, making it easier to cut. Also, a travel shaving brush will help you to apply shaving cream or soap to hard-to-reach places like your neck or under your nose, which will help to reduce the risk of cutting yourself.
Identifying the Right Travel Shaving Brush for You
When you’re shopping for a shaving brush for travel, there are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind. First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that the shaving brush is compatible with the type of shaving soap or cream that you typically use. Generally speaking, shaving brushes are usually compatible with both, but you can never be too careful when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness.
Next, you’ll want to think about size. Generally speaking, travel shaving brushes are smaller than the shaving brushes that you might use at home, for example. If you’re looking for a shaving brush that has a small footprint, you’ll want to keep these things in mind.
Mondial has a perfectly sized shaving brushes for all your needs. Check out the Travel Shaving Brush with Synthetic Silvertip Knot & Plastic Travel Tube and Two-Piece Chrome Travel Shaving Brush with Synthetic Silvertip.
A Good Travel Shaving Brush Will Have a Cover
This is one of the most important things to look for when you’re shopping for a travel shaving brush. If you want your brush to last a long time, you’ll want to make sure that you protect it as much as possible. You’ll also need to make sure that you keep it clean, which is why we recommend that you look for a travel shaving brush that comes with a cover. Most covers will be designed for protecting the bristles from bacteria and other types of microbes when your shaving brush isn’t in use. You’ll also want to make sure that the cover is sturdy enough to protect your shaving brush when you’re traveling to help keep the rest of your toiletry kit clean and dry. Both of Mondial’s travel shaving brushes have protective covers.
Travel Shaving Brushes Are Easy to Maintain
If you take care of your shaving brush, it will take care of you. You won’t have to worry about replacing it any time soon. There are two main things that you’ll want to keep in mind when you’re maintaining your shaving brush: cleaning it, and storing it. If you want to maximize the lifespan of your shaving brush, you’ll want to clean it regularly. You can use any shampoo or soap to clean your shaving brush, but you should try to use it as soon as possible after you shave so that the bristles don’t have time to dry out and become damaged.
Choosing Between a Badger Hair or Synthetic Travel Shaving Brush
A final consideration is the type of knot used for the brush. While at home, you might prefer a pure badger shaving brush, on the road the consideration may be a little different. Because badger hair takes longer to dry, it might not be ideal for travel brushes that are used and then quickly stashed in a travel tube. This might prevent the knot from drying completely which can lead to an unpleasant smell over time. So if you do choose a badger hair travel brush, you may also want to consider a ventilated cover to aid drying.
The alternative is to choose a synthetic travel shaving brush like the Mondial 1908 two-piece chrome handle brush or our compact resin handle brush with a plastic travel tube - both featuring our proprietary EcoSilvertip synthetic knot. This specially-designed synthetic hair will dry more quickly, will be less prone to developing a wet hair smell over time and still provide you with a great lather for your shave.
Go the Extra Step with a Travel Shaving Cream & Razor
If you really want to optimize your travel shaving kit, also consider adding a high quality travel size shaving cream such as our 75ml size in six great fragrances as well as a mini-handle razor suitable for Fusion razor cartridges from Gillette (the mini razor is also available with a Tuscan leather case).
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are many reasons why you should travel with a shaving brush. However, when you’re shopping for one, you’ll want to make sure that you pay attention to the model that you’re buying. Different brushes have different features and are designed for different purposes. In short, there are several factors that you’ll want to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a shaving brush. If you take these factors into account, you’ll be able to find the right travel shaving brush for your needs and enjoy many years of service from it.
