AFAIK most of the pro, as opposed to artisan, brush makers have a line of pure badger that is less expensive than their high end badger brushes. That hair comes from a different part of the animal IIRC, and is more scritchy. One of my favorite brushes is a Shavemac pure badger that I bought in the classifieds for $50.00 USD and can't imagine what possessed the original owner to sell it. I'm just glad he did. If you don't like scritchy, I would look for a higher end brush though.