Thread: What is meant by a 2 band brush?

I've seen various discussions mentioning 2-band brushes but have no idea what this terminology means. Would one of you help me out here?

A two band brush refers to the layers, or bands of color in the bristles. Hence a two band will have, typically, the light tips of the bristles and the darker area of the knot. A three band will go from light tips to darker middle band and then lighter again before the knot enters the handle.

Comparing like size (height, primarily) brushes the two bands are thought by some to be more desirable.

Basically the middle base of a 2 band badger brush is darker and the tips are longer and white. The hair is also thicker.

In fact all badger hair is 3 band to start with. So what we end up calling 2 band is in fact a 3 band badger hair that's just thicker hair that features a darker and more black looking middle band and whiter tips (top part).

When the hair gets knotted and fitted in the handle, the bottom part gets buried deeper in the handle so it actually gives you a 2 band appearance. It is not uncommon to see some 2 bands that actually have some lighter bottom part sticking out. It's still considered a 2 band.

The main difference will be in the feel of the hair. A 2 band badger hair is stiffer, more resilient but with very soft tips.

It is also supposed to be from the badger's winter coat and from the badgers that reside higher up in the mountains where it does get colder too.

I thank you gentlemen for the explanation. The detail provided is something I never would have come up with on my own.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Basically the middle base of a 2 band badger brush is darker and the tips are longer and white. The hair is also thicker.

In fact all badger hair is 3 band to start with. So what we end up calling 2 band is in fact a 3 band badger hair that's just thicker hair that features a darker and more black looking middle band and whiter tips (top part).

When the hair gets knotted and fitted in the handle, the bottom part gets buried deeper in the handle so it actually gives you a 2 band appearance. It is not uncommon to see some 2 bands that actually have some lighter bottom part sticking out. It's still considered a 2 band.

The main difference will be in the feel of the hair. A 2 band badger hair is stiffer, more resilient but with very soft tips.

It is also supposed to be from the badger's winter coat and from the badgers that reside higher up in the mountains where it does get colder too.

Answers like this make me believe you will find an answer to ANYTHING shaving related here :-)

Thanks, I also wanted to know this!