Wild Sage & Co is family owned and was founded in 2013 in Herefordshire, England. The company also makes soaps and skincare products using natural ingredients grown in the family’s cottage garden, and they package these in glass and aluminum, instead of plastic.
Our Rating: 2 / 5 (See: How Leaf Score is calculated)
Product Highlights
- Simple yet stylish ash wood handle and synthetic fiber knot
- Shipped in a recyclable cardboard box rather than plastic packaging
- Affordable option
| Country of Origin: | UK |
| Materials: | Ash wood and synthetic fiber knot |
| Certifications: | None listed |
Overview
Wild Sage & Co make a Vegan Shaving Brush with a simple yet stylish ash wood handle and synthetic fiber knot. The brush costs £12.00 (around $15 USD) and is shipped in a recyclable cardboard box, rather than plastic packaging.
While it looks as though the wooden handle hasn’t been treated with lacquer, stain, or varnish, I can’t be sure. There’s also no information listed as to the diameter of the knot. As such, I’ve reached out to Wild Sage & Co and am awaiting their response.
Wild Sage and Co vs. Paragon, Mühle, and RazoRock
Mutiny, EcoTools, The Body Shop, and Wild Sage & Co are all in a similar range because their brushes likely contain toxic chemicals in their handles, and they all use knots made with synthetic plastic fibers of unknown quality and provenance. As such, there’s no telling how long these brushes will last and if it is a once in a lifetime type of purchase or destined for landfill in a few years.
With Paragon, at least you know you’re getting a better quality synthetic fiber, especially if you buy the Plissoft knots. And Paragon are at least somewhat transparent about their wood sourcing. The Body Shop also have the advantage of using FSC certified wood for their handle, even if they might also treat it with a toxic stain or varnish.
Wild Sage & Co may be a great option for a beginner shaver looking for a cheap and somewhat eco-friendly starter shaving brush for finer hair. For those with a thicker beard, coarser hair, and/or a rougher approach to shaving, these softer fiber brushes likely won’t cut it. The softness of the bristles means the brush won’t exfoliate or lift thicker, coarser hair, which makes it harder to shave. For that, you’d probably want a Synth-Firm type of synthetic fiber brush, such as the Mimik Badger ‘Turnback’ Shaving Brush. Or, go for a Mühle or RazoRock synthetic brush that has a much higher quality knot.
If the wooden handle is calling to you and a softer brush tip with some decent backbone is in order, the Mühle Black Fibre Thermo Wood might be just the thing. This wood is heat treated to make it durable and able to resist water even without a chemical coating. Your better option, though, is to get any of the metal handle brushes with a quality knot, such as those from RazoRock or Mühle.