serviceable badger brush [SEP] there are several badger brushes at this price point this one is a decent performer for the price but for more money you will be able to buy a softer brushpackaging for this price you can get badger bristles for more money you will get softer bristles and more of them this is a modest sized brush but it is adequate for creating holding and spreading lather when i used it i could feel a couple of bristles poking at my face most of them were soft but these few made the experience less than ideal on a second use they seemed a bit softer but still noticeable so perhaps over time the lanolin in the soap will work some magic but on my more expensive brushes this was never a problemvalue a higher price is no guarantee of better quality but my experience over many years of using a variety of shaving brushes says you will get more if you pay more still this brush does work and it is three four even ten times cheaper than other softer badger brushes my advice is to splurge on your brush and economize elsewhere but if this is the price point you are shopping at this one will do just fine