Badger hair has been widely considered the ideal material for a shaving brush because of its natural water absorbing capability which allows it to absorb hot water and then infuse it into a shaving soap or cream. Recently, however, this paradigm has been shattered by shaving brushes that offer impressive results with other types of hair. Some brushes with horse or boar hair are receiving a lot of praise on the market – and it is easy to see why.  This article takes a closer look at the Semogue Excelsior 1520, an impressive little shaving brush with quality boar bristles.