At Barbieria Italiana, we bring you the best Italian shaving brushes. We stock the complete product lines of Koh-I-Noor and Omega. Koh-I-Noor and Omega brushes are made in Italy.


Omega brushes are famous for their quality and affordability and are widely used by professional barbers in Italy and elsewhere. Koh-I-Noor brushes are luxury items of the highest quality. They are considered by some the best brushes in the world. They are imported exclusively by Barbieria Italiana. Boreal boar bristle brushes are made in Italy with first-class materials and represent outstanding quality and value for money. In addition, we are offering handcrafted, beautifully finished brushes made in the U.S.A. by an outstanding American artist.

OMEGA Brushes 

PENNELLIFICIO OMEGA SPA has been a leading brush maker for more than 50 years. The famous "Omega" brand marks a complete range of high professional quality shaving brushes and gift sets, in bristle, natural badger and using advanced syntetic fibers. The high quality of "Omega" brushes is world famous and is due to the company's long standing experience in manufacturing and to expert and careful selection of raw materials. All Omega brushes are produced in Italy only. Beware of imitations.





The Omega factory in Bologna.
Professional Models
Syntex Brushes
Travel Brushes
Standard Brushes
Selected Boar Brushes
Luxury Pure Badger Brushes
Luxury Silvertip Badger Brushes
Prestige Brushes




Koh-I-Noor Brushes 

The Koh-I-Noor company was established in Italy in 1930, initially to import the first toothbrushes with celluloid handles which had been created by the Koh-I-Noor company in Slovakia. In 1950 the Italian company bought the rights to the brand name and to the know-how of the Slovakian company and started manufacturing brushes in Italy. Today, Koh-I-Noor brushes are considered among the world's best.




Boar Brushes
Best Badger
Silvertip Badger
Finest Silvertip Badger
Travel Brushes
Shaving Sets

Boreal Brushes 

Boreal brushes are entirely made in Italy, in a modern facility in the Veneto Region. The company was established in 1952 and produces high quality hair brushes and combs, in addition to its famous boar bristle shaving brushes. The Boreal shaving brush line includes some outstanding professional brushes, which are widely used by Italian barbers and some excellent, well made brushes that are made to last for many years of daily use.




Professional Brushes
Quality Boar Brushes

               

Custom Brushes 

Scott Meyer Brushes

                   

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How To Order

It is normal for all shaving brushes to shed a few hairs when new. This should not happen for more than a few shaves, after which only an occasional bristle may come loose every once in a while. If excessive shedding occurs, please contact us and we will replace the brush under warranty (valid for a period of six months from the time of purchase). Boar brushes shed more heavily than badger brushes, especially during the first few weeks of use. Badger brushes will generally last longer than boar brushes, however, even a boar brush should last a decade or more of normal use.

Brush hair grades: 

1. Boar: stiffer than badger hair, boar bristles offer a stronger exfoliating action. Boar brushes do not absorb as much water as badger brushes and require more effort to produce a thick, rich lather. The are preferred by some shavers for use with shaving soaps, especially of the "milled" type, which are quite hard and respond well to the scrubbing action of a boar brush. MOst professional barbers use boar bristle brushes.

2. Synthetic: modern synthetic brushes have specially treated and shaped tufts, which collect water very efficiently and provide a comfortable and quick lathering action. While not as refined as badger brushes, these modern creations are very capable performers and have the advantage of not requiring any care, since the nylon strands are impervious to water damage and mildew. Some early synthetic brushes tended to be rather "floppy", but the models we market have a superb and responsive feel. We only offer the best synthetic brushes, including the kind known as "synthetic badger".

3. Pure Badger: this is the hair found in the lower part of the badger body. The hair is nearly black and has a straight structure. Not as soft as some of the other badger hair grades, but preferred by many for its ability to generate ample lather both from creams and soaps. The most cost effective badger grade and possibly the best perfoming. Not as rare as other grades, hence the lower price.

4. Best Badger: this hair shows color variation along its length: the base is light colored, the mid portion of the hair is almost black and the tips are gray. These hairs are tapered: they are thinner at the tips than at the base and the are taken from the back of the animal. Best Badger hair provide a softer feel than the previously mentioned grades and great lathering efficiency.

5. Silvertip Badger: prestige badger brushes: made exclusively with hair from the neck area of the badger, these brushes are recognised by the light colored tips, which extend for nearly half of the length of the hairs and justify the "Silvertip" name. 

6. Finest Silvertip Badger: the very best badger brushes: made exclusively with hair from the neck area of the badger, these brushes have very light colored tips, which extend for nearly half of the length of the hairs and represent a selection of the best Silvertip lofts available. The rarest and also most expensive of all badger grades.


Note: different brush manufacturers use different names for the various grades of badger hair. Unfortunately, there is no accepted standard. The nomenclature we use is one of the most commonly accepted.

Brush care : Do not use boiling water on your brush. Treat the brush with care and never pull on the hairs, as they can be damaged and are easily weakened, especially in boar brushes.
After use, shake off any excess water and allow to air dry. Do not use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. When traveling, do not pack a wet brush made with natural hair. Synthetic brushes make excellent traveling brushes, as they dry quickly and are impervious to damage even if stored wet. To clean and prevent the onset of mildew, wash once a year in a solution of water and borax.

A well cared-for brush will last for many years. 

Badger or boar: which one to choose? Boar bristles are stiffer than badger hair; badger brushes are softer and more flexible. Badger offers greater comfort, while boar provides a more effective exfoliation of the skin. Synthetic brushes offer a very valid alternative, in terms of price and performance.