Materials Used for Making Brushes

Brushes can vary widely in function and quality depending on the materials used. With natural hair brushes, the characteristics can differ depending on the hair material.

Detailed below are the most common types of hair used to make Hakuhodo brushes.

It is important to make the most of each hair-type when you use a makeup brush. Therefore we recommend choosing according to your application style, preferences, and what kind of makeup you use most often.

Goat	Soft, resilient and durable, goat hair is ideal for every skill level. Brushes made from this hair pick up a moderate amount of product for good color payoff and it is good at blending. It is multi-purpose and can be used in brushes for every makeup function.
Blue Squirrel	Ultra-soft, fine and thin at the hair tip, this hair makes for smooth, luxurious feeling brushes with a superior texture. Though soft, it offers good control and can be used for any type of brush (finishing, powder, blush, highlighter, eye shadow, etc). Brushes made from this material are buildable in nature and is best used for sheer, natural makeup looks. When blue squirrel is blended with goat, the resulting brush will apply product with more intensity.
Kazan Squirrel	Very rare and of high value, Kazan squirrel hair is similar to blue squirrel but even softer and finer in texture. Round eye shadow and highlighter brushes made of this hair offer easy control.
Pine Squirrel	Pine squirrel hair is soft and thin at the hair tip but has a less uniform body. Thus it is usually found in smaller brushes such as eye shadow brushes and is ideal for smudging eye color. High-quality, carefully-selected hairs are used in larger brushes designed for blusher and highlighter.
Canadian Squirrel	Canadian squirrel hair is soft and thin at the hair tip. Since it is typically shorter than blue squirrel hair, its usages are often limited to smaller brushes such as for eye shadow or highlighting. Selected longer bristles may be used for blusher brushes. Although very rare and expensive, it is highly prized by makeup artists and makeup enthusiasts due to its uniform body and controllability.
Horse	Horse hair is one of the most common hairs used in the production of makeup brushes. It is often combined with other softer, more supple hairs to enhance resilience and durability. Blending with other materials also results in a softer brush with excellent functionality. When used consistently and cared for correctly, a brush made of horse hair will gradually become easier to use and lasts a very long time. Horse bristle brushes are ideal for blusher and eye shadow brushes due to it's great blendability and great color payoff. Hairs from the mane and tail are more resilient and used primarily for making brow brushes.
Water Badger	Water badger hair is rather thick and resilient at the root but tapers toward the tip. Thus it is strong and resilient, yet gentle on the skin. Ideal for eyebrow brushes.
Synthetic fiber	It can be used with all types of product - liquid or cream based makeup and even powder. It primarily designed for use with cream or liquid products for concealer, lips or cheeks. Synthetic fiber produces great color payoff with "wet" products, but it does not pick up powder as efficiently as natural hairs. Thus, it is ideal for achieving a natural and sheer look when used with powder formulations. It is often blended with natural hair to help maintain the brush shape and stabilize quality.