Synthetic or Natural Hair Brushes?

"Which one should I go for? Natural Hair or Synthetic Hair brushes?"

People ask us this question all the time. What are they anyway?

Synthetic Hair Brushes

These are brushes with synthetic or man-made bristles. Usually made from nylon and polyester. Ecotools uses Taklon which is also a type of polyester that's designed specifically to mimic natural hair. Taklon is free of any protein elements or allergen that may cause certain reactions on your skin. Brushes with Taklon bristles are what makeup manufacturers today refer to as 'green' brushes and 'cruelty-free' brushes. Sigma on the other hand has their Sigmax HD Filament also a type of polyester with very fine ends. Sigmax was designed to make sure that makeup is applied evenly on the skin.

These are some of our synthetic hair brushes. From left to right: Sigma Kabuki F80,
Ecotools Bronzer Brush, SIgma Deluxe Kabuki F80, Ecotools Powder Brush,
Sigma Large Powder Brush, Moonkini Flat Top Brush

Natural Hair Brushes

These are brushes with bristles made with various hairs from animals. The bristles are usually from squirrels, goats, badgers, horses, minks or sable. (Sounds like old McDonald's petting zoo-gone-wrong!) 

Natural Hair brushes have been used since the cro-magnon man learned to shave. lol And there are reasons why natural hair brushes are still used to this day.

These are some our natural hair brushes. Sorry there are synthetic ones in the picture too. :)
From left to right: MAC 180 Goat Hair Kabuki, MAC 168 Goat Hair Contour Brush ,
MAC 190 (Synthetic -Foundation Brush),  MAC 194 (Synthetic -Concealer Brush),
MAC 275 Squirrel Angled Eye Brush, MAC 266 Squirrel Eye Brush. 

Now, let's weigh in on their pros and cons.

Synthetic Hair Brushes

Pros:

• Excellent for mineral makeup. The silicates in mineral makeup shines and pigments better when applied and buffed by synthetic brushes.
• Excellent makeup buffers. Most synthetic hair brushes have very fine strands that reach even the finest lines of the face, therefore creating a more seamless and more even look.
• Longer lifespan and does not deteriorate easily with prolonged use and regular washing.
• Easy to maintain and does not need special makeup brush shampoos for cleaning, baby shampoo will do. 
• Does not absorb pigments or chemical from makeup making it easier to clean.
• Less likely to harbor bacteria since the bristles do not have natural components suitable for bacterial proliferation.
• Does not cause allergies. Synthetic brushes are free of any natural ingredients and proteins that may cause a reaction to sensitive skin.
• Generally soft. Synthetic hair bristles have smoother hair strands than most natural-hair brushes.
• Generally more affordable.
• Animal cruelty-free.

Cons:

• Does not pickup makeup well. The smooth synthetic strands do not hold powder well. The makeup just slides off, resulting in more makeup fallout.
• Not ideal as eyeshadow brushes. Synthetic hair brushes are excellent for smudging and blending powder eyeshadows, though but are not perfect applicators since the makeup will just slide off.

Natural Hair Brushes

Pros:

• Excellent eyeshadow brush. Picks up makeup and holds it well resulting in minimal fallout. Natural bristles have microscopic pores that help makeup cling to it better. Some of the best eye shadow brushes are made from squirrel and badger hair.
• Makeups are more pigmented when applied using natural hair brushes.

Cons:

• Shorter lifespan. Deteriorates with repetitive use and regular washing.
• More costly to maintain since natural hair brushes are delicate, you'll need special shampoos for washing them.
• Absorbs chemical from makeup. Natural hair brushes have a more porous consistency making it more likely to absorb chemicals from the makeup.
• More likely to harbor bacteria. Natural hair brushes are of animal-origin and contains nutrients that favor bacterial growth.
• May cause allergies. Natural hair brushes may cause allergies for people sensitive to animal fur.
• Generally more rough than synthetic hair brushes. Natural hair strands have rougher surfaces than the smoother synthetic bristles.
• Generally more expensive.
• Not for everybody. If you're an adamant animal rights supporter, this isn't the brush for you since the condition that the animals are kept in is often less than ideal.

Finding the right brush for you is really a trial and error process but we hope we were able to help you out somehow. If you have anything to share about Synthetic or Natural Hair Brushes, feel free to drop a line or two on the comments section.

Checkout our brushes! Click here.