To properly apply make up like the professionals, every girl needs a good set of brushes. However, there is a raging debate about whether you should use animal hair brushes or synthetic.
So why should you go real animal hair?
Last Longer – The animal hair brushes last far longer than synthetic brushes. Like leather shoes or a leather wallet, the animal hair is tougher and can be treated to withstand long periods of use. If you think of it as like human hair, the animal hair brushes can be washed and shaped for perfect use. Synthetic brushes shed hair, leaving bristles on the face during use. Synthetic brushes can be washed however they don’t respond as well to washing as animal hair; they never return to their original state. They are known for being brittle and break easily, therefore not lasting as long.
A Soft Touch – Animal hair is gentle to touch and therefore softer on the face upon application. This is important for make-up artists; during lengthy beauty sessions, it is important for the client to feel comfortable during the application. Animal hair is less likely to irritate the skin and works with the natural fibres of the face. Synthetic brushes can be known to aggravate the skin, be rough on the skin and often feel like coarse against the face when first used.
Perfect Use – Animal hair brushes hold onto the make-up better than synthetic. As the brush is used to dip into the make-up, the brush holds onto the fibres making it easy to apply to the face. This allows you to spread the make-up evenly and apply easy strokes. This also means that the animal hair brushes blend the make-up better than a synthetic brush.
So why should you go synthetic hair?
Cost – If you want real animal hair, you of course have to pay more. Depending on brand and the size of the set, some real hair brushes can cost you upward of $80 each. A complete set of brushes is normally twenty pieces, for a professional range, and are normally sold with a brush roll for storage, which adds to the cost. Synthetic brushes are nowhere near the cost of real hair; it is possible to get a full set of brushes on eBay for $10 to $20. This is also a good indicator when buying brushes online if they do not provide a description of what they are made from: cheaper equals synthetic, as a general rule.
Harmful to Animals – This is one of the most obvious reasons not to buy animal hair brushes and that is because the processing of making the brushes is harmful to animals. Most brushes are made from horse hair, goat, rabbit hair or other smaller rodents. By choosing synthetic brushes, the thought is that you are choosing a cruelty free option to the environment.
The Verdict
I am not a vegetarian; I buy leather and I buy animal hair products. However, I know that these products are more durable, help me apply makeup better and feel great against my skin. I have tried synthetic brushes and they just don’t compare to the animal hair; I have thrown out many synthetic brushes that have broken, shed all over my face or turned really rough just after first use. I am yet to use a synthetic brush that I like.
