If you’ve tried various mascaras before, you might have noticed that the mascara brushes come in different designs. Some are curved, some are straight, and some can be thinner or thicker than the other.
These different types of mascara brushes aren’t just for aesthetics; they serve a purpose. Each of them can affect how the product shows on your eyelashes.
What Is A Mascara Brush and Why Does It Matter
In mascara development, brush design is closely connected to the formula’s performance. As it’ll work as an applicator, the brush structure can affect how it carries the formula, contributes to lash separation, or shapes the eyelashes. This makes a mascara brush an important part of product development.
Mascara brush shapes and materials can be different from one product to another. Each shape is designed for a specific purpose and delivers different results.
For example, thicker mascara brushes usually create a more expressive look, while thinner brushes are usually great for people with shorter lashes. So, knowing the purpose of each brush will help you choose the best mascara to use for each formula.
Main Materials of Mascara Brushes
The shape of the brush isn’t the only factor that can affect the final result. The materials of the brush itself can provide different effects on how the products show up on the lashes. For example, some materials are more durable and affordable, while others are gentler on the skin.
Fiber Mascara Brushes
Fiber mascara brushes are specialised brushes with soft, fine fibers that help apply the product. They can create a long-lasting effect on the lashes while also providing a natural, voluminous look. As the fibers are fine enough to go between the lashes, these brushes help prevent clumping and define each lash better.
Fiber mascara brushes appeal highly to new users, as they’re usually easier to control than silicone brushes. Their lightweight design and soft bristles allow for a smoother and more forgiving application. They’re also gentler on the lashes, making them a more comfortable option for people with sensitive eyes who want to avoid irritation.
Elastomer Mascara Brushes
Elastomer brushes’ bristles are made from rubber or silicone-based materials. They’re non-porous, giving a smooth texture that can separate your lashes for a defined look without clumps. This brush works best when the goal is to create a lengthening effect and enhance definition for each lash.
Hybrid Mascara Brushes
Hybrid mascara brushes combine elastomer and fiber materials. This combination creates versatile mascara brushes that can provide a more effective work during application. They can reach and coat the lashes more effectively, while separating the strands for less clumping.
Hybrid mascara brushes might become one of the most commonly used types across brands. This is because the versatility that the hybrid materials offer can fit various formulas to optimize their application.
Single, Double, and Shaped Brushes
Classic mascaras usually come with a single brush, but there are also products offering a double brush applicator. The difference is that a double-brush mascara usually has two different brush designs in one applicator. They may also have different densities, fibers, or even shapes.
With two brushes on one wand, users can switch between them depending on the look they’re aiming for. They can also be combined to achieve a specific look.
Meanwhile, there are multiple different brushes shaped specifically for a certain goal. This reflects our approach to product innovation, where brush design is carefully developed to work alongside the formula for more precise application and performance. For example, thinner brushes are very useful to people with shorter lashes.
There are also other unique mascara brush types, like a triangular brush that can make the eyes look elongated and feline-like. By knowing what each shape does, you can optimize your formula even further.
How Brush Design Affects Mascara Performance
The brush’s main job is to carry over the formula and comb it onto the lashes. Knowing the different types of mascara brushes matters as it determines how and where the product adheres to the lashes.
For example, a curved brush will help with curling and shaping the lashes. Hourglass-shaped mascara brushes have wide ends and a narrow middle part. This design allows more product to be deposited at the lash roots, which helps create a more voluminous effect.
Fiber Types: Synthetic vs. Natural Materials
The materials used to make fiber mascara brushes can be natural or synthetic. Synthetic fiber brushes are usually made of polymer fibers such as nylon or polyamide. They’re engineered to mimic the soft, thin strands of natural hair. That way, they’ll also work similarly to natural brushes.
Another plus point that synthetic fiber brushes offer is their easy control. Their bristles are naturally stiffer and more consistent in shape, which is great for separating clumps. Synthetic materials are also more resistant to humidity, making them easier to clean. This humidity resistance makes synthetic fiber brushes have a longer shelf life.
On the other hand, natural mascara brushes are those made of animal hair, such as goat and mink hair. These natural fibers allow formulas to seep into the strands like sponges and are gentle on the lashes. However, natural materials aren’t as resistant to humidity as synthetic alternatives, making them harder to clean and maintain. In addition, they are generally considered a less ethical choice due to the use of animal-derived materials.
There are also some brushes combining elastomer and nylon materials to create a hybrid brush. They often provide versatility that can offer effective coating and separation to the eyelashes. These hybrid brushes are great as a multi-purpose solution that will work well with a range of mascara formulas.
How to Choose the Right Mascara Brush for Your Formula
Before finding custom mascara brush applicator solutions, you need to first know how to determine which mascara brush types would be best for your formula. The first thing to do is to define what type of eyelashes would benefit most from the formula. Is it for shorter eyelashes? Or does it work best for longer but thinner eyelashes?
Then, see what the formula was meant to work as. A brush designed for a lengthening product and one designed for a curling product should not be the same. Each brush can help the formula perform better, so you need to match it up with the right brush.
