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Makeup Brush Hair Types, Part I: Goat

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:00:34 -0700

Welcome to part one of my series on makeup brush hair. When shopping for different styles of cosmetics brushes, most of you tend to look for the softest hairs that won't scratch your face. While I happen to do the same thing, what I didn't realize is that hairs have vastly different functions. I am hoping this series can help to facilitate your brush shopping experience as well as help to educate you on tools of the trade.

Thanks to the help from my pals at Nars, I've come to understand that the quality in makeup brushes also varies according to hair type. High-quality brushes contain mostly virgin hair with tapered ends, which stays soft on the skin. Also, natural hair gets softer with use and synthetic hair becomes more stiff.

Today I am going to begin with goat hair since it is the coarsest hair and is very common in makeup brushes.

For example, that deliciously fluffy and tightly woven Nars #19 Bronzing Brush ($50) is crafted from goat hair to distribute bronzing powder evenly.

It is believed to be the most effective hair to pick up powder and deposit it smoothly. It is also ideal for buffing and blending, since goat hair naturally brings luster to the skin. Let me know if you have any questions or if you have anything to add!

BellaTV: Retro Makeup Bargains, Sienna's Hair, and the Best Brow Tools

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:34:08 -0800

This week’s BellaTV features a red hot '60s-inspired lipstick and nail polish, three must-have products for creating the perfect eyebrows, and easy steps to getting Sienna Miller’s sexy, wavy hairstyle. Watch now!

BellaSugar's Guide To Makeup Brush Hair Types

BellaSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:00:22 -0700

Makeup brushes are the most important beauty tools that you can own. With gentle and regular cleansing, quality brushes should last a lifetime. I hope that you've found my series on makeup brush hair types educational. Below is a six-post roundup that you can refer back to for help before applying makeup and shopping for new brushes.

Keep in mind that the firmer the fiber, the better the brush is for depositing and blending colour. Also note that makeup brushes have three parts to them: hair, handle and ferrule. The ferrule is the metal piece that connects the handle as well as holds the bristles in place. You want to buy ferrules made of seamless brass, copper or aluminum (nickel plated is ok too) since these are very durable metals - enjoy!

Source

Bellissima! Ted Gibson Bandostick

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:00:51 -0700

Sometimes the old stuff is still the best! Bandostick ($25–$65) is the first product that hair gurus Ted Gibson and Jason Backe ever created. These sleek hair sticks have a hole at the top where a rubber band is threaded through so that you can easily create chignons, french twists and buns that stay in place all day.

The testimonials I've read are fantastic, and this product is very popular in Ted's salon. So far the only complaint is that eventually when the elastic stretches out, you've really got to stretch it to the max so that you can get it around your hair two or three times if necessary.

Fortunately for those of us on a budget, Ted has also created a less expensive version of his designer hair stick. Working with drugstore brand Scunci, he has launched the Hairdostick ($3). For ideas and instructions on how to use Bandostick to secure a french twist, chignon or bun, check out these pictures:

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For a complete price list and color selection, read more

Red lacquer ($25)
Black lacquer ($25)
Natural wood ($25)
Black mother of pearl ($65)
White mother of pearl ($65)

Tools of the Trade: Stretchrite Elastic Cord

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:00:06 -0800

Paul Hanlon, the talented and insightful lead hairstylist that I met backstage at the Armand Basi fashion show, gave me a great professional tip on how to prevent your ponytail from drooping. He often uses Stretchrite Round Cord Elastic ($1.10), a five-yard piece of elastic that allows you to secure your hair tightly. Just snip off the pieces as needed, wrap it around your hair a couple of times and then knot it.

Paul claims that this thin elastic cord works better than a regular hair tie because you can create more tension; the result is that your ponytail stays perky. I can attest that all of the models did indeed have sprightly ponytails throughout the show, despite all of the product in their long hair that could have weighed it down.

Stretchrite products are sold in most crafts or sewing stores, and they're inexpensive. Think you'll give it a try?

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Tools of the Trade: Altimus Interchangeable Hairbrush

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:18:23 -0700

Hair brushes are very important to me, but it's easy to spend a lot of money on them very quickly. That's why this Altimus Interchangeable Hair Brush System is way cool. One brush can actually transform into as many as 27 different brushes. The brush base is a vented metal frame with a comfortable handle, and it comes with various professional brush-head attachments - both boar bristle and synthetic - that easily slip on and off. It makes for a very versatile purchase, and it's a huge space-saver for traveling, too. Just change the bristles anytime you want to create a different hairstyle.

You can either buy an Altimus 10 Piece System for $39.95 or a Deluxe 12 Piece Sytem for $49.95. Both sets include a cool carrying case, as well as instructions on how to care for the brushes. To check out a video demonstrating how Altimus works, read more

Which Styling Tools Do You Use To Create Wavy Hair?

BellaSugarUK — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:00:00 -0700

English entertainer and former glamour model, Jennifer Ellison was spotted entering the Mayfair Hotel earlier this week with a head full of colourful velcro rollers. I happen to be a fan of rollers myself. I dry my hair, put them in, mist hairspray all over and then apply my makeup while they set. I feel like they give my thin hair extra volume and bounce that I can't seem to create with a curling iron. However, I know that people with thick hair find curling irons taming and easy to manage. Blow drying with a large round brush is also an option for voluminous waves, however, that takes more skill and certainly more patience. Leave a comment below and share with me your best kept secret for creating a head full of sexy, perfect waves.

David Boyles/Rob Morrison/BigPicturesPhoto.com

Doing Drugstore: Revlon Brow Specialist Kit

BellaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:54 -0700

Last week, I met up with eyebrow guru Anastasia Soare, and ever since then, I've been paying extra special attention to the brow area - or lack thereof. More tips from Anastasia to come, but in the meantime, after passing by this Revlon Brow Specialist Kit ($9) at Walgreens over the weekend, I couldn't resist. My makeup area at home is getting a little cluttered these days, so anything that is compact, compartmentalized, and brow-related captures my attention. To see what I thought of this mini-kit, just read more.

Makeup Brush Hair Types, Part VI: Synthetic

BellaSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:00:34 -0700

Welcome to my final installment on makeup brush hair types. Today's topic is synthetic hair. Sometimes faux is the way to go! Cosmetics companies make makeup brushes from a synthetic material like nylon as opposed to natural hair because this type of bristle is less expensive, and it provides a smooth and even finish for cream products. (Since it lacks a cuticle, it can't trap makeup.)

A common type of synthetic hair used to apply concealer, cream shadow, cream blush or cream foundation is taklon. This is a fine-grade nylon that is less absorbent than natural hair.

An excellent nylon brush is this Laura Mercier Creme Blush Brush ($36) which happens to be the perfect size to add natural definition to the cheeks. The downside of taklon is that it is less durable than natural hair brushes, and synthetic brushes also tend to become very stiff over time.

Makeup Brush Hair Types, Part V: Squirrel

BellaSugar — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 10:14:32 -0700

Part five of my six part series on makeup brush hair is about squirrel hair. This type of hair is durable, fine, thin and has a thick belly with a fine tip - that's where it gets its conical shape. Also, it's the softest natural hair used in makeup brushes.

The type of hair that coveted for these highly sought after brushes is from the long-haired squirrel, not the typical garden variety that you see running around in your backyard, so don't worry about your chubby lil' nut-stealing friends.

Squirrel hair is ideal for blending heavy pigment, which is why it is commonly found in eye shadow crease brushes like this Professional Platinum Natural Crease Brush from Sephora ($24). Squirrel hair is also often mixed with other types of hair to bring down the cost, so if you are buying something expensive, it is important to inquire about the origin of the hairs.