Squirrel Hair Brushes

Most squirrel hair for brushes comes from Canada and Russia. There are three main types of Squirrel hair: Talahoutky is brown in color and used mainly for sign brushes; Kazan is brown-black and mainly used in brushes for watercolor, wash brushes, and watercolor mops; Sacamena is blue-black, the softest of all the Squirrel hair, and is used for making some of the best watercolor brushes. This soft, absorbent hair points well when wet, but has little spring. Squirrel hair brush has good elasticity and is ideal for washes, letting and makeup.

 

Squirrel hair brushes are very similar to Kolinsky brushes; they point very well and have thick "bodies" to hold paint, but they lack the "snap" or springiness of a Kolinsky. This lack of "snap" makes them almost totally useless when painting with thick paints. Often squirrel hair is used in the production of "camel hair" brushes and many other brushes made from mixtures of hair.

Red Sable Brushes

Often called Red Sable because of its reddish-brown color, brushes made of weasel hair make for practical oil painting brushes. This soft brush hair comes from the tail of the Asiatic weasel, a type of marten. Golden red in color, the hairs are not as fine or springy as kolinsky sable and are only half as expensive. The finest brushes get damaged quickly in the solvent and chemicals used in oils, so the cost-to-quality savings is a nice benefit for using Red Sable brushes.

Offering snap and resiliency, they handle oil or acrylic beautifully. They can cost up to 40% less than a Kolinsky brush of the same size, while it still retains some or most of the desirable traits of a more expensive brush. It is very important to be able to distinguish between Red Sable Brush and Kolinksy Brush. Sometimes brushes made of Red Sable are passed off as Kolinsky brushes, which carry a much higher price tag.

Pony Hair Brushes

Pony hair comes from the mane of young horses and are very fine and soft. These are the typical hair used in the traditional Makeup Brushes. The very finest pony hair comes from the belly of the animal and is often blended with other hairs for less expensive watercolor and touch-up brushes. Natural tips are used in better brushes and the rest of the hair is cut into lengths and used in cheaper makeup brushes. It is strong, slightly coarse, resilient and with the exception of sheep hair, is the most absorbent.

 

Pony hair is popular in Oriental watercolor and calligraphy brush making because it can get so long. It does not have the ability to stay together when wet, so it is often partially starched or covered with an outside layer of sheep hair. Each hair contains numerous pockets that trap water and color, making them especially suitable for Sumi painting. Pony hair doesnt hold its shape well, nor does it point. It is used as a filler to reduce the price of a brush. Horse or pony hair is most commonly used in inexpensive school grade brushes or makeup brushes

Mongoose Hair Makeup Brushes

Kevrin/ Mongoose hair comes from many different countries, but most used for makeup brushes are produced in India. The hairs have a dark brown tip, cream-colored center, and dark roots. These brushes are strong, resilient and makes a good long wearing, medium to professional quality brush for oil and acrylic painting. Mongoose hair has a unique structure, giving it a stiffness somewhere between sable and bristle and is distinguished by it coloration of dark brown tips, a light middle band and dark roots.

 

Mongoose hair makes a very good medium-quality brush; the best brushes are manufactured in Europe. It makes a very good brush for use in acrylics and oils because of its ability to snap. Now-a-days there is a growing demand for mongoose hair. It is being used for makeup brushes and hair brushes too. Imitation hair and synthetic mongoose brushes are also available.