Wood is the most popular handle material of makeup brushes due to its natural texture and degradable. There are many wood types, what are the common wooden materials used in makeup brushes?
The following is a detailed description of the common wooden handle materials of makeup brushes, as well as their characteristics and pro/cons in different level makeup brushes,for customers’ reference during OEM makeup brushes.
►Common wooden types
1. Solid wood
| Type | Features | Applications |
| Birch | - Density 0.55-0.75g/cm³, straight and fine texture - Easy to dye, low cost | Normal makeup brushes, mass-produced |
| Ebony | - Density 1.2-1.3g/cm³, high hardness (Janka value 3200) - Natural dark black, no need dyeing required | High-end luxury brushes, collection-level products |
| Cherry | - Density 0.6g/cm³, warm red color and deepens over time - Poor crack resistance (need coating protection) | Retro-style brushes, niche designer brands |
| Walnut | - Density 0.65g/cm³, chocolate-colored stripes - Medium to high deformation resistance (water content needs to be controlled at 8%-10%) | Mid-to-high-end professional brushes |
| Bamboo | - Density 0.7-0.9g/cm³, naturally antibacterial - Longitudinal fiber structure, high bending strength | Environmentally friendly brushes, portable travel makeup brushes |
2.Composite material
| Type | Features | Applications |
| Wood Plastic Composites | - Wood powder + PE/PP substrate (wood accounts for 40%-60%) - Good moisture resistance, can be injection molded into complex shapes | Low-cost moisture-proof, outdoor makeup brushes |
| Multilayer Glued Laminated Timber | - Cross-linked thin wood slices glued together - Cracking resistance increased by 3 times, but the texture is more industrial | Large brush handle (for example body brushes) |
| Resin impregnated wood | - Vacuum impregnation of wood with epoxy resin - Hardness increased by 50%, mildew and antibacterial (cost ↑30%) | High-end waterproof brushes and medical beauty tools |
►Key Performances Comparison
| Index | Best material | Worst Material | Key data reference |
| Moisture resistance | Resin impregnated wood (water absorption <3%) | Cherry wood (water absorption 12%) | The equilibrium moisture content should be controlled at 8%-12% |
| Wear resistance | Ebony (Mohs hardness 5.5) | Birch (Mohs hardness 4.0) | Surface coating can increase the hardness by 1-2 levels |
| Lightweight | Bamboo (density 0.7g/cm³) | Ebony（Density 1.3g/cm³） | Hollow structure can reduce weight by 40% |
| Cost | Birch | Ebony | CNC engraving costs about $1/minute |
| Eco friendly | FSC certified bamboo (biodegradable) | Wood plastic material (including PE/PP) | The carbon footprint of a pure solid wood handle is 60% lower than that of plastic |
►Processing
1. Wood pretreatment
- - Drying: Kiln drying to moisture content of 8%-12% (natural drying takes 6-12 months, kiln drying shortens to 2 weeks)
- - Stabilization: Resin curing (to prevent cracking) or wax impregnation (to improve gloss)
2. Shaping
- Turning and engraving: CNC machine processing accuracy ±0.1mm, suitable for complex patterns (such as spiral patterns, relief)
- Jointing technology: Finger joint mortise and tenon structure (strength is 20% higher than gluing) or veneer (0.5mm rare wood veneer + base material)
3. Surface treatment
| Type | Effect | Cost increase | Durability |
| Water-based paint spraying | Matte/glossy, environmentally friendly and odorless | +$0.4-0.7/pcs | Scratch resistance (500 times steel wool test) |
| Wood wax oil penetration | Preserve the wood feel and highlight texture | +$0.7-1.4/pcs | Need reapply every 6 months |
| UV Curing Coating | High hardness (3H pencil hardness), chemical resistance | +$1.4-2.1/pcs | Alcohol wiping resistance > 1000 times |
►Some pseudo-concepts
1. "Hundred-year-old wood"
- The truth: The stability of wood has no direct relationship with the age of the tree. The moisture content of 100-year-old wood may be higher, and easy to deform.
2. "Pure hand-carved"
- The truth: 99% of mass-produced wooden handles are CNC-carved, and only the final polishing is done by hand (the labor time accounts for <5%).
3. "Nano-mildewproof"
- The truth: The type of mildewproof agent is not specified (such as toxic TCMTB), to comply, should use IPBC (cost is 3 times higher).
►Selection suggestions
1. High-end luxury makeup brushes
- - Material: ebony/rosewood + lacquer
- -Process: hand-painted more than 7 layers, inlaid with mother-of-pearl/gold foil
- - Material: FSC certified birch + UV coating
- - Process: hollow design to reduece weight, laser engraved LOGO
- - Material: bamboo + wood wax oil
- - process: Keep the natural shape of bamboo joints, no glue mortise and tenon joints
►Trends
- Lightweight: Ultra-thin bamboo lamination technology (thickness 0.5mm, strength comparable to solid wood)
- Intelligent Fusion: Capacitive touch chip embedded in wooden handle (function achieved through differences in wood conductivity)
- Cultural Empowerment: Traditional wood carving craft + modern design
►Precautions
- - Prevention of cracking: The recommended moisture content is ≤10% in areas south of 35°N, and ≤12% in areas north of 35°N
- - Environmental certification: FSC/PEFC certificates are required for Europe and the United States markets
- - Allergy risk: Some wood contains natural volatiles (such as ebony sawdust can cause respiratory irritation)
When choosing a wooden handle makeup brush, customers need to balance the texture, cost, and use environment, and be wary of "low-price solid wood" (mostly veneer composite materials). It is recommended to ask the makeup brush manufacturers to provide wood traceability certification and moisture content test report to ensure quality stability.
没有评论:
发表评论