During custom makeup brushes, bristles are the most important since they directly touch skin; handle is the second important, as it affects the comfort and flexibility during makeup application. Comfortable handles are ergonomic and easier for makeup artists’ applications. Besides hand feel, customers may have many other concerns such as appearance, environment protection, cost etc, so makeup brush handles have variable material choices. The following is a detailed description of common materials for makeup brush handles and their comparisons, covering key dimensions such as texture, cost, durability, and environmental protection, for customers’ reference during their communication with makeup brush manufacturers:
►Common makeup brush handle materials and comparisons
| Material Type | Representative Materials | Pros | Cons | Application |
| Natural | Solid wood (birch, ebony, bamboo) | ① Natural texture, great touch; ② Environmentally friendly and degradable; ③ High-end retro texture | ① Easy to be affected by moisture and crack; ② Anti-mildew treatment is required ③ High cost | Handmade high-end brushes, Japanese/Chinese style products |
| Plastics | ABS, Acrylic, PP | ① Low cost (unit price $0.05～$0.25); ② Lightweight and easy to dye; ③ Can be injection molded into complex shapes | ① Cheap texture; ② Not resistant to high temperatures (ABS deformation temperature 80-100°C); ③ Poor environmental protection (difficult to degrade) | Cheap makeup brushes, disposable brushes |
| Metal | Aluminum alloy, copper, stainless steel | ① High strength and wear resistance; ② Surface can be electroplated/anodized (high-end feel); ③ Good thermal conductivity (suitable for quick-drying brush heads) | ① Heavy weight (copper density 8.9g/cm³); ② High processing cost; ③ Feels cold in winter | Professional makeup brush, metal design |
| Resin | Epoxy resin, PU resin | ① High gloss/transparent effect (imitation crystal); ② Can be embedded with decorations (sequins, dried flowers); ③ Chemical corrosion resistance | ① Easy to age and turn yellow (sensitive to ultraviolet rays); ② Highly brittle (easy to break when dropped); ③ Medium to high cost | Art makeup brushes, limited edition joint edition |
| Composite | Bamboo fiber + PLA, recycled plastic | ① Degradable/recyclable; ② Lightweight (density 1.2~1.4g/cm³); ③ Comply with environmental regulations | ① Low strength (needs thickening design); ② Rough surface texture; ③ High production cost | Green brands, environmentally friendly products |
| Silicone | Food grade liquid silicone | ① Anti-slip and shock-resistant; ② High temperature resistance (-50～200℃); ③ Soft touch | ① Easy to absorb dust; ② Simple shape (difficult to carve finely); ③ High cost | ravel brushes, child brushes |
| Ceramics | Glazed ceramics, stoneware | ① Strong artistic feel (hand-painted patterns are possible); ② High temperature resistance, easy to clean; ③ Moderate weight | ① Fragile (poor impact resistance); ② Long processing cycle (needs firing); ③ Extremely high cost | Collection-level brushes, brand flagship models |
►Key Performance Indicators Comparison
| Indicators | Best material | Worst material | Remarks |
| Lightweight | Plastic (density 1.0～1.2g/cm³) | Copper (density 8.9g/cm³) | plastic/bamboo fiber for travel brushes |
| Durability | Stainless steel (strong impact resistance) | Resin (high brittle) | Metal is suitable for long-term use |
| Cost | PP plastic ($0.04-～$0.1/piece) | Handmade ceramics ($6.5/piece) | ABS/aluminum for mass products |
| Environmental protection | Bamboo/PLA composite material (degradable) | PVC plastic (containing plasticizer) | EU market prefers bamboo/recycled materials |
| Processing freedom | Resin (complex shapes can be 3D printed) | Ceramics (relying on mold firing) | Resins suitable for customized designs |
| Touch comfort | Silicone (soft and non-slip) | Metal (cold and hard) | Sensitive skin products prefer silicone/matte resin |
►Material selection suggestions
- High-end luxury goods
- Recommended materials: solid wood (ebony/rosewood) + metal edging, glazed pottery
- Craftsmanship: hand-carved, 24K gold foil inlay, matte varnish protection
- Professional makeup artist brushes
- Recommended materials: aluminum alloy (anodized), non-slip silicone handle
- Technology focus: ergonomic design, wear-resistant electroplating layer
- Affordable fast-moving consumer goods
- Recommended materials: ABS plastic (gradient dyeing), bamboo fiber composite materials
- Technology focus: rapid injection molding, silk screen LOGO
- Environmentally friendly products
- Recommended materials: recycled plastic (PCR), bamboo + PLA bio-based materials
- Technology focus: FSC certified packaging, ink-free embossing
►Industry Trends and Innovation
- Composite material
- Metal + silicone: The handle is made of silicone for anti-slip, and the metal tube enhances the texture.
- Wood-plastic composite material: wood powder + PE/PP, balancing natural feel and moisture resistance.
- Intelligent upgrade
- Conductive material: built-in capacitive touch area (such as aluminum handle + touch sensing chip).
- Thermosensitive coating: the brush handle changes color with temperature (thermosensitive coating + resin substrate).
- Sustainable technology
- Water-based paint: replaces traditional oil-based paint and reduces VOC emissions.
- Zero electroplating technology: PVD vacuum plating replaces traditional water electroplating, without wastewater pollution.
►Q&A
Q: Is the metal brush handle uncomfortable to use in winter?A: The touch can be improved by coating the surface with silicone/matte sandblasting, or by designing a hollow structure to reduce weight.
Q: How to prevent mildew on wooden brush handles?
A: It needs to be soaked in tung oil or treated with UV curing coating to avoid prolonged contact with water stains.
Q: Which material is best for people with sensitive skin?
A: Food-grade silicone or matte resin is recommended to avoid the risk of allergic reactions caused by nickel plating (must comply with EU REACH regulations).
Through the combination of materials optimization and processes, the makeup brushes can meet the requirements of different consumer groups. When making selections during OEM makeup brushes, it is necessary to balance the three major factors of cost, function, and design style. Customers should require the makeup brush manufacturers to provide samples to do the test first and determine the final solution.
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