Jan. 13, 2025
Nestled in a mountainous area in Japan, the Kumano region produces the most revered makeup brushes in the world. The region is home to over artisans who use techniques refined over centuries.
For more information, please visit Green Brush.
Japan is home to high-quality artisanal calligraphy and makeup brushes known as Kumanofude (Kumano brushes), traditional handmade brushes from the Kumano region in Hiroshima prefecture. Historically, the penmanship tools were sold by local farmers who had traveled away looking for work after the rice harvest ended, and brought back with them calligraphy brushes and ink from larger towns to sell at home in Kumano. During the Edo period, the brushes became so popular that they began to be produced locally, and the Kumano region's brush making industry was born.
Today, Kumano is home to a number of artisan manufacturers who craft around 80% of all domestically made brushes. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has officially recognized Kumanofude brush-making as a traditional craft of Japan.
[READ: From Calligraphy to Makeup, the Evolution of Japanese Fude Brushes]
Kumano brush makers understand the intricacies of their products - how to make ergonomic handles, leaving bristles uncut for a natural application, tightly applied ferrules for the perfectly formed unit. And that in addition to practicality, a brush's appearance should inspire pride in its owner. Kumanofude are used by internationally renowned makeup companies like Chanel and Dior, who seek only the highest-quality brushes to support their premium brand status.
Kumano makeup brushes are produced by Japanese artisans with a long history of expertise in crafting handmade calligraphy tools, and are ideal for solving any makeup trouble and ensuring the best application possible.
The quality of craftsmanship by Japanese Kumanofude manufacturers is extremely high, and can require up to 10 years of training. Over those years of training, Kumanofude artisans to gain the knowledge required to be able to handle animal hairs for the bristles proficiently, as well as judge quality. Kumano Japanese makeup brushes require around 30 steps to create, and most of these steps are still done by hand. Great attention is paid especially to the most essential part of the brush'the tip'which are always handmade using traditional Kumano artisan techniques. Given the great care and precision used to make Kumano brushes, they are known to be more durable than other makeup brushes.
The bristles are the most important feature of a brush, and the key factor that sets a good makeup brush apart from a poor one, as well as a handmade brush from a synthetic one. Like Kumano calligraphy brushes, makeup brushes produced in Kumano use natural animal hair such as goat, squirrel, and horse. The natural animal fibers used in Kumanofude brushes tend to hold powder and color pigment better for a more even application and natural look, blending out beautifully. They are also extremely soft to the touch.
The end of every bristle gently tapers into its own fine point, unlike synthetic brushes where the end of the bristles is machine-cut, which can irritate the skin due to the prickly exposed cross-section of the bristles.
While synthetic fibers have some benefits in the application, such as being useful for liquid and cream cosmetics, they are less effective at catching powder and can result in wasted makeup or poor blending.
Bristles
Inferior hairs are sorted out by hand using a special combing tool to prevent any rough hairs or stray, crooked bristles. Because the bristles of Kumano brushes are always handmade, the tip of the brush has a very slight natural unevenness to it, which allows the brush to make lighter contact with the face, ensuring a more even makeup application.
Handles
Kumano brush handles are typically made with Japanese wood or brass. The size and the thickness of a handle determine the brush's use. Long, thin handles provide precise control for detail work such as applying eyeshadow and eyeliner, whereas fat, shorter handles provide excellent coverage and blending for powder and blush brushes.
Ferrule
The ferrule is the part of the brush that keeps the bristles at the tip attached to the handle. Usually made of metals such as brass, copper, or aluminum, the ferrule is stamped into a shape that controls how the bristles splay or fan out from the brush. High-quality brushes are made with a seamless metal tube, as a seamed ferrule may come apart over time causing the bristles to fall off of the brush handle. Glue is applied at the bottom of the ferrule, so when washing brushes are sure not to wet the ferrule, and brushes should never be left in the water.
From pro beauty artists to casual makeup wearers, we know the thought and care that goes into makeup application. However, a surprising number of people overlook the most important part of their makeup kit: brushes. A high-quality makeup brush makes a significant difference, not only for smooth and even control when applying makeup, but also for preserving makeup, and preventing acne and other skin problems. For example, applying liquid foundation with a sponge can lead to blackheads from pore-clogging bacteria, while applying it with one's fingers can create an unpleasantly shiny finish from the oil glands in fingertips.
As Japanese cosmetics continue growing in popularity outside of Japan thanks to their high-quality, unique formulations, and attention to detail, so too are the tools that are used to apply them. The history of brush-making in Japan dates back more than 1,300 years, from calligraphy and paint brushes to makeup brushes.
Once a secret among makeup professionals, Japanese makeup brushes are becoming fast favorites among consumers and beauty bloggers. This article will introduce Japanese makeup brushes to use alongside all your favorite makeup items. Read on to learn about:
Japanese makeup brushes or keshoufude (''') as they are known in Japanese come in many varieties designed for different functions, but in this article, we'll focus on the most popular types of products:
Designed for applying finishing powder to set makeup in place and provide a matt effect for oily skin or a contouring effect, powder makeup brushes are usually round with quite soft and fluffy bristles making it easy to blend powder without applying excess product. Japanese powder brushes are also available in several different shapes such as tapered, flat, and angled for different desired effects.
For example, flat powder brushes can be used for more precise contouring and sculpting effects, angled brushes can be used for shading and blending, whilst tapered brushes are effective in a more precise application and blending of powder.
Blush makeup brushes are usually smaller in size than powder brushes, rounded in shape, and soft and fluffy like a powder brush. A more densely packed brush will create a bolder color effect on cheeks, whilst a rounded kabuki-style brush allows you to easily pat on color like a sponge and is particularly good for blending and accentuating cheekbones.
Are you interested in learning more about makeup brushes from china? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Featured content:Different-shaped blush brushes will also create different effects ' a round and flat-shaped brush is best for applying color gradually in layers, round-shaped brushes tend to be better for stronger color, and angled brushes are better for shading.
When it comes to applying eye makeup, you can find a specialist brush produced for each specific function, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and eyebrows. Eyebrow brushes are usually short and stiff with angled tips so that you can draw thin lines precisely that mimic hairs and can be blended with ease to create natural-looking brows.
Eyeshadow brushes also come in different shapes and can be used to perform different functions. For example, a small, pointed brush is best for adding definition to eyes and smudging eyeshadow whilst a small, flat, round brush is better for applying strong color, shading, and blending eyeshadow. A larger brush is better for applying color to the entire eyelid such as a base color and for shading.
Foundation brushes are primarily used for applying foundation evenly onto the face and are used ideally for blending into the skin after applying foundation to the forehead, cheeks, and chin. Like the other types of brushes, the different shapes perform different functions. Flat brushes are good for spreading foundation quickly and thinly, whilst angled brushes are great for achieving natural-looking coverage.
There are many high-quality Japanese makeup brush brands, with around 80% of them all coming from the small town of Kumano in Hiroshima Prefecture. Makeup brushes from Kumano are known as kumano-fude in Japanese. Here are five popular brands to get started with:
Hakuhodo is one of Japan's biggest makeup brush manufacturers based in the makeup brush capital of Kumano in Hiroshima Prefecture and is widely considered to be one of the best brands. Hakuhodo manufactures around 500,000 brushes each month and produces high-quality brushes for leading cosmetics brands in addition to selling their products directly to consumers.
Each Hakuhodo brush is made by experienced and skilled craftsmen and their huge range of products encompasses everything from basic foundation and powder brushes to brush sets for professional makeup artists.
Another of Japan's leading makeup brush brands, Chikuhodo was established in and produces brushes for cosmetics brands like Shiseido and their own products. Each brush is made with carefully selected materials and the company has a reputation for using highly skilled craft workers in the production process. Chikuhodo's range of makeup brushes is extensive, ranging from concealer to lip brushes. Their makeup brushes are also available at a range of different prices starting from the more affordable 'Passion' series made from goat hair, to the indulgent and luxurious 'Z series', made from squirrel hair and considered to be the pinnacle of brush collections.
Another brush manufacturer to come out of Kumano town, every Mizuho makeup brush is handmade by skilled craftspeople and undergoes strict quality control procedures. Each stage of the production process is handled with extreme care, from selecting and sorting hair to setting the hair and mounting the handle. Their wide range of products mainly uses goat, squirrel, weasel, and pony hair with each performing a different function depending on the brush type. Some of Mizuho's most popular products are their signature 'MB' series of brushes.
Koyudo is a Kumano-based brush company whose roots lie in making Japanese calligraphy brushes. Due to Japan's declining population and the decrease in children learning calligraphy at school, the company expanded into creating makeup brushes, using the same careful techniques used in making the calligraphy brushes. Their range of high-quality products includes powder, blush, eyeshadow, and lip brushes.
Uyeda Bisyodo was founded in and differs slightly from other brush manufacturers because it also imports the hair used in its makeup brushes. Among their range of products, you'll find several different series of brushes. Their Alba and Futur series recreate the softness of animal hair using synthetic hair. It is therefore suitable for vegans who still want to appreciate a high-quality makeup brush without using animal products.
There are several reasons why Japanese makeup brushes are considered to be among the best in the world and Kumano brush sets are often given as gifts in Japan. The main reasons Japanese makeup brushes are worth investing in include heritage, quality, variety, and performance. Let's dig a bit deeper into these reasons below:
Heritage ' Japan's tradition of brush-making dates back more than 1,300 years, with Kumano in Hiroshima as the center of high-quality brush manufacturers today. During Japan's Nara period and the rise of Buddhism, the demand for brushes increased for copying Buddhist texts and scrolls. Later on, during the Heian period, the famous Japanese monk Kūkai introduce the latest brush-making techniques to Japan from China, initiating the beginning of a long tradition of Japanese brush-making.
Quality ' Japanese makeup brushes are known to be among the best quality makeup brushes in the world, with the majority of manufacturers using only highly skilled craftspeople to make each brush tip by hand.
During the production process, the brush hair is carefully selected and sorted, and any damaged or misaligned hairs are removed. Next, the hair is arranged into a mountain shape and inserted into the frame before it is delicately threaded to set it in place within the frame. Once the tip of the brush has been fully inserted into the handle, it must pass a final inspection to ensure it meets the high standards of the manufacturer.
Variety ' there are a huge variety of Japanese makeup brushes to choose from, with each brush designed to perform a specific function. Not only is there a brush for each function, but these brushes are also made from a range of materials with varying shapes to create different desired effects.
Performance ' there's a reason why professional makeup artists have been using Japanese makeup brushes for years, they perform much better than other brushes. All of the care, skill, and attention to detail that goes into making each Japanese makeup brush simply means it is a superior product.
Japanese makeup brushes are usually made from natural animal hair, with different hair types used for different kinds of brushes. Horse, squirrel, goat, and weasel are some of the most popular types of hair used. Squirrel is the softest type of brush so is best for sensitive skin and is good for applying powder makeup, whilst goat hair is more resilient and can be found in the foundation and eye makeup brushes.
Horse hair is strong and durable and makes light work of blending products so it is often found in eye and cheek brushes. Weasel is a firm kind of bristle that works well in eyeshadow and lip brushes.
Although animal products are often used, many Japanese brush companies follow a cruelty-free policy and only use the hair from animals that have been exterminated anyway, for example, if the animal has already been exterminated for meat. Collections of Japanese makeup brushes that feature 100% synthetic hair have become more popular recently.
For more information, please visit makeup brush companies.
Previous: where to store makeup brushes
Next: How Does Custom Luxury cosmetic brushes wholesale Work?
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )