Brushes » Hair Types

One rule that you can follow to avoid disappointment is to buy the best-quality hair that you can afford.


Kolinsky Sable — is not really from a sable at all, but comes from the tail of a species of mink that is a member of the weasel family found in Siberia and northeastern China. It is generally conceded to be the best material for oil and watercolor brushes due to its strength, spring and ability to retain its shape (“snap”). It holds a very fine point or edge. This is considered a professional grade of hair, and if properly cared for, Kolinsky will last for many years.

Red Sable — is obtained from any member of the weasel family with “red” hair — not at all from the animal known as the sable. It is found in a variety of brush styles for many varied mediums, with quality and characteristics varying greatly. A good-quality pure Red Sable is a good alternative to the more expensive Kolinsky, with similar performance and durability. Often, weasel hair is blended with ox hair to make a more economical brush, but the fine point is sacrificed.

Ox Hair — the best quality comes from the ears of cattle or oxen. The hair has a very strong body with silken texture, is very resilient, has good “snap,” but it lacks a fine tip. Therefore, it is most useful in medium-grade wash brushes, or flat-shaped brushes. Frequently, ox hair is blended with other natural hair to increase the resiliency of a brush.

Fitch Hair — a traditional hair for oil painting similar to Mongoose and Sable. Fitch is super smooth, ideal for blending and portrait painting. Sourced in Europe, fitch is a more affordable substitute for Sable and great for detail.

Squirrel Hair — gray squirrel, most highly in demand for lettering brushes and quills, is native to Russia and nearly always in short supply. Brown squirrel is more readily available, and is used mainly for medium-quality and scholastic watercolor brushes. A very fine, thin hair, taken from squirrel tails, it points as well as Kolinsky, but has very little “snap” (or memory) because the hair is not very resilient. It works best with liquid paints and inks.

Pony Hair — soft but strong, from mature animals at least 2 years of age. It is primarily used for scholastic-grade brushes, but often blended with other hairs for inexpensive watercolor and touch-up brushes. Pony hair lacks “snap” (or memory) and will not return to a point after a brush stroke.

Camel Hair — does not come from camels at all. It is found in watercolor and lettering brushes and usually made of squirrel, goat, ox, pony or a blend of several hairs, depending on the desired softness and intended cost of the brush. Camel hair lacks “snap” (or memory) and will not return to a point after a brush stroke.

Hog Bristle — obtained from hogs in several parts of the world, the most sought-after coming from China. Bristle is unlike any other natural filler in that it forms a V-shaped split or “flag” at the tip and tends to have a natural curve. The best grade has “interlocked” bristles, with the curves formed inward to the ferrule, has a natural resistance to fraying and spreads medium to thick paints smoothly and evenly. A selection of pure hog bristle brushes is recommended for oil, and is a far less expensive alternative to good-quality softer hairs.