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| IPC Large soft oval brush, made from black goat hair |
However, if you are a traditionalist, or just an interested party, the natural hair selection is something to consider and understand. I have created a table below outlining all of the types of the natural hair available, short descriptions and then the brushes from Dynasty that would work for those natural hair choices.
Dynasty has high standards for it's brushes, taking pride in protecting our environment and endangered species, so any hairs used in our natural brushes are taken as a by-product of another industry from animals not endangered. However, the synthetics mentioned as substitutes for natural hairs are specifically engineered to match those hairs, holding true to the properties of those animals. You'll be amazed at the resulting brushes.
Dynasty has high standards for it's brushes, taking pride in protecting our environment and endangered species, so any hairs used in our natural brushes are taken as a by-product of another industry from animals not endangered. However, the synthetics mentioned as substitutes for natural hairs are specifically engineered to match those hairs, holding true to the properties of those animals. You'll be amazed at the resulting brushes.
| Hair Type | Medium | Description | Dynasty Brush | |
| Badger | oil | Hairs are thinner at roots with bellies near the tip providing a bushy appearance. Known for blending oils, very soft tufts. The best are high mountain badger, found near the Pyrenees; however, badger hair is found worldwide. | ||
| Boar or Hog (bristle) | oil & acrylic; house painting | Bristles are technically hog hair. Bristles are flagged or split at the ends; high quality brushes are interlocked with natural bristles curving inward. Only natural or bleached white bristles are used for fine artist brushes. The highest quality are from the Chunking region in China. | Interboro or Beau Blanc | |
| Camel | watercolor | Not actually from camel, but rather from a mix of other animals: squirrel, goat, ox or pony. | Camel Hair Watercolor | |
| Fitch | oil & porcelain painting | Closely related to the Ferret, a member of the weasel family. Very fine hair, highly resilient conical shape, similar in quality to the red sable. | Mongolian sable | |
| Goat | watercolor mops & dry media | Wavy along the entire hair length. Two types available, the single drawn has the natural tip and the double drawn are hairs cut in half, so they lose the natural tip. Taken from all parts of the animal, exported from China. | IPC large soft oval | |
| Kolinsky Sable | oil & watercolor | Highest quality hair available, large belly and long hairs hold lost of fluid in painting. Only the tail hairs from the Kolinsky are used, male hairs are longer than females and more resilient. The highest quality brushes are made solely from male. The golden brown hairs have excellent snap and resilience. | Kolinsky Sable or Faux Kolinsky | |
| Mongoose | oil & acrylic | Strong resilient pointed hairs that wear well, but not fine enough for watercolor. Also known as royal sable or crown sable. Since Mongoose is endangered, no mongoose hair is used in FM Brushes. | Mongolian Sable | |
| Ox | lettering & watercolor | Hair from the insides of cow's ears. It is cylindrical, not coming to a point, but resilient and has a strong snap. Primarily used for flat brushes or mixed with squirrel for sign painting. | Dynasty Series 2300 watercolor | |
| Pony or Horse-body | acrylic, tempera, watercolor | Cylindrical hair that is more expensive than goat, but less than squirrel. Has a dull matte finish but strong and soft, though not as strong as goat. It does not point well, and often used for school grade brushes or cosmetic brushes. | Art Education Brushes | |
| Sabeline | watercolor & calligraphy | Ox hair that has been bleached and dyed to resemble red sable. | Faux Sable or Dynasty Series 2300 watercolor | |
| Squirrel | watercolor, ink & calligraphy | Grey Squirrel is from Russia and in short supply; Brown Squirrel is usually for school grade brushes, fine thin hairs that point well. Very little snap. | Faux Squirrel or Pure Squirrel Quills | |
| Weasel, Pahmi or Red Sable | oil or acrylic | Similar in working properties to Kolinsky sable, but shorter hairs and more affordable. Only weasel hair from Asia is long enough for brush-making; like Kolinsky, they have conical shapes and good points. | Mongolian Sable or Pure Red Sable | |
Keep Painting,
Karyn
For more brush information, check out the Dynasty Brush website.
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