Brush Help!

[Diamond]

Okay I am banging my head against the wall a little.  All these cute "little" chisel blenders and the like I have picked up at A/C or Micheal's are just not holding up.  The tips get a lovely curl to them even with me being super careful cleaning and it is making it hard to get my details painted. 

So what brand of brushes do you guys use and what material do you find resists the dreaded end curl? 

I am using some with acrylic, both heavy body and the craft stuff and others with oil if that helps any.

Many thanks!

[Colorscapesart]

Curling paintbrush tips?  It seems to happen to all (my) brushes eventually.  That usually means it's time to snag a new one.  I'm very careful when rinsing the brush and when painting to prolong the brush lifespan.  My tiny brushes are precious to me lol, and I typically get quite a few projects out of a brush.  I use Simply Simmons from Dick Blick and they are about $6 a pop.

[Diamond]

I know some of mine are a touch old, but it is happening with some of the new ones after just one or two critters.  Though with all the dang detail on Brighty that might be why the one just curled up. LOL

I am hoping maybe one fiber is a bit better then another.

[Aednatia]

Mine don't curl. They expand. I think I push to hard or wash to hard.

[Eluluu]

I tend to be kinda cruel with my brushes, so I just keep buying more. *bad girl*

[Alatariel-Silimaure]

I have the same problem too... mine don't hold up for more than one or two projects

[Diamond]

Well I guess I am not alone then.  I was so hoping someone had a better brush that would last longer. 

[pop-girl]

OK, it's super late and I can't really get to my desk right now to check for brand names but for some reason I have a photo of my brushes. I buy my brushes at Michaels so maybe some of you will recognize the brand based on the the colors or the brushes?

visitors can't see pics , please register or login



I don't really have an issue with curling but over time I eventually lose the nice, sharp tip. My brushes usually last quite a while and I find the liners last longer than spotters because it's easier to keep paint out of the ferrule.

This may seem obvious but are any of you letting you brushes sit in a cup of water for any amount of time? Setting a fine tip brush in water for even a few seconds will cause your brush to curl or lose shape. Rinse immediately and lay your brush on a flat surface.

[Colorscapesart]

I do believe the brush on the far left is a Simply Simmons <3 

Diamond, not sure if this applies but if you are painting on a heavily textures surface it wouldn't take much pressure to begin damaging the really fine tip brushes.  Also, I have to be really careful when cleaning my fine tip brushes not to use any motions that go against the natural direction of the brush. 

[Diamond]

Poppers, nope I do not leave my brushes sitting one of the first lesson my Mom taught me ah hmm 40+ years ago.

CSA - yeah I have noticed when I have texture the brush goes faster.  I also know I am gonna kill em when I do my oil due to how I paint, so I do not go to expensive there. 

Thankfully most of the carousel trappings I am planning are smooth.  But yes have noticed if I do not pay attention when washing they seem to go curl faster.  One of my model acquaintance recommended a gel and another told me how to reshape using the old masters trick of egg whites.  Gonna see if I can hunt the gel down first, then might try the egg whites on some of my favorites.  Guess I just need to go brush shopping again. 

[Colorscapesart]

Egg whites, interesting.  Please lemme know how that turns out!

[Diamond]

Will do, also got some more feedback from two model buddies in that sable seems a bit longer lasting which when I went checking out who I had, the ones that where pure or mostly sable or real hair where holding up a little better.  It might also be the age on some of my brushes, as I still have ones from before I took a long break, which makes em ah over 20 years old.