Discover the Fude difference.

Flawless makeup is achievable every time with Japan’s Kumano makeup brushes. Smooth bases, highlights that pop, smouldering eyeshadows, striking contours - and applications that last. 

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 1000 artisans who use techniques refined over centuries. 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.

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.

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.

Kumano Brushes Represent a Dedication to Quality through the Ages

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.

Quality of Craftsmanship

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.

Quality of Materials

The Bristles

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.

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. 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.

The Handle

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.

The 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. 

Choose Kumanofude for High-Quality Japanese Makeup Brushes

Anyone looking purchase their first set of makeup brushes or to upgade their existing makeup kit should consider high-quality Kumanofude artisan makeup brushes. The ability to improve makeup application and skin health, as well as maximize the longevity of makeup, makes Kumano brushes an excellent choice for anyone seeking high-quality artisan makeup brushes.