BRISTLE:

This hair comes from hogs, usually raised in France, Russia, India or China. The Chinese bristles are generally used more in paint brushes. The best bristle comes from the hogs back. It is washed, boiled, and sterilized. Many times a brush maker will bleach the hair which breaks the hair and makes it softer, giving it a soft texture, which is good for painting on metals. After the hair has been sterilized, it is then sorted into different grades & lengths for many different kinds of brushes. It ranges from grades of soft, thin, silky, stocky, etc. The hog bristle has multiple tips or points called “Flag” which in turn help hold the paint in the brush. White bristle is used in fitches, cutters, or fill-in type brushes. Black bristle is used in easel pictorial fitches & wall brushes. The longer the hair, the more expensive it is.