The Secret World of Brushmaking: Sonia G. Takes us Behind the Scenes

Years previously, when Sonia G. was merely starting out, she created Fundamentals, a sequence of make-up brushes that may make her title. Now, almost 6 years and dozens of brushes later, Sonia G. is reissuing these conventional devices with updates to the rigorously crafted handles.

The world of Japanese brushmaking may be very guarded—methods that artisans have perfected for a few years are confidential. Nevertheless attributable to her longtime trusted relationship alongside along with her collaborators and producers, Sonia is able to give us an distinctive look. Proper right here’s her fascinating, step-by-step description of constructing the handles of these legacy brushes.

—Beautylish

Making the Handles

The model new handles for the Fundamental Assortment brushes are constructed from walnut picket. We redesigned all the take care of shapes to make sure they’ve been sturdy as walnut is a further delicate picket. Each take care of is completely completely different in hue and the pattern of the grain is unique to each piece. The sloping silhouette accentuates the small print of the picket grain; there could also be further complexity inside the grain in comparison with a straight take care of.I’m happy to share considerably bit further information on the subject of the complete course of.

STEP 1

The walnut picket is chosen, sawed to an preliminary dimension, after which left to dry for some days sooner than the next step could also be executed. Wood changes kind and tends to shrink. Leaving it to dry and settle in between the strategy mitigates the issues that might occur on the long run.

STEP 2

The objects of picket are decrease to a tricky kind with devices which had been created particularly for each brush’s take care of. The trick proper right here is that the picket is simply not decrease to the exact purpose dimension, nevertheless as a substitute for an even bigger dimension. The handles are then left to leisure as soon as extra—that’s to allow the picket to settle and shrink to its closing dimension. On the end of the resting course of, each take care of might have moved in one other means.

STEP 3

After the picket is regular, and since all handles should be adjusted in one other means, they’re then lathed one after the opposite manually. That’s the place the handles are shaped to their closing curves and dimensions.

STEP 4

Subsequent comes the first spherical of sharpening. I’ve noticed that the artisans will use completely completely different sanding papers counting on the realm they’re sharpening. As an illustration, it’s a novel course of on the physique, the sides, and even the place the model is utilized. That’s to allow the sides of the handles to have further grip on the lacquers, or for the model to be utilized as simply as potential.

STEP 5

That’s the place the Tonoko coating happens and the tiny conduits of picket are crammed and smoothed. Tonoko is a sharpening powder constructed from finely flooring stone. It’s a traditional course of utilized by artisans that has many benefits: Not solely does it intensify the grain of the walnut picket, it strengthens the picket and mitigates the hazard of shrinking.

STEP 6

The handles receive a matte primer coating of urethane.

STEP 7

One different sharpening step is added to soften the ground and make the handles even smoother.

STEP 8

Now the handles are ready for the first urethane coating. Urethane goes to protect the walnut picket, improve the durability, and help with the water-resistance.

STEP 9

Inspection: that’s when the coating and smoothness is re-checked and the last word measurements validated.

STEP 10

The handles that cross prime quality administration are shipped to the comb producer!

STEP 11

Now that the handles are on the comb producer, they assemble the comb hairs inside the ferrules, after which join them to the handles. The producer moreover inspects each take care of upon assembling.

The comb producer works fastidiously with the take care of producer all through the complete course of. In the event that they’ve ideas (probably due to the ferrules, and so forth.), or within the occasion that they encounter any problem, they will inform them.

STEP 12

The brushes exit into the world. As soon as I seen them for the first time, I was speechless. I saved attempting on the grain many occasions. I was shocked and overwhelmed with emotions and I nonetheless actually really feel the equivalent means proper this second!

The Sonia G. Fundamental Face Assortment is available on the market as a set or as singles; click on on proper right here to purchase.

Additional images courtesy of Sonia G. and her brush producers

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