Maybe you already know that Hakuhodo is slowly but frequently releasing new brushes, looks like it’s a “two by two” thing now… 🙂
So I keep an eye on their “New products” tab, recently they released a J210 and a J212 :
Do you already own the Hakuhodo black goat 210 ? Then, imagine a softer and slightly fluffier version of it : heaven.
I believe it’s about the same density, since the hair are softer I think this is why they seem more “squeezable” (not that I am squeezing the brush but maybe you can picture putting some pressure on the head and seeing a bit more movement or flexibility in the hair).
It’s also just slightly more rounded.
Hakuhodo 210 vs J210
Doesn’t it scream softness ? I think it’s the first time you can actually even see “softness” in a picture 🙂
Of course the best of these 5 brushes is the Hakuhodo J210, much much softer than any of the other 4. There isn’t much difference between the Hakuhodo 210 and the Mac 109, but the Hakuhodo 210 is more pleasant to use.
The Illamasqua is the synthetic option if you can’t or don’t want to use natural brushes.
The Sigma is of course not as good as the other ones but it’s not the same price too.
The Hakuhodo J212 is also a gem. It’s a bit bigger than the new J214 but has the same density and softness. Can you tell that I love this kind of little dense brushes ?
I use them on a daily basis to blend the eyeshadow application or to apply highlighter.
The softest are the two J series, the J214 and J212, then the Koyudo, the hair are a bit more flexible and also very dense but it covers more surface at the top of the head.
The Hakuhodo B214 and 212 are not scratchy at all but not as pleasant as the others.
I will reach for the black versions when I am using very difficult to blend products since they would blend with more strength.
I hope this helps, someday I will add this review in the main post 🙂 and I still have to review all the Koyudo I have, but I haven’t finished with them yet… I still haven’t tried all the foundation ones and I am a bit puzzled because some are not soft at all but they perform well, so I will need to carry on using them and checking if after a few washes, the softness improves or not…
36 comments
Sigh! More beautiful brushes! I love the 210 and 212 and now they are in even softer white goat hair? Now I want those to match my J214, which I agree is softer than the very nice B214. Hakuhodo is sure not sitting on their hands, are they? They keep on churning out better and better products. Good for them…and us! And thank you again, Sonia, for reviewing these newbies.
you are welcome ! Hakuhodo are killing me “softly” hahaha
Nice pun! That is so true! LOL
BTW, I ordered some Chikuhodo brushes to complement my mostly Hakuhodo collection of brushes. Will get them in couple of weeks. I’m so happy to finally purchase these elusive brushes. Malin is so sweet.
A round soft white blush brush : J210 will be in my next purchase for sure, I love the black 210 (I have two of them) but sometimes it is a little scratchy.
I wonder when hakuhodo will put these kabukis online, I want them all !!!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xk28jEPn9Aw/TzMeS96y9wI/AAAAAAAAAa8/tr5-DNk-W1o/Hakuhodo4_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800
eeeeeeeeeek want those 😛
Hi Nikoleta:)
I only spotted this link of yours today. How amazing are those kabukis?!!! I would also not be able to decide on only one. They look so incredibly soft and the design of the handle is DIVINE. These won’t come cheap:((
Great brush post! I’m contemplating putting through a Hakuhodo order – which Hakuhodo blusher brush works well with the Euro baked Joues Contraste blushers? I’ve tried MAC, Sigma etc without satisfactory results. Thank you!!
Hi Petrina, what kind of shaped brush are you looking for ?
Depends if you want a smaller, bigger, rounded, angled, etc…
I use the Hakuhodo J Series brushes for the application of the JC, they are soft but dense and firm enough to grab this powder.
These are the 4 I like to use : J5521 (Pointy, for precise application or contouring), J210 (rounded), J4003 (angled), J5543 (flat, can be used sideways if you need more blush precision). All these are nice brushes for using with the JC, they do work me 🙂
which do you think is the densest brush haku produces? I have a sheer blush that I need something strong to work with :p
Hi Stephanie,
The denser brushes I have from these series are the J5543 and J210, you also have the J528 but if it’s for powder blush, I’ll rather recommend you the J5543 or the J210 🙂
thank you Sonia! if I were to look outside this range, would there be anything that might work? What personally do you use (across all brands) for sheerer blushes? TY so much for your help 😀
you are welcome 🙂
outside of this J range but inside of the Hakuhodo brand ?
I find J Series to be the best value for money. Otherwise I don’t know what your budget is, there is the blush brush from Tom ford, or the Koyudo C004P, or the Mac 109, or the Rouge Bunny Rouge 012, or the other Hakuhodo 210,… just to mention a few 🙂
I use the J Series I told you or the Tom Ford 06, these are my top favorites.
heh perhaps both? inside the brand and outside it?
OMG Sonia, I just pulled out my Hakuhodo brushes and just realized I had both the 212 & 214, and had an extra brand new 210. I have no idea why I thought I needed a 2nd one lol! Now I am lemming the BP023. I don’t understand my obsession with ball shaped brushes?! BTW, I sent you pics of another ball shaped brush – the Takeda 20RS 😀
Hi,
New to your blog but so helpful even though I am sure my wallet is going to hurt..was just wondering which brush in the J series you would recommend for the Chanel Tan de Soleil bronzer?
Thanks
Hi Pam, thanks for stopping by 🙂
I would use the Haku J4001, although my fav is the Koyudo BP013, the result is even more flawless but both are great options.
Hello,
Which one of the J110 or J210 would you prefer if you had to choose a multi-purpose fluffy brush? I’ve read that J210 is a real workhorse. It seems both would work fine but wasn’t sure which one one would be a good choice as a first option if you have not owned a face brush from Hakuhodo. =)
Also, I’m looking for a multi-purpose duo-fiber brush mostly for foundation and creme bronzer (Chanel) assuming that one brush can do all that. 😉 I thought about getting the J4001 but it seems you love the J544. Is J544 used with stippling motion, or like a padding like a paddle brush? Is there difference on the finish (on the skin)for each brush? Looking forward to your input! Thanks! -Kari
Hi Kari,
I do prefer the J210 but for me it’s not very multipurpose, what do you want to do with it and what kind of products will you use ?
The J4001 is very flexible, if the foundation is hard to blend you’ll be better with the J544. I use it more in a paddling motion, or with round motions
The Chanel works best with the J4001, I love it with it !
The thing is that I love the J544 for foundation and the J4001 for the Chanel, you will get more use with the J544 but I think that both brushes should try to enter your collection.
Not a difference in the finish in my opinion, but depending on what products you use, one will work best than the other, the J544 has better blending capabilities and better precision but the J4001 has a more diffused “overall” application purpose…
don’t know if that helps you..
Hello from Germany!
I am actually thinking about getting the 210 or the J210 as I heard that the original 210 can be used for so many things: blush, bronzer, foundation etc. Now the question is if the J210 does the exact same good job as the 210 or does it loose some of its possible uses because of the high softness of the bristles (you know some very soft brushes don´t do a good job in placing product where you actually want it as the bristles have to much movement)? I only want to get one of these brushes and would like to get the better one of course! 🙂
Thanks for your help!
Hi Monique !
These 2 are extremely dense so for bronzer I would not use those unless I want to use it for contour, they will both pack product quite heavily and directionaly.
For powder foundation, yes, they are nice and efficient. For liquid foundation I only use the J210 and only for finishing, not for directly applying the liquid or cream foundation with it, the bristles suck quite a lot of product and are a bit too soft, I prefer thicker bristles for liquid or powder foundation. I don’t use the 210 for liquid products (they are dyed I think).
You are right, the J210 is very soft so softness sometimes equals less packing of product but these two are very dense and quite flat so the “packing” of powder for me it’s pretty much equal, enough to not prefer one over the other. What would more be a matter of decision is if you want to benefit from 1) a softest feeling with the white, or 2) a less “stainable” option with black bristles. My skin is very sensitive so the J210 is a more pleasant option for me, if you don’t have that problem and you want an easier maintenance brush, then the 210 might be better, keep in mind that the 210 is just very slightly smaller, but they are both the same length and similar density and movement in the bristles.
hope that helps 🙂
Thanks so much for your advice! After having read your answer and having thought for hours and days, I think I will go for the original 210. I do have a dry and slightly sensitive skin but still I think that the 210 is soft enough for me. For me the performance is actually a little more important than the softness, given that the brush is not cratchy though. Again, I really appreciate your help as your comment was so detailed that it helped me to make the final decision!!!
Keeping in mind your other comment about the highlighter brush, I now decided to place my first order with the 210 and the J5521. Still, I would like to purchase one other brush. Which one is a must have to your opinion? I don´t want eyebrushes as I have pretty many and I am very happy with them. Also, I don´t necessarily want foundations brushes as I have quite a few (Louise Young LY34, Dior Flat Foundation Brush, …) and I am also happy with them. I don´t really want fan brushes neither. Actually I am very interested in the J110 as it is supposed to be another super-soft multitasker. I am right with that? Do you suggest this brush or is there any other recommendation for a new holy grail?
Best regards and again, thanks so much, from Germany!!
…also, have you experienced any shedding with the hakuhodo brushes? I read in another beauty blog that the 210 lost a fews hairs during the application. Thanks for your answer!
yes sometimes they may shed a few hair at the beginning, I had this with a hakuhodo foundation brush but then it stopped and now it’s stable. I read in other forums that some Hakuhodo were shedding, that can happen with any brand and you should be able to return them. Just make sure you gently remove the excess water with a towel (I use a paper one) once you wash them, that will make them dry a bit faster and also leave them to dry naturally (no sun light, no hair dryer as this may alter the glue), you probably already know that but just wanted to mention it in case. I had a few brushes that shed and shed but these are not from Hakuhodo, I have exchanged them but it costed me a lot 🙁
Hi I’m a huge fan of your site! I was hoping for some advice. I have a small collection of Hakuhodo brushes and love everyone of them. Many have been purchased through information gain on your site. The other day I tried buffing with my 210 after applying my powder & it created such beautiful finish. My 210 is one of my much loved blush brushes so I’d like to purchase another brush for buffing. I was thinking of one of the 527’s (not sure which one) or trying the j210. There is such a huge price difference between the two. I’d truly love your opinion. Maybe you might suggest something completely different. Also I know you have said in your previous posts that you love the Shu Uemura for meteorites application. In your opinion is there a Hakuhodo equivalent? Maybe the J104? Thank you in advance. Please know how helpful your site is & how appreciative so many people are of your effort & expertise you invest into it. Many thanks Kellie 🙂
Hi Kellie,
Thank you 🙂 I really appreciate it !!
I have the G527, for me it’s a bit too hard so my very delicate skin doesn’t really enjoy it. It’s not that it’s not soft, but the very flat mass of hair doesn’t very well adhere to my face features (does this has sense for you?) not sure I manage to explain…
Will you be buffing only powder ? do you want something really soft like but still feels like a mass of hair or something that provides buffing but a bit more flexibility than a mass of thick hair ?
If powder, if thick mass is preferred : Koyudo H008
If powder, if you prefer something a bit more easily adaptable to the skin : Koyudo Fu-pa14
If powder or cream : Koyudo pr001 a pic here : and the price is amazing for what it is !!
I have the Hakuhodo J528 and it’s incredibly soft, maybe the big sister J527 will be as soft, I do love this little version of it, nice to buff or to apply cream base/foundation sculpting.
For the Shu, I don’t have similar options but I do have a little one that looks similar, but so much softer ! I think I will get the big sister in Japan, it’s the Tanseido YSC 17, I use it for everything, blush, contour, powder. Much smaller but a really beautiful brush ! I don’t own the J104 but it looks spot on ! same exact dimensions as the Shu, knowing Hakuhodo’s quality, this one must be amazing !
If you get it let me know how you like it 🙂
Wow thank you so much for the information and taking the time to reply 🙂
I will look into the brushes you have mentioned. I’m just a little scared that I will start a new addiction lol. In all seriousness though makeup in general has become a bit addictive for me. I hope I don’t sound too crazy and I pray I’m not the only one that gets that feeling that its just not quite right until you have the whole range???
I have read on blogs complaints about US pricing of cosmetics and have to laugh as its nothing to Australian prices. That is one of the reasons I feel in love with Hakuhodo. Nothing against MAC brushes (some are my all time favourites) but in my opinion in general Hakuhodo brushes are far superior. In Australia Mac brushes are more expensive then Hakuhodo!
I promised myself my last Hakuhodo would be my last for some time. It hasn’t arrived of yet and I’m already planning another lol. I was just so impressed with the finish on buffing my skin with the 210 I have to place another. All powders I’ve tried in the past just seems to sit on top of my skin and look like I’ve been powdered (hope that makes sense). You see I like each brush to have its own purpose. It saves me the worry of dusting left over blush all over my face (trust me its been done). So I just can’t use the 210 I already have as for some blushes its the best! I believe everyone should have a 210 in their collection.
I’m thinking I might try the j210 as it sounds like a lovely brush anyway even it if doesn’t suit my purpose, plus its a great price. I might also go the j104. As you said Hakuhodo’s are amazing so why not :). The 527’s possibly don’t sound for me.
Thank you so much for your assistance. I will check out the brushes you mentioned. I’m sure they will be beautiful. Maybe I wait a month or two just to put some money back in the bank :). Who am I kidding??? I will be googling the brands the second I stop typing 🙁
Love your site!!! Im sure there are plently of people out there that value your site that you are not aware of as like me they read and reread your posts often without comment (opps thats not me anymore lol).
Please keep up the good work and know its all very much appreciated.
Many thanks
Kellie 🙂
Well Kellie, I think it may be a little bit too late to stay away from addiction 😉
Here too, Mac brushes (and makeup) is so much more expensive that if I buy it on Ebay it gets even cheaper 😀
Thank you for the feedback and please do let me know what you think of the J104 if you get it, I am very tempted !
many welcomes 😉
Thank you so much for your advice. I will be getting the j104 but it may not be until next months pay & then it will take two weeks to reach me.
I thought you may be interested in what I found on the j104 while searching the web.
There is a resent photo on “Makeup Addiction Brush Guide” that made me weak at the knees 🙂 They describe it as “low density” & “large, fluffy, loosely pack brush used for a light application of powder”.
Also “Chelsea Pearl” has a youtube video featuring the j104.
Thank you again for your help.
Cheers Kellie 🙂
thank you Kellie, I am interested in that Hakuhodo but I am tempted by the Tanseido here http://www.tanseidoshop.com/?pid=27415540 it’s a bit shorter so it might allow better control for me, we’ll see 😉
thank you for the information and reference, nice 🙂
cheers 🙂
Hi yet again lol. It’s decision making time so I was hoping for some final help 🙂
Ok if you had the option of purchasing the RMK powder or the Hakuhodo J104 for Meteorites application? I understand you don’t own the J104 but by assuming its the same quality to the J series. Both to Australia are very similar in price.
Also gorgeous hubby is hakuhodoing for my birthday YAY! I don’t known anything Squirrel (only g5521 mix) so I was thinking the k002 and the k020. I understand they will be more a light application so when speaking in terms of blush, would you consider the RMK or Tom Ford blushes highly pigmented? I’m about to purchase the RMK mix colours as you regard them so highly I just have to give them a go! I just LOVE my Tom Ford cheek colours & haven’t touched any other blushes since acquiring them. I just don’t want to waste a brush purchase on a brush I won’t use no matter how wonderful it is. Do you think the RMK cheek S being a mix might be a better choice?
I can easily purchase both Hakuhodo & RMK in Australia hence the decision between the two 🙂
You could always recommend I need them all :)!!!!!!
Thank you in advance for your time. Your opinion is greatly appreciated
Cheers
Kellie 🙂
I guess I would take the J104, the shape appears to be much more appropriate for meteorites.
You have a wonderful Hubby and… Happy birthday to you Kellie 😀
The RMK and TF blushes are highly pigmented and would totally be working paired with any of the two brushes (k002 and K020) you mention although the K002 is a bit too big for blush application.
You should definitely give RMK mix a go !
You don’t need to pick up a “blended” brush that contains goat if you want to use pigmented blushes, I don’t know how delicate you skin is or how oily (goat = oily, squirrel = dry), it’s not a mandatory rule since I have very delicate and dry skin and I use whatever I want…
Actually, I even prefer the RMK cheek brush that is only squirrel more than the “S”, the density makes it a soft yet really efficient brush for applying and blending blush.
You will not be wasting any brush if you get any of the ones you mention, they are all fantastic brushes, often there is not “only one best brush”, but several fantastic ones, so you don’t need to focus and be so scared about taking the right decision, I am really happy to be able to own a lot of them because I enjoy them all !
Enjoy your birthday and your presents, they will last you a lifetime 🙂
Thank you so much for that 🙂
Omg I want them all! I don’t quite understand the addiction but I just WANt WANT WANT!!!
I only just received the hakuhodo j5543 and love it for blush. I’ve only used it twice and I’m already looking at purchasing another blush brush. I must be going mad lol
The k002 would be for loose powder even though I hardly ever use loose powder 🙂
Just one more question sorry. Would you think the blue squirrel would work for pressed powder or would it be too soft? What type/shape would you recommend? I am currently using the Guerlain Wulong pressed powder and LOVE it! I think it deserves the most suited brush for its application.
Thank you again for everything. I have reread all your brush posts to try and find the answers before asking you as not to trouble you too much.
Cheers Kellie 🙂
Hi Kellie,
I know, once you start you want them all 😀
I don’t own the Wulong although I tried 🙁 it was sold out, but if it’s like the old Guerlain pressed powders then blue squirrel is not too soft, they are very finely milled and totally compatible with squirrel hair brushes.
That’s really sweet of you to reread 🙂 thank you !
talk soon!
That’s sensational news! Thank you so much yet again. Hope you have a super weekend. Cheers Kellie 🙂