This Chikuhodo Artist 18-2 brush is now discontinued as a Chikuhodo line but will be kept by Chikuhodo as an OEM line for other brands, it appears now in a different section. I recently spotted the R-C2 that has just been released and I have to say the shape of the head looks exactly similar… => the difference is now explained at the bottom of this post in the update since Chikuhodo replied to me with a bit more details.
Here we are in Sonia’s Heaven territory, whatever material, this is the shape that makes me want a brush really really bad! Round, soft, dense but not like a mass of hair, just directional enough to place and blend precisely without leaving streaky lines, you’ll have a huge lot of control without having to worry about an uneven application.
It’s funny because even though it’s very dense, the application of very pigmented blushes, like the Tom Ford Flush or even Narcissist, has a very natural finish. It does also pick a great amount of product on sheer blushes like some Burberry or SK-II that I love, I apply the blush in circular motions starting in the center and blending outwards and I can repeat the operation and build up without having to correct it. I also like to push the powder like that because I feel like the blushes last longer than with a swipe type of application.
Size
Hair length : 3.3cm
Base of ferrule 1.7cm
Hair thickness : 2.5cm
Material : Grey squirrel
Price : 368 Sek in Kohlindo.se
The GSN-04 is similar but bigger, not as soft but it is very easy to use, works with any product and has a huge talent for blending. It doesn’t poke at all but in terms of softness, it does not compare to the 18-2 at all, the later being so much softer.
The Hakuhodo 210 is shown here for size comparison purposes, actually, the 210 is a brush I was really wanting in squirrel hair, but that I could not get my hands on. I believe the 18-2 is the closest you could find. The density is probably similar but the flexibility of the 18-2 is bigger due to the hair being softer and longer.
The Tanseido is a fantastic brush too, but better for very pigmented products because it’s really not as dense as the others.
This 18-2 has everything that I felt was missing in the other ones… I wanted a softer brush than the 210, a more precise brush than the GSN-04 and a denser brush than the Tanseido and with the 18-2 I have it all. Well, except for the handle, I wish it was a little bit more unique.
But believe me, in terms of quality vs price this 18-2 does meet my picky requirements.
The Chikuhodo Special does have it all too… Since I received many emails asking me how and where this brush can be obtained I tried to find you a dupe. The Special portable brush is the same idea in terms of shape and I think a few of you are interested because of that, and you should be because for once you have a portable brush that is gorgeous and useful. This exact brush can only be purchased in Hiroshima in the local shops but I found two brushes that could be dupes (however without the flower design) : The Eihodo H-5 and the Chikuhodo H-5.
I love to use it but I am afraid to damage it, that’s why I will be getting other similar options with the H-5’s. I will let you know if they indeed are the same… or not, a few more days and we’ll know 😉 No I did not order all the brushes in the planet, but I did order some that will probably be of interest to you and that will be worth mentioning in a review…
Update 15th of November 2013
32 comments
Hi Sonia,
thanks for this great review. As a lover of the tanseido, I had the chikuhodo long on my wish list. Just yesterday I ordered it. Now I read your post and I am very happy that I ordered it yesterday.Now I know I’ll like it. Thank you very much
I actually have the 18-2 artist red on the way from Chikuhodo, but hearing that the black long handled one might be discontinued, I figured I’d make a mad dash to Kohlindo & get myself one before it’s too late 😉
While I was there, I FINALLY caved on the MK-2.
It will be my first Makie brush!!
Great comparison pics!
I don’t know about the discontinuing.. so not sure … I will keep you updated about it as soon as Chikuhodo replies. They are changing many things and removing others…
Either way, you won’t have regrets in my opinion even if you have two because it’s very multipurpose, I was going to get a second one but since the R-C2 is similar I’ll wait for it and see.
oh the MK-2 finally, I hope you will love that one ! I do very very much 🙂
How cool is that ?! 🙂
let me know if you love it as much as the Tanseido (or more…) 😉
Last Saturday i received the chikuhodo Artist 18-2. The head is very round and a tiny bit too big for my little cheeks. It is very soft and at the same time dense. With my heavy hand I can apply any blush and the result is always gorgeous. But sorry chikuhodo, the Tanseido YSC is still my favorit blush brush. But the second rank is safe.
Hi Kimitrulla, gosh that’s right you are a Tanseido YSC devoted fan! I understand you totally, it is fantastic if you have a heavy hand! Second rank is nice and you may want to use it with sheerer blushes for example… hope you still be using it either way!
Looks like an excellent brush for contouring! I have the Haku 210 (was my first Haku purchase) but it sheds and bleeds blue dye, so I don’t really find myself reaching for that brush that often. You really do have an exquisite brush collection!
That was my thought too! And I like it better than the Hakuhodo J210, because it is more tapered and therefore has a smaller surface at the top.
Totally right Jeanette, the smaller and more flexible surface at the top makes it more appropriate for contouring than a 210 🙂
Thank you Debbie !
oh.. sorry to hear that about the 210…
This 18-2 is really good for contouring for sure, I can’t wait to see if the R-C2 is similar because these brushes are totally right up my alley 🙂
this may not be the sexiest looking makeup brush out there
but oooh ….look at that soft shiny hair. >^,,^<. i'll just pretend i didn't see it
Hi Sonia!
I think chikuhodo made a separate website for their artists/wholesale brushes from their prestige line. I dont understand but all I can see is “OEM” hahaha Anyway, here is their website for their artist series brushes and they still have the 18-2 brush.
http://www.chikuhodo.com/oem/list/artist/artist_list.html#page2
Im sorry instead of “prestige”, it should be their Original line. The website for the original line and the standard line are separated.
Thank you Ann, I hadn’t seen that, I actually sent an email early this morning to Yutaro (Chikuhodo President’s son) who manages R&D to ask if they were being discontinued or not 🙂
In that case maybe they are not discontinued ! anyway the R series seem to have a better looking handle.. we’ll see 🙂
Ok! I will wait for your RC 2 post.
thank you Ann 🙂
Does it also work for soft contouring?
-B
yes absolutely, sorry I forgot to mention… but indeed, it’s also fantastic for that, I’d rather use this than a very dense and flatter brush, this is much more forgiving and easy.
Hello Sonia,
Which brush did you have in the stoplight last week or so?
last week it was the Koyudo C011 but I will create some archives so that you can follow up if you missed it 🙂 sorry !!
Ah brilliant. Thank you!
Hello!
What did you ment by “does not appear in the Chikuhodo website”, is not it this brush: http://www.chikuhodo.com/oem/list/artist/artist_18_02.html# ?
Sorry Mila.. I have now corrected my post, imagine… I couldn’t find it 🙁
I have sent an email the other day to Chikuhodo about this and I am just awaiting confirmation from them that these series will not be discontinued.
I will keep you updated as soon as I receive more information. I apologize for the confusion !
So.. got a reply from Chikuhodo. The artist series will be discontinued by Chikuhodo as their own line but the range will still be available to other OEM client companies.
Thank you! Would keep that in mind.
I LOVE YOUR BLOG! And I’ve made a purchase of Koyudo brushes (my first purchase of Japanese brushes) that I’m really looking forward to receiving! I purchased the BP025, which I’m really excited to use, but I’d also like a blush brush with a round head, very soft, like this Chikuhodo 18-2. Are there other brushes with squirrel hair like this that you can recommend in Hakuhodo or Koyudo? I’m going to be making a purchase for eyeshadow brushes soon with Hakuhodo, and Chikuhodo, especially the Z series, can get expensive… :-/
Thank you Amy 🙂 are you looking for a small size round -flat- blush brush ? I can think of big ones but not much small options are available, that’s why either Tanseido or Chikuhodo are quite the leaders on this type of shape..
I have a few on my way to me and I will let you know if they could fit your needs 🙂
I love the Artist 18-2, R-C2, Noel Collection, GSN-04 comparison post on fb 🙂 thank you so much, Sonia!
i just realised that my Houkodou (AS red series)
http://eds2.heteml.jp/houkodou/cargo/goodslist.cgi?in_kate=17
might be the same as Chikuhodo artist series ,so if any of us is interested in the artist series , it may be cheapest and easiest to purchase these from overseas 🙂
yes they might be the same 🙂 Chikuhodo now make them for other brands, probably that these may come from there.
thanks for sharing that!!
Hi Sonia,
I love brushes in this shape as well, just wondering what’s the differences in between the Chikuhodo Artist 18-2 and the Z series Z-4 cheek brush?? they look pretty similar in size in the photos, only thing i notice is the Artist 18-2 is rounder and the Z-4 if more flat in shape, but in terms of their softness, application quality and the size, do them have major differences?? thanks for every sharing you did in the blog btw. cheers.
I have similar concerns…I’m choosing from haku J210, Chikuhodo GSN-4, and Z-4 for cheek brush. It seems that J210 is rounder, Z-4 is flatter, and GSN-4 is in between. Since All of them are soft enough for me, I doesn’t care much about the softness of the bristle. But their shapes are a bit different, I really can’t decide which one to buy…Would you mind offering me some advice? Btw,I already got the Haku B110 so don’t want brushes that have similar effect as B110. Thank you!
Hi, how does chikuhodo 18-2 compares to suqqu cheek brush? I already have the suqqu one and I’m thinking about buying the chikuhodo one as a dupe? Are they similar? I think maybe the chikuhodo one is denser?