Another recently released brush is this S 106 from Hakuhodo, do I need to mention that it’s beautiful or is it obvious ? If you like the S100 Series, you will love this.
Specs: full length : 19.2cm, hair length 4.5cm, base of the ferrule 2.5 cm. It’s dense, fluffy-full, firm, soft but not as soft as the J531. Even though I feel the J531 is clearly softer and the hair bristles are thinner, I prefer the shape and the evenness of the S106. The bundling also looks more finished and perfected. But the difference in price is 33usd, putting the S one at 120 usd.
The S106 is not only beautiful, it’s also a very efficient brush, will pick up generous layer of product and will blend like a dream, when you are used to lightweight squirrel brushes and you jump to this, you better control it!
Some of us use a fluffy dense brush for applying just some powder as a light coverage instead of liquid foundation, in summer I see myself reaching for this brush combined with a Serge Lutens powder foundation just for a light coverage, then use the same brush with some bronzer or “healthy powder” (healthy powder is more like a foundation/bronzer with some glow). If I want more coverage I will reach for the Koyudo Fu-Pa14 but in summer most of the time I tend to just apply some Mac Skinfinish or Serge Lutens powder foundation on top of some concealer placed just where needed.
Today I use this brush for bronzer, I used quite a pigmented one (a Bobbi Brown), I had to remove the excess by taping the brush against my hand but then the application is flawless and I just love when angled brushes have a real pronounced angle that make them truly deserve the mention “angled”. With these angled brushes you have more surface to play with, you have more choice in the techniques you use, the shorter side will work with much firmness than the longer side and here the graduation from left to right is clearly making a difference.
Compared to the two Hakuhodo on the left, the S106 is softer and much denser and firm. The Kokutan LAG for me acts more like a finishing brush to wipe excess off gently, the S100 is a bit denser and can apply bronzer more easily than the LAG because it’s also thicker and has more surface than this Kokutan.
If I had to choose only one, it would definitely be the S106, even if the J531 is softer, I feel the quality is higher with the S106 and the purpose of this brush is more functional than the Kokutan or the S100.
Big place in my heart for the S106, it has been in my wishlist since the first day I saw it in Kumano but I had to choose… selection selection…. I am happy that it is now here with me, it’s an encounter with a masterpiece!
16 comments
What a beauty !!
The white hair with this S handle is really a great combo but i wish they would have a S110 or S210 blush brush in this line 🙁
I dont use much powder products so i dont want to have tons of powder brushes but i think one white is ok so i have to choose TF Bronzer brush or this one 😛
Nonono, please, for the sake of my wallet, they shouldn’t do anymore with S 100 handles… 😀
I see, the TF is also a huge beauty, making a choice between these two is something I couldn’t do 🙁
OHHHHH, isn’t that a gorgeous brush?! I honestly used to not like the S handles for some reason, but they have really grown on me. And that hair and shape looks so efficient – I love angled cheek brushes….
Glad they did, I know you aren’t the only one 🙂
me too, angled is good 🙂
Thank you..for information.And How S106 compare to Tom Ford bronzer brush? Do you prefer?
Thank you Bambi!
The TF is softer (just slightly), denser and the S106 is bit more directional and precise, as I said just before, I could not choose between these two.
The one thing I can say is that you have more options with the S106 than with the TF, with the S106 you can do everything the TF does, but with the TF you cannot do everything the S106 does, just a matter of firmness and precision 🙂
Hahaha… I know it’s really hard for you to choose one. Thank you so much. xx
I can’t believe how beautiful a makeup brush can be. It’s a work of art. I’d almost be afraid to use it!
I have yet to start my Hakuhodo collection and am so intimidated as to where to start!
Shani x
http://shedreamsinperfectfrench.com
I am afraid too, they are fragile these S handles, everytime I put them inside the containers, the end can suffer and be dammaged but you know, the smaller scratch will look bigger and more sad in a Ferrari than in a less expensive car, but I still prefer to have a Ferrari with maybe one tiny scratch or two, I need to be careful with them though!!
It such a lovely brush. I love to read your comparison of brushes. And I droll more by days
The TF bronzer is HUGE!!! But I love using it with my KGD finishing powder.
Do u have the Koyudo BP02? I played with it in Tokyo and its amazing. Based on yr description of the S106 and compared to the TF bronzer its size should be right in the middle! I remember how amazingly soft it felt in my hands but due to budget restrictions I couldnt get her. Booo hooo
So Im def getting the BP02 very soon!!!
I don’t own the BP002 … unbelievable 😀
Thank you so much for sharing with us your reviews about all those Japanese brushes! I’m just a beginner and often have questions for brush size, function, and shape. Questions for Hakuhodo brushes:
What’s the difference between J5521 and G5521? I’d like one highlighter brush and have trouble picking one. And same for J531 and G531. I think I’m using it for contour/bronzer. So is there any difference between the two apart from the bristle color? Many said J531 is more of a dupe for S106, but I was thinking if I could use G531 as a dupe since it’s cheaper.
I have one more question regarding the shopping website: where can we order Tanseido and Kyureido brushes here in the States? And normally will these websites offer international shipping to countries like China and Hong Kong? I have friends in China and they want to order these beauties too:)
Hi Olivia,
J5521 is goat hair it will have more power to pick product and buff it, G5521 is softer although the difference is not huge but the main difference is how much strength you can put on the bristles to buff and the J5521 is firmer and thicker.
The J531 is much softer than the G531 so if you have delicate skin and are looking for an extremely soft brush, the J531 is the one you’ll pick. FOr contour I would use the J5521 and for bronzer the J531. They are white so if you don’t want to bother cleaning them often it is more special to go with the white ones. You also have to wash the black ones but since they are black, the washing can be less frequent as the colour on the bristles will not be as visible and will not bother you as much as the white ones…
FOr Tanseido you can only order them on their Japanese website and have them delivered to Japan but you can contact them by email contact@tanseido.co.jp and they may be able to help you!
Kyureido is a big mystery, except for Rakuten I have no idea where you can order these brushes.
I hope this helps you!! 🙂
WHICH ONE IS BETTER S 106 0R S531 ?
Hi Diana, the look of the S106 is more appealing (handle) but the brushes are very similar. It depends on your budget mainly, if you don’t mind paying for the looks, get the S106, it’s more unique.
If you are going to travel with it and use it daily, get the S531, the handle of the red one will get chipped and damaged too easily, it requires a lot of babying.
In terms of performance, the bristles on the S106 are firmer, the S531 are softer, more flexible and cover a very slightly bigger area. But, my brushes are old so the batches of bristles used at the time have certainly changed since then.