You've invested a good deal of money into your paintbrushes, it only makes sense to take proper care of them in order to make them last and get the most out of your investment. Follow these tips to extend the life of your paintbrushes.

Invest in a brush holder. A brush holder will suspend the brush in either water or solvent while you're painting (or between uses) without crushing the hair.

Keep the handles dry. When soaking the brushes in solvent or water, soak only to the top of the brush head so that the handle doesn't get wet. Handles can become loose or cracked with repeated exposure to liquids.

Never allow paint to dry in a brush. Clean the brushes immediately after painting. Use a formulated brush cleaner, soap and warm water. Rinse completely and reshape the hairs.

Let the brushes air dry in an upright position to maintain the shape. You may also lay them flat or suspend them so that no water drains into the ferrule. Once thoroughly dried, store the brushes in a closed container. Make sure that nothing disrupts the bristles.

When painting a rough surface, avoid the use of expensive natural hair paintbrushes. The rough surface will damage the brush and cause it to wear out before its time. Instead, choose a less expensive synthetic brush for these tasks.

Occasionally condition your natural hair paintbrushes using lard oil which is found at most hardware stores or art supply shops. Place a drop of oil on each brush head and work in to the bristles. Wrap in a towel or rag for a few days (up to two weeks) allowing the oil to absorb. Gently wash the brushes and dry as described above.

Enjoy your brushes and take the necessary steps to keep them in pristine condition.

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Splitting Hairs: Types of Paintbrush Hairs and Bristles

Choosing a paintbrush can be overwhelming. Not only do paintbrushes come in all different shapes, sizes and configurations, the hairs that make up the bristles affect the performance of the brush.

The hairs from the tail of a sable marten are known for their softness, flexibility and strength. They taper naturally forming a point. The Kolinsky sable is considered the ultimate hair for watercolor paintbrushes.

Squirrel hair is less expensive than sable and tends to be soft with little spring to it. Larger squirrel brushes are preferred over the smaller ones because the larger mass of hair gives it more support.

Camel hair brushes are misnamed because they aren't necessarily made from camel hair as it is considered too wooly. They are usually made from other soft animal hair.

Ox hair brushes are made from long, springy and strong ox hair.

Goat hair is often used in Chinese Brush painting and calligraphy due to its ability to form a good point.

Course pony hair does not form a good point and is most often found in less expensive brushes.

The bristles from a hog's back are hard, strong and springy making them one of the ultimate choices for a hard, bristled paintbrush. Their natural split-ends allow them to hold more paint. Hog bristle brushes are most often used for oils and acrylics.

Soft paintbrushes such as sable and squirrel are best for detailed work because they form a sharp point. They are ideal when using thin paint that spreads easily. Hard paintbrushes such as hog hair are great for thicker paints and making brush strokes in the paint.

Synthetic fiber paintbrushes are much less expensive than their natural hair counterparts. Today's modern synthetics offer excellent results at a more affordable price. Whatever the medium and the budget, there's a paintbrush that's right for the job.

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