Mascara Wands: Every Type Of Brush Explained Here

Mascara wands are underrated. No matter how good a mascara’s ingredients or formula may be, if the brush isn’t right, it simply won’t deliver the results you’re after.

The mascara wand types you choose will determine how much mascara is deposited on your lashes with each stroke, either giving you subtle definition with minimal product or full, fat, inky lashes. Also, every brush type grip and bends the lashes differently, creating varying effects – some give you loads of length and definition, while others are all about dramatic volume. Finally, picking the right size and shape for your eye shape is also important.

The first commercial mascara (created by Eugene Rimmel in 1860) had a wand that looked like a tiny toothbrush – you can only imagine how tricky the application must have been. Thankfully, today, we have a plethora of options to choose from. Below, we list all the different types of mascara wands, their uses and our favourite mascaras to try.

Different types of mascara wands and what they do

This is the most traditional (and loved) type of mascara wand that can coat lashes with tons of mascara within seconds. While you risk getting clumpy lashes if you apply too much too soon (or if the mascara’s formula isn’t the best), nothing beats the intense volume these wands offer.

Try: The Supra Volume Mascara has a fluffy brush that gives lashes tons of volume in a single coat, minus clumps. Plus, the formula of Cassia flower wax and Volume Boost complex has ingredients that make the mascara double up as a lash serum, working to make your lashes fuller naturally with continued use.

These wands give you a cleaner, more even application. The spiky, plastic bristles help comb through clumps and distribute mascara evenly, so they’re great for lengthening and lash separation.

They tend to be paired with more liquid, “wet” mascaras, meaning you must give your lashes a few seconds to dry. But that also means you have more time to perfect your mascara before it sets.

The bristles on these wands are shorter at the edges. These are great if you want a dramatic lash effect. The smaller bristles at the tip help coat the smaller lashes in the inner and outer corners of the eyes. You can also use them to comb through individual lower lashes for a doe-eyed, ’60s-inspired look.

Try: Wonder Volume Mascara XXL delivers +100% instant volume and lasting lash care benefits. It can thicken, define and protect lashes for 12 hours. Formulated with 86% skincare ingredients, the mascara will result in +25% bare lash volume after just 28 days of use.

If you want a curled lash effect, a curved mascara wand is the one to pick. The C-shaped brush grips and lifts the lashes from the inner to the outer corners of the eyes. For a curl that lasts, use an eyelash curler first.

Try: The Supra Lift & Curl Mascara is an editor-favourite at Clarins. The curvy wand grabs every lash and lifts it from root to tip. And the rounded edge is perfect for coating the lower lashes. The formula of this mascara is rich in deep black and water-resistant mineral pigments. With bitter orange blossom wax coasts, it protects and curls lashes for easy application in a single sweep.

How to clean your mascara wand

Although some wands are more susceptible to clumping than others, they all need care to keep them performing their best. To keep your mascara wand clean and clump-free, wipe away excess mascara on a clean tissue before applying it. Also, limiting the number of times you dip your wand into the mascara tube will keep your mascara from drying out for longer.

If your mascara is new and still creating clumps, there are other ways to remedy this.