Mascara brush shapes: The different types of wands explained

In this day and age there is a mascara brush for absolutely every need – understandably, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with all the choice! From tubing mascara to lash-loving formulas, brands come forth with innovation after innovation – and that’s just the formulas. When it comes to the brushes themselves, we’re spoilt for choice with a huge variety of different shaped mascara wands for every need possible, from separation, to curling, volume and length.

The design of the brush can dramatically alter lash results – just look at these mascaras beauty editors swear by – so we’ve put together this handy guide on every type of brush so you can be one step closer to finding the mascara of your dreams.

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Straight

Ideal for beginners and the non-fussy, the classic straight wand creates natural looking length and separation. While they lack the quirks of other mascara brush shapes, you can tilt and manoeuvre at all angles to achieve your desired lash coverage. With its straight brush, L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara, $21.99, thickens lashes evenly and smoothly without flakes or clumps.

Pointed

A pointed-shaped brush gives you the best of both worlds – it allows you to create volume while the pointed tip can be used to separate and get rid of clumps. Case in point: Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect Mascara, $24.99, gives a full-fan look with the pointed brush.

Curved

A curved brush will comfortably hook onto your lashes and as you wiggle the wand, lift lashes up at the root and curl them. One example is Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara, $46, which eradicates the need for a lash curler – win!

Winged

The benefit of a winged brush is that the bristles are able to reach outer lashes easier than a typical mascara. The Rimmel London Wow Wings Mascara, $22.50, features a winged side which adds instant volume while the other side is curved, delivering definition and separation.

Skinny

A thin, straight brush will grab every lash, making the most non-existent eyelashes stand out. The skinny shape, like that on the Australis Skinny Mini Lower Lash Mascara, $20.49, allows you to achieve a separated and very natural effect.

Rectangle

While a rectangle-shaped brush may not be able to reach shorter lashes, a mascara like the IT Cosmetics Superhero™ Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara, $22 will stretch and pull lashes, boosting volume and length to new heights.

Hourglass

An hourglass-shaped brush with dense bristles will give you an incredibly amplified look – think falsies. The innovative shape of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, $40  inspired by a woman’s hourglass figure, applies product in those hard to reach areas, ensuring no lash is left behind.

Oversized

A huge, thick brush will achieve mega volume and an intense lash look. A larger brush is recommended for bigger eye shapes because it can get a little messy otherwise, but this COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Waterproof Mascara, $22.99, doesn’t budge once in place.

Spherical

Ball-tipped brushes are hard to come by but are great for building up volume in small sections. They create a cat-eye look when used on the outer corners of your eye and give a doll-eye effect when applied to the bottom lashes. Givenchy originally engineered this concept with the Phenomen’Eyes Mascara, but if you’re after a ball-tipped mascara available to buy here, Natio Dramatic Lashes Mascara, $23, is along the same wavelength with its innovative spherical brush that captures the shortest of lashes.

What is your favourite mascara brush shape?