Brushes: Unfortunately, there is not a universal brush for all types of work. Well kinda. Pro painters may have eight to ten different kinds of brushes on hand; you can get by with two or three. For cut-in work and most painting we choose a tapered or angled brush. Bristles are either natural (derived from animals) or synthetic (polyester). For oil-based paint, you can use either type of bristle. For latex paint – the kind of paint most commonly used by homeowners – use only brushes with synthetic bristles because they hold their shape better and wash out cleaner.
