Description
Slitesterk Horsehair Application Brush – the little brush that makes polishing tidy
Most people apply shoe cream with an old cloth or, worse, a finger. It works after a fashion, but you waste product, you never quite reach the welt, and the finish ends up patchy. A proper horsehair application brush solves all three problems for less than the price of a coffee.
This little dauber from Slitesterk has soft yet resilient horsehair bristles that hold the cream and release it evenly. You get a thin, controlled coat across the whole shoe instead of thick blobs on the toe and nothing along the edges.
It is the colourless, neutral version, which means it is not tied to one shade of cream. If you keep one brush for light creams and a second for dark ones, this is the one to reach for on your tan, cognac, burgundy and colourless creams.
It sits comfortably in the hand and is compact enough to get into seams, stitching and the awkward gap where the upper meets the sole – exactly the places where dried-on old polish likes to build up.
Why choose the Slitesterk application brush?
- Real horsehair bristles. Soft enough not to scratch fine leather, firm enough to push cream into the grain where it can actually do some good.
- Even, thin application. A brush spreads a controlled layer, so you use less cream and get a far more even finish than you ever will with a cloth.
- Reaches the awkward bits. Seams, welts, stitching and the edge of the sole all get treated properly instead of being skipped.
- Keeps your hands clean. No more cream under the fingernails, which is reason enough for most people to own one.
- Neutral version for light shades. Ideal for colourless, tan, cognac and burgundy creams, so colours never get muddled from one pair to the next.
- Built to last for years. A well-kept dauber outlives dozens of tins of polish, so it pays for itself many times over.
How to use the Slitesterk application brush
- Brush the loose dust off your shoes first with a larger cleaning brush, so you are not rubbing grit into the leather.
- Dip just the tips of the bristles into your shoe cream or polish. A little goes a long way.
- Work the cream into the leather with small circular movements, starting at the toe and finishing at the heel.
- Give the welt, the seams and the area around the laces a little extra attention – these dry out first.
- Leave the cream to settle for a few minutes, then buff with a separate horsehair polishing brush to bring up the shine.
- Wipe the bristles on a clean cloth after use and store the brush somewhere dry, bristles up.
Here is how I keep mine in order: one dauber per colour family, and a dab of masking tape on the handle to label it. Never wash a horsehair brush in hot soapy water, because it strips the natural oils and the bristles go brittle. A wipe on a cloth and the occasional comb through with your fingers is all it needs.
Specifications
- Type: Application brush (dauber) for shoe cream and polish
- Bristles: Natural horsehair
- Version: Colourless and neutral – best kept for light and neutral creams
- Suitable for: Smooth leather shoes, boots, bags and belts
- Brand: Slitesterk
- Also available in: A black version for dark creams and polishes
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an application brush and a polishing brush?
The dauber is small and firm and puts the cream on; the polishing brush is large and soft and takes the excess off while it builds the shine. You really do want both – using one brush for the two jobs simply spreads old cream around.
Do I need a separate brush for each colour?
Ideally yes, or at least one for light shades and one for dark. Pigment stays in the bristles, and black cream on a tan shoe is a mistake you only make once.
Where can I buy a horsehair application brush in the UK?
You can order the Slitesterk horsehair application brush directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy, so you can shop with complete peace of mind.
Anonymous –
The bristles are supple, so the shoe polish doesn’t spatter. Exactly what I was looking for!
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Anonymous –
Easy and good
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Russchen E. –
Iwan Bulten –
Looks solid
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Leon Knoops –
Excellent quality
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Carly Maas –
The bristles are supple, so the shoe polish doesn’t spatter. Exactly what I was looking for!
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Russchen E. –
Maarten Havinga –
Very nice little brush for smooth leather. Does its job just fine.
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Philippe Ekstein –
Nice compact brush, right length and brushes nice and softly on the shoe.
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A.W. Weissman –
Every part of the shoe is easy to reach with this soft brush
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jos Hendriks –
Ok, thanks guys
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Julia Boeré –
Nice brush, but some bristles do come loose sometimes
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Anja F –
Good to work with
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Eric Hasselaar –
Good tip from the website!
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Ronald Vrieswijk –
Good quality brush
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Maaike –
Good product
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Bjorn Hulst –
Great product!
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Cynthia Odero-Keulers –
Its an easy to use product!
Sandra Van Mourik –
Nice brush
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G.A. van Leijenhorst –
Excellent quality
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Els Brabers –
Good quality
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Shirley De Winkel –
Recommended. Nice to use.
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LA –
Sits nicely in the hand
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Elsemiek Westerdijk –
Handy size for applying polish to shoes but the hairs do come out quickly
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Jeroen Harberts –
Does shed a few hairs, otherwise works well
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Arie Kranenburg –
Good product
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S. Jansen –
Good brush
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Maurice van Dam –
Great, works really well
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Lucas –
Easy for rubbing in large pieces of leather
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A.F. Dekker –
Doesn’t get any better, I reckon
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Jarno Steijvers –
A brush
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Johan Overman –
Handy little brush
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S.C.C. Rusman –
Excellent
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Christel Voogt –
Nice brush, does lose the odd bristle here and there, but that’s to be expected for the price
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A de Gier –
Lovely brush!
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Maikel Alli –
Excellent quality.
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Gerard R (verified owner) –
Easy to polish in, with this little brush you can get the shoe polish into all the edges and seams properly.
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Ike (verified owner) –
Good quality!
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Henriette (verified owner) –
Brush is real horsehair. The dogs love it too.
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Igor Kostovski (verified owner) –
A soft horsehair brush is simply the best.
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M.B. (verified owner) –
Handy brush
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Andrea Hillebrecht (verified owner) –
Easy to handle.
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Joost-jelle Oudemans (verified owner) –
Nice brush
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Alexander Knijff –
Exactly the little brush that had been used in the family for years. Oh, nostalgia. Works well.
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Bert Homan (verified owner) –
Fine brush
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**** –
Very good, works nicely
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Ingrid Stegink (verified owner) –
It’s quality
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Patrick Haccou (verified owner) –
Good product
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L Noest (verified owner) –
Works nicely, good quality.
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Patricia (verified owner) –
Good for the purpose
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Geen (verified owner) –
Not used yet
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Willem Marquenie (verified owner) –
For the brown shoe polish, good for polishing
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Moniek van Munster (verified owner) –
Beautiful little brush, sturdy with supple bristles
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Henk (verified owner) –
Happy with it
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Bart Hertog (verified owner) –
Good brush!
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Lisa vw (verified owner) –
The brush sheds a few hairs. Otherwise a nice size and spreads well
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Willemijn Elshof-Strasters (verified owner) –
The ideal applicator brush!
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Ruud Jacobs (verified owner) –
Simple, sturdy brush.
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