A useful RFQ for custom makeup brushes tells a factory the brush types, materials, quantities, branding, packaging, quality checks, and shipping terms you need, so the quote is based on a real specification rather than a guess. Write one document for the project, list every SKU with bristle, ferrule, and handle details, and say how you will approve samples before bulk production. The sections and copy-paste template below cover what most Chinese brush factories expect before they can price a private-label or fully custom order.
What to include in a makeup brush RFQ
1. Who you are and what you are ordering
Give your brand or company name, a contact person, and an email you check. State whether you want private label (your logo on a factory’s existing construction) or a fully custom design (a new head shape, handle mold, or both). If you are not sure, say so; many factories will quote private label first because it is faster and usually has a lower minimum. Name the destination market, such as the United States, the EU, or the UK — this affects packaging language, labels, and later material declarations.
2. Quantities, SKUs, and set structure
Give a quantity for each SKU, not only a total, and say whether the number is “per SKU” or “for the whole set.” Custom and private-label brushes are commonly quoted with a minimum of about 500 to 1,000 pieces per SKU. Some factories quote lower when the head, ferrule, and handle are already in their catalog. New molds, unusual ferrules, or custom fiber colors often raise the minimum or add a mold charge. Ask the factory to confirm the minimum against your spec.
3. Brush head: type, shape, fiber, density, and length
For every SKU, name the brush type (foundation, concealer, powder, blush, crease, liner, lip, and so on) and the head shape (flat, paddle, dome, tapered, angled, oval, fan, or other). Then specify bristle material (Taklon or other synthetics such as PBT, or natural hair such as goat; say “synthetic only” if the line must be vegan), color and grade (white, black, ivory, and coffee are widely available; a custom fiber color may take longer), density (sparse, medium, or dense), and hair length out of the ferrule in millimeters if you can. A reference photo can follow; the written RFQ should still stand on its own. If two SKUs share a fiber but differ in shape or length, list them as separate lines.
4. Ferrule
The ferrule is the metal band that holds the hairs and joins the handle. Note the material (aluminum is the usual catalog option; copper is often used on higher-spec or heavier brushes), the finish (shiny, matte, or brushed), and the color (silver, gold, rose gold, black, or a custom plate). Mention single or double crimp if you care; otherwise ask the factory to recommend a crimp that will hold under a no-shed check.
5. Handle
Specify material (wood, bamboo, acrylic, resin, or aluminum), color, finish (matte, glossy, or rubberized), and length (short, standard, long, or a length in millimeters). Wood and bamboo are common for retail sets; acrylic and metal are often chosen for a more professional look. If the handle must match an existing line, say so and give a Pantone code or offer a physical sample. “Nude” is too vague to quote reliably.
6. Logo and branding
Say whether you need a logo, where it goes (handle, ferrule, packaging, or both), and the method. Silk screen, laser engraving, and hot stamp / foil are the methods most brush factories quote. Mention logo or foil color if you know it. Artwork can follow, but the first RFQ should already state that a logo is required and which method you prefer. Otherwise the quote often excludes decoration, and the price changes later.
7. Packaging
Split individual packing and set packing. Individual options commonly include an OPP or poly pouch, a velvet pouch, a paper sleeve, or a small box. Set packing may be a cardboard box, a magnetic box, an EVA / zipper case, or none if you ship loose brushes. Say whether you need an insert card, a booklet, or a barcode / FNSKU sticker. Packaging is often a large share of unit cost, so leaving it blank makes quotes hard to compare.
8. Certifications and material constraints
Ask only for what you need. Typical requests include vegan materials (no animal hair, and no animal-derived glue if that is your standard), a cruelty-free process statement, and, for some markets, REACH-related material information. If you sell into California, flag that Proposition 65 may need to be discussed later with the factory and your importer. Makeup brushes are tools, not a cosmetic formula, and do not generally require FDA cosmetic product approval in the United States. Do not ask for “FDA certification” as if it were a standard brush certificate; ask for the material information your importer or retailer has actually requested.
9. Samples, timeline, and approval
State whether you need samples, how many, and that bulk production starts only after written sample approval. Sample lead time is often quoted at about 7 to 15 days when existing heads, ferrules, and handles can be used. Custom colors, new molds, or special packaging take longer. Bulk production after approval is commonly quoted at about 20 to 45 days, depending on quantity, decoration, and packing. Give a needed-by date if you have one, say whether it is flexible, and ask for sample time and mass-production time as separate figures.
10. Quality checks
Tell the factory what must pass before shipment. A practical baseline is: no obvious shedding after a rub or shake test you agree on; a tight ferrule; acceptable glue and odor; correct hair shape and length; handle finish and color within an agreed range; logo position; and complete, correctly labeled packaging. If you will use a third-party inspector, say so. If you only need the factory’s standard QC, say that too, so the quote is not padded for an inspection you will not book.
11. Shipping terms and target price
Name the destination country and, if you know it, the city or port. Choose an Incoterm or say you are not sure: EXW (you pick up at the factory), FOB (delivered to a named port), CIF, or DDP (delivered, with duties considered). Quotes under different Incoterms are not comparable. You may also give a target price per piece or per set, and say whether it is ex-factory or includes shipping. A target helps the factory suggest a construction; it does not replace a full spec.
Copy-paste RFQ template
Copy the text below, delete the brackets, and send it as an email or a single document.
Subject: RFQ — custom / private label makeup brushes — [Brand name]
Hello,
Please quote the project below and confirm any items that are missing or not feasible.
Buyer
- Company / brand: [ ]
- Contact name and email: [ ]
- Website or store (optional): [ ]
- Order type: [Private label / Fully custom / Not sure]
- Target market: [United States / EU / UK / other]
Quantities
- Number of SKUs: [ ]
- Quantity: [number] [per SKU / for the whole set]
- Brushes per set (if applicable): [ ]
- Total quantity: [ ]
Brush specifications (repeat for each SKU)
- SKU name or code: [ ]
- Brush type and head shape: [ ]
- Bristle material: [Taklon / other synthetic / goat / mixed / factory recommend]
- Bristle color and density: [ ]
- Hair length out of ferrule (mm) and head size: [ ]
- Ferrule: material, finish, color, crimp if known: [ ]
- Handle: material, color, finish, length: [ ]
Logo
- Needed: [Yes / No / Later]
- Method and position: [Silk screen / laser / hot stamp; handle / ferrule / packaging]
- Artwork: [will follow / attached]
Packaging
- Individual packing: [OPP pouch / velvet pouch / sleeve / box / none]
- Set packing: [none / cardboard box / magnetic box / EVA or zipper case]
- Insert card or booklet: [Yes / No]
- Barcode or FNSKU sticker: [Yes / No / Later]
Certifications and constraints
- Requested: [vegan materials / cruelty-free process / REACH-related info / none]
- Other material notes: [ ]
Samples and timing
- Samples required: [Yes / No], quantity: [ ]
- Sample needed by (optional): [ ]
- Bulk needed by (optional): [ ]
- Dates are flexible: [Yes / No]
- Bulk production starts only after written sample approval: [Yes]
Quality
- QC level: [standard factory QC / stricter checklist / third-party inspection later]
- Must-pass checks: [no shedding; ferrule tightness; glue and odor; hair shape and length; handle finish and color; logo; packaging and labels]
- Other QC notes: [ ]
Shipping and price
- Destination country and port or city: [ ]
- Incoterms: [EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP / not sure]
- Shipping method if known: [sea / air / express / recommend]
- Target price (optional): [amount] [USD/EUR/GBP] per [piece/set], [ex-factory / with shipping / not sure]
Please reply with: unit price, MOQ per SKU, sample cost and sample lead time, bulk lead time after sample approval, what is included in the price, and any spec you would change.
Thank you,
[Your name]Common mistakes
- Sending a total quantity without a per-SKU breakdown. Factories price and schedule by SKU. A single headline number forces them to guess.
- Describing the brush only by use. Fiber, density, head shape, and hair length are different variables. Two foundation brushes can differ a lot in cost.
- Leaving ferrule, handle, and packing blank. These often move the unit price as much as the fiber does. A pouch and a magnetic box are not the same offer.
- Comparing quotes under different Incoterms. An EXW price and a DDP price cannot be ranked until freight, duty, and fees are on the same basis.
- Asking for “FDA certified brushes.” Brushes are generally not approved as cosmetic products. Ask for the material and process documents you actually need.
- Skipping sample approval. Color, density, and shed performance are hard to judge from a description. Approve a sample in writing before bulk production.
- Leaving the logo out of the first RFQ. Decoration method and color belong in the first request, even if the artwork file comes a few days later.
FAQ
What is the difference between an RFQ and a purchase order?
An RFQ asks a factory to propose a price and lead time against a specification. A purchase order is the official buy, placed after you accept a quote and, in most brush projects, after you approve a sample.
Do I need a separate RFQ for each brush?
No. Use one RFQ for the project and one clearly labeled line for each SKU. Shared items such as packaging, Incoterms, and certifications belong once, at the bottom.
How detailed should the first RFQ be if I am still deciding on materials?
List every SKU and mark unknown items as “factory recommend.” That is clearer than omitting the field. You can narrow fiber grade or handle finish after you see samples.
What should I ask the factory to put in the quote?
Unit price, MOQ per SKU, sample cost, sample lead time, bulk lead time after approval, what the price includes (logo, packing, cartons), the Incoterm, and any change they want to make to your spec.
How long does a custom makeup brush order usually take?
It depends on how much is already in the factory’s catalog. Sample making is often quoted around 7 to 15 days for existing components; bulk production after sample approval is often quoted around 20 to 45 days. Custom molds, special fiber colors, and complex set boxes can extend both.