Gel brushes are usually made from a nylon bristle called Taklon. Taklon is a good and relatively cheap product that makes effective, stiff brushes. Acrylic brushes are usually made from animal hairs such as sable, which is a small forest-dwelling mammal, or something similar like kolinsky, a mammal in the weasel family. Taklon cannot be used for acrylic brushes because Taklon cannot withstand exposure to acetone, and becomes damaged with acetone use.
Natural hair fibers can also be used with gels, but it is unnecessary and in the event that gel is accidentally cured in the brush, the more expensive acrylic brush will have to be discarded.
— Jim McConnell is the president of Light Elegance.