A method and apparatus for applying mascara includes a brush formed from a twisted wire core connected to a handle, with a first plurality of bristles extending radially from the core along a substantial portion thereof. The end of the wire core is bent, in some cases, approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, such that a group of bristles fan out from the distal end of the brush, preferably along a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. The bent portion of the core includes between one and eight, and preferably one and four, turns of the twisted wire.