Abstract: An applicator or brush having a twisted wire core and a bristle portion that has a square cross-section. The brush portion is formed from a plurality of plastic filaments. Each plastic filament is crimped medially of its ends by the wire core. The crimping action causes the filament ends to form bristle ends that flare outwardly in various directions from the wire core so as to provides a uniform bristle end distribution throughout the bristle portion. The filament density is about 45 to 60 filaments per helical turn. Each filament has a hollow central core from which two or more bent flanges extend. The area along the central core between adjacent flanges holds mascara by surface tension.