Shoe shinebrushes and other accessories come in a range of styles and materials. You may be asking what should I consider when buying a shoe brush? Here are some shoe brush basics. Quality shoe cleaning and polishing brushes typically are constructed with real wood handles and horse or goat hair. As with any routine, it is best to attend to your shoe cleaning and shining brushes after each use. The hair in a brush can vary from black to shades of gray and brown to creamy white.