Soft Pastels
Soft pastels, also called chalk pastels, have more pigment and less binder, allowing them to create rich paintings in brilliant colors. Because of their powdery consistency, the colors are easily blended together. This makes them more breakable, however, and a little bit harder to control. They also don't do well at making fine lines. But not to worry! You can supplement your them with hard pastels or pastel pencils when you need to draw details.
Pastels are produced for both artists and students. Artists' quality pastels are use the best pigments and are more resistant to fading. These, of course, are more expensive than the student quality pastels. Pastels also differ in texture, size, and softness depending on the manufacturer. If, after purchasing your initial set, you still need more colors, you can buy one or two sticks at a time from the various lines. They can all be used together, and you'll be able to discover which types you like best.
Dakota Art Pastels
has a chart listing the various brands by softness.
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