Here I am going to give you tips on which products are useful when painting nails and creating artistic designs. Don't forget to like Popular Polish!
Nail Polish
You can get almost any colour imaginable. My favourite brands are No. 7, Beauty UK, Art Deco, and Barry M as they do not test on animals. It's a good idea to throw away nail varnish once it reaches approximately 6 months old, as it can get unusable when designing. Alternatively, invest in nail polish thinner.
Magnetic - This polish usually has a magnet on the lid which you hover over the painted nails to create swirls.
Matte - This dulls when it dries. It's great when contrasting it with a non-matte design, and really makes it pop.
Matte - This dulls when it dries. It's great when contrasting it with a non-matte design, and really makes it pop.
Crackle - Crackle polish splits while it dries. This looks best when you put a plain colour underneath as contrast.
Neon - Is an exceptionally bright colour, sometimes luminous or glow in the dark.
Glitter - Will be sparkly or have a shimmer effect to it.
Neon - Is an exceptionally bright colour, sometimes luminous or glow in the dark.
Glitter - Will be sparkly or have a shimmer effect to it.
Acrylic Paint
It isn't so well known that acrylic paints work on nails. It's easy to mix the paints to create exactly the right shade you want for your design. Just remember to put on a base coat so the colour doesn't stain your nails!
Paintbrushes
Different sizes brushes, and multiple for fine art so you don't have to clean them off immediately when you need a new colour. You can also cut paintbrushes into the shape and length you want.
Fine art brush
One of the main tools when it comes to nail art, tiny brushes are useful when doing smaller designs.Fan brush
These are used to lightly brush off shimmer dust or create marbleised stripes.
Striper
A striper is long and thin and is used to create stripes and straight lines.
Acrylic Gel brush
These are shaped to easily place the acrylic nail gel on top of a nail form.
Image courtesy of nailsmag.com
Dotting Tools
These are great for finer details. You can get them on Ebay. If you don't have a small paint palette a piece of paper will do to dot your tool into the polish and on to your nails.
Nail Varnish Remover
Nail art usually takes a bit more elbow grease to remove the polish, as there are more layers than the basic manicure. I recommend remover that contains acetone, as it's slightly harsher. Some people wish to stay away from anything with acetone due to it's strong nature, however it makes removing the polish a lot simpler whereas with non-acetone based removers you will go through a lot more liquid and cotton. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after removing nail varnish, so the remover doesn't damage your nails.
Top Coat
A top coat helps your design last longer and prevents immediate chipping. I recommend Seche Vite for fast drying and longer lasting art. However do not use it if you have French Tips, as it stains white yellow after a couple of days. Wait at least 10 minutes before applying your top coat so there is minimal smudging. Also ensure your top coat is not gloopy, as the thickness causes the brush to drag along the nail and smudge.
Gems
Rhinestones are a pretty addition to nail art. You can get all shapes and sizes.
Other essentials include:
Clippers - Clip nails straight across to refresh the edge of your nail making it stronger.
Nail file - File nails to create a smooth edge. Go for a squarer shape to ensure they don't become ingrown, they also look more professional this way.
Clippers - Clip nails straight across to refresh the edge of your nail making it stronger.
Nail file - File nails to create a smooth edge. Go for a squarer shape to ensure they don't become ingrown, they also look more professional this way.
Base coat - A base coat is essential to protect your natural nails and ensure there will be minimal staining from the coloured polish.
Nail polish thinner - Do not use nail varnish remover to thin out gloopy nail polish as it will be worse in the long run. Invest in a thinner and you will most likely not have to buy another as it lasts a long time.
Cuticle pusher - It looks like a metal, plastic or rubber stick and it's used to push back the cuticles. NEVER cut your cuticles as this can cause infection.
Cuticle oil - Cuticle oil is used after the cuticle pusher and after shaping the nails to promote growth. I also use nail cream and massage into the nails and cuticles.
Cuticle pusher - It looks like a metal, plastic or rubber stick and it's used to push back the cuticles. NEVER cut your cuticles as this can cause infection.
Cuticle oil - Cuticle oil is used after the cuticle pusher and after shaping the nails to promote growth. I also use nail cream and massage into the nails and cuticles.
With thanks to Andy Hall for the use of his short nails
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