Nail Art Brushes

Nail art brushes can be confusing to buy because there is so many options. You can get art brushes meant for painting, but if you have the funds it's better to invest in nail art brushes meant specifically for use with nail polish. Some other brushes don't hold up well against acetone and other chemicals. Also, if you use nail acrylic your brushes will hold up a lot better, true nail polish can be quite hard on brushes. If you primarily use polish, go for synthetic brushes. If you use acrylic, go for natural hair.

Where to Buy

Your main places to buy brushes will probably be the internet, art/hobby stores and nail supply stores. If you choose to buy online, I would suggest Amazon or Ebay, but beware of those amazingly cheap sellers from China on Ebay. The quality can be quite dodgy, you might find them losing their point and falling apart in a couple weeks.

If you decide to buy from a nail supplier, your best bet is Sally Beauty Supply. Most big cities in Canada, America and the UK have one. The brush selection they have online is pretty decent, so you should be able to find what you're looking for. Craft stores is a bit more of a gamble, but they usually have pretty small, fine brushes. I got my brushes from the art section at Wal-Mart. They're pretty good, although I have had a few loose hairs here and there.

Caring For Your Brushes

The better you care for your nail art brushes, the better they will work for you. Simple. Cleaning them is important, and it's best to do it as soon as you're done using them, if you can manage without screwing up your mani.

If not, give them a quick rinse in acetone right after you're done and the following day, soak a cotton pad in acetone and rub the brush over it until all the paint is gone. Remove it from the acetone and immediately put it into some warm water (to help restore its shape, and prevent the acetone from damaging the bristles) and gently run your fingers along the bristles, then let them dry. This video was really helpful to me.

If your brushes are stiff and hard, it means there is dried polish in them. You can soak them in some remover or acetone, but try not to leave them for toooooo long! The first time I soaked my brushes I, very stupidly, left them bristle down in a glass of remover and came back to find a bunch of brushes with bent tips.

To preserve the point while you soak your brushes, use a clothsepin to suspend them in acetone. Clip it onto the brushes and place it over the rim of the glass so the brush is suspended in the remover. Submerged, but not touching the bottom of the glass, as you can see in the photo above. Leave them for about an hour, then rinse them in water to remove any acetone and leave them bristle up to dry.

If you have any problems or questions with your nail art brushes, feel free to email me and I'll help you out.

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