Do your own nail art manicure

Nail Art Tools and Supplies

Brushes, Files & Buffers
Brushes

One of the main tools used in nail art is brushes. You don't need a lot, just a few basics. A short, pointed brush for free handed details, a long thin brush for lines and precise details and a larger angled brush for cleaning up cuticles when you're done. I dip the brush in acetone and gently brush away any bit of polish on my skin.

You can buy brushes for nail art in craft stores, beauty supply stores or at an artist supplier. If you want to buy online Amazon has a good set (I use the green one all the time) at a really reasonable price.

Make sure you maintain your brushes by cleaning them as soon as you're done using them. Swirl them in pure acetone to remove any polish and give them a quick rinse under the tap, and they're good as new!

Nail Files

There's hundreds of different types of nail files, so it's easy to feel overwhelmed. For most people, a simple file you buy at the drugstore will work just fine. You want something that's rough to the touch, but not too gritty and bumpy. Nail files have grit numbers, and you want to buy something that's 180 or higher. Anything less is too rough for natural nails and can lead to fraying.

Buffers

Buffers are good for removing any ridges you might have on your nail. Ridges are genetic, so if you already have smooth nails, just ignore this product. Also, I'm jealous.
Buffing is also good for removing any light stains left behind from a dark or highly pigmented polish. You can use either a 2 way or 4 way buffer. I like this buffer because it has the order you use it in written right on the sides.
Dotting Tools & Rhinestones
Dotting tools

Dotting tools are very helpful time savers and won't break the bank either. You can find all sorts of sets online for a very decent price. If you are more of a DIY person, you can make your own dotting tool from all sorts of household items:
- toothpicks
- pencils/dried out pens
- bobby pins
- paintbrush handles
- stud earrings (I bought a pack of cheap stud pearls in different sizes and stuck them into pencil erasers so they were easier to hold!)
Rhinestones & Embellishments

There is so many different shapes, sizes, colors and styles of rhinestones and embellishments you can buy for your nails. If you are shopping in person try craft stores, dollar stores, Claire's accessories and drugstores. If you're buying online I like Amazon, Etsy, Ebay, Dollar Nail Art and Born Pretty Store.

Adhering rhinestones (or anything else, for that matter!) to your nail is quite simple. Once you're done any painting, place a small drop of top coat where you want to put the rhinestone. Pick it up with the back of your brush and gently press it into the top coat. Allow it to dry and finish with another layer of top coat over the entire nail.
Pens, Top Coat & Stampers
Nail Art Pens

Nail art pens are fantastic and I think everybody in the world should own one. The most popular brand is Migi two way nail art pens, maybe because they offer free polish refills! Supreme, Model's Own and Claire's Accessories also sell pens. I use pens that I bought on Ebay for very, very cheap and even though the polish smells kind of weird they work for me!

Base & Top Coat

Base coat and top coat are the building blocks to a good manicure. There are hundreds of different base coats out there and they all have different purposes, so it depends what your needs are. I have weak, brittle nails so I use a strengthening base coat called Nail Envy by OPI. Base coat also works as a bonding agent to help the polish stick to your nail and prevent chipping.

For top coat there is one ultimate champion and that is Seche Vite. It dries amazingly fast and leaves your nails with a smooth, glossy finish. Nail art can sometimes leave the nail looking bumpy from painting on so many different polishes, but Seche Vite will leave it looking like a framed picture under glass!

Nail Stamps

Stamps are a great way to have intricate designs on your nail without free hand painting for hours. The main items you need are a stamper, scraper and an image plate. You can buy starter kits that provide you with everything you need to get going. Lots of companies have their own line of image plates but my favorites are by Bundle Monster and Mash.
If you want to learn more about how to stamp your nails check out the nail stamping tutorial at Nail Art 101.

Prepping Your Nails

File and Shape Your Nails
It's very important to file your nails the right way to maintain strong, healthy nails. Always use a corner to center movement, never saw back and forth.

You also have to decide on a nail shape. The three most popular shapes are oval, square and squoval.

Stiletto nails are also very popular right now, but I don't reccomend filing natural nails into a stiletto shape. They just aren't strong enough!
Soak
Apply cuticle remover to each nail (I used Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover) and soak your hands in warm soapy for ten minutes. This will soften hardened skin and help the cuticle remover work.
Push Back Cuticles
Remove your hands from the water, dry them off and wipe any remaining cuticle remover. With your cuticle pusher, gently lift and push the cuticle back and up from the nail plate. You may still have some big pieces of cuticle, but I don't reccomend cutting anything unless you're a trained professional. Just apply that cuticle remover once or twice a week and it will break down any dead skin.

You can also use the other end to quickly "sweep" under the free edge of the nail and get rid of any gunk. Be careful not to push too hard when doing this step, if you break the skin under the nail it hurts!
Buff the Nails
This step won't be neccessary for everyone. Buffing is only needed if you have ridges on your nail. If you don't have ridges, please skip this step. Unneccessary buffing will just thin your nails.

When buffing don't press too hard. A little goes a long way! There's a good buff-buff-lift method I demonstrate in the video to avoid creating hotspots.
Polish Your Nails
You're ready to polish! Make sure there's no dust or residue on your nail, and apply your base coat if you want to use one. I use a basecoat to help bond the polish and prevent staining.

Step 1
Apply a drop of polish near the cuticle and gently push it towards the cuticle leaving a small gap

Step 2
Pul the polish across the left side of the nail, being careful not to tough the skin on the side. Be patient, it get's easier with practice.

Step 3
Pull the polish across the right side of the nail

Step 4
Do one big swipe down the center of the nail for complete coverage and a smooth, even application.

Leopard, Drip, Galaxy, Oh My!

Galaxy Nails - Step by Step
Start with dry nails painted a dark color. I usually go with black or a deep navy blue.

Pick up some white polish with your cosmetic sponge, dab off any excess and gently dab the white on your nail. You want the white to be the central focal point of your nebula. Try to make it really bright white in the center and gently fading out.

Create interest and depth by sponging other colors around the white. I like to use green, purple blue and yellow, but don't be afraid to experiment with different colors and textures.

You may find at this point that your colors have taken over the nail and not left you with enough black negative space. It's important to leave some areas dark to create the infinite look of space. If you want more black, simply pick some up on your sponge and go over a few areas.

Now to create stars. Add some white dots either with your dotting tool, nail art pen or the tip of a nail art brush. Less it more when it comes to stars. Pick a couple spots to add a few irregular white dots.

Finish with top coat to smooth out the look, add shine and protect the design against chipping.
Leopard Print Nails - Step by Step
Start with a dry base color of your choice, I find lighter colors work best. Choose a contrasting color that will stand out against your base and add random blobs of color all over your nail, let dry.

Using a nail art pen or thin nail art brush outline the blobs using "U" and "C" shapes. You don't want to have perfectly round circles around the blobs because nature isn't perfectly round! Irregular edges and breaks in the lines will make it look more authentic.

Fill in empty space with little dots, dashes and "U" shapes.

Finish with top coat to smooth out the design, add shine and protect the design from chipping.
Drip Nails - Step by Step
Start with a dry base color of your choice. Drip nails are also a great way to hide tip wear on a manicure that's a few days old and looking a bit beaten up.

Take your dotting tool (or make your own as discussed in Unit 1: Nail Art Tools and Supplies) and add dots in a contrasting color on the nail. Try to to line up all the dots in a perfect row. Paint doesn't drip in a perfect row, so have some high and some low.

Use a striping brush or nail art brush to paint a line from the dots up towards the tip of the nail. Paint thin lines from each dot to the edge of the nail. It should look like a dripping blob when you're done.

Paint a line across the tip of the nail so it looks like the polish is dripping down the nail.

Finish with top coat to smooth out bumbs, add shine and proctect the design from chipping.

Lil G

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