by Amber
Nail art is a very popular way of decorating the nails and can be created in two ways, either by air brushing or freehand. You will need to have some basic tools and equipment in order to be able to perform nail art. Here is a list of what you will need to create nail art:
Nail brushes
Fine detail brush - a fine tipped brush which is excellent for precise detailing.
Fan brush - the bristles of this brush are spread out like a fan, It can be used to create sweeping effects across the nails.
Liner brush, medium (striping brush) - these are ideal for producing thick lines and colour on the nails.
Liner bush, long (striping brush) - the bristles on this brush are very long and narrow, it is perfect for creating long straight lines and flicks.
Nail paints
These are usually non-toxic, water based acrylic paints which come in a wide variety of colours. The paints can be mixed together to created new colours, or diluted to create specialist paint effects.
Glitter dust
An excellent way to create extra special sparkle on the nails, this is a dense sparkle powder which has to be used with a mixer to create fabulous sparkly designs.
Glitter dust mixer This is used to mix with the glitter dust to create beads of product that can be applied in designs.
Marbling or dotting tool This tool has a round metallic head at each end which are different in size, these can be used to create dots of different sizes depending on which head you use and the amount of paint. You can use this tool to mix one colour into another creating a marbling effect.
Water release transfers Transfers are a quick and easy way to instantly transform the nails, with many fabulous designs available. Dampen a cotton bud with water and rub the back of the transfer to loosen the backing, then gently slide it off with your finger and position onto the nail. Lightly use an orangewood stick or cotton bud to smooth it out.
Self-adhesive transfers Simply peel the backing sheet off and position onto the nail – simple!
Foils These are available in various colours and patterns and must be used with a foil adhesive. Place the foil onto the nail facing upwards then rub onto the nail with a cotton bud.
Rhinestones Available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, they need to be adhered to wet polish and secured in place with a sealer or top-coat. It is easiest to use the end of a dampened orangewood stick to pick the stones up and place into position.Flat stones They are also available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours and are used in exactly the same way as rhinestones.
