Nail Design Tools And How To Use Them

Love nail art but not sure how to get started? We'll go over everything you need to know in this guide to nail art for beginners!

How many individuals have you seen with their fingernails or toenails (or both!) displaying a beautiful or unique design? A growing trend globally, nail art has exploded over social media as more people do their nails at home. With tutorials being available on a grander level, you are only a few steps away from starting your journey. If you are thinking about learning this creative skill, it will surely be a rewarding one.

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What is Nail Art?

It's getting more common to see the people around you with their nails done, some being extravagantly so. Nail art is the decorative appearance displayed on the nails of your hands and feet. In nail art, you use various tools such as different paints, brushes, and methods of obtaining extra details. Nail designs have been evolving over the millennia, leading us to the art pieces we see today. Nail art can range from being a single color to an entirely themed piece of art.

The History of ____

The earliest recorded method of nail art is women in India using henna to dye their fingernails. This practice can be traced back to 5000 BC, approximately 7,000 years ago. Processes for adding pigment to nails were spread worldwide after this, slowly building as the world evolved. Modern nail art did not exist in recorded history until the 15th century, when the Incas decorated their nails with pictures of eagles. Going into the last century, Revlon released their first nail polish in the 1930s. This move urged more businesses and people to hop into the skill, bringing forth fake nails in the 1950s. The 2000s led into the nail art movement that you know today, with the various colors and creative methods becoming unlimited.

Nail Art in Modern Times

You can be uniquely yourself with the options available for nail art. Colors that range from matte black to electric yellow to sparkling white give you hundreds of options. You also have access to different tools to design your nails, such as stencils, dotting tools, striping tools, and more. Acrylic nails have also evolved, and more fake nail products have come to life, such as gel nails. Nail pigments have become stronger and longer-lasting, allowing you to keep your decorative nails perfect for longer.

nail art for beginners

What Supplies do I need for Nail Art?

You'll need to know about the different tools and items available for nail art. This nail art for beginners guide will briefly go through each item with recommendations to help you get started!

Nails

The first and most important thing you'll need is nails, of course! You can always use your own or someone else's. Alternatively, you can also use training hands and nails. These are fake items that are typically used for training and practice.

Although you'll always have your own nails to practice on, it's actually quite different to do nails for other people if you've trained on only yourself!

Base and Top Coat Nail Polish

Whether you plan on adding pigments to your nails or only other decorative elements, it is always good to have a base coat. A base coat will smooth out any imperfections or discrepancies to give you a prepared canvas. Some base coat nail polishes can also double as a topcoat, such as this nail polish from Sally Hansen . The topcoat will help protect your work.

Base and Top Coat Nail Polish

Brushes

As with other methods or art, you will need an array of brushes. While most polishes come with a brush attached to the lid, it is essential to have more than that brush. Included brushes are used for full nail applications, so you'll want to have a smaller brush for sure for finer details.

There are various brush shapes that you can purchase to achieve any look you'd like. If you do not know how to begin or what you want to do, consider getting this pack of brushes so you can have an opportunity to try out the different brushes to see which ones you prefer. Purchasing a variety pack is helpful when creating nail art for beginners.

Nail Polish Remover

When starting in a new creative endeavor, making messes is inevitable. That is where nail polish remover comes in! Depending on the type of polish used, there are various strengths of nail polish remover.

The two main types of nail polish removers include acetone and non-acetone remover. Non-acetone removers are generally more gentle on your nails, while acetone-based removers are stronger and faster at removing the polish. Acetone removers are also best on glitter nail polish as it can take quite some time to remove the particles altogether. Because of acetone's strong characteristics, it should not be used on artificial nails.

Whichever strength you happen to use based on your polish's durability, the remover is best used with cotton pads or cotton balls. Cutex Strength Shield is an excellent example of a strong nail polish remover.

Nail Files

A nail file is crucial as it is an excellent tool for keeping your nails perfect. Whether using the file on your actual nails or a set of fake nails, you will be able to shape them to your preferences. You can also use nail files to keep your nails shortened if you would prefer them at a particular height. Nail files are generally easy to find, and you can buy them in bulk for cheap, such as this pack of 10 . Also, let's admit it, who hasn't wanted to mimic the sassy nail filing you've seen in films? This is a two-in-one deal!

Decorations

To take your nails to the next level, you'll need other decorative elements such as rhinestones and stickers. You can use these by themselves to create nail art or apply them over top of the polish. Since these elements are relatively small, you may need tweezers or similar tools to help you place these decorative items accurately on the nail.

There are so many potential enhancements that it may be hard for a beginner to choose just one. Buying in bulk comes in use again, as you can check out this set that has rhinestones, glitter, and more for a reasonable price. These decorations add a unique pop whenever the elements are utilized correctly. Purchasing a variety pack of decorative elements allows for more creative exploration when creating nail art for beginners.

Nail Stamps

Have you ever seen elaborate nail art and wondered how they did it? Although some may have the skills and precision to create detailed pieces of work on such a small canvas, many use nail stamps! This nail stamp kit comes with 15 plates of various designs including flowers, animals, leaves, and cute quotes! There's even a tiny carrying case to help organize your plates.

Nail stamps are easy to use once you know how to use them. The kits generally come with multiple mini metal plates with embossed designs. You apply a coat of thick nail polish onto the plate to cover the entire design. Next, you scrape the excess nail polish off the top leaving the embossed design filled with the liquid. Lastly, you use the stamp included in the kit to "pick up" the nail polish design so you can transfer it to your nail.

Your first few attempts might not come out perfect, but after a few tries, you should be able to get unique designs transferred successfully. This video is an excellent example of how to use nail stamps.

Nail Stencils/Stickers

Alternative to nail stamps, you can also obtain the same result using nail stickers. These stickers act as stencils that you stick to the nail. Once the sticker is firmly on the nail, apply a few coats of nail polish with a sponge to cover the stencil. After the polish has dried, peel of the sticker to reveal the design.

What's great about nail stencils is that they always come in a wide variety of designs. Especially if you're unsure exactly what you want to design, variety packages are great for creating nail art for beginners. This set comes with 5 sheets of 60 different designs!

Tools

While these tools aren't necessities, they may still be great tools for you to use. You may want to consider some extra items: a UV nail lamp, cuticle remover, a buffer, a striping tool, a dotting tool, and nail art pens. These tools may make it easier, but they are not required. If you're looking for tools to keep your hands taken care of overall, you can check out this manicure kit .

Books

Classes

We're still in the middle of our search for the best online class on nail art! Join our mailing list to get updates for deals on some of our favorite courses.

Do you teach a class or know someone who does? Contact us on information on how to submit an application to be featured!

How to Create Nail Art for Beginners

Gather your materials. Before you can begin, you must gather your materials. You'll need to grab whatever you are going to use, so you don't have to stop during your project.
Prepare your crafting space. You will want to dedicate a space for your new hobby. Nail art has the possibility of creating a mess, and you don't want to ruin your surroundings. Be sure to clear a decent spot for you to work safely in an easy-to-clean area!
Brainstorm! If you need to go to social media to get inspiration, that is perfectly okay. You are just beginning, after all, and all beginners get inspiration somewhere. Pinterest and Instagram are great places to find inspiration. You can also find inspiration from books like the Nail Art Sourcebook which has over 500 designs to explore.
Apply your base coat! Make sure to apply a base coat to provide a protective layer from the polish and your nail before you get started with pigmented polish or decorative items.
Get to it! Once you are inspired, start creating! The only way you can move now is forward! Use a base count before adding pigments, designs, decorative items, and more to your work! Customize your art however you please! This is an art form for you to enjoy.
Apply your top coat! After you finish your designs, apply your top coat to seal and protect your work.
Take photos! This is an optional step. If you want to showcase your work, social media is the perfect place to post a picture of your nail art. This will put your art out into the world to be appreciated!
You did it! Place the finishing touches on your nail art, and you're done! It may not have turned out the exact way you would have liked it to, but that is another excellent reason to take photos. If you have photos, you can compare your previous works to future projects and see for yourself how you improve over time!

More Resources for Nail Art for Beginners

Nail art is an art form that will take time and practice to perfect! While perfecting your skills, you may want to explore different options but may not be sure where to go next!

There are tons of monthly subscription boxes for nail polish and nail art that you can look into if this is the case. With a package every month with new products, your nail art potential is limitless! These boxes are great for creating nail art for beginners. If you're interested in a monthly box for your nail art needs, check out these sites:

Nail Shack
Chrysobox
Fearless Nail Art

Nail Art Tutorials

If you want to familiarize yourself with what you're working with right now, that's perfectly okay as well! There are videos out there for you to watch to learn more as part of the guide to nail art for beginners. Here are some recommendations:

Conclusion

In a world of morphing fashion trends, you can get salon-quality nails at home with some practice. Nail art is becoming more accessible, even if you are not the most artistic person out there.

With endless sources for inspiration and a plethora of creative media and accessories, the only thing between you and nail art is your dedication! Hopefully, this guide to nail art for beginners will help you in your journey. Celebrate your new hobby and make the world a little more beautiful, one nail at a time.

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