So you want to try your hand at nail art, but where do you start? The first thing to do is to get your hands on some basic nail art tools. This is a list of my 5 essential nail art tools.

1) nail polish

The essentials are: a base coat (to prevent discoloration of the nails and allow the polish to glide on smoothly), nail polish, and a top coat (to ensure the manicure lasts longer than a day). I like to use a quick dry top coat because it saves a lot of time and is very convenient to use, but it’s also nice to have a regular top coat or clear polish on hand for some more complex nail designs.

After trying many different brands, I have found that it is very important to invest in good quality nail polish. These are more expensive but worth it because they last longer, dry faster, and don’t get clumpy. I’ve had such bad experiences with cheap nail polish that I now stick with brands I’ve used before (and like) and reputable brands. Orly, OPI, China Glaze, Sally Hansen, and Essie are some of the good ones. It’s also a good idea to try polish from a brand you haven’t tried before you buy it.

2) nail points

Nail punches help create dot and circle patterns. I use these all the time to create simple polka dot designs. They come in a variety of sizes. To start with, it will be nice to get your hands on one that has a medium-sized round tip on one end and a small one on the other so that you can choose the size of the dots you want to create.

HOW TO USE: Find a plastic sheet and drop a few drops of nail polish on it. I like to use ID cards that are hard and feel a bit sticky because they are small and disposable. Dip the round tip of your dotter into the glaze. Try to make a few dots on the sheet/ID card until you get the correct size and consistency you want. Do the same on the surface of your nail. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, as it can cause the stitches to look misshapen. Remember to clean them after use and dry them well. These tools are made of metal and are susceptible to rust.

DO YOUR THING: It’s also easy to create your own nail art punch using things you have around the house. Bobby barrettes are an economical and convenient alternative. Just fold them in a straight line and use the rounded tips at the end as normal points. Because all you need is a round end, you can use anything that looks like a dot, like the back of an eyeliner pencil cap, for example.

3) Nail remover

These, to me, are absolutely essential. They are nail polishes that come with a long and thin brush instead of the usual flat and wide ones. I use them to paint lines and add random pops of color. They are very easy to use and very versatile. I recommend getting two colors, black and white, when you first start out. Brands like LA Colors have a wide range of colors and are pretty cheap, so have fun with them!

If you don’t want to have to buy a new polish every time you want to try another color, you can also get a nail brush. However, not all brushes are good for nail polish. I tried the nail polish on a few and they completely ruined the brush hairs. Use water-based nail paint if necessary. This makes it much easier to clean the brushes. If you’ve used nail polish, use acetone, some soapy water, and a paper towel to clean your brush.

4) Stationery tape

Ever wonder how DIY nail artists create super neat and straight lines and stripes? Using tape you can create many different geometric and striped designs.

Stationery tape is one of the best tools for nail art. Any type of regular duct tape is fine, but you can experiment and see which gives you the best results. They are great for creating neat lines and geometric shapes. Simply cut the tape into the desired strip/shape, stick on the nail and paint over. That easy!

HELPFUL TIPS:

• However, always make sure that your base nail polish is completely dry. Use a quick drying top coat like Seche Vite if you don’t want to wait.
• Cut the tape before you start painting your nails to avoid smudging when you try to cut it with wet nails.
• Stick the tape somewhere where it can be easily removed so it won’t get stuck when you want to stick it on your nails.
• Use tweezers to remove the tape to avoid accidentally marring your nails.
• If you make a mistake, you don’t have to start from scratch again. Use a nail brush and touch up where necessary. This usually does the trick.

5) Nail Brushes

If you’re really serious about nail art, you might want to consider investing in a good set of nail art brushes. The main types of nail art brushes are fan-shaped brushes, flat brushes, angled flat brushes, thin brushes (for details) and long brushes. These brushes can be conveniently (and quite affordable) purchased in a set. The Monster New Pro 20pc Nail Art Design Brushes bundle from Amazon is a pretty good bargain and comes with a dotter.

DO YOUR THING: You don’t need to use nail art brushes for nail art, you could even use your regular brush. Just cut it to the shape you want and use it as a nail brush! It is convenient and cheaper to start with a brush.