How To Do Nail Art At Home
We all love having painted new nails. But, getting your nails done at a salon can be time-consuming and costly. While some girls love the experience, you might be eager to learn DIY nail technology. Or, you might be interested in setting up your salon as a professional nail technician.
We'll share everything you need to know for completing nail art at home. We'll prepare you to start creating beautiful nails, from enrolling in beauty courses to easy nail art designs you can do at home. So get your red nail polish out and get ready to begin practicing french manicures.
What supplies do I need for home nail art?
To begin nail artistry, you will first need to invest in basic supplies. Experienced nail technicians have extensive collections of polishes and equipment. We recommend starting with between three to five polishes if you're new to the art. You can build up a supply as you learn.
It's a good idea to start with black, nude, and white polishes, plus a few of your favorite colors. You'll also need a base coat polish. To create professional levels of nail art, you will need gel polish as it is easier to set each layer. However, you can also choose acrylic nail polish.
Along with your polish, you're also going to need nails to practice on, and this may seem obvious, and you might think to only use your own. However, if you intend to make a career, you should practice with other people as it can be quite different.
You will also need a selection of nail brushes. They are like a paintbrush, and you will need a few different ones to achieve different designs. As you get more advanced, you might want to invest in dotting tools. Using gel, you will need a UV gel lamp to dry the polish.
Finally, you will also need files and nail polish remover. If you're thinking of expanding your kit, perhaps invest in decorations or nail stamps to diversify your designs. With all the right equipment, you're ready to begin your nail polish application.
How to do nail art?
With all the right supplies, painting your nails in beautiful designs is easy. All you need is a paintbrush and a little patience.
The first step is to envision your design. There are plenty of basic nail art designs, like marble nails or the french tip. If you're struggling for inspiration, you can often find designs you can manage on social media. Or, a nail art course will share infinite nail designs. Classes on nail art will also teach you how to choose and pair nail colors.
Next, you need to apply your base coat. Use clear polish as the base. This layer protects your nail from the polish and ensures the longevity of your design. Allow it to dry completely before starting your work. Then, you can add other gel paint or decorations onto your nails.
If you make a mistake with your nails, use cotton swabs dipped in nail polish remover to clean up. Then, apply your topcoat to seal and protect the nail work. When your design is complete, allow it to dry once more.
Make sure you take pictures of your design. As you keep practicing, it will help to look back on past designs and see where you can improve. Plus, nail techs love to share ideas — so ensure you post your creations online.
Don't worry if your first few attempts don't turn out exactly how you envision. Nail art is a skill, just as any other creative art is. It takes time to perfect your talent, and this is another reason to take pictures to track your progress as you get better.
How to clean nail art brushes?
Every nail technician wants to take proper care of their nail art brush to last. Firstly, make sure that you store your brushes correctly. Most brushes come with a protective plastic tube to save the bristles from getting damaged. Keep your brushes in a special box or holder.
After doing nail art at home, use a lint-free wipe to clean your brushes. For regular nail polish, acetone will do. With gel nail paint, saturate the wipe in alcohol.
Then, with a soft pinch, gently wipe the bristles. You can also wipe the brush along a surface until clean. Don't press too hard and avoid pushing down vertically, as this will make them splay.
Ensure you clean your brushes immediately after use. Nail art classes will cover more thorough cleaning protocols needed for a beauty salon or professional nail technician.
Tips to perfect nail art
It can be tricky to create the polished, sleek design of advanced nail technicians at first. While practicing and challenging your designs at home will help you improve, here are some extra tips to help you create perfect nail art.
- Before painting the nails, soak them in water and white vinegar. Soaking your nails will remove oils and enable the polish to bind better with the nail bed.
- Similarly, make sure you prepare the nails by clipping, filing, and buffing them to have a smooth shape. Push back the cuticles with a cuticle remover and stick.
- To speed up the drying process, dip the wet nails into a bowl of cold water, and they'll dry within minutes.
- Suppose you're not good at getting the polish on the nails and skin. Grease the area around the nail with petroleum jelly, making it easier to clean up.
- Don't be afraid to add extra layers to create a more solid base color. However, be careful to keep it smooth. Add light layers rather than thick.
- For finer detail, use a marker pen to draw onto the nail, as this is often neater and more precise than painting. Set it with hairspray.
- Improve your skills and learn expert nail techniques by completing nail art course classes.
Simple designs to get started
There are many different art designs for beginners to learn professional nail art techniques. If you want further inspiration, look up nail art ideas online or take the course online. Here are a few simple designs to get you started.
1. Galaxy nails
These sparkly, intergalactic nails are simple but stylish. Start with a black nail polish base. Then add a few layers of metallic paints, including a blue shade, green nail polish, and pink. Apply these with a sponge. Once dry, add a glitter topcoat to make your nails shine.
2. Ombre nails
The gradient nail look is timeless. It can be done with any color, from a blue nail gradient to gold nail polish. Start by using the lightest shade as a base coat. Then, pour out the lighter and darker shades on a clean plastic sheet, blending them. Gently dab this blend onto your nail using a sponge. Complete it by applying a topcoat.
3. Polka dot
Polka dots are an elegant and easy way to spice up your nail art. Start by applying one color over the base coat. Then, using a small wooden stick, dab an opposite color in tiny dots over the nail. You could also use bobby pins.
How to make a career out of nail art?
Once you have perfected your skills, you might want to explore expanding your talents beyond your nails. To further your abilities, try taking training classes to learn how to implement new techniques. For example, if you mainly use acrylic, take a course with gel painting to broaden your skills.
You'll need to expand beyond simple nail art to make your skills career. Courses and classes that teach different manicure and pedicure styles are an excellent way to improve your repertoire.
It would help if you also decided where to base your salon. You might choose to begin running a nail salon from home. To ensure the success of your nail salons, you might also want to take a salon management course alongside a nail technician course.
How do you learn nail art at home?
Mastering nail art requires practice. The best way to practice and learn new techniques is by taking nail art courses. You'll find nail technician programs at a beauty academy or online. This course certificate will help you establish your business and secure customers.
At Courses for Success, we offer a Nail Art and Design Certificate Course, which teaches you about gel manicures, nail ideas, and how to run your business. Run by experienced nail artists, you'll receive practical training and advice.
Why Courses for Success?
Courses for Success offers over 10,000 online courses, all of which aim to help you in your personal development and career progression. Not only that, but you can also study them anywhere and at any time, and take them at your own pace, too.
You don't need career diplomas or specific experience to get started. From our coding courses and trading courses to design courses and developer courses, every course we offer will help boost your prospects, no matter who you are.
Beyond just the education itself, students will be issued a certificate online after completing each of the learning courses they do. Our online nail art and design courses are no exception and are recognized by industry leaders. You could make a name for yourself by signing up for a Courses for Success short course today.