Airbrushing on nails - art in manicure

There are certain manicure techniques that draw attention to your pretty nails. And airbrushing is definitely one of them.

Before airbrushing began to gain momentum in nail art, girls spent quite a long time waiting for their varnish to dry in order to apply the subsequent design. I fell in love with airbrushing almost at first sight, as the only manicure technique that, when properly applied, was dry on contact. Therefore, I consider the revival of demand for airbrushing in nail-arte to be quite predictable, given the high demand of our beloved clients for creative nail design with minimal drying time. "I want it quickly, but beautifully" - this is quite about airbrushing)

What is nail airbrushing?

This is a process in which water-based paint is sprayed onto nails using a special tool - an airbrush .

Using an airbrush is a great way to spruce up your nail art if you're not entirely confident with your hand painting skills. Before feeling like a nail graffiti master, it would be nice to have a basic understanding of how this coating method works. When air passes through the airbrush, it sprays the paint through the nozzle in the form of tiny droplets. When a drop hits the surface, it makes a dot. The size of the dots depends on how much the paint was able to dry before coming into contact with the surface.

The greater the air pressure, the smaller the drops; less air pressure creates larger droplets. The farther you hold the spray can from the surface of the nail, the lighter the finish you will get in the end. Conversely, the closer you spray the paint to the surface, the richer the coverage will be.

When spraying up close, it is very difficult to achieve good coverage without paint streaks. Therefore, "patience and work" will definitely be required to achieve the desired effect, when the surface is absolutely even and without waviness.

Tip: Always do a few practice sprays before spraying directly onto nails.

Hold the airbrush perpendicular to the surface of the nail. Experiment with different angles to achieve different effects. For starters, you can practice dots and lines on paper. Airbrushing a base coat for subsequent nail art is another way to hone your skills.

The execution of such an ombre manicure, beloved by masters and clients, has also been greatly simplified thanks to the airbrush technique.

Layering colors and using stencils will greatly expand the variety of your manicure designs. So everything is in your hands, let your imagination run wild!

Before applying the drawing, make sure that there is no cream or soap residue left on the nails. This determines how long your manicure will last. The paint that is used for airbrush lays down and wears better if the nails are initially covered with a base coat. Apply the base close to the cuticle and the free edge of the nail. Keep in mind that the base coat must be fast drying, otherwise all the charm of using an airbrush is lost if you have to wait 20 minutes for the base to dry.

After drawing, I also advise using a clear water-based varnish, which is sprayed over the coating. Its purpose is to form a protective barrier between the paint and the finish coat. If you do not use such a varnish, there is a high probability of leaving brush stains when applying the finish. Try to be as careful as possible and apply the top coat with light touches, without overdoing it, because you can damage the pattern.

So, with practice it seems decided. There remains one more important aspect of airbrushing, which for some reason few people emphasize - proper operation and cleaning of the airbrush. Tool problems are usually caused by improper or irregular cleaning. The degree of cleaning required is determined by how often it is used. It is not necessary to completely disassemble the airbrush for cleaning after each use, but it is recommended to rinse it. Most often, craftsmen use a 50/50 solution of alcohol and glass cleaner.

Airbrush Cleaning Tips

1. Prepare the solution, cotton swabs, several sizes of toothbrushes, and a small cup or saucer.
2. Do not use acetone for cleaning, as it will turn the water-based acrylic paint into a gooey mixture.
3. Use a cup or saucer to store small parts of the gun, as it's easily lost.
4. Do not soak the entire airbrush in detergent. You can soak for a short time only some of the parts that got paint, and then remove it with cotton swabs or a brush.

And finally, a video of a small master class on how you can easily apply an airbrush and get magical creative nails:

The renewed interest in airbrushing in nail art is a great motivator for former fans of this technique. And if you have never tried airbrushing before, then definitely now is the time to start! Be fashionable and creative!