Learning to do your own acrylic nails can be an exciting and adventurous experience. Whether you just want to save some money by doing your nails at home instead of at the salon or want to become a professional nail tech, you need to know the right kind of brush to use for your acrylics. What is the best acrylic nail brush for a beginner?
Acrylic powder is a monomer-based substance that polymerizes to form a hard, cement-like layer on top of your natural nails or false tips. Acrylic’s first ingredient is usually polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); if you see “methyl methacrylate” (or MMA) on the ingredients list of your acrylic, you should return it ASAP. MMA and PMMA are not the same things. In fact, MMA was banned in nail products due to the extreme damage it can cause to the natural nail, but it is still common in cheap, internationally sourced acrylics.
Fairy Glamor acrylic powders come in over 150 colors and can also be used as dip powders! How cool is that? Be sure to view our complete acrylic powder collection to find the color of your dreams.
If you like a little variation in your nails, you should check out our Fairy Glamor subscription box. You’ll receive two limited-edition powders every month for a discounted price, plus free shipping!
In order to turn the acrylic powder into a liquid, you need a particular solution called monomer liquid. This liquid activates the polymerization process and allows the monomers (mono meaning one) to turn into polymers (poly meaning many) by bonding together. This liquid quickly dries due to something called “dehydration synthesis,” meaning that the chemical reaction causes water to evaporate. You have to work the bead of acrylic quickly before it dries out!
The best acrylic brush on the market is the Kolinsky brush in size #10. This brush makes it easy to pick up a bead of acrylic without it being too large or too small and is perfect for beginners. The brush works best for ombres and flat-colored nails without any sort of nail art extras (such as acrylic flowers).
Fairy Glamor also sells a 100% Kolinsky #10 brush at a great price. This brush is sure to make your acrylic building much easier!
Most brushes will come in sizes ranging from six to twenty-two, with six being the smallest. Smaller brushes are more delicate and are usually used for creating intricate shapes and designs with acrylic rather than building the actual nail, which you would do with a larger brush size. The smaller the brush size, the smaller the acrylic bead. The larger the brush, the bigger the bead. Larger beads are better for covering large surface areas of the nail, while smaller brushes can be used to fill in small spots or create tiny acrylic flowers on top of the formed acrylic.
Beginners tend to prefer smaller brush sizes so they can take their time and practice precision, while professional nail techs like to use larger brushes for faster acrylic application.
There are two different ways to build acrylic nails. You can either use a nail form (the traditional way), or you can use half-cover nail tips (the easier way).
Here’s what you’ll need:
Steps:
If you are a paint artist, you know how important it is to take great care of your paintbrushes; the same is true for acrylic brushes. Once you’ve used a brush, it is important to clean it to avoid any acrylic from building up in between the bristles.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Steps:
Pro tip: in between brushstrokes of acrylic, swipe the brush onto a paper towel to prevent the acrylic from sticking to the fibers of the brush and to remove any excess liquid.
Are you having issues with your acrylic? No worries, it happens. The acrylic building process can take a long time to master, and it might take you a dozen attempts before you get the shape and thickness that you desire. Even the most seasoned nail techs make mistakes sometimes. The most important thing is to allow yourself to make mistakes and avoid becoming too frustrated and giving up.
If you’re still having problems after practicing, read our guide on getting smooth acrylic nails and our other guide on making your acrylics shiny and glossy. You might be making some common mistakes that you didn’t even realize you were doing!
If you’re already looking at buying materials for DIY acrylics, you’ve probably noticed that monomer liquid is pretty expensive in comparison to some of the other necessary items. Making sure that you’re not wasting the solution is crucial to staying cost-effective and getting a smooth acrylic bead.
If you’re using too much monomer, you’ll probably notice that your acrylic is slow to dry, very watery, and separates on the nail. There will be little shape-holding, and the acrylic will be translucent instead of opaque.
If there isn’t enough monomer on your brush, you’ll probably experience lots of lumps in your acrylic bead. The powder will stay a powder unless there is a monomer to activate the polymerization process, which is why you’re seeing those bumps. The acrylic will also be hard to smooth and spread over the nail as it dries very quickly.
To get the perfect amount of monomer in your brush, gently dip the tip of the brush into the monomer liquid and press it against the lip of the cup to drain any excess. Then, dip the brush into the acrylic powder at a 45-degree angle. You should be able to see a “wave” of activation in the bead as it slightly changes colors.
Fairy Glamor designs unique 3-in-1 dip and acrylic nail powders in Galveston, Texas. We're a 100% family owned business that was founded in 2020 and went from making handmaking powders in our spare bedroom to shipping out of a big warehouse. We believe in both quality and affordability--that's why our powders are used by both professional nail technicians and in homes. Our unique colors are hand-designed to give you gorgeous manicures that'll make your nails feel magical.
