Even though I have a huge arsenal of nail art brushes that I’ve collected over the years, at the core are a few of my staples that I reach for time and again without even thinking. Finding the perfect nail art brush is not an easy task and you’ll probably go through a few duds before you find the one that’s the perfect length, stiffness and thickness for exactly the task you need it for. To save you a bit of time in your hunt for the best nail brushes out there, here are my absolute favourites.
1. The Skinny Striper
It’s in the name – this brush is perfect for designs that contain a lot of lines or geometric shapes. As long as you keep the nail polish / paint you’re working with at a smooth consistency, longer brushes like this practically sweep themselves across the nail. You can’t beat a skinny striper for tribal designs.
Get it… from Winstonia ($3.95)
2. The All-Rounder
This is the brush that I grab when I’m doing a bit of everything. It’s quite skinny so good for small details but the very tips of the bristles are getting a bit raggedy – might be time to replace it soon.
Get it… in a 3-pack on eBay
3. The Thicker One
Just slightly shorter than the striper but a fair bit thicker. I find this one really useful for ‘filling in’ blocks of colour and the dense bristles are great for smoothing over any lumps.
Get it… in my favourite nail brush set from Winstonia ($5.95)
4. The One for Details
The Pure Color #10 is a really popular brush among bloggers and insta-artists alike. You’ve probably seen it before in tutorials and the like. It costs a little more that your standard wooden handled brush but in case you were wondering if it’s worth the investment – it totally is. The brush itself if sturdy and comfortable to hold, the bristles are firm which means the tip holds really well, and I love that it has a lid which is perfect for storing and even travelling.
Get it… from Whatsup Nails ($7.75)
5. The One for Clean-up
I do float between a flat brush, angled brush and stubby pointed brush for clean-up but if I could only use one for the rest of time, it would be the flat one! I just love the way this one glides around my nail bed and leaves me with a perfect manicure. It’s also stiff enough to get under the cuticle area whenever nail polish or glitter bleeds into that area that’s normally so awkward to clean.
(for anyone that doesn’t know, ‘clean-up’ is done at the very end of any manicure by dipping a brush in acetone and running it around the edges of your nail for a perfectly crisp line)
Get it… from The Nailasaurus Emporium (£2.50)