Nail brushes for nail sets – for gel and nail art

A good tool is the foundation of every nail stylist's work. It decides whether you spread the product evenly and whether your line comes out straight and clean. The Julia Nessa range includes brushes for working with builder gel, for drawing lines and for painting decorations, so it is easy to put together your own set. The name of most of them already tells you what they are for, and the bristle length is given in millimetres. They are essential accessories in the salon as well as for anyone starting out with nail design.

How to choose nail brushes and put together a set

Before you settle on a particular model, think about which product you work with most often and which designs you do. The tools come in different shapes and sizes, so it is worth considering a few things when choosing:

• Purpose – for applying builder gel, reach for the cat's tongue models or the series made for gel; for lines, the Line and Slim Line brushes; and for painting motifs, the gold one-stroke brushes, the Micro series or the Aquarelle.
• Bristle length – shorter bristles give more control when you work close to the cuticles, while longer ones let you draw a smooth, long line. If you do not know where to start, choose bristles of medium length and thickness.
• Number of tips – a double-ended brush works as a 2-in-1 tool and cuts down the number of accessories on your nail desk.
• Comfort – check how the tool sits in your hand. Comfort matters a lot when you see several clients a day.
• Colour – the Wood series models are gold and most of the others are pink, so you can match them to the look of your salon.

A good brush is one that suits the way you work. If you mostly do gel manicures, you need above all a tip for applying builder gel. If your clients often ask for designs, a thin nail art brush for drawing lines and dots will come in handy. Two or three models are usually enough to start with, and you can expand your set as you learn new techniques.

Slim-Gel brush – a gel brush and a thin detail brush in one

This series is made entirely of metal, in shades of gold and pink. One side has ultra-thin bristles for detail, and the other a cat's tongue tip for precise application of builder gel. The synthetic nylon bristles give durability and flexibility, so the tool can last a long time. The available configurations are 7 mm/4 mm, 7 mm/6 mm, 8 mm/6 mm, 10 mm/4 mm and 10 mm/6 mm.

According to the markings, the first value refers to the liner side and the second to the tip for applying gel. If you want a longer line, choose the double-ended 10 mm/6 mm model. The 7 mm/4 mm version has a shorter liner side that is easier to control, and the 8 mm/6 mm variant is a middle option.

Gel brushes – how to apply gel precisely

For applying and shaping builder gel, there are brushes from the Gel Brush series in 4 mm and 6 mm, for example the pink 6 mm model, and their gold equivalents from the Wood series. If you work with acrygel, take a look at the Acrylic-Gel 6 mm version, whose name shows it is meant for acrygel.

Pick up the gel in small amounts and spread it from the centre of the nail plate towards the free edge, leaving a narrow gap from the cuticles. Shorter bristles are easier to control near the nail folds, while longer ones spread the product across the whole nail plate faster. After applying each layer, check that the gel is not running to the sides, and only then cure it in the lamp.

Nail art brushes – liners and designs

Thin lines, ornaments and small designs are the job of the Line, Slim Line and Wood Line series, available with bristles from 3 to 10 mm long. Short ones make it easier to draw dots and small details, and longer ones to draw a long, smooth line, for example the smile line in a French manicure. One example is the pink Slim Line 10 mm liner. The name of the Micro series, in turn, suggests work on the smallest elements of a nail art design.

A brush for one-stroke nail art and watercolour effects

The one-stroke technique means painting petals and leaves in a single movement, so the colour in each element shades smoothly. The Wood One Stroke 0' and Wood One Stroke models are made for these motifs. For work with watercolour paints there is the Aquarelle Brush in pink.

Brushes for detailed nail art – precision in practice

When you are doing intricate designs, a steady hand and well-prepared product are what count. A few rules make the work easier:

• Pick up a small amount of paint or paste – excess is hard to control.
• Rest your wrist on a stable surface so your hand does not shake.
• Draw the line in one smooth movement instead of correcting it with short strokes.
• Wipe the bristles between elements so the colours do not mix.
• Do not start a new design straight away on your client's nail – practise it first on a nail tip or a swatch.
• Use the liner for outlines and a wider tip for filling.

Brushes for gel nails, gel polish manicure and nail design

Gel polishes come with a brush in the bottle, so you do not need a separate tool just to apply colour. Brushes do come in handy for decoration: with a thin liner you can draw a line or dots on nails covered with gel polish. For gel nails, on the other hand, the tool is essential – its shape decides how evenly you spread the product across the nail plate.

How to clean brushes and look after the handle and bristles

Even the best tool keeps its properties only if you look after it after work. A few simple habits help keep it in good shape:

• After each manicure, remove product residue from the bristles, for example with a lint-free wipe.
• Store brushes used with gel away from lamp light and sunlight, so that leftover product does not cure on the bristles.
• Do not rest them bristles down – this can distort their shape.
• Wipe the handle after work and keep the tools in an organiser, separate from metal accessories that could damage them.
• Keep nail art brushes and gel brushes apart so that colours and products do not mix.

Professional brushes for nail stylists – frequently asked questions

Which model should I choose to start with?

If you are only putting your tools together, consider a double-ended model with a cat's tongue tip. The cat's tongue is for applying builder gel, and the other end for finishing details. Choose the length depending on whether you prefer more control or longer, smooth lines.

What are the bristles made of?

In the double-ended models with a cat's tongue tip, the bristles are synthetic – made of nylon, which gives flexibility. You can check the material of the other series on the page of the product you choose.

What is the difference between pink and gold models?

Colour is mainly a matter of how the collection looks: the Wood series comes in gold and most of the other series in pink. You can check the bristle parameters and purpose in the name and on the product page.

How do I choose a tool for nail art?

For painting petals, choose one of the two gold models made for this technique; for lines, a liner from the Line or Slim Line series; and for watercolour effects, the Aquarelle. When working with nail art brushes, keep a separate tool for each kind of product.