Curious about acrylic nail products and brands? If you’re looking for a guide to the best acrylic nail products, this post is for you.

We’ll look at the best acrylic nail brands and what you need to start doing acrylic nails.

I’ll share plenty of tips and advice as well as some of my favorite acrylic nail products.

Let’s get into it.

In a hurry?

Then here are the products I’d recommend:

Best acrylic nail kit for beginners

The best acrylic nail brush

Best powder and monomer

The best tacrylic nail brush cleaner

Best colored powder set

What brands have the best acrylic nail products?

The first thing you need to know when choosing any acrylic nail product is whether the brand is any good.

If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the popular brands that sell acrylic nail products.

Here’s a list of some of the most popular brands that sell or specialize in acrylic nail products:

Brands that sell the best acrylic nail products:

• Glam and glits
• Mia secret
• Young Nails
• Morovan
• Modelones
• Saviland
• Karlash
• Azure beauty
• BTArtbox
• Melodysusie
• Pana
• IBealous
• Beetles
• Tachibelle
• Makartt
• Gellen
• Kiara Sky
• CND
• NSI
• Harmony Prohesion
• Entity
• Ugly Duckling
• Naio Nails
• Tammy Taylor

If you want to learn more about each of these brands and find out if they are right for you (and your budget) then check out my guide to acrylic nail brands which goes into much more detail.

A note on mixing brands

I always get asked if it’s a good idea to mix acrylic nail brands.

My answer is always that technically you can mix products, but I don’t recommend it.

Of course, you can use a Pana brush with a Mia Secret powder for example.

That doesn’t matter too much.

But when it comes to monomer and powder, it’s much better to stick to the same brand.

This is because a powder and monomer from the same brand have been designed to work together.

You can mix monomers and powders from different brands. But it doesn’t always go well.

If you do mix, you are opening yourself up to problems with beads, dryness, cracking and lifting.

So save yourself the headache and find one brand you like and stick with that.

If you’re interested in hearing a discussion on brand mixing check out this video from Young Nails:

What products do you need to start doing acrylic nails?

In this section, we’ll look at all the tools and equipment you need to get started.

There are lots of products out there that can help you get the perfect results, but do you really need all of them?

Let’s take a look at what equipment and tools you need to start doing acrylic nails.

We’ll start with the essentials. 

Here’s a list of acrylic nail stuff you absolutely must have to do your own acrylic nails at home:

Must have items for doing your own acrylic nails:

• Nail file
• Nail dehydrator
• Nail primer
• Monomer
• Acrylic powder
• Acrylic nail brush
• Dappen dish
• Brush cleaner
• Acetone (to remove)

The above list is the bare minimum that you’ll need to get the job done.

If you want to learn more about what each of the items in this section is used for – check out this complete list of acrylic nail supplies.

If you’ve been looking at acrylic nail kits, you may have noticed that there are a ton of other items that come with them.

So let’s explore some of the acrylic nail products that are nice to have, but not essential to doing acrylic nails.

Nice to have products for doing your own acrylic nails:

• Colored acrylic powders
• Nail art items (gems, brushes, striping tape, dotting tools, stampers, glitter, etc)
• A cuticle pusher
• Cuticle nippers
• A nail drill with bits (aka an e-file)
• 4 sided Buffer (aka buffing block)
• Nail tips
• Nail forms
• Tip cutter tool
• Nail edge clippers
• Drill bits
• Nail glue
• Dusting brush
• Acrylic dust collector
• Gel nail polishes
• Gel topcoat (matte, glossy or both)
• A UV or LED nail lamp
• Lint free wipes
• Cuticle oil
• Toe separators
• Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
• Comfortable chair
• A lamp

As you can see, there are a lot of acrylic nail products that are not necessary.

But most people who do acrylic nails will own a few of these non-essential items too.

It’s up to you to choose which items you want, will use, or you think you could benefit from.

What acrylic nail products do professionals use?

In this section, we’ll look at some of the more high-end acrylic nail products and brands that professionals use.

But first let’s find out what extra tools and equipment professionals need for doing acrylic nails for clients.

In addition to the tools and equipment listed above, professionals may also need:

• A selection of powders and polishes
• Carry case or toolbox
• A display rack
• Handwash
• Towels
• 2 comfortable chairs
• A desk
• Portable storage

High end brands that sell the best acrylic nail products:

The following brands sell professional-quality acrylic nail products.

Please bear in mind that some of these brands are only available to qualified nail technicians and salon owners.

• CND
• NSI
• Harmony Prohesion
• Entity
• Ugly Duckling (Canadian)
• Naio Nails (UK) 

The best acrylic nail products

Now you are familiar with the most popular acrylic nail brands and all of the tools and equipment you need.

It’s time to review some products!

We’re about to answer the question, what are the best acrylic nail products you can buy?

Let’s start with the best complete kit for beginners.

Best acrylic nail kit for beginners

Morovan acrylic nail kit 

This is a great value basic beginner’s acrylic nail kit from Morovan.

I like it because it comes with the basics but doesn’t include all the unnecessary stuff that always gets thrown in with acrylic nail kits.

This kit comes with monomer, as well as clear, pink, and white acrylic powder.

You also get 3 acrylic nail brushes in sizes 4, 8, and 12 (size 8 is the best size for beginners). 

This beginners kit also comes with nail form stickers, a file, and a dappen dish which is useful for monomer dipping.

It isn’t a complete kit, so you will need to buy a primer and dehydrator separately.

It’s easy to use, the powder is good quality and it glides onto the nail well. The white powder is nice and opaque and the clear is fully translucent and not cloudy.

The quality of the acrylic nail brushes is also very good compared with other kits I’ve seen.

Some of the reviews on this mention that it dries too quickly for beginners to use. But as long as you add enough liquid monomer, you should find that this product is easy to apply.

The downside of this is that you will go through monomer more quickly.

This is a great kit for beginners because it’s cheap but the quality is good.

If you’re not sure if acrylic nails are for you, this is a great kit for you to try it out.

Here are the main pros and cons of this kit:

Pros: 

• Great value for money
• Good quality brushes in 3 sizes
• Very easy to apply powders
• Salon quality powder

Cons:

• The brushes are a bit small
• Doesn’t come with a lot of monomer
• You don’t get a dehydrator, primer or tips/glue

Best acrylic nail brush

Pana USA 100% Kolinsky sable Acrylic nail art brush.

This is hands down the best acrylic nail brush I’ve come across!

Pana is one of the best brands for high-quality acrylic nail brushes.

Professionals and DIYer’s use Pana brushes, because they are silky soft and salon-quality.

This beautiful brush is made from premium Kolinsky sable. It comes in 3 different colors (teal, mahogany, and clear).

The handle is hardwood and has a great hand feel. The weight of this brush is just right.

It’s a well-made, long-lasting flexible brush that’s an absolute pleasure to use.

It’s so easy to create perfect beads with this brush. It soaks up monomer well, so it’s easy to get the powder to liquid ratio right.

With this brush, I always get a seamless and smooth application. Plus – no visible brush strokes!

There are some negative reviews of this brush, but don’t let that put you off.

Most of the bad reviews are from people who didn’t brush up (pun intended) on how to care for kolinsky hair brushes.

The brush has starch in it to hold the shape. You have to remove the starch before you use the brush.

As long as you follow a couple of simple steps, like flicking out the starch and cleaning it properly in warm water BEFORE you use it, you’ll be fine.

Here are the pros and cons of this brush:

Pros:

• Salon quality
• Attractive design
• Very soft bristles
• Durable and Long-lasting
• Doesn’t shed or clump together
• Comfortable to hold
• Easy to use
• Very fine tip point (great for getting to edges)
• Keeps its shape
• Glides on smoothly
• Absorbs monomer well
• Easy to pick up beads
• The packaging doubles as storage 
• Easy to clean – even if you forget and have to go back later!

Cons:

• Not the cheapest
• Requires proper care

Best powder and monomer

Mia Secret 4oz set

As we’ve learned, it’s always best to use an acrylic powder and monomer from the same brand.

I can highly recommend this 4oz acrylic powder and monomer set from Mia Secret.

Mia Secret is one of the best acrylic nail brands.

Their products are extremely popular because they are cheap but the quality is very good.

This acrylic powder is perfect for beginners and intermediates. It’s a good quality powder that’s easy to work with.

It doesn’t set too quickly (setting time is 1 to 3 minutes depending on how much liquid) which means that you will have plenty of time to get your nails looking perfect.

This powder works with or without tips and you can use it for dip nails too.

Sometimes, “clear” acrylic powders dry grainy or cloudy. But this one is truly clear so it’s great for designs where you want to encapsulate something.

It’s also very hard-wearing so your nails won’t chip when you file them down. 

The monomer in this is EMA and non-yellowing which is great.

Here are the pros and cons for the Mia Secret set:

Pros:

• Products work well together
• Easy to apply
• Dries truly clear 
• Hard finish that lasts ages
• Consistency is smooth
• Self leveling
• Won’t lift

• Great value 
• Non-yellowing monomer

Cons:

• Because of how hard it dries you’ll need a strong nail file if you want a smooth finish.
• The monomer has a strong smell – you will need to open a window.

Best acrylic nail brush cleaner

Tammy Taylor nail brush cleaner

Tammy Taylor is a brand that supplies high-quality acrylic nail products to professionals.

A lot of their products are difficult to get hold of – unless you’re a nail tech.

But this amazing Tammy Taylor brush cleaner is available on Amazon.

It’s not the cheapest brush cleaner you can buy, but it is specially formulated for acrylic nail brushes.

In my experience, it’s worth investing in a good quality brush cleaner, and this is one of the best ones on the market.

I’ve used cheaper ones in the past and they ruin synthetic brushes (because they contain acetone).

Some brush cleaners also cause real kolinsky sable brushes to shed.

The last thing you want is to ruin all your nail brushes by soaking them in a dodgy brush cleaner, so do yourself a favor and get a good one!

This solution is great for removing acrylic, even if it’s dried on. It gets right inside and gets rid of every last bit.

You can also use this brush cleaner to reshape bent brushes.

Pros:

• Works perfectly to remove all of the acrylic 
• Doesn’t damage brushes
• Save you buying replacement brushes!
• Lasts ages
• Works on gel as well as acrylic
• Leaves brushes nice and soft

Cons:

• Not the cheapest brush cleaner (but worth it)
• Strong smell

Best colored powder set

Modelones 12 color acrylic powder set

Modelones is another brand that is very popular in the nail world. In fact, I think Mia Secret and Modelones are my top 2 brands for acrylic nails.

Modelones acrylic powders are amazing! 

I like them because they are finely ground and glide on like butter.

Finer powders are easier to use, especially for beginners.

Why?

Finely ground acrylic powders soak up more monomer, which gives you a wetter bead. Moist beads stay workable for longer.

This 12 color set from Modelones is a great buy.

It’s not just one set of colors. There are actually 3 different color collections to choose from.

The names they give them are:

• Gray collection – muted soft shades plus 2 glitters. Very elegant and classy.

• Green collection – Bright vivid colors and great orange and greens for halloween.

• Pink collection – A mix of pinks and purples with 6 glitters.

Here are the pros and cons of this colored powder set:

Pros:

• Good selection of shades 
• Highly-pigmented colors
• Excellent value 
• It’s easy to mix the colors in the same design because they all have the same consistency
• Nicely opaque
• Colors look the same in real life as online
• Fantastic quality, superfine and easy to use powders
• You can use them with monomer or as dip powders

Cons:

• Small containers 
• They don’t mix well with monomers from a different brand. They get sticky.

Final thoughts:

So, that’s it. What a lot of useful information!

I hope that you liked my “best acrylic nail products” post.

I’d say that the key takeaways are to know your brands, and to stick to the same make of monomer and acrylic powder.

Good luck on your acrylic nail journey and I wish you cute nails in the future. 

you might also like our best acrylic nail brush article here:

The post What are the Best Acrylic Nail Products? Buyers Guide appeared first on nailhow.

I’m guessing you can name 5 or 10 brands of nail polish right? But how many acrylic nail brands do you know? Choosing the best acrylic nail brands is important. Because mixing brands is mixing a bunch of random chemicals.

Those chemicals might clash and ruin your nails .

Nail brands put a lot of work into making products that work well together.

This is why, for amazing results, you should find a brand you like and stick to it.

But what are the best acrylic nail brands?

Let’s find out!

Here’s the full list of 24 of the best acrylic nail brands and a table of contents for easy navigation:

Full list of the best acrylic nail brands:

Young Nails

Modelones

Glam and glits

Saviland

BTArtbox

Panai

Morovan

Karlash

Azure beauty

Melodysusie

Mia secret

Beetles

IBealous

Gellen

Tachibelle

Kiara Sky

CND

Naio Nails

Makartt

NSI

Harmony Prohesion

Tammy Taylor

Ugly Duckling

Entity

What kind of acrylic do nail salons use?

What brand acrylic powder is best?

Can you use a different brand acrylic powder and liquid?

Do you have to use the same brand monomer and acrylic powder?

Can you mix different brands of nail dip powder?

Full list of the best acrylic nail brands

Here’s my full list of what are in my opinion, the best acrylic nail brands.

I have personally used at least one product from most of the brands on this list.

Others have been recommended by my friends in the nail world.

My final list features a mix of high street and professional acrylic nail brands.

I’ve given the brands in a random order.

Below, you’ll find my brief description of each brand and what kind of acrylic nail products they sell.

I’ll also give you some tips and advice on the brands and products where I can.

Glam and glits

Glam and Glits sell a range of nail products made in the USA.

They have all the basic powders you’ll need (clear, pink, and white) and an EMA monomer.

Plus they have a huge range of colored acrylic powders in tons of finishes like glow, matte, and glitters.

I have tried their acrylic powders and I really liked them.

I found that their acrylic powders are good quality, easy to use, and reasonably priced.

They don’t sell brushes, kits, or other equipment, so no dust collectors, dappen dishes, or anything like that.

I was a bit disappointed about that.

Mainly because I like to shop for all my supplies at once and stick with the same brand if possible.

With Glam and Glitz it’s mainly (gorgeous) powders and monomer.

That being said, I think Glam and Glits is a great brand for beginners.

The acrylic glides on easily, lays smoothly, and doesn’t dry so fast.

So you’ll have time to sculpt and perfect each nail if you’re not used to the process.

They also have this great true black which can be hard to find!

(click to check price on Amazon)

Mia Secret

Mia Secret is a professional nail and beauty brand.

I love using this brand because they sell everything you need to do acrylic (and gel) nails including:

• Acrylic nail kits
• Liquid monomer
• Colored and clear powder
• Builder gels
• Nail polish
• Nail art supplies
• Tips and glue
• Strengthens, dehydrators, and nail treatments
• A wide range of tools and accessories

I have used many of their products and can highly recommend Mia Secret.

In my experience this is a great brand for everyone from beginners to professionals.

Their products are very popular, and most have excellent reviews (which I totally agree with).

I’d say they are a mid-range brand – very affordable and I find them to be good quality for the price.

As I said, I like Mia Secret because you can get everything from the same brand.

This means it’s less likely that something will go wrong (because of chemicals clashing).

Pro-tip! If you want your Acrylic nails to last longer – try the Mia Secret Nail Prep dehydrator and Extrabond Primer.

I tried it and it was a total game-changer! (Click to check price on Amazon)

Young Nails

Young Nails is a company run by 2 brothers. One of them (Greg) is a nail technician.

They know what they are doing, and sell most of the supplies needed for doing acrylic nails.

From preps and treatments to powders and monomer, to nail art foils and full kits.

They also have their own branded nail dust collector and E-file. Though these are a little bit expensive in my opinion.

Young nails is an extremely popular brand, especially with younger nail techs.

In my experience, the products are great quality and the powders blend and set well.

But you don’t get the value for money that you get with other brands like Mia Secret for example.

If you are used to doing your own nails and you’re looking for a higher-quality powder then it’s not too bad.

But I wouldn’t recommend Young Nails for doing clients nails.

The main reason for that is that there are much cheaper options out there.

I use Young Nails more as a brand to go to for information.

You might wanna check out their youtube channel or their zoom training.

They have hundreds of useful videos about acrylic nails.

Morovan

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much information on the folks behind Morovan.

The brand doesn’t seem to have a face.

But that doesn’t stop them from getting plenty of great reviews.

They sell everything for acrylic, polygel, and UV nails as well as tools, polishes, and kits.

Their complete nail kits are popular with beginners.

They come with absolutely everything you might need. Tips, tools, nail glue – the works.

And I think that they are great value for money.

If you’re a complete beginner and you want an affordable kit to learn the ropes, this could be a good brand to go for.

In my experience of using Morovan, the quality is decent and it certainly won’t break the bank.

Modelones

Modelones is a stylish and modern brand focused on the latest trends and nail art.

You might have seen their stuff on youtube.

A lot of influencers in the nail space have done product reviews for them.

Their acrylic powders are reasonably priced and tend to self-level really well.

They are also easy to apply, even for beginners.

I’ve found that Modelones acrylic goes on easier and more smoothly than a lot of other powders I’ve tried.

It also dries a little bit slower than Mia Secret, so you’ll have plenty of time to perfect the shape before it sets.

The color collections are amazing! They have collabs with Pantone which I’m loving so much right now!

Their 12 and 24 color packs are pretty good value too.

They also sell brushes, monomer, primer, dehydrator, tips, gel polish, and more.

Saviland

Saviland is a global brand focussed purely on nails.

You mainly see them on Amazon.

They sell everything for acrylic and poly gel nails.

Their products are reasonably priced but they aren’t the best and many have mixed reviews.

When I ordered one of their kits I was a bit disappointed with the colors.

They look totally different in real life and are not vibrant enough for my liking.

The quality is ok and the prices are reasonable but to be honest for the price you can get better.

Karlash

Karlash is a New York-based company.

They mostly sell nail products, but they also sell waxing stuff too.

Their fungal treatment for finger and toenails helped me get my super gross big toe sandal-worthy again!

When it comes to acrylic nails, as well as powders they also have a range of useful products including:

• Isopropyl alcohol
• Brush on nail glue and tips
• Dip powders
• Tip cutters
• Monomer
• Prep and bonding agent
• Files, buffing blocks and sanding bands
• Dappen dishes

Their products are great value for money and most get fantastic reviews which in my experience are justified.

Their acrylic powders are easy to use. But I did find that they dry a little too quickly – you can get around this by using a little bit more monomer.

Beware! The monomer from this brand smells really strong! So crack a window before using.

Azure beauty

This is a brand that I came across on Amazon.

They don’t have a huge range of products to choose from – they seem to sell mostly dip powder kits.

But the few products they do have get rave reviews.

I don’t have any personal experience with this brand.

But they do seem to offer good value for money so maybe worth checking out.

BTArtbox

BtArtbox is a nail brand that is probably best known for professional nail drills.

If you’re looking for a nail drill, I can highly recommend this brand.

I love mine! The design is sleek, it doesn’t take up too much space and it works great.

You also get to choose between black, white, or gold.

BTArtbox also sells gel polish (which I’ve tried and love), acrylic powder sets, and high-quality tips.

My favorite thing about their tips are that they pre shaped so you don’t have to file them down.

Melodysusie

Melodysusie is a San Francisco-based brand that offers professional quality nail tools.

They are best known for their high-quality nail drills and dust collectors.

I have one of their dust collectors and it works great for sucking up all the dust when I’m doing acrylics.

But they also sell great lamps and gel polish collections too.

Melodysusie is more of a high-end brand geared toward professional nail techs.

Their products have great reviews and they are mostly justified in my experience.

The brand has a good reputation for creating quality products that last.

They mostly sell tools. They don’t sell their own acrylic powders or monomer.

Pana

Pana is one of my all-time favorite Brands.

It’s another tool-oriented brand.

They are best known for their amazing kolinsky hair acrylic nail brushes.

But they also sell high-quality drill bits.

They sell other tools too like nail cutters and files etc.

OMG, I adore Pana’s brushes!

Pana sells some of the best quality nail brushes on the market, so it’s well worth checking them out.

I can tell you from experience that they are an absolute dram to use, clean up well, and last for years.

They have some beautiful designs too.

iBealous

iBealous is a nail and beauty brand that you may have seen in Walmart, Sears, or on Amazon.

They don’t have a huge range of acrylic nail stuff, and they don’t sell acrylic powder or monomer.

But they do sell some pretty decent acrylic nail brushes, e-files, and tips.

They also have a very affordable nail drill that gets great reviews.

Beetles

Beetles is a brand best known for its gel nail polishes.

They also sell basecoat, topcoat, UV lamps, tips, dip powders, and some tools and accessories.

I have tried several of their polish collections and I have to say their gel polish kits are fantastic!

The colors are so beautiful and there are tons of color collections to choose from.

They’re also great value for money if you ask me.

I love Beetles because the colors are amazing. My nails usually last for around 10 days, and you only need 2 thin coats.

They even have a range of gel liners that I’ve found are perfect for doing nail art!

Tachibelle

Tachibelle sells a good range of products for doing acrylic nails.

What sets this brand apart is that the products are made in the USA.

You can get them at Walmart or on Amazon.

Some of my favorite Tachibelle products include acrylic powders, monomer, files, buffing blocks, nail prep, and primer.

They have great sanding bands and a pretty good nail repair kit too.

In my opinion, the prices are very reasonable and the powder goes on like butter.

I’d say this is a good beginner-friendly brand because it’s easy to work with and doesn’t dry too quickly.

Makartt

Makartt is a very well-thought-of brand in the nail world.

It’s primarily a nail brand, but they sell lashes too.

They don’t sell acrylic powders.

But they do have a lot of poly gel stuff, and plenty of gel polish kits, bundles, devices, and tools.

They have a lot of super cute nail art stuff like charms, rhinestones, foils, and decals too!

Markharrt nail devices are very good quality.

Their drills and drill bits are excellent, and so is their dust collector.

They also do a super-strong rhinestone glue that I can highly recommend, and a great mini vortex mixer too.

Makharrt may not be the cheapest brand.

But in my experience, It’s usually worth paying a little extra for the quality they offer.

Gellen

Gellen sells a lot of good stuff for doing your own acrylic nails.

It’s an affordable brand that i’d say is a good choice for beginners.

They have dip powders, polygel products, builder gels, and gel nail polish.

They also have tips, glue, primer, dehydrator, lamps, and brushes.

Their dip powder nail kit is pretty popular.

I tried it and was pretty happy with it.

It comes with everything you need and is easy to use.

This brand has a lot of mixed reviews.

But I think a lot of the bad reviews are from people who didn’t follow the instructions well enough.

When I tried out their polygel it went on well and I didn’t have any problems.

They don’t have their own website and seem to be available mostly online through Amazon etc.

Kiara sky

You may have heard of Kiara Sky.

It’s one of the better-known, high-end acrylic nail brands.

The 2 things I personally like most about them are that the products are cruelty-free and made in the USA.

They are actually the sister company of the first brand on this list, Glam, and Glits.

Kiara sky is a California-based company that is available globally.

They sell everything you might need to get started with acrylic nails.

They have their own powders, monomer, brushes, drills, nail art accessories, and more.

Kiara sky has a great reputation and beautiful colors.

You really can’t go wrong with their easy-to-apply, high-quality products.

CND

CND has been going since 1979.

It’s a brand aimed more toward nail techs and professionals.

Many salons use CND nail products and clients seem to love them!

They do a full liquid and powder system that in my experience has everything you could possibly need.

They sell professional-grade sculpting liquids and powders. And also tips, forms, brushes, adhesives, and kits.

One thing I would say is that if you’re a beginner – CND products and kits can be a little confusing and/or intimidating.

You also need to sign up as a professional (on the website) to get access to some of the products.

Even on Amazon – you need a business account and beauty license to buy some of their stuff.

NSI

NSI is a US-based company that sells top-notch nail supplies to the beauty industry.

They are aimed at professionals.

As you might expect, NSI products are of excellent quality.

They are also reasonably priced to allow nail techs to make a decent profit.

They sell absolutely everything for acrylic nails including:

• bonding agents
• brush cleaner
• tips in various shapes
• monomer (which they call “attraction nail liquid”)
• Application brushes
• powders
• Kits
• Lamps
• Files
• Dappen dishes
• Top coat
• Nail art brushes
• Cuticle oil

You might think that Nsi nail products are hard to get hold of.

But actually, NSI professional products are NOT as hard to get hold of as some other professional brands.

Like CND for example.

You can get some NSI products – like the attraction nail liquid (fantastic product btw) and the acrylic powders – on Amazon.

The “attraction nail liquid” is great.

I find that if I do need to mix brands, this monomer works the best.

I don’t usually recommend mixing brands.

But this monomer works well with Mia Secret and a few cheaper powders I’ve tried.

If you are an intermediate or professional – I’d highly recommend checking out NSI.

In my experience the application is smooth and the adhesion is fantastic.

Also, the colors are highly pigmented and bright.

Harmony Prohesion

Harmony Prohesion is the professional wing of the Gelish brand.

They are a California-based company.

They sell professional-grade sculpting powders, monomer, kits and accessories.

Their sculpting powders are extremely good, I found that they were easy to apply and very durable.

Many salons use Harmony Prohesion. Because they are great quality, long-lasting, and cruelty-free.

Some of their products, like the “Elegant Pink Sculpting Powder”. And the matching “Nail Sculpting Liquid” are available on Amazon without a business account!

Entity

Entity is another brand aimed towards professional nail artists.

They sell a liquid and powder acrylic system.

There are 2 monomers to choose from (Signature and Success).

They also have 7 different powders in white, clear, and 5 tones of pink to match any client.

You can get some of their acrylic nail products on Amazon.

But since most professionals buy in bulk, they can be a little pricey.

Ugly Duckling

Ugly Duckling is a Canadian nail brand.

They make products purely for professional nail technicians.

Many Ugly Duckling products are cruelty-free and some are odorless!

They even have vegan-friendly and 10-free nail products too.

UD has a huge range of professional-grade products for acrylic nails including:

• Prep and primer (10 free and vegan-friendly)
• Colored and clear powders
• Monomer
• Starter kits
• Acrygel (an acrylic/gel hybrid)
• Base and top coats
• Lamps
• Brushes
• Tools
• Tips
• E-files and bits

As someone who does my nails a lot, I really appreciate that the monomer doesn’t have a super strong smell.

Naio nails

Naio nails offer all the supplies you might need for any kind of nails.

They are based in the UK, (but ship worldwide) and have vegan and cruelty-free products.

They mostly supply professionals, but they are also available to the public.

If you happen to be in the UK, delivery is free.

I have tried a few products from this brand.

In my experience, Naio nails powders pick up well, glide on smoothly, and are easy to control.

They are very nice to work with, but not available on Amazon so you have to order directly from their site.

Tammy Taylor

Tammy Taylor has been going since 1983.

This brand has everything you’d expect, from premium files and brushes to salon safety gear.

Their “sculpt” range is an acrylic gel hybrid. So may take some getting used to if you’re more familiar with acrylic-only powders.

One Tammy Taylor product that I really love is this acrylic sealer topcoat that air dries in 30 seconds.

You can’t order all the Tammy Taylor products from the website unless you are a professional nail tech.

But you can get them on Amazon – yay!

What kind of acrylic do nail salons use?

Nail salons use brands of acrylic like CND, NSI, Harmony Prohesion, Entity, Ugly Duckling Naio Nails, and Tammy Taylor.

These are brands that have products that are specially geared toward professionals.

It is often difficult to get hold of professional grade products like these.

Unless you have a beauty license.

However, many professional nail technicians also use high street brands.

The most popular brands with nail techs are Mia Secret, Kiara Sky and Modelones.

What brand acrylic powder is best?

The best (non-professional) brand acrylic powders are Young Nails, Mia Secret, Modelones and Kiara Sky.

Can you use a different brand acrylic powder and liquid?

You can, but I don’t recommend it.

As a general rule, you should always use a monomer liquid and an acrylic powder from the same brand.

This is because scientists and brainy types put a lot of work into creating chemical formulas that work together.

So what happens if you mix your acrylic powder with a monomer from another brand?

Well. Lifting, breakages, discoloration and allergic reactions are all more likely.

Do you have to use the same brand monomer and acrylic powder?

You don’t have to use the same brand of monomer and acrylic powder.

But it’s always a good idea to be loyal to the same brand.

Mixing brands means you’re more likely to have problems with your acrylic nails.

For example, You could end up with brittle nails that break easily.

Or yellow nails. Or nails that won’t set.

You could even have an allergic reaction.

Can you mix different brands of nail dip powder?

If you want the best results for your dip powder nails, it’s always better to stick to one brand of nail dip powder.

You should also use a liquid monomer in the same brand as the acrylic dip powder you’re using.

This is because the chemicals in the monomer and powder of the same brand are designed to work well together.

You may still be able to get good results by mixing powders from different brands.

But you are increasing the risk of ruining your nails because of a bad mix.

Mixing powders from the same brand as your monomer is totally fine.

That’s all. I hope you enjoyed learning about the best acrylic nail brands.

you might also like our best acrylic nail brush article here:

The post The Best Acrylic Nail Brands: Top Brands You Need to Know About appeared first on nailhow.

Doing acrylic or gel nails at home saves you a lot of money. But all that filing is messy. Plus it can be hazardous to your health. What you need to save your lungs from all that acrylic flying around is a dust collector. But what’s the best nail dust collector?

We’re about to find out.

Those little dust particles get everywhere!

If you want to protect your lungs and keep things neat and tidy, then buying a nail dust collector is a great idea.

In this post, we’ll go over FAQ’s about dust collectors.

Then I’ll share my top recommendations for the best nail dust collectors.

Just want product recommendations?

Ok, here are the links to my top 7 nail dust collectors for acrylic nails:

Born pretty

Makarrt TICK

Melodysusie

Sunflower best professional (for use in salons) with a stand

Miss sweet best budget

AONOLOVO

Nail Salon Dust Collector with Lamp

Contents:

Is a nail dust collector worth it?

What does a nail dust collector do?

Is it bad to breathe in acrylic nail dust?

What happens if you inhale nail dust?

What type of nail dust collector is best?

How do you clean a nail dust collector filter?

Is a nail dust collector worth it?

Yes, buying a nail dust collector is totally worth it!

It will help you to keep your work area clean and tidy. It will also get rid of the majority of the dust that you would otherwise be breathing in.

Nail dust is nasty stuff. Not only is it full of chemicals, but it can also contain fungal spores – Ewww!

Not something you want in your lungs if you can help it!

Nail dust particles hang around in the air for a very long time – long after you’re done filing. So it’s definitely important to clean up as many of them as you can.

If you have a dust collector on while you’re working, you can also see what you are doing better.

Before I got mine, I was stopping every couple of minutes to wipe away dust with a brush.

Using a nail dust collector with a fan and filter seems way more efficient. 

What does a nail dust collector do?

A nail dust collector gets rid of the dust caused by filing and removing gel or acrylic nails.

It contains a fan that sucks the dust out of the air and away from the nails while you are working.

Nail dust filters also have a filter to catch any dust that settles and hold it in place.

You can then bang the filter against the side of your trash can to empty it.

Nail dust collectors are pretty simple machines that are easy to use.

It’s basically a small, lightweight box with a fan inside and a removable filter.

To use a dust collector you just plug it in, make sure the filter is in the right place and press the on switch.

Is it bad to breathe in acrylic nail dust?

Yes, it’s bad to breathe in acrylic nail dust. Dust from acrylic contains harmful toxins that can enter your body and cause havoc.

Breathing in too much acrylic nail dust can irritate your respiratory system.

This dust can irritate the respiratory passages in your nose and throat. Acrylic dust can also potentially cause asthma.

Nail dust can also make asthma worse in those who already have it.

It can cause hyposensitivity – which means that you can become allergic to nail dust.

Once you develop a nail dust allergy – there’s no way of getting rid of it.

Nail dust can also get into your eyes and onto your skin. If it gets into your eyes, you could get conjunctivitis. On your skin, dust from acrylics, gels and other nail products can cause dermatitis.

Get yourself a nail dust collector to protect your lungs. But you might want to also consider wearing safety glasses and gloves.

Here’s a great video about how dust can affect not just you but also your loved ones.

It also has some great tips on how to protect yourself:

What happens if you inhale nail dust?

A lot of the substances used in fake nails are harmful if you inhale them.

If you inhale nail dust, you might find that your nose or throat becomes irritated or itchy.

If you have asthma, you may find that it gets worse after you inhale nail dust.

If you’re lucky – nothing will happen at all.

But if you inhale a lot of nail dust over a long period, you run the risk of developing a permanent allergy to nail dust.

Inhaling nail dust can make you cough, wheeze and could make your chest feel tight.

What type of nail dust collector is best?

The best type of nail dust collector is one that’s powerful but not too loud. It should have a replaceable filter that’s easy to remove and clean.

A lot of nail dust collectors claim to be quiet. But unless you buy one of the more expensive ones they are usually pretty noisy.

It’s also good to get one with a plastic cover over the switch because otherwise dust can get clogged up in there.

You can get nail dust collectors with lights, hand rests and even drills attached. So it’s up to you to decide which one best suits your needs.

If you are going to be mobile, then you’ll need a lightweight portable machine for example.

But if you are working in a salon, a powerful dust collector on wheels might be a better solution.

How do you clean a nail dust collector filter?

Emptying out a nail dust collector is easy – you just tap it against your trash can and the dust will fall out.

But if you want to give it a more thorough cleaning, then there are a few options.

First – check your manufacturer’s instructions.

This is important because some filters can be cleaned using water and some can’t.

If you use water on the wrong type of filter you’ll ruin it and have to buy a replacement.

If you can’t use water, then the best way to clean out the filter is with a brush.

Any type of soft brush should do the job nicely.

You could also try using a brush attachment with your vacuum cleaner.

If your filter is made from water-resistant material – you can gently wipe it with a damp cloth.

If you still have stubborn spots, you can use a can of compressed air to blow the dust out.

But please make sure to do this outdoors so you’re not breathing in the dust and wear a mask.

My top 7 nail dust collectors

Now you know all about these awesome lung-saving machines, it’s time to look at some product reviews.

Let’s take a look at some of the best nail dust collectors out there.

Best budget nail dust collector

(click to check price on amazon)

Looking for a nail dust collector that does the job well and doesn’t break the bank?

Then this one from Miss Sweet is a good one to go for.

In my opinion, even though the design isn’t the sleekest, it gets major points for the reasonable price and the color choice.

It comes in white, pink, and my favorite – rose gold.

This little machine has a 40-watt motor that worked pretty well when I tested it out.

When I tried it, it didn’t get rid of all of the dust.

But it has pretty decent suction and you will definitely notice that you are not covered in dust anymore!

I found that it handles gel and acrylic dust well and for me, it easily cut the clean-up time in half.

It’s nice and compact so it doesn’t take up too much space and it’s lightweight so very good if you need something portable.

Pros:

• Great value

• Nice choice of colors

• Well made

• Sturdy

• Compact and portable

• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Only comes with 1 filter

• The power chord is very short

• Like most dust collectors it’s pretty noisy

Best quality Nail dust collector

Makarrt TICK

(Click to check price on amazon)

This nail dust collector from Makarrt isn’t cheap, but in my humble opinion, it’s worth every penny!

Makarrt is a well-known and trusted brand. So you can expect a dust collector that’s good quality and long-lasting.

This one has a powerful 60-watt motor and 2 super-strong fans.

Unlike the Miss Sweet one, this one collects most of the dust.

So when I tested it there was little to no clean-up!

But the thing i like most about it is the adjustable suction.

Being able to change the power/suction level is fantastic.

It’s great because you can turn it up or down depending on what job you’re doing.

But also because you can control the noise level when you’re not doing heavy-duty jobs like removal.

I like having the option to use it on medium speed.

Because it’s pretty quiet and I can still have a conversation or watch a video.

The Markhart dust collector has vents so that it doesn’t get too hot.

This makes it great for using all day long and means the machine will last longer and doesn’t overheat.

I also like the minimal design and the fact that the filter is easy to pop in and out.

If you do nails often or professionally – I’d say this is a great choice.

Pros:

• Adjustable suction

• Great quality

• Powerful

• Minimal design

• Vents to avoid overheating

• Lightweight

• Compact

• Thick high quality filters

• Filters are easy to remove and clean

Cons:

• You can’t use water to clean it

• Doesn’t have a wrist rest

Quietest nail dust collector

(click to check price on Amazon)

If you find the box-shaped dust filters a little hard to work around,  you might prefer this one from Born Pretty.

This model has a curved arch design, so it’s much easier to rest your hand on the machine.

It also has decent-quality faux leather on it that feels smooth. This makes it more comfortable to rest your hand on.

This model is a little different from my other picks because it has a bag instead of a tray-style filter.

To clean, you empty the bag, just like you would with a vacuum cleaner.

I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet this is. It has 3 fans but is not loud at all and it has good suction.

It comes with 2 replaceable dust bags.

Pros:

• Powerful but quiet

• Comfortable hand rest

• Sleek arch design

• Good suction

Cons:

• Elastic that holds the bag in place isn’t great

• The plastic is not acetone resistant

Best nail dust collector with a built in light

(click to check price on amazon)

No space for a table lamp? No worries!

If you have a small workspace or your lighting isn’t the best, then check out this next nail dust collector.

It has a built-in light so you can see better, and it has adjustable suction, which at this price point is amazing!

I like that the light stem is flexible because you can position the LED light exactly where you want it.

You can then turn the dial to increase or decrease the suction depending on if you’re filing or doing drill work.

It also has a soft, silicone pad which makes a pretty good armrest.

It’s not the quietest machine, but it’s a good all-rounder.

I found that it does the job well and is definitely worth the modest price tag.

Pros:

• Great value for money

• Adjustable suction dial

• Has an adjustable bright LED lamp which massively improves visibility

• Silicone armrest

• Sucks up most of the dust

• Comes with a miniature tool kit

Cons:

• A bit loud

Best professional salon nail dust collector

Sunflower best professional (for use in salons) with a stand

(Click to check price on amazon)

Do you have a nail salon?

Need something that’s going to stand up to constant usage?

Then you might want to consider this professional dust collector from Sunflower.

The Sunflower II has an LED light for better visibility while you’re working. It’s also extremely powerful.

It has a built-in odor extractor to reduce fumes as well as dust.

It comes with a handy mount so that you can easily attach it to any workstation. You can position it above where you are working.

This is great because it doesn’t take up any extra space on your nail table.

It’s easy to use, easy to maintain and it comes with a 12-month warranty and 12 extra filters.

Each filter should last about a month with normal salon usage.

If you want to protect your health and have a clean workspace, this could be a great investment.

It will also protect your clients from dust and fumes.

Pros:

• Gets rid of most of the dust

• 1-year warranty

• Has a built-in odor filter

• Not too loud

• Can fit to any workstation with a clamp or wall mount

• You can buy a floor stand separately to wheel this around.

• Great customer service

Cons:

• Expensive

• Suction could be stronger for the money

Most effective nail dust collector

Melodysusie

(click to check price on amazon)

This dust collector from Melodysusie is a great little machine.

I found that it is very effective at reducing the amount of nail dust in the air.

What I like about this one is that it has 2 speeds.

So I put it on fast for doing fill-ins and drill work, and then turn it down onto the slow setting for filing.

In terms of noise – this one falls somewhere in the middle.

It’s not the quietest but it’s also not the noisiest of the bunch.

The suction on this machine is excellent.

It has a magnetic cover too,which makes it super easy to remove and replace the filter.

It’s easy to get a new filter when you need one.

It also has good ventilation to prevent overheating.

All in all, this was comfortable to use, convenient to clean, and did a great job.

Pros:

• Has 2 settings – high and low

• Sleek design

• Strong fan that sucks up most of the dust

• Easy and quick to clean

• Lightweight

• Replacement filters are easily available

Cons:

• Power and fan buttons are very sensitive and easy to catch

• Quite large – takes up a lot of desk space

Best nail dust collector that’s easy to use and clean

AONOLOVO

(Click to check price on amazon)

This is a great little dust collector that performed really well in our tests.

The 40-watt motor does a pretty good job of getting rid of any kind of dust from acrylics or poly gel nails etc.

The quality is good, the price is fair and it’s very easy to operate.

It’s a little bit on the loud side, but it’s affordable and efficient.

It’s also really easy to clean and sanitize the whole thing which is a nice plus.

Pros:

• Does the job well

• Easy to use

• Good customer service

• Easy to remove and clean the filter

• Good value for money

Cons:

• Short chord

• A little loud

Final thoughts and a few tips

So that’s it!

I hope that you found this guide to nail dust collectors useful and that I could help you out!

Wait! I have a couple more tips before you go.

If the dust collector you like best doesn’t have an armrest – don’t worry.

You can use a rolled-up towel or a small pillow to create a nice comfortable place to rest your hands.

Also, keep acetone away from your dust collector – 9 times out of 10 it will ruin the plastic and look awful!

You really can’t go wrong with any of the above dust collectors, so scroll back up and choose your fav!

you also might be interested in why won’t my gel polish stay on

amazon associates disclaimer

As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The post 7 Top Picks for the Best Nail Dust Collector appeared first on nailhow.

What’s the deal with acrylic brush sizes? How do you choose the best acrylic nail brush size for your nails?

Nail brushes can be expensive. So it’s important to choose a size that works well for you.

Let’s find out what you should consider before picking a size.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What’s the best size brush for doing acrylic nails?

Best size brush for beginners – size 8

Best size brush for intermediates – size 14.

Best acrylic nail brush size for professionals – 20.

Is brush size really that important?

Who should use a small acrylic nail brush?

Who should use a large acrylic nail brush?

Final thoughts and a few more tips.

What’s the best size brush for doing acrylic nails?

Acrylic nail brushes come in a wide range of sizes from a tiny size 6 to a massive size 22.

So which size is the best?

Well, the truth is there’s no “best size” brush for doing acrylic nails.

There are pros and cons to using both bigger and smaller-sized brushes. We’ll go into those further down.

But for now, you should know that the best size brush for you is going to depend on 4 things:

• Your experience of using acrylic.
• The length you want your acrylic nails to be.
• How fast you want to work.
• The bead method you are following.

Best size brush for beginners – size 8

Smaller nail brushes (in sizes 6 – 10) are easier to use.

A size 8 brush is what most new nail technicians begin their training with.

An acrylic nail brush in a size 8 is often recommended as the best size for beginners.

You’ll also find that most beginners kits come with a size 8 brush.

I’d have to agree that if you’re just getting into acrylic nails, a size 8 brush is a good starting point.

Best size brush for intermediates – size 14.

But what about if you have some experience?

Maybe you’ve got a little practice under your belt and you want to speed up the process a little.

In that case, you may want to try a bigger size, like a 14 or a 16 for example.

With a size 14 or 16 brush, you can do an application with 1 or 2 beads quickly and easily.

Best acrylic nail brush size for professionals – 20.

Professionals use bigger brushes because they allow you to work faster.

In the nail salon, time is money, so the more time you can shave off your application the more you make.

If you often do nails that are more than an inch long from the tip, then a size 20 or 22 is going to be best for that.

Is brush size really that important?

Brush size is important because it affects how many beads you can do.

It also affects how fast you can work, and how easy it is to get a good bead consistency.

Brush size is NOT as important as technique though.

The most important technique any acrylic nail tech or DIY’er can master is…

product consistency.

Each acrylic nail powder system has its own golden liquid to powder ratio.

This may differ slightly depending on which acrylic nail brands you are using.

Most acrylic powders work best with a ratio of 2 parts liquid monomer to 1 part acrylic.

If you can consistently get the liquid to powder ratio right, then the size of the brush you’re using won’t matter as much.

Here’s a great video on brush sizes with some tips on technique.

Who should use a small acrylic nail brush?

Let’s talk about the pros and cons of using a small size nail brush.

The main benefit of a small nail brush is that it’s easier to use.

This makes a small brush, like a size 8 or 10 perfect for beginners.

Small brushes can not soak up as much monomer. So you will be less likely to have beads that are too runny and difficult to control.

When you’re learning the ropes, it’s also much easier to apply the acrylic in thin layers with a smaller brush.

With a size 8 brush, the lowest bead method you will be able to follow will be a 3 bead method.

But in reality, you may find that you are doing 4 or 5 small beads per nail.

This can be time-consuming. This is why some people upgrade to a bigger size once they master the technique.

Who should use a large acrylic nail brush?

Larger brushes mean fewer beads, which means quicker application.

This makes larger brushes perfect for intermediates and professionals.

You should use a large brush (like a size 14 or 16) if you are doing a 1 or 2 bead method.

Large brushes are not recommended for beginners because they soak up a lot more monomer.

Unless you have some experience, using a large brush can mean you end up with beads that are too runny.

When you use a big brush, it’s harder to get the acrylic to go on thinly.

So with a large brush, you may find you are spending a lot of time filing thick or lumpy nails down once they are set.

Large brushes stay firm at the belly. This makes it easier to pull the acrylic down to the free edge from the cuticle.

If you have some experience, a big brush can shave valuable minutes off your application time.

With a little practice, you can pick up a small bead with a large brush and vice versa.

Like I said, it’s less about the size of the brush and more about getting the liquid to powder ratio right.

Final thoughts and a few more tips.

The key takeaway from this post is that brush size is less important than technique.

Rather than focusing on finding the perfect size, try honing your bead technique to get that perfect liquid to powder ratio.

Once you have that down, you can use any size brush to create whatever size bead you want.

This post is just a guide. So you do you.

Feel free to experiment with different shapes and sizes of brushes to see what works for you.

A good tip for when you want to upgrade your brush is to do it gradually.

Don’t jump from a size 8 to a size 16 for example, but rather move up in increments.

So go from an 8 to a 10, a 10 to a 12, or a 12 to a 14 for example.

If you want to use a bigger brush then I’d suggest watching nail techs who use big brushes on youtube.

Then try to emulate what they do.

You may hear some nail techs talking about how bigger brushes can cause lifting, but this isn’t true.

Brush size has nothing to do with whether the nails lift. It’s a complete fallacy.

I think that’s it.

I hope that you found this post useful.

Wishing you cute nails always

The post What Size Acrylic Nail Brush Is the Best For You? appeared first on nailhow.

What tools and equipment do you need to do acrylic nails? Let’s find out! I’ve put together a full list of acrylic nail supplies.

If you do your own nails at home, then you’ll just need the basic essentials to get you started.

But if you’re a qualified nail technician then you’re going to need a few extra things to keep clients comfortable and happy.

I’m about to share my complete list of acrylic nail supplies for doing your own acrylic nails.

Then, we’ll break it down into bare essentials, nice-to-have items, and must-haves for professionals.

Below, you’ll find explanations of what each tool or product is and why you might need it.

I’ll also share some useful tips and tricks and some of my favorite products and acrylic nail brands.

Before we dive in, here’s the full list of acrylic nail supplies for easy reference.

List of acrylic nail supplies.

• Cuticle pusher
• Cuticle nippers
• Nail file
• 4 sided Buffer (aka buffing block)
• Nail Dehydrator
• Nail Primer
• Nail tips
• Nail glue
• Nail forms
• Tip cutter tool
• Dappen dish (a glass cup)
• Monomer

• Acrylic powder(s)
• Acrylic nail brush
• Brush cleaner
• Nail edge clippers
• Nail drill (aka electric nail file)
• Drill bits
• Dusting brush
• Acrylic dust collector
• Gel nail polishes
• Gel topcoat (matte, glossy, or both)
• A UV or LED nail lamp
• Lint-free wipes
• Nail art items (gems, brushes, striping tape, dotting tools, stampers, glitter, etc)
• Cuticle oil
• Pure acetone
• Toe separators
• Carry case or toolbox
• Handwash
• Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
• Desk
• Comfortable chair (2 chairs if you want to do clients)
• A lamp
• Display rack

Wow, that’s a lot of stuff!

The above list has everything you could possibly need (or want) for doing amazing acrylic nails.

Time to break it down a bit.

Here’s a table of contents for easy navigating:

Table of contents:

Table of contents:

Essential acrylic nail supplies

• List of essential items for doing acrylic nails
• What the essential items are used for

Nice to have acrylic nail supplies

• List of nice to have items for doing acrylic nails
• What the nice to have items are used for

Must-haves for professionals

• List of must haves for those doing clients
• Benefits of the must have items (and tips)

Essential acrylic nail supplies

You certainly don’t need to buy everything on the above list – phew!

So, let’s take a look at what the bare essential supplies are.

For beginners and those of you doing your own acrylic nails at home, this is an extremely basic list.

So feel free to scroll on down to the nice to haves and add a few things you think you’ll want (to make your nail life easier).

But for the minimalists and the super budget conscious – here are the items you can’t do acrylic nails without!

List of essential items for doing acrylic nails:

• Nail dehydrator
• Nail Primer
• Monomer
• Dappen dish
• Acrylic powder
• An acrylic nail brush
• Brush cleaner
• Nail file
• Acetone (for removal)

What the essential items are used for

Nail dehydrator

This removes oils and moisture from the nails. It goes on like nail polish.

Dehydrators change the PH level of the nail so that the acrylic will stick better.

This makes your nails last longer.

Nail Primer

Some people might argue that you can do your own acrylic nails without a dehydrator and primer.

But many professionals and nail DIYers like myself swear by them.

This is because they make a HUGE difference to how long your nails last!

A good dehydrator and primer like this one (check price on Amazon) can help you avoid lifting, which is one of the main complaints of beginners.

Monomer

Monomer is the liquid you dip your brush into before you dip it into the powder.

It reacts with the acrylic to form a bead.

Stay away from MMA or HEMA.

They are banned by the FDA because they burn, cause irritation, and damage the nail bed.

These chemicals also make your nails turn yellow over time.

Always look for an EMA monomer like this one (check price on Amazon). That’s the safest kind.

Dappen dish

A dappen dish is a small glass cup. You put your liquid monomer in it and dip your brush in.

Then you use the sides to get rid of any extra liquid.

Acrylic powder

You can’t have acrylic nails without it!

Acrylic powders come in different “grinds”.

Some are easier to work with than others and will give a better finish like this one (check price on Amazon).

You can read more about acrylic powders and get my top recommendations here.

An acrylic nail brush

Acrylic nail brushes come in different sizes and shapes.

The best size for a beginner is a size 8 and the best shape is oval.

Check out my best acrylic nail brushes article for all the best info on what to look for in an acrylic brush.

Brush cleaner

Good acrylic nail brushes work like a dream – but they don’t come cheap.

That’s why it’s important to keep your acrylic nail brush clean.

If you don’t clean your brush well after each use, you’ll ruin it and have to buy a new one.

Nail file

For shaping those babies to perfection! Crystal Nail Files are the best on the market (check price on Amazon)

Acetone (for removal)

When it’s time to remove your nails, you’ll need to file them down into a super thin layer and then soak them in pure acetone.

That’s the end of the essential acrylic nail supplies list.

You may notice that I haven’t added tips or forms to my essential list.

That’s not an oversight.

If you are happy with the length of your natural nails then you don’t need tips or forms.

You can simply apply the acrylic over your own nails and voila!

Nice to have acrylic nail supplies

Ok, now we’ve covered the basic essentials.

Let’s look at the items that are useful but not absolutely necessary.

You will probably want to get quite a few of the items on this list.

Most of them will make the application process easier, speed things up, improve the finished look, or let you be creative.

I’ll show you the list of nice-to-have items first.

Then, we’ll go into a little bit of detail about what each item is good for, so you can decide if you want to include it in your kit.

List of nice to have items for doing acrylic nails:

• A cuticle pusher
• Cuticle nippers
• A nail drill with bits (aka an e-file)
• 4 sided Buffer (aka buffing block)
• Nail tips
• Nail glue
• Nail forms
• Tip cutter tool
• Colored Acrylic powders
• Nail edge clippers
• Drill bits
• Dusting brush
• Acrylic Dust collector
• Gel nail polishes
• Gel topcoat (matte, glossy or both)
• A UV or LED nail lamp
• Lint free wipes
• Nail art items (gems, brushes, striping tape, dotting tools, stampers, glitter, etc)
• Cuticle oil
• Toe separators
• Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
• Comfortable chair
• A lamp

What the nice to have items are used for

A cuticle pusher

You use a cuticle pusher right at the beginning during the nail prep.

Gently pushing back the cuticles helps you to avoid getting anything on them. It can also help your nails to grow back stronger.

Cuticle nippers

If you have any loose bits of cuticle or hangnails, you can tidy them up with cuticle nippers.

A nail drill with bits (aka an e-file)

Nail drills are great because they save you so much time and give you super-smooth results.

They come with different shaped heads for reaching into the cuticle area and up to the sidewalls. So you can get an even finish. This one is our favourite (check price on Amazon)

4 sided Buffer (aka buffing block)

4 sided buffers or nail blocks have different grains on each side. You use them to create a smooth surface on the natural nail to help the primer stick better.

Nail tips

Like long nails? Then get some nail tips for doing extensions.

It’s best to buy a pack with a lot of different sizes so you can get a good sidewall to sidewall fit on each nail.

This is super important because if the tip is too big, it will lift and if it’s too small it will crack.

Nail glue

For sticking the tips to your natural nails or applying gems.

A good nail glue will go on smoothly, dry quickly, and last for ages without irritation.

Also good for fixing broken nails in a pinch!

Nail forms

Nail forms are stickers with grids on them. You use them to create extensions then remove them once you’re done.

The grids on nail forms are great if you struggle with getting all your acrylics the same size.

Tip cutter tool

If you’re using plastic tips, this tool is great for cutting them down to size once they are applied.

It’s basically a pair of nail clippers with a hole in the center. You put the extension inside and snip to the size you want.

Colored Acrylic powders

The most common colors for acrylic nails are clear, pink, and white.

But you can get acrylic powders in absolutely any color you like. They also come in different finishes like glitters, metallics, and shimmers – yay!

Nail edge clippers

These are straight-edge nail clippers. You may need them if you are using tips.

Once the tips are applied, you can trim the sides down into a coffin shape to avoid having to file them into shape.

This saves time and wear and tear on your file.

Drill bits

Drill bits are the small attachments for your nail drill. They come in different shapes and sizes for doing different jobs.

Some nail bits remove the dead skin around the cuticle, others shape the nail.

You can use them to shorten the nail, buff them to a shine or remove acrylic.

Dusting brush

A dusting brush is a small soft brush that gets rid of dust from the surface of the nails and your hands.

Use it after filing to clean up before wiping with a lint-free wipe or cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Acrylic dust collector

If you don’t want to breathe in all the acrylic dust from filing, this is a must!

It’s a little box with a fan and a filter. You plug it in and it acts as a vacuum to suck away all the excess dust.

Gel nail polishes

If you’re using colored acrylics, you probably won’t need gel polishes as well.

But I like to change my nails quite a bit, so I use gel polishes about once a week to change up my color or design.

Gel topcoat (matte, glossy, or both)

If you’re using gel polishes on top of your acrylics, you’ll need a gel topcoat in whatever finish you want.

A UV or LED nail lamp

You don’t need a UV or an LED lamp to do acrylic nails.

But you will need one if you want to use gel polish on top of the acrylic.

Lint-free wipes

Noone wants tiny lumps and bumps on their nails – so annoying!

Lint-free wipes are great for wiping your nails without leaving any little bits of material behind.

Nail art items (gems, brushes, striping tape, dotting tools, stampers, glitter, etc)

If you’re anything like me, this is where the budget goes out of the window!

I love trying out new designs and techniques, so I have a huge collection of gems, wraps, tapes, glitters, stampers, and other tools for doing nail art.

Cuticle oil

Totally optional – but great if you have dry cuticles.

I love putting it on once I’m finished to make everything look nice and shiny. It smells nice too!

Toe separators

For pedicures – obviously. You can get some really pretty ones, but bog-standard foam ones will do the trick.

Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol

This is for taking off the sticky layer (aka the inhibition layer) of your gel polish.

Not all gel polishes leave a sticky layer though.

Green Flash nail polishes for example don’t leave a sticky layer.

Comfortable chair

Newsflash! Acrylic nails take forEVER!

That’s why you’ll need a nice comfortable place to sit while you’re working your magic.

A lamp

Acrylic nails can be very fiddly, so you need a good light source to see exactly what you’re doing.

A table lamp is great but you can also use the light from your phone if you have something to stand it on.

Must-haves for professionals

If you do acrylic nails to make money, or if you want to do them for friends and family, there are a few extra bits and pieces you’re going to need.

Let’s see what equipment you should consider buying if you’re starting your own acrylic nail business.

List of must-haves for those doing clients

• A desk
• Carry case or toolbox
• Handwash
• Towels
• 2 comfortable chairs
• A selection of powders and polishes
• Portable storage
• A display rack

Benefits of the must-have items (and tips)

• A desk

Your desk will need to be the right size for the space you’re working in.

It also needs to be a suitable width – so that clients can sit opposite you and you can reach them easily!

A desk with a lot of storage is a good idea so that you can store all your tools and polishes out of sight.

• Carry case or toolbox

If you are going to be a mobile nail technician this is an absolute must!

My pro tip is to look for a case with lots of different-sized compartments for organization.

A good carry case can help you to stay organized and save you precious time looking for things!

• Handwash

A gentle hand wash for sensitive skin is good.

• Towels

For hygiene reasons, you’ll need to wash your towels regularly.

So my advice is to either buy a lot of towels and have them in rotation, or get the absolute best quality hand towels that you can find.

• 2 comfortable chairs

You want to give your clients (and yourself) the best experience possible.

No one likes sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable chair, so invest in a good one for you and your customers.

• A display rack

A well-put-together display can attract clients, make it easy for them to see what’s on offer, and can make your life easier.

It’s also great for taking photos for social media.

That’s it!

You made it through my complete list of acrylic nail supplies!

I hope that you found this resource useful.

I wish you the best of luck on your acrylic nail journey!

you might also like our best acrylic nail brush article here:

and

you also might be interested in why won’t my gel polish stay on

The post Complete List of Acrylic Nail Supplies for Salon-Quality Manicures. appeared first on nailhow.

If you’re not sure where to start, stick around!

We’ll dive into the different types of acrylic powder for DIY nails and what you should know before you buy.

To make choosing an acrylic powder easier for you, I’ll also share my top recommendations below.

Let’s get right to it!

Just want to know what products we’d recommend?

Here ya go:

Clear Mia secret

Modelones nude

Best modelones 12 color set

The best Mias secret 12 color set

Best complete beginners set morovan

Best acrylic powder and liquid set

Mias dehydrator n primer

Table of contents:

Are all acrylic powders the same?

How many different types of acrylic powder are there?

Can you mix and match acrylic powders?

How to store acrylic powders

How to choose a good acrylic nail powder

My top 7 product recommendations:

Best clear acrylic powder

The best nude acrylic nail powder (and easiest to apply)

Best Modelones 12 color set

The best Mia Secret 12 color set

Best complete beginners set

The best acrylic powder and liquid set

Best dehydrator and primer set

Final thoughts and a couple more tips:

Are all acrylic powders the same?

No, acrylic powders are not all the same.

The main difference is the size of the particles.

The particle size is measured in microns.

It ranges from 25 microns (smallest) to 125 microns (large particles).

There are 3 types of acrylic powder (more on that in a sec…) and they all behave slightly differently when you mix them with a monomer.

The type of acrylic powder you choose to work with will affect the consistency of your bead. I.e how wet or dry the mixture is.

It will also affect the setting time and the strength and flexibility of your finished nails.

The three main types of acrylic nail powder are:

1. Finely ground powders (very small particles)

Finely ground powders tend to be very wet when you mix them with monomers.

This means that if you use a fine acrylic powder, you will have more time to sculpt the exact nail shape you want.

Finer powders are great for beginners. They create a nice wet consistency that glides on smoothly. Fine powders also stay soft and workable for longer.

They also allow you to create beautiful thin nails.

2. Coarse powders (much bigger particles)

Coarse acrylic nail powders have larger particles and make a much dryer bead.

Coarser powders dry fast – which is great for nail techs (because they can work fast) and it saves them time.

But for beginners, they can be difficult to work with. This is because they make thicker beads that aren’t easy to maneuver and set quickly.

3. Medium grade powders (somewhere in between)

Medium-grade powders fall somewhere in the middle.

They try to strike a balance between setting time and ease of use.

If you’re just starting out, I’d suggest going for a fine grade or a medium grade powder.

Pro tip: You might think that you should start out with a fine acrylic powder – because that’s going to be the easiest to apply. And then upgrade to a medium.

But the application technique is going to be completely different once you switch.

So you might as well go for a medium from the get-go if you don’t want to retrain yourself.

How many different types of acrylic powder are there?

As we’ve learned, there are 3 main grades of acrylic powder (coarse, medium, and fine).

But when it comes to colors, textures, and effects, the choices are endless!

Acrylic nail powders come in just about every color you can think of.

You can buy acrylic powders in commonly used colors like clear, pink and white (great for a french manicure look).

Or you can get them in neons, brights, shimmers, glitters, and even glow in the dark!

I want to have the option to change my nail color more often, so I like to go for a clear acrylic and paint them after.

But there are plenty of options out there. So experiment with different colors and finishes. And combine them in unique ways to create amazing nail art!

Can you mix and match acrylic powders?

You can get amazing results and create stunning designs by combining several powders together on the nail.

You might use a clear, glitter, and one or two or colors in the same design for instance.

Check out this video which shows 3 simple designs using a combination of different powders:

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Should you mix brands?

I don’t recommend mixing different brands for 2 reasons.

First – different brands of powder will not have the same sized particles.

So the setting time and the way the mixture moves will not be the same.

Second – It’s always safer to stick to one brand for all your acrylic nail products. Including primer, monomer, and powders.

Mixing a monomer from one brand with a powder from another brand is a bad idea. You could be mixing chemicals that don’t play well together.

Not only could this ruin your nails. But it can also cause allergies, irritation, or create dangerous fumes.

How to store acrylic powders.

To keep it in perfect condition,  store your acrylic nail powder away from heat and moisture.

A cool, dry place like a cupboard or drawer is ideal.

Never store your monomer and powder together!

Even if they are both sealed tight, the fumes from the monomer can still get into the powder and it will go crusty on top.

How to choose a good acrylic nail powder

First, decide which powder grade you want.

Fine powders are easier to apply and give a smoother finish but don’t dry as quick.

Coarse powders are stronger and the application is quicker. But they dry faster, don’t go on a smooth and often need more filing.

A medium grind is often the perfect balance between strength and a smooth thin finish.

Once you know what grade you want – you’ll need to do a little research.

Nail technicians are the best source of information about products. Because they often try out different products and compare.

You can read reviews and get a pretty good idea about a powder if you know what you’re looking for.

A good quality powder will be easy to apply. It will glide on smoothly, pick up well and absorb monomer fast without any chunky or chalky pieces.

Good quality powders also have some flexibility to them. So it’s a good idea to check reviews for anyone talking about breaks or cracks.

This is important. If you bang your nails against something, you want them to be flexible enough to absorb the impact. And not crack or break.

If you’re looking at colored powders, check that they keep their color well and don’t fade or yellow in the sun.

High-quality powders have stuff in them to block UV rays. This keeps the color looking vibrant for longer.

Try to find a valuable informational Youtube video about the topic. Make sure the video isn’t branded and doesn’t ask people to go to a specific url at the end.

My top 7 product recommendations:

Here are some of the best brands and products that I have tried and/or know of for doing your own acrylic nails at home.

We’ll check out some of my fav acrylic powders, color kits, and more.

Let’s get into it.

Best clear acrylic powder (check price on amazon)

This is a no-brainer. Mia Secret is a top and well-known brand for acrylic nail supplies.

They sell everything you need to get started (powders in different colors, monomer, primer – the works) so you can easily stick to one brand and avoid mixing chemicals.

This is easily one of the best clear acrylic powders I’ve come across!

I like it because it’s easy to work with and doesn’t dry too quickly, which makes it great for beginners.

Depending on the amount of monomer you use, I found that you’ll have anywhere between 1 and 3 minutes to shape your nail before it dries.

You can use this powder with tips, or you can use it to strengthen your natural nails if you’re happy with the length.

If you want to try the dip method, you can use this powder for that too and it works great.

I love clear designs! This powder is fantastic for doing them because it comes out pretty clear and not too cloudy.

This makes it great for using glitters or doing any kind of design that needs to be encapsulated.

Some of the other clear acrylic powders I’ve tried have been grainy. But the consistency of this one is nice and smooth.

It also sets nice and hard so it’s long-lasting and doesn’t chip when you’re filing it down.

Pros:

• Easy to use

• Dries clear and not too cloudy

• Strong and long-lasting

• Smooth consistency

• Self-leveling

• Doesn’t lift

• Great value (there’s enough for 40 to 50 full sets)

Cons:

• Dries hard so you need a strong file to get a smooth finish

Best nude acrylic nail powder (and easiest to apply) (check price on Amazon)

Love being in the nude? Then you might wanna try this awesome nude acrylic powder from Modelones

If you’ve been watching tutorials on youtube, you’ve no doubt already come across this brand.

Modelones has a great reputation. Their acrylic nail products are of good quality and affordable.

This nude acrylic powder is perfect if you’re just starting out. It doesn’t dry too quickly and works well with both natural nails and tips.

I think this is fantastic value for the price. You get a nice big jar and it will last you for ages!

It looks very natural and is a little bit pearlescent. The perfect color for doing a french manicure.

This is a very fine powder so it’s really easy to use – especially for beginners.

The consistency is very smooth. Not too runny but a tiny bit smoother than Mia Secret I’d say – and the self-leveling works great.

Because it’s so smooth, it goes on like butter and you won’t need to do as much filing once it’s set.

As we’ve learned – there are lots of benefits to sticking to one brand.

If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, Modelones is a good brand to go for.

They have great reviews which I’d agree with and they’re not too expensive.

They sell everything from acrylic nail brushes to dehydrators, monomers, and complete kits for beginners.

Pros:

• Slow drying time gives you time to sculpt

• Easy to use – perfect for beginners

• Fine grain powder that makes a good bead consistency

• Very little filing needed

• Excellent price

• Huge jar

Cons:

• May turn yellow if you use a monomer from another brand

Best Modelones 12 color set (check price on amazon)

So far we’ve talked about what I think are the 2 top brands for acrylic nails (Mia Secret and Modelones).

There are lots of other brands out there. But I’ve found that they can be unreliable, not the best value for money, or poor quality.

I always recommend either Modelones or Mia Secret for beginners. Because both of those brands are reliable and consistent in their quality.

So now that we’re about to look at color sets, I’m going to give you my recommendations for both of these brands.

Let’s start with Modelones.

This 12-color set of acrylic powders from Modelones comes in 3 different color collections. So there are plenty of options.

• There’s a “grey” collection. It has beautiful classy and elegant colors in muted soft shades and 2 glitters.

• A “green” collection. This one has bright vibrant shades and some great oranges and greens for Halloween. But no glitters.

• And a “pink” collection which has beautiful pinks and purples and comes with 6 glitters.

As we’ve already talked about, Modelones powders are super fine and go on like butter.

They are easy to work with and give you enough time to work on your sculpting technique before they set.

They also easily double up as dip powders.

The colors in each of these sets are fantastic. My personal favourite is the “green” collection. Because the colors are very vibrant and fun for Halloween.

Plus it’s hard to find a good black and the one in this set is the best I’ve seen.

Pros:

• Good selection of beautiful, well-pigmented colors

• Excellent value for money

• All the colors have the same consistency –  so it’s easy to mix them in the same design

• Nice opacity

• Colors look true to what you see online

• Great quality, very fine plus they are easy to use.

• Can be used with monomer or to do dip nails.

Cons:

• The containers are quite small

• Can get sticky if you use a monomer from another brand

Best Mia Secret 12 color set (check price on amazon)

If you’re feeling a little bit fruity, why not try this amazing collection from Mia Secret!

This 12 color set features yummy-sounding shades like blueberry, grape, red apple, green tea, and banana.

I love this set because the colors are vibrant and beautiful and the powders are great quality.

I’d say this set is perfect for beginners who want to try out some colorful designs!

Don’t fancy this particular set? No problem. There are 7 other color collections to choose from!

Here are your options (just follow the link above then choose your favorite):

• Alpha and dusty glitter collection – all glitters in colors like electric magenta, dark night and classic gold and silver. Perfect for magpies.

• Clear (Fruity) collection – my favourite – as described above (no glitters just normal colors in shades like green tea, cake and ice-cream – yum!).

• Fabulous collection – a mix of shimmers, glitters and metallics for all you fabulous diva’s out there!

• Galaxy collection – shiny glitter mixes in gorgeous colors with fabulous names like paradise, pink stars, venus and galactic.

• Guilty collection – definitely a guilty pleasure. A stunning mix of glitters, metallics and pearl finishes to play with in pink, purple, blue, red and gray.

• Iconic collection – bold stand out colors and some fireworks. Guaranteed to get you noticed!

• Pearl collection – a little bit of everything – all with a pearl finish. Great staple colors like black, white and red as well as fun shades of pink, yellow, orange, blue, purple and more.

• Spark collection – lovely sparkle mixes that are just perfect for doing nail art. A great winter collection that includes brown, green, gold, red, blue purple and more.

Pros:

• Lots of different colors and finishes to choose from – so it’s easy to find something you’ll love.

• Easy to apply so great for beginners.

• Perfect for nail art

• Very vibrant rich colors that don’t fade

• Great price

• Nice fine powder

Cons:

• Not the best packaging
• Some colors can come out a little patchy.

Best complete beginners set (check price on amazon)

Here’s the problem with beginners’ kits.

Often they have great powders, but crappy brushes. Or a bunch of tools or other random stuff that you don’t really need or that isn’t useful.

I like this kit because it has the basic stuff that you need and that you would want to have.

But it still isn’t perfect because you’ll need to buy the primer and dehydrator separately (link below).

Morovan dehydrator and primer duo (check price on amazon)

Anyway, this is a good little kit because the brushes are decent. You also get a little glass dish which is very useful for monomer dipping.

You’ll get 3 different lengths of brushes. You also get monomer, forms, and a pretty decent nail file.

As far as powders go, this kit is decent quality.

They are finely ground, very easy to apply and come in the 3 standard colors. Colors that everyone will use – white, clear, and pink.

So you can do a french manicure right away if you like or just practice clear designs.

In short, this kit has most of what you need. It won’t break the bank and is good enough quality to give you long-lasting, strong, and beautiful nails.

Definitely worth checking out if you’re just getting started.

Pros:

• Good quality brushes in 3 sizes

• Very easy to apply powders

• Great color selection

• Fantastic value for money

Cons:

• The brushes are on the small side

• You don’t get a lot of monomer

• Doesn’t come with dehydrator, primer or tips/glue

Best acrylic powder and liquid set (check price on amazon)

Some people prefer to buy all their items separately instead of just grabbing a kit.

If that’s you, then you might be interested in this acrylic powder and monomer duo from Mia Secret.

As you already know, Mia Secret is a great brand.

This little set is a fantastic buy for someone who just wants the basics. A good clear acrylic powder and a matching monomer.

You get 4 oz of crystal clear acrylic powder and 4 oz of EMA – non-yellowing monomer.

I found that the powder has a medium setting time.

Not too fast so you’ll have plenty of time to sculpt your nails into the shape you want.

The consistency is good, not too runny and it goes on smoothly. Perfect for beginners.

It’s also long-lasting, durable, and doesn’t lift.

If you want to do a clear design or encapsulate everything, this is great for that.

Pros:

• Excellent value

• Long-lasting

• Doesn’t lift or break

• Sets very clear and not cloudy at all

• Products work perfectly together

• Easy to use

Cons:

• Strong smelling so you might need to open a window

Best dehydrator and primer set (check price on amazon)

What’s the secret to longer-lasting nails?

I’m about to reveal my secret weapon…

Awesome acrylic nails start with good preparation.

To get good results and to avoid nails lifting and falling off, you need to remove the natural oils from your nails.

Then, you need a good surface for the product to stick to.

So, if you want your beautiful nail creations to last as long as possible, it’s essential to start with a dehydrator and a primer.

I learned the hard way by spending hours and hours on a fantastic design only to watch them fall off just days later. Don’t make the same mistake!

These little bottles have been a total game-changer for me.

Definitely worth their weight in gold!

Pros:

• Help make your nails last way longer

• Well worth the investment

Cons:

• The primer contains HEMA which can cause allergies for some.

Final thoughts and a couple more tips:

When I first got into acrylic nails, I was completely overwhelmed.

I spent so much money trying out different things. I had so many questions, and the products seemed very intimidating.

By passing on what I’ve learned along the way, I hope that I’ve helped you feel a bit more confident with choosing the right products.

If you stick to the brands I’ve recommended above you can’t go far wrong.

Good luck, do your prep, watch as many youtube tutorials as you can and you’ll get there.

Check out our best acrylic nail brush post

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The post The 7 Best Acrylic Powders for Amazing DIY Nails appeared first on nailhow.

Wanna do amazing acrylic nails at home?Then you need the right brush. But buying acrylic nail brushes can be confusing . So I’m gonna walk you through everything you need to know before you buy. We’ll talk size, shape, and technique to help you find the best acrylic brush.

To make it easy for you, I’ll recommend my top 8 acrylic nail art brushes too!

Can’t wait? Here’s a link to 8 amazing acrylic nail art brushes you can pick up right now!

Best budget acrylic nail brush

Most popular premium brush

Best tip shape (for edge work and detailing)

The best acrylic nail brush with a cap (portable)

Best bang for your buck

The best round brush (with fabulous designs)

Best acrylic brush set

Best cruelty-free acrylic nail brush (vegan-friendly)

Table of contents:

What’s the best shape brush for acrylic nails?

How does brush sizing work?

What’s the best size brush for beginners?

Are bigger brushes better for acrylic nails?

Does brush size really matter?

What are acrylic nail brushes made of?

How important is the quality of an acrylic nail brush?

My top 10 acrylic brush recommendations

Best budget acrylic nail brush

Final thoughts and a few extra tips

What’s the best shape brush for acrylic nails?

Let’s talk brush shapes.

There are a few shapes you could go with, but oval is the one that most nail experts (and enthusiasts like me) recommend.

Round brushes

Round brushes are old skool. They were originally used by painters.

A lot of nail techs use round brushes because that’s what they learned with when acrylics first came out.

Round brushes work really well for acrylic nails because they are great for blending and getting into corners.

There are some great round brushes on the market. But nowadays we have more tailored brushes that are perfect for acrylic nails.

Flat brushes

Flat or square brushes are the easiest brushes to use. But I don’t recommend them for doing acrylics because they don’t hold much liquid monomer.

I find that a flat brush makes my nails super thick and I have to do a ton of filing to get them looking right.

Also, flat brushes aren’t great for sculpting.

Oval Brushes

The best shape brush for acrylic nails is an oval brush.

An oval acrylic nail brush gives you the best of both worlds.

Oval brushes are fully rounded at the middle (aka the belly).

They are also slightly crimped (squashed into an oval shape) at the ferrule or base.

The tip of an oval brush curves and has a pointed end.

Here’s what it looks like:

Because of its rounded middle, an oval brush holds just the right amount of liquid monomer. So you can make a perfect bead.

The pointed tip means that you can also easily get in close to the cuticle. You can also get right up to sidewalls without getting product on your skin.

Many nail techs will only use oval brushes. Because the shape makes it easier to create a flat surface to pick up powder and get the perfect bead.

Another reason nail techs love an oval brush is because of the rounded tip.

The tip shape means you can twirl the brush to get a nice thin tip for getting right to the edges and doing fine details.

How does brush sizing work?

Brush sizing works by number.

The bigger the number, the wider the belly of the brush will be.

Yes, nail brushes have bellies! It’s actually a technical term.

The belly is the thickest part of the brush (the diameter of the bristles).

Smaller brushes (sizes 6 to 9) are the easiest to work with and are often recommended for beginners.

Bigger brushes need more experience and a little practice to master but can save time.

What’s the best size brush for beginners?

For beginners, a small brush is better because smaller brushes give you more control.

A size 6 to 9 is perfect for when you are starting out (I’d recommend a size 8).

Most nail techs start out training with a size 8 brush.

This is a great size to start with.

A size 8 brush gives you a lot of control, so it’s easier to use, especially when you’re starting out.

Some nail technicians and DIY’ers stay with a small brush throughout their career. That’s totally fine.

But please bare in mind that the smaller the brush, the more beads you will need to complete each nail.

If you are using a smaller brush, you should opt for a 3 (or more) bead application method.

If someone is doing a 1 or 2 bead method, they are likely using a bigger brush.

As your technique improves you may want to upgrade to a size 10 or 12 so you can use less beads.

Are bigger brushes better for acrylic nails?

Not necessarily.

I’ll explain why in the next section, but first, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of using a bigger-bellied brush.

One of the major benefits of using bigger brushes is quick application.

Bigger brushes (in the 12 to 16 size range) allow you to get bigger pearls (aka balls or beads). So with a big brush, you can cover a wider surface area.

Most salons train their nail technicians to work with bigger brushes. This saves time and maximizes profits.

You don’t need to make as many beads with a big brush. So bigger brushes mean that you can do fewer pearls and can work more quickly.

It does take experience to master a bigger brush though.

With a large brush, you don’t have as much control.

If you’re not careful, you could end up with product on the skin. This can lead to allergies and nasty-looking cuticles.

Bigger brushes mean you can do nails quicker. So many nail techs (who need to be fast to make money) will upgrade to a larger brush.

Whether you are looking to take on clients or not, most nail experts suggest that you start with a size 6 or an 8.

Then move up from there as you get more confident in your application technique.

Does brush size really matter?

So far, we’ve talked a lot about the size of brush you’re going to need.

But how important is brush size really?

The truth is that you don’t need to worry too much about getting the perfect size brush.

Why?

Because the amount of liquid you put on your brush plays a huge role in the size of the bead you’ll create.

You can actually use a smaller brush to pick up bigger beads if you saturate the brush in enough monomer.

For example – If you use enough liquid, you can get the same size beads with a size 8 or a size 12 brush.

The reverse is also true, less monomer on a big brush will create a smaller bead.

Confused?

Here’s a great youtube video that explains what I mean:

As the video explains, the amount of liquid is what determines the bead size.

With a little practice, you can actually pick up small beads with a large brush and vice versa.

With experience, you should be able to control the size of your beads (to a certain extent) no matter what brush size you are using.

What are acrylic nail brushes made of?

Most acrylic nail brushes are made from either sable or nylon.

Sable is a catch-all term that includes brushes that are made from weasel, mink or ferret hair.

The best acrylic nail art brushes are made of Kolinsky sable.

Kolinsky sable is made from the tail of the Kolinsky – a species of weasel from Siberia.

The finest Kolinsky sable is also used in fine art/watercolor brushes.

Kolinsky sable brushes are among the best quality brushes in the world. If you care for them well, they can last a lifetime.

Natural bristle brushes like kolinsky sable ones don’t clump. The product should glide on smoothly and easily.

Obviously, there is an animal cruelty issue here.

If animal hair brushes are not for you – don’t worry. I have included a high-quality synthetic brush in my top recommendations below.

How important is the quality of an acrylic nail brush?

You might be tempted, especially when you’re just starting out – to go for a budget-friendly brush or brush set.

But you could end up wasting your money and getting frustrated with bad results.

If you buy a poor-quality brush, you will never know if your nails are looking dodgy because of your technique or bad tools.

The quality of your nail brush is very important. It makes the application process easier and less stressful.

If your brush isn’t up to scratch, you won’t be able to get a tight, flat surface.

Poor quality brushes will separate (split apart while you’re painting on the acrylic). Bad brushes leave your nails looking uneven and lumpy.

My top 8 Acrylic Brush Recommendations:

Best budget acrylic nail brush (click to see price on Amazon)

If you’re looking for a good quality brush with a low price tag – I’d recommend this one from Modelones.

Modelones is a well known and trusted brand with nail DIY’ers, (more than one of their brushes made it into my top 8).

This acrylic nail brush is made from 100% Kolinsky sable and it has a liquid glitter handle!

This one definitely gets bonus points for being shiny

This brush is perfect for beginners because the bristles are flexible and easy to maneuver.

You can also do long nails with this.

It’s available in 4 different sizes (8, 10, 12 and 14). The link above will take you to the size 8 which is the best size for beginners.

I tested the size 8 brush.

It’s lightweight, feels comfortable in the hand, and doesn’t split apart like cheaper brushes on the market.

It also doesn’t shed too much like cheaper brushes sometimes do.

Pros:

• Super cute liquid glitter handle!

• Doesn’t break the bank

• Good quality for the price

• Lightweight

• Good for doing long nails

• Easy to hold and use

• Doesn’t shed

• Easy to clean

• Makes a nice gift

Cons:

• Does not have a cap to protect the bristles when not in use

• The Kolinsky bristles are not the highest quality available

• Acrylic can sometimes get stuck between the bristles

Most popular premium brush (click to see price on Amazon)

Looking for a long-lasting premium quality brush that you can count on? Then you can’t go wrong with this beautiful brush from Pana.

Pana is an extremely popular brand with both DIY’ers and professional nail techs.

I love using their brushes.

They always get rave reviews from everyone. They are excellent quality and silky soft, so they’re a real pleasure to use.

This oval brush comes in 3 colors (clear, mahogany, and teal) and you can get it in sizes 6 to 22.

This brush has a hardwood handle and the weighting is just perfect. It’s very comfortable to hold and feels great in your hand.

This is a salon-quality brush made from the finest Kolinsky sable. This brush is flexible, durable, and a dream to work with.

It absorbs monomer very well. This means its easy to create beautiful beads that have the perfect liquid-to-powder ratio.

If you want a smooth, even, and seamless application with no visible brush strokes – this is a great option.

Please note that there are some negative reviews of this brush! BUT they are mostly from people who failed to care for the brush properly!

So please make sure you clean it well before the first use!

It’s really easy to clean once you know how.

To clean it – just give it a few gentle flicks to get rid of the starch (they put starch in to hold the shape).

Then dip in warm water and wipe gently on a paper towel.

Reshape and leave to air dry then it’s ready to use!

I like that you can see a complete size comparison and length chart before you buy.

Pros:

• Premium quality

• Nice design

• Super soft bristles

• Long-lasting

• No shedding or clumping

• Nice hand feel

• Easy to work with

• Very fine tip point (great for getting to edges)

• Holds its shape well

• Glides on smoothly

• Good absorption

• Easy to pick up beads

• You can use the packaging for storage

• Easy to clean – even if you forget and have to go back later!

Cons:

• Not the cheapest

• Requires proper care

Best tip shape for edge work and detailing (click to see price on Amazon)

This oval-shaped brush from Modelones has fantastic reviews and I have to say it performs really well.

It’s beginner-friendly and great value for money.

Like most of the brushes in this line up, it has 100% Kolinsky sable bristles.

I really like the shape of the tip on this brush. It makes it so much easier to do sculpting and fine detailing.

This brush works as well as some of the more expensive ones I’ve tried.

It didn’t last as long as some of my more expensive brushes though…

I still think that for the price, this is a great brush for beginners and intermediates.

The handle is hardwood so it’s very sturdy and easy to work with.

Having a wooden handle also means you won’t slip if your hands get sweaty.

This Modelones brush cleans up well, picks up acrylic easily, and doesn’t split or shed.

Pros:

• Affordable

• Works as well as more expensive brushes

• Keeps it shape after many uses

• Does not fan out or split

• Picks up acrylic well

• Nicely shaped tip

Cons:

• Works as well as more expensive brushes but doesn’t last as long.

Best acrylic nail brush with a cap (portable) (click to see price on Amazon)

Do you want to keep your brush in a case or a drawer, or take it on the road with you? Then you’ll need a brush that comes with a protective cap.

Protective cases are great if, like me, you have a tendency to leave your brushes lying around.

I’ve ruined too many brushes by shoving them away in a drawer or cupboard. They bump up against all sorts of odds and ends and get bent out of shape.

This oval nail extension brush from NMKL has a hard plastic case. It also has a rhinestone handle for that extra bling!

Its Kolinsky sable, comes in sizes 6 to 12, and is great for beginners and professionals.

It goes on smoothly, holds just the right amount of liquid and i found it fairly easy to master.

If you’re looking for a brush that works like a charm, can be shoved away without worry, and doesn’t cost the earth, this is a great one to go for.

Pros:

• Protective cap

• Portable

• Cute sparkly design

• Good price

• Comfortable to use

• Easy to clean

• Smooth application

• Nicely weighted
• Easy to use

• Holds its shape

• Doesn’t melt!

Cons:

• The handle is a little short

• Not firm enough for some

• Doesn’t last as long as some of the other brushes on this list

Best bang for your buck (click to see price on Amazon)

This is a great little brush from Aokitec that comes in 9 different sizes.

You can get any size you like from a tiny 6 right up to a chunky size 22.

This isn’t the prettiest brush on the market. But the price is good and it does the job well.

There are 3 different color options for the wooden handle.

You can choose either:

1. A plain black handle
2. a gold sparkle handle
3. or a multicolored crystal glitter handle.

The description on this one says oval/round which is a bit confusing. But the brush itself is more round than oval-shaped. 

All in all this is a nice, soft Kolinsky sable brush that works pretty well.

At this price point, you can’t expect to get the finest quality bristles. But this brush does stay soft after use and it holds the monomer well.

It also comes in a plastic tube – you can store the brush in this to protect the bristles when you’re not using it.

It’s easy to use – so beginners and intermediates will be happy with this one.

Pros:

• Comes in a protective tube that you can use for storage

• Stays soft after use

• Good value for money

• Acrylic doesn’t stick to the bristles

• Easy to get to the nail bed area

• Holds product well

• Not too heavy in the hand

• Easy to clean

• Good for polygel as well as acrylic

Cons:

• Not the cutest brush design

• Tip shape can be a bit awkward for some

• Bristles are not the best quality out there

• Some people received an empty tube!!!

Best round brush (with fabulous designs) (click to see price on Amazon)

Pana has an amazing reputation in the nail world for making top-quality brushes.

Professional nail techs swear by them.

Their brushes are not only fantastic to work with, but they also look super stylish.

This salon-grade round Pana brush is a dream to use and it comes in 5 different designs!

All the brush designs are available in sizes 6 to 22.

Here are your color options:

• White handle with a blue swirl and pink ferrule (the ferrule is the metal part).

• Beige handle with a purple ferrule.

• White handle with a silver ferrule.

• Mahogany with silver ferrule

• Purple handle with a black ferrule.

This brush is suitable for anyone from a complete beginner to an advanced nail tech.

If you are a beginner, a great brush like this can make all the difference to how good your nails look!

One of my favourite things about this brush is that it holds a lot of liquid so you can make nice large beads.

It also blends effortlessly which means less filing.

The shape means it’s easy to get right down to the cuticle area too.

This brush certainly isn’t cheap.

But Pana brushes are the best you can buy and with proper care, this one will last you for ages.

Pros:

• Stylish designs with good color choices available

• High-quality Kolinsky bristles – soft and strong

• Great for everyone from beginners to professionals

• Extremely long-lasting (with proper care)

• Comfortable to hold

• Nice weight to it

• Easy to get into the cuticle area

• Holds its shape well

• Easy to clean

• No clogging, splitting or excessive shedding

Cons:

• Requires proper maintenance. You need to know how to clean and prep your brush well before using if you don’t want to ruin it! 

• Expensive

Best acrylic brush set (click to see price on amazon)

If you’re a complete beginner and you’re looking for a good brush set to start out with, this one from Kalolary is great value.

It comes with 2 mini glass cups (with lids) for storing your monomer and brush cleaner – which is really useful.

You also get 6 different brushes in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

In my experience, everyone’s nail beds are different. So having a few different sizes means you can play around and see what works best for you.

Or you can start small and work your way up to a bigger brush as you get more experienced.

The brushes in this set are of decent quality. They’re nice and soft, hold their shape well, and don’t shed too much.

Pros:

• Good variety of brush sizes

• Good value for money

• Soft brushes

• Keep their shape well

• Good for beginners

• Comes with 2 glass cups for holding monomer and brush cleaning

Cons:

• The lids don’t fit the containers very well (tops are a bit big and can fall off)

• The cups are not quite big enough for a full set (you’ll need to add more monomer as you go)

Best cruelty-free acrylic nail brush (vegan-friendly) (click to see price on Amazon)

Vegan or feel strongly about not supporting animal cruelty? Then you’ll need an acrylic nail brush that lines up with your ethics.

This faux-Kolinsky brush is a high-quality synthetic option. It won’t weigh heavy on your conscience.

It’s a salon-quality brush (available in round or oval depending on the size) with a natural bamboo handle.

The bristles are synthetic nanofiber that does a pretty good job of imitating the real thing.

It’s easy to use, even for beginners – and it comes in a good variety of sizes (8, 10, 12, 16, 18, and 20 are available at the time of writing).

Pros:

• Cruelty-free

• Vegan friendly

• Nice soft brush

• Keeps its shape well

• Good for doing long nails

• Easy to work with

Cons:

• Doesn’t hold liquid quite as well as sable brushes

• Takes some getting used to after using real sable

Final thoughts and a few extra tips

Unfortunately, there are a lot of crappy nail brushes on the market.

Hopefully, this guide can help you to avoid them.

Although you do need a good-quality brush to complete an amazing set. You don’t need to spend too much to get a decent brush.

If you do go for a cheaper brush, then don’t expect it to last forever.

Cheaper brushes will usually need replacing more often.

There’s nothing worse than splashing out on a super fancy brush. Only to find you ruined it after the first couple of uses!

If you do decide to go for one of the more expensive brushes, it pays to learn how to prepare and clean your brush.

A great quality brush is a good investment, but only if you look after it.

I hope you found this guide useful.

Thanks for reading

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As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The post What’s the Best Acrylic Nail Brush? My Top 8 Recommendations appeared first on nailhow.

Thinking of buying a gel nail kit? Great idea! Doing your own gel nails at home is fast, easy, and waaaay cheaper than going to the salon. But which one should you go for? Well, I’m about to share all my best tips and tricks to help you choose a great gel nail kit. Then I’ll show you my top 5 gel nail kits.

Here are the kits we’ll be reviewing today:

Best choice of colors

The best budget nail kit

Best vegan and non-toxic nail kit

The best gel nail kit for nail art

Best gel nail kit for hands and feet

But before we jump into reviews of gel nail kits, let’s take a look at some faq’s and important things to know before you buy.

Here’s a list of contents for easy navigation:

Do my polish and lamp brand need to match?

What should I look for in a gel nail kit?

What kind of lamp should I go for?

What’s the best way to use a gel nail kit?

Our top 5 gel nail kits

Final thoughts, useful links and my biggest tip!

Do my polish and my lamp brand need to match?

You might not have thought much about this, but it’s actually pretty important!

You see, every gel polish brand has its own unique formula.

This means that the chemicals used and the quantities in the bottle can vary quite a bit between brands.

Each brand designs its own lamp.

Every brand uses a specific light wavelength. One that will give you the best results when using their products.

It’s all very sciency.

But what it boils down to is that it’s always better to use a Green Flash lamp with a Green Flash polish for example.

Yes, you might be able to get away with using your gel nail lamp to cure another brand.

But it’s risky. You may well end up with either under-cured (soft n mushy) or over-cured (dry/brittle and chip prone) nails.

My advice is to find a good gel nail polish brand with a wide range of colors that you love.

Check out my recommendations below – they all have great reviews.

Once you have found the brand for you, buy the complete kit (including the lamp) and stick with that brand.

What should I look for in a gel nail kit?

Gel nail kits come in different shapes and sizes.

Some include extras like files, clippers, brushes, lint-free wipes, or cuticle oil.

While other gel nail kits include only the lamp and the polish.

If you are starting out and you don’t have any nail stuff at all, then a kit that comes with a lot of tools might be a good idea.

Some gel nail kits don’t include the lamp – so make sure you double-check that your kit comes with a lamp!

If you already have some basic tools – like a nail file and a cuticle pusher – then you might not need any extra tools.

Before you buy, you want to make sure that the kit you’re looking at has everything you need to do your own gel nails at home.

So if you’re starting from scratch look for gel nail kits that include these basic items:

• A gel base coat

• A gel topcoat

• At least one color gel polish

• A UV or LED lamp (more about which one is better later…)

• A nail file

You may also need to buy a gel nail polish remover and some lint free wipes separately.

But that’s really all you need to get started.

What kind of lamp should I go for?

Perhaps the most important thing you’re going to want to base your decision around is the lamp itself.

I could talk about gel nail lamps all day, but I don’t wanna bore you!

Instead, I’ll try to boil down my knowledge into helpful, bitesize chunks.

Here’s a great video that’s full of useful information about gel nails in general:

Basically with lamps, you have 2 choices:

A UV gel nail lamp

or

an LED nail lamp.

A UV gel nail lamp uses UV (ultraviolet) light to cure nails.

UV lamps take longer to cure (usually about 2 minutes per coat) but may be cheaper.

This is because the bulbs in UV lamps don’t last as long as those in LED lamps.

With a UV lamp, you’ll get around 4000 hours of usage before you need to replace the bulbs.

An LED lamp uses a different type of wavelength to cure gel polish.

Most LED lamps can cure a single coat of gel polish in  30 to 60 seconds!

The bulbs in LED lamps also last a lot longer than the bulbs in UV lamps. Another reason why they are often more expensive.

You can expect to get almost double the usage from an LED lamp compared to a UV lamp.

I currently use this LED lamp from Green Flash. I recently found out about this company.

They make non-toxic vegan gel nail polishes from natural plant-based ingredients like sugarcane, wheat, and corn. 

It has 3 timer settings, 30, 60, and 99 seconds.

What’s the best way to use a gel nail kit?

Start with clean nails filed into the shape you want.

Then apply a gel nail base coat and cure for either 2 minutes (if you’re using a UV lamp) or 60 seconds if you are using an LED lamp.

Don’t go to the very edge of your nails. If you get any polish on your cuticles, wipe it off before you cure.

If you don’t it will go rock hard after curing and you won’t be able to get it off!

Apply a thin coat of color then cure for 2 minutes (UV) or 60 seconds (LED).

Apply a second coat of color and cure according to your manufacturer’s instructions.

Then apply your gel nail top coat and cure for double the time (so 4 minutes for a UV lamp and 2 minutes for an LED lamp).

Some brands leave a sticky residue on your nails that you need to wipe off.

**Green Flash does not leave a sticky residue so if you go for that one you can skip this step.**

Wipe your finished nails with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free wipe.

Our top 5 gel nail kits

After a ton of research and testing, we finally whittled down our list to these 5 gel nail kits.

We’ve judged the kits based on value for money, color choice, lamp quality, how long the manicure lasts, and what’s included in the kit.

Whether you’re a total beginner, a vegan, a color junkie or you’re on a budget, you’ll find a kit that works for you below.

Time to reveal the best of the best!

Best choice of colors

Color junkies – this one’s for you!

Looking for a quality gel nail kit that comes with a good selection of colors?

Then my top pick is this gel polish starter kit, (click to check price on Amazon)

It has everything you need to get started and there are 16 different color collections to choose from.

Each of the 16 kits comes with the same lamp and tools, but they all come with a different set of 6 colors.

The color selections are amazing!

You can get a set of pastels, shimmers, or neons (yes, all of that please!).

You can also get a mix that has some glitter and some regular polishes.

Beetles gel polishes are 9 free. So no need to worry about nasties like lead, formaldehyde, camphor, and parabens.

If 6 colors aren’t enough you can also buy more colors here (click to check price on Amazon)

What’s included?

• A 48-watt combination UV/LED lamp
• 6 x full-sized gel nail polishes (7.5 ml)
• 1 x base coat (7.5 ml)
• 2 x topcoats (1 shiny, 1 matte – both 7.5 ml)
• Cuticle oil
• A metal cuticle pusher
• Nail clipper
• A cuticle fork (used for trimming loose bits of cuticle)
• A hard bristle brush
• A soft bristle brush
• A soft sponge nail buffer
• A washable nail file
• A pair of toe dividers

**Please note that this lamp doesn’t have a bottom – don’t worry it’s designed that way to make it lighter and easier to use**

How long did the manicure last? 11 days!

Here are our pros and cons for this kit:

Pros:

• Cures 1 coat in 60 seconds
• Good brushes – polish is easy to apply for beginners

• Beautiful vibrant colors
• Salon quality finish
• Easy to remove
• Lightweight professional lamp
• Cuticle oil smells good
• Comes with everything you need if you are new to this
• Excellent investment if you usually go to the salon

Cons:

• Colors may look slightly different in person
• The pink buffer is a little course (you need to be gentle)
• Some people may need longer than 60 seconds to cure (depends on how thick you put it on)

Best budget gel nail kit.

This Ab gel nail polish kit (click to check price on amazon)

is a great value option if you just wanna dip your toe in (or should that be fingernail in?) and see if doing your own gel nails at home works for you.

This is a great gel nail starter kit that costs less than a single manicure in most salons.

It comes with 8 mini gel polishes (5 ml each) and all the tools you need to do your own gel nails at home.

There’s a decent variety of colors and they’re pretty cute.

You get an apple green, a yellow, a blush pink, lilac, white, a mid pink, an orangy-red, and a purple shimmer.

What’s included?

• A 36 watt UV/LED lamp
• 8 mini gel polish colors (5 ml)
• 1 x base coat (5 ml)
• 2 x topcoat (1 Matte, 1 shiny both 5 ml)
• 2 nail files
• 1 metal cuticle pusher
• A soft brush
• A cuticle fork (used for trimming loose bits of cuticle)
• Cuticle oil
• Nail clippers
• A pair of toe dividers
• 20 Nail cleansing wipes
• 50 Nail polish remover wipes

How long did the manicure last? 10 days

Pros:

• Great value – costs less than a single salon visit!
• Easy to use
• Goes on like regular nail polish
• Nice selection of colors
• Comes off easily without damaging your nails
• Good service from this seller
• Professional quality lamp

Cons:

• Small bottles
• No color choice
• Some of the colors (like yellow) needed 3 coats because they were translucent
• Instructions can be a bit confusing

Best vegan and non-toxic (award-winning) gel nail kit

I recently discovered Green Flash and I’m happy I did.

I have to say that I’m super impressed with their philosophy and the quality of their products.

I tested their Full Kit Pro. (click to check price)

They make gel polishes from the kind of ingredients you’d expect to find in your kitchen pantry.

Green Flash uses natural and plant-based ingredients like sugar cane, corn, and wheat to make gel nail polish.

I have to say I was a tad skeptical at first – like is this really going to last?

But this stuff is amazing!

I can’t tell the difference between Green Flash and other top-quality gel polishes I’ve tried.

No wonder Cosmopolitan gave them an award!

My Green Flash manicure looked perfect and lasted for 11 days.

I only redid it because the growth gaps at the bottom were getting on my nerves.

The Green Flash full kit pro comes with a very stylish-looking lamp.

You even get some super cute stickers that you can use to customize it – yay!

What’s included?

• High quality LED lamp with an automatic sensor
• A base coat
• A top coat (glossy finish)
• Specially formulated remover
• 1 full-sized color of your choice from their full range
• Instructions and customizable stickers for your lamp!

This kit is great if you want a high-quality finish without compromising the health of your nails.

It doesn’t come with any tools, but all you really need is a nail file and possibly a cuticle pusher (I actually just use my thumb nail to push my cuticles back).

Pros:

• Salon quality finish
• Beautiful colors
• Non-toxic
• Vegan
• Winner of the Cosmopolitan beauty award (summer 2021)
• Long-lasting without the usual chemicals
• Easy to apply and remove
• Very high-quality lamp that fully cures in 60 seconds

Cons:

• The remover only works with Green Flash polish
• The polish dissolves and comes off in bits (not really a problem but it’s a bit messy)
• You only get one color with the kit (you can buy more colors separately)

(Click to check price)

Best gel nail kit for nail art

I love a simple, classic all one color mani. But it can get boring.

So I like to throw in an accent nail, mix up my colors, or add a bit of nail art from time to time.

The trouble is that it’s so hard to get good results with gel polish nail art.

I tried simple polka dots last week and despite double (and even triple) curing, they still ran and looked all streaky

This pro gel starter kit (click to check price on amazon)

comes with stickers and gems, so you can take your mani to the next level without the risk of colors bleeding together – hoorah!

If you want sophisticated and classy polish colors then this could be the one to go for.

There are 5 different color collections to choose from and the pink lamp is totally cute!

What’s Included?

• A 48 watt pink LED lamp
• Basecoat (10 ml)
• Topcoat (10 ml)
• Primer (10 ml)
• 7 x mini gel polish colors (6 ml)
• Nail art stickers
• Nail art gems
• A cuticle fork (used for trimming loose bits of cuticle)
• Metal cuticle pusher
• Nail clippers
• Cuticle oil
• A pair of toe dividers
• Nail file
• Buffer
• A soft bristle brush
• Tweezers (for gem application)

How long did the manicure last? 9 days.

Pros:

• Comes with a super cute pink lamp
• Includes stickers and gems
• Nice classy color selection
• Comes with easy to follow step by step instructions
• Good value
• Good quality tools
• The primer helps your nails last longer
• Perfect for beginners
• Very shiny topcoat

Cons:

• Small bottles (6 ml)
• Customer service from this seller isn’t the best
• Colors look different IRL
• Some colors need 3 coats to look right

Best gel nail kit for hands and feet

Want salon-standard mani pedis for you and/or friends and family?

This complete gel nail starter kit (click to check price on amazon) could be just what you’re looking for.

The lamp is specially designed to accommodate the whole hand at once so you don’t need to cure your thumbs separately.

The trick is in the placement of the LED’s. It’s a great time saver.

The high arch of the lamp also means that you can easily get your feet under there too!

***Please note that for the best results with this lamp you should cure your fingers with the logo facing you and your feet with it facing away from you!***

What’s Included?

• A 36 watt LED lamp with an automatic sensor
• 6 x full-sized gel polish colors (8 ml)
• A buffer
• A file
• A cuticle fork (used for trimming loose bits of cuticle)
• Cuticle oil
• A dotting tool (for nail art)
• A metal cuticle pusher
• Toe dividers
• Cleansing wipes
• A medium bristle brush
• Tip guides
• Striping tape
• Gems

How long did the manicure last? 9 days.

Pros:

• Fits the whole hand under at once (no need to cure thumbs separately)
• Fits feet under for pedicures
• A fantastic lamp that cures well
• Nice smelling cuticle oil
• Beautiful colors
• Good customer service from this seller
• Great value budget-friendly kit
• Easy to apply

Cons:

• Colors look different in person ( a bit lighter)
• Some of the lighter colors need 3 coats
• Not the best polish quality compared to the other kits in this line-up (you may want to try a different polish brand)

Final thoughts, useful links and my biggest tip.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get salon-quality gel nails at home.

My biggest tip would be that the amount you spend and the kit you buy is far less important than your technique.

I’ve seen so many complaints about poor quality polish or lamps not curing properly.

But nine times out of 10 the user is doing something wrong.

If you want your gel mani to last then proper preparation is key.

So please, take a look at our how to apply gel nail polish article or our why won’t my gel polish stay on? post before you start.

Especially if you’re a beginner. Trust me it just might save you a lot of money and frustration!

Check out our guide on how to make your gel polish last longer

I hope you found this information useful.

Thanks for reading.

Hey there! This is a affiliate disclosure. This let’s you know there are affiliate links on the page as well some helpful additional info.

amazon associates disclaimer

As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The post The 5 Best Gel Nail Kits to Create Beautiful Nails at Home appeared first on nailhow.

Looking to put a smile on someone’s face? You can’t go wrong with nail polish gift sets.

They’re cute, customizable, and they’re easy to wrap!

There’s also a nail polish gift set for everyone.

Vegan friend? No problem! Need a halal polish? We’ve got you covered.

Serial polish collector, who has everything? We’ve even got a fix for that too!

Nail polish gift sets work for so many people and for so many occasions – from birthdays and baby showers, to anniversaries and Christmas.

They also make great corporate gifts, or even wedding favors!

In this post, I’m gonna show you some of the very best nail polish gift sets available.

This isn’t a thrown-together list – oh no!

The nail polish gift sets you are about to see have been carefully curated.

Each gift is rated on these key criteria:

• Value for money.
• The packaging.
• The variety of products or colors.
• Uniqueness.
• Desirability.

So let’s dive right into my ultimate favorite nail polish gift sets!

1. OPI – Customised 3 polish set.

In nail polish gift sets you always get that one color that’s just a bit, well….meh.

Not with this set you don’t!

For $34.95 plus shipping, OPI lets you choose 3 full-sized polishes from 34 of their most iconic colors.

This means you can easily tailor your selection to the recipient’s tastes and even their skin tone. (Check out our article on how to match nail polish to your skin tone here).

You also get to choose the packaging.

There are 20 possible designs, with cute options for bridesmaids, congratulations, Hannukah and thank yous as well as the usual birthday and Christmas designs.

You can also add a personalized message on some of the options.

Let’s go through our checklist:

• Is it value for money?

Not bad, without shipping it works out at just over $11 dollars per 15 ml bottle.

• How nice is the packaging?

10/10 – The box designs are totally cute and you get to pick your fav!

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Yes, with 34 colors to choose from you can ensure a nice variety of colors.

• How unique is it?

Because of the customisable packaging and color options, your gift will be very unique!

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Absolutely, I’d be very happy to get this super cute and thoughtful gift.

2. Zoya – quad gift sets.

At $30 plus shipping for 4 nail polishes, Zoya’s Quad box nail polish gift sets are a great value gift option.

There are currently 16 different gift box combos to choose from.

They all come in a sleek, minimal, black-windowed box. The box is very sophisticated and stylish and works for any occasion.

Zoya’s quad sets are slightly better value than the OPI 3 polish gift sets, but with Zoya you don’t have as much choice in the colors and there’s no options for customising your gift

They have nice options for holo polishes and a cute sparkling option, but in a lot of them the colors are a little bit same-y.

Let’s see how Zoya’s quad nail polish gift sets match up with our checklist:

• Good value for money?

Yes, great value! – it works out at $7.5 per 14.78 ml bottle.

• How nice is the packaging?

8/10 – It’s sleek and feels lux but it could be more exciting.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

In some boxes you get a good selection, but others seem a bit too similar.

• How unique is it?

The lack of customisation options leaves little room for creativity and personalisation.

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Yes, Zoya polishes are fantastic quality and this is a gift that says “you are sophisticated and stylish”.

3. Smith and Cult – cult favourites nail trio.

I lurve Smith and cult’s polish bottles, they make great gifts because they’re just so boujie.

Their “cult favourites” trio gift set comes with 3 polishes and a super cute pink pouch for $49 plus shipping.

You don’t get a choice of colors and there are no options to customise, but the shades are gorgeous and very versatile.

You get:

• A dark metallic crimson red – The Message.
• A creamy rose nude – Forever Fades Fast.
• A metallic gold – Consequence of fame.

All these polishes are full-sized and are 8-free formulas so there are no nasty chemicals.

They are also vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free.

Time to consult the checklist:

• Is it good value for money?

It’s not the cheapest option. Smith & Cult polishes usually sell for $18 per bottle.

In these nail polish gift sets, It works out at just over $16 per 14 ml bottle – plus you get the cute pouch.

• How nice is the packaging?

10/10 – the packaging is elegant and classy. Totally IG-able.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Yes, you get 3 different colors that will work well for most people.

• How unique is it?

There are no options to customise, and I suspect most people will already have a red and a gold, but what it lacks in uniqueness it makes up for in cuteness!

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Smith & cult polishes? Yes! This particular gift set, no.

I’m not into red or gold – the pinky nude is really cute though.

4. Nails inc – Nude in the tropics.

This four polish collection is 73% plant based, which is astounding for a nail polish!

It’s also vegan, cruelty free and halal friendly.

If you’re looking to buy a gift for someone who is conscious about what they put on their skin, this is perfect because it’s also 21 free!

For $25 plus shipping you’ll get 4 x 14 ml full sized bottles in a cute, eco-friendly leafy green box.

This is an off the shelf buy, so no customisation options.

You get 3 shades of pink and a clear topcoat (the topcoat is 80% plant based and dries glossy in the sunlight).

Here’s what’s in the box:

• A candy pink
• A warm dusty pink nude
• A browny nude pink
• A clear topcoat

Let’s check this one against our key questions:

• Is it good value for money?

Excellent value! It works out at just $6.25 a bottle plus shipping.

• How nice is the packaging?

9/10 – This is cute! The gold writing is a nice touch and the green leaves really contrast nicely with the pink!

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Even though it’s all pink, pink does tend to work for everyone and there is a fair bit of variety in the shades, so a thumbs up overall.

• How unique is it?

It scores major points for being mostly plant based and 21 free!

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Absolutely! I can see my posts on social media already…

5. Jin Soon – Make your set.

Jin Soon’s slogan is “high fashion in a bottle” and their gift sets certainly look the part!

For $38 plus shipping you can create your own Jin soon high fashion 3 polish gift set.

They come in a chic and stylish black gift box which contrasts with the individual white polish boxes inside.

You are literally spoilt for choice with this one. You can choose any 3 polishes from a total of 87 different colors! How awesome is that?

You can have basic neutral colors in the mix if you want, but there are also some amazing fun shades to choose from (Blue Iris and Soubrette are fabulous) and some awesome glitter options – got my eye on Shake it and Fab too!

The polishes are all vegan friendly and are 10 free with no parabens.

Let’s run Jin Soon’s gift set by our checklist:

Is it good value for money?

Certainly not the cheapest option – after all, this is high fashion darling!

Jin Soon polishes normally sell for $18 each, so you are saving $16 dollars when you buy 3 and getting a nice gift box!

However, they come in 11 ml bottles which is slightly less than the 14 to 15 ml standard.

This set works out at just over 12 and a half dollars per 11 ml bottle.

How nice is the packaging?

9/10. The box is sleek and minimal.

I love how you just get to see a peek of the color through the tiny slit in the centre of each polish box – it really adds to the excitement!

Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Hell yeah! This is the biggest selection of colors I’ve seen for a customised nail polish gift.

How unique is it?

Pretty unique. With so many color choices, you can easily tailor it to your friend or family members tastes.

Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Yep. 100%. This is a winner!

6. Deborah Lippman – Brave, Honest, Beautiful gift set.

What a great name for a gift set! I mean come on, who doesn’t want to be seen as brave, honest and beautiful!

In this Deborah Lippman gift set, you get 9 x 8 ml bottles (so the same amount of polish you’d get in around 5 full sized bottles).

The price is $45 and for that you get 7 full coverage cream polishes and 2 shimmer polishes.

This is a timeless collection, so the colors are classy and elegant.

You’ll find sophisticated shades that are all very chic and wearable.

This is a gift set that will work for any skin tone so no need to worry about clashes.

Here’s a list of the colors you get:

• Light grey
• Gold shimmer
• Cool stony blue
• Peachy pink
• Teal with blue and pink shimmer
• Deep mauve
• Anchor blue-gray
• Classic red
• Plum

All Deborah Lippman polishes 10 free, vegan and not tested on animals.

Let’s go to our checklist:

• Is it good value for money?

Very reasonable. It’s 5 dollars a bottle (but remember they are only 8 mls each).

I did some math and that works out at roughly 9 dollars per 14 mls (full sized bottle).

So the price is competitive.

• How nice is the packaging?

7/10 – nothing special but it’s pretty.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Yes, you get a good selection of polishes that are versatile and very wearable.

• How unique is it?

Not very unique. There’s no option to customise and this set doesn’t have a cool unique selling point like some of the others.

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

It would make a great gift for someone who doesn’t already have a ton of polishes, but it’s not for me personally as I already have my basics covered.

7. Orly – Create your own custom color.

Are you the creative type?

Ever thought about making your own signature nail polish color?

Well that’s exactly what you can do with Orly’s custom color gift option!

For $20 plus shipping you can customise your very own nail polish color using a photo.

You even get to name your creation!

It only works on mobile.

Here’s the URL:

mobile.colorlabs.com

I’m super excited about this, the possibilities are endless!

Why not take a pic of your friend in her fav sweater and make her a nail polish to match!

Or you could create a color based on a favorite lipstick, glasses, jewelry, paint color, piece of art – anything really! The only limit is your creativity.

I had a go myself and the process is super easy.

You just choose an image and you’ll get some color suggestions.

Pick the one you like and then you can either keep it as it is, or play with the saturation and brightness until you like what you see!

Once you’re happy you can give your polish a unique and personalised name (maximum of 35 characters) and then add it to your cart.

Let’s run this gift option by out checklist:

Is it good value for money?

At $20 dollars for a single bottle (double the usual price) this stuff aint cheap!

But if you have a great idea for a shade and a name – the reaction could be priceless!

Your gift will be extremely unique and personal – so I’ll leave it up to you to decide if it’s worth it.

How nice is the packaging?

Um, you don’t really get fancy packaging with this one, just a regular orly nail polish bottle with a customised label.

Is there a good variety of products or colors?

You can make a polish based on a personal photo, Orly’s sample photos or any image you can find online. So orly scores maximum points for color choice!

How unique is it?

Doesn’t get any better than this.

With the color and the label both being fully customisable – this one scores maximum points for creativity and uniqueness.

Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Yep, definitely! I want one so bad!

You will get super brownie points for effort with this one – even though it’s really easy!

8. Sunday’s –  Wellness gift box.

Sunday’s is a lifestyle brand that focuses on self-care.

Their nail polishes are all non-toxic, vegan friendly and salon quality.

All the polishes are made in New York, which is where their 3 nail salons are based.

For $56 you can get a Wellness gift box which contains 3 full sized (14 ml) polishes.

You get to choose the 3 colors you want, and there are plenty of different shade options.

Each color has a number (or a letter and a number) so you should be able to easily keep track of the colors you like and create a trio that anyone will love!

The polishes come in a simple white box that’s very minimal and elegant – a perfectly classy gift for any occasion.

Let’s see how this gift set performs according to our checklist:

• Is it good value for money?

At over $18 per 14 ml bottle – this is one of the more expensive options on our list.

• How nice is the packaging?

8/10. The simple white box this gift set comes in is elegan, stylish and fits the brand perfectly.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Yes, absolutely – you get to choose from favourites from a total of 61 different options.

• How unique is it?

With so many color options, it’s easy to create a unique personalised gift.

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Yes! In case you’re wondering – I like 21, 31, 32, 36 and 50.

9. J Hannah – Create your own 3 set.

If you (or whoever you’re buying for) loves natural, earthy, or muted colors then this create your own gift set is bound to please.

J Hannah is an L.A jewelry designer that makes stunning polishes based around all things natural, from artichokes to ancient relics.

There are 16 unusual (but oh so calming and tranquil) shades to choose from, and a custom 3 polish gift will cost you $52 plus shipping.

The 3 polishes you choose will be full sized bottles – 14.8 mls each.

A word of advice – the mini sets on J Hannah’s website are super cute but they are terrible value for money compared to the create your own set.

In the mini set – you get 5 x 3.7 ml minis which is 18.5 mils of polish in total. The price is 54 dollars for the mini set.

The set I’m recommending (Create your Own) is much better value. Yes, you only get 3 colors instead of 5 but you get 44.4 mls of polish (that’s more than double) for 2 dollars less than the mini set!!!

Hannah J’s colors are absolutely gorgeous. I love how you can read about the inspiration behind each color on the website.

This is the perfect gift for someone with a warm skin tone because warm skin tones suit earthy colors with a lot of yellow in them, and this collection seems to be predominantly warm colors.

Let’s bust out that checklist:

Is it good value for money?

It’s on the expensive side. This set works out at just over 17 dollars for a bottle.

How nice is the packaging?

8/10. A classy white box with very simple and minimal branding.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

With only 16 colors in the entire collection – with this brand it’s more about quality than quantity.

The choice is very limited. If you like blues and purples you’re out of luck.

How unique is it?

The concept and the colors are both very unique.

Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Nope. I’m a cool toned gal so most of the colors wouldn’t work so well for my skin tone.

10. Butter London – Zodiac Nail Vault.

At a whopping $150, this is the most expensive gift set on our list.

But if you want to really treat someone, this is a great option that shows that you wanted to go above and beyond.

In this zodiac themed gift set, you get 12 full sized 11 ml polishes (from the Patent Shine collection) that will take you through the whole year!

Plus you get a topcoat and a strengthening treatment as well!

There’s a great mix of colors, including a dark and a light gray, a pale and a rose pink, a moody blue, a vampy red, an off white and a nude, a dark and a light purple, a classic red and a sunny yellow.

Let’s consult the checklist on this one.

• Is it good value for money?

Yes. Each 11 ml polish works out at just over $10 dollars.

• How nice is the packaging?

10/10. This comes in a large, very impressive black zodiac themed box with gold writing. The polishes are displayed in a wheel which is unique and interesting.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Absolutely. You get a good variety so there’s bound to be a color they love!

These colors are all very wearable too.

• How unique is it?

The zodiac theme makes this nail polish gift set extremely unique.

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Yes, please!

11. Cote – 6 Piece Traveller set.

This 6 piece traveller nail polsh set from French brand Cote contains 6 x 11 ml bottles of polish and will set you back $42 plus shipping.

This is a selection of fall and winter colors and as you would expect from the French, they are all tres chic!

Each of the colors in this gift set are also technically neutrals which means that they should go with any outfit – yay!

You get a red, a navy, a slate gray shimmer, a cappuccino brown, a taupe and a pinky-taupe nude.

Despite being French – these polishes are made in the USA.

All the polishes are vegan and cruelty free, and the bottles are made from italian glass.

Their brushes are also very good quality and easy to use.

But how do they stack up against our checklist?

• Is it good value for money?

It works out at $7 dollars a bottle, which isn’t the cheapest of the bunch considering the bottles are only 11 mls but it’s certainly not bad value at all.

• How nice is the packaging?

7/10 Very chic. They come in a minimal white box.

They’ve tried to arrange them like test tubes or something which is a bit different but doesn’t really work for me.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Yes the variety of shades is really good. There’s no-one these colors won’t work for!

• How unique is it?

I guess the test-tube-esque presentation is kinda unique but the colors are classic.

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Sure. you can never have too many neutrals. I wear neutral polish more than anything else because it goes with everything!

12. Tenoverten – Rose holiday limited edition set.

Tenoverten is another NY based salon that’s also made a name for itself in the polish world.

They offer upmarket, exclusive, limited edition gift sets which can change at any time.

For $45, at the moment you can snag their Rose Holiday limited edition gift set.

You get 3 full sized (13 .3 ml) polishes and an 8 ml natural rose nourishing cuticle oil.

This set also comes with a limited edition conscious hand care pouch.

The cuticle oil is packed full of lovely, nail nourishing ingredients like rose flower oil, as well as jojoba, pomegranate and sweet almond oils.

And the polish shades (Jane, watts and Hester) are all pink.

You get a canyon clay shade (which is like a reddish brown) a mauve, and a pinky nude.

Let’s consult our checklist:

• Is it good value for money?

Um. So so. Works out at $15 for each 13.3 ml bottle – but that’s without counting the cuticle oil.

It’s not the best and it’s not the worst.

• How nice is the packaging?

6/10. It is limited edition, but is basically a canvas bag.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Not really. It’s basically 3 shades of pink.

 They are all different though, and very wearable.

• How unique is it?

Very unique, this gift set is limited edition so it won’t be around for long!

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Yes I would be very happy with this. The rose cuticle oil sounds amazing and the shades are cute.

13. Holo taco – Frosted Metals Collection set.

Do you love shiny things?

HoloTaco is the brainchild of Cristine Rotenberg, who runs the Simply Nailogical Youtube channel.

Her frosted metals collection is bringing the bling.

It will cost you $65. And for that you’ll get 5 x 12 ml metallic foil polishes with serious sass!

These are not glitter nail polishes, so they are a lot easier to remove than glitters, but they still give you that glitter look – without the hassle.

The names of these polishes are great. Here’s what you get:

• Fake date – a frosty metallic lilac.
• Mint money – It’s money colored don’t ya know!
• Cheap champagne – a frosty rose gold.
• Cold shoulder – An icy blue hue.
• Gift receipt – a sassy silver.

Let’s run through that checklist one last time:

• Is it good value for money?

It’s somewhere in the middle – works out at $13 per polish.

• How nice is the packaging?

10/10. It’s super cool, and shiny.

• Is there a good variety of products or colors?

Well, they are all metallics… but there are different colored metallics.

• How unique is it?

It’s limited edition, so pretty unique.

• Would I like to receive this as a gift?

Of course – who doesn’t love shiny things?

Let’s wrap this up.

So, that’s it.

I put a ton of research into finding the very best nail gift sets out there, so I hope that I saved you some time and money by helping you find the perfect nail polish gift set for your special someone.

Happy shopping – see ya!

More awesome posts:

What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Full Guide.

What Color Nail Polish Should A Bride Wear? Complete Guide.

Best acrylic nail brands: the most popular brands for acrylic nails.

5 Awesome Gel Nail Kits to Create Beautiful Nails at Home.

How to match nail polish colors to your skin tone.

The post 13 Awesome Nail Polish Gift Sets for 2023 appeared first on nailhow.

We all know that exposing ourselves to too many chemicals is bad for our health. I mean, seriously, how many self-care products do you use in just one day? I’m guessing quite a few, and if you aren’t careful with your choices, the toxins can soon mount up. So let’s lesson your toxin load and find some non toxic nail polish brands.

These days, you don’t have to sacrifice your health to have beautiful nails.

I always like to use “clean” health and beauty products, so I’ve done a ton of research into the best options for keeping nails looking fabulous whilst also keeping chemical exposure to a minimum and I’m ready to share my knowledge.

What chemicals in nail polish should you avoid and why?

21st-century customers want nail polishes that are free from as many nasty harmful substances as possible and thankfully, the nail polish industry has responded to this by improving their formulas in recent years.

So, as it stands in 2022, many nail polishes are a lot safer now than they ever have been.

That being said, there are still plenty of chemical-laden polishes out there that you’re probably going to want to avoid.

Many chemically conscious brands now advertise themselves as being 3-free, 5-free 7-free or 10-free, but what does that mean?

Well, there are plenty of chemical nasties that can be found lurking in polishes.

Some are worse than others.

The number (3, 5, 7, 10, etc) refers to the number of known-to-be-harmful substances that are not present in that polish, so the higher the number, the better.

Be careful, though, as sometimes this label is used as a marketing tactic, so always check the formula’s ingredients to make sure there’s nothing in there that shouldn’t be.

The Toxic Trio.

While there are quite a few chemicals to be found in nail polish, there are 3 main ones that you absolutely need to avoid at all costs if you value your health!

They are known in the industry as the Toxic Trio.

The Toxic Trio consists of the following 3 chemicals:

Toluene.

Toluene is a clear colorless liquid with a strong paint thinner-like smell that is produced in the process of making gasoline.

It is commonly used in paints, thinners, lacquers and adhesives.

In nail polish, it is used as a solvent to stop the color from separating.

According to ATSDR’s public health statement, Toluene can have serious effects on the nervous system, causing headaches, dizziness, vision and hearing loss.

It can also severely affect the mental development of a growing fetus, and can even cause miscarriages, so pregnant women should never use polishes containing it.

Furthermore, overexposure to Toluene can potentially damage your heart, liver, kidneys and reproductive system.

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP).

This ominous-sounding substance is used heavily within the plastics industry.

Dibutyl Phthalate helps to make plastic more flexible, and it’s actually present in a lot of regular household items like shower curtains, raincoats and food wrap.

It’s put into nail polish to soften it and stop it from cracking.

Something that I found quite scary during my research is that Dibutyl Phthalate can actually be present in any nail or beauty product that has the word “Fragrance or Parfum” on the label.

Why?

Because manufacturers are not required to list their “fragrance recipes” as they are seen to be trade secrets. Charming!

DBP is absorbed through the skin. It is classified by the European Union as an “endocrine disruptor” which is fancy talk for it messes with your hormones.

DBP can increase the chances of you developing genetic mutations.

It’s also toxic to the reproductive systems of both males and females, so sperm counts beware!

Like Toluene, DBP can also cause harm to an unborn fetus, as well as affecting fertility.

In Europe, the use of DBP in cosmetics is banned.

In Canada, DBP is banned in children’s toys and baby products but it is still allowed to be used in cosmetics.

Formaldehyde.

Completing the toxic trio is Formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is used to harden and strengthen nail polishes.

It’s pretty nasty stuff that’s been linked to a wide range of serious health concerns, resulting in it being heavily regulated in Europe and even banned in some countries like Sweden and Japan.

It’s a known respiratory irritant that can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, asthma and skin allergies.

And if that didn’t convince you to steer clear, it’s also been linked to nose, throat and blood cancer.

Nuff said. Mic drop!

Other nasty chemicals in nail polish.

You may have noticed that a lot of polishes now advertise themselves as “3-free”.

This means that the polish is free from the 3 worst nail-polish related chemicals outlined above.

So, if you want to avoid the worst chemical culprits, buy a polish that is at least 3-free.

If you want to avoid the highest possible number of chemicals, go for a higher number such as 7, 8 or 10 free and if you have a specific health check the ingredients thoroughly.

Every brand recommended in this article is free from Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde and more.

In addition to the toxic trio, there are other chemicals in nail polish that can cause a whole host of health issues from asthma to cancer.

This is why a growing number of polish brands are now introducing 5, 7, 8, 10 and even 13-free formulas.

It stands to reason then, that there are other chemicals in nail polish that savvy customers like you and me should be aware of.

Here’s the list.

I call it the “not quite as bad but still bad nail polish chemicals” list. Yeah, the title needs work.

Anyhoo, onward.

Parabens.

Parabens mimic estrogen and can cause breast cancer. Not to mention hormonal issues.

Unfortunately, they are present in everything from toothpaste to antifungal treatments as well as nail polish.

Camphor.

It’s added to nail polish formulas for 2 reasons.

First, it can help to prevent chipping. Second, camphor makes polish super shiny.

However, camphor is highly toxic and is a known irritant, so its best avoided.

Formaldehyde Resin.

This is a toxic and carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substance added to nail polish to make it last longer.

My advice? Stay well clear.

Xylene.

Xylene might stop your nail polish from getting gloopy but breathing in Xylene causes headaches and dizziness.

It’s also an allergen and possible (but not yet confirmed) carcinogen.

TPHP (Triphenyl Phosphate).

TPHP is another plasticizer that’s used to make nail polish more flexible.

The word in the science lab is that it messes with your hormones and your metabolism causing weight gain.

Ethyl tosylamide.

Yet another plasticizer that helps to dry polish faster.

This one has been banned in Europe due to the fact that it lowers resistance to antibiotics.

I’m by no means an expert, but in this article, I’m going to share with you the very best non-toxic and chemical-free products and brands that I’ve discovered on my trip down the rabbit hole.

The best non-toxic nail polish brands for you to try out:

Below is a list of the 7 best brands that sell non-toxic nail polish.

They are in no particular order.

1.  Best non toxic nail polish for damaged nails – Zoya Professional Laquer.

If your nails are a tad damaged and you want to create a good foundation for future manicures, Zoya’s patented Naked Manicure system might be for you.

It’s great for making natural nails look their best and is equally good for creating a smooth base for a new colour.

Zoya’s polishes are natural, 10 free and vegan-friendly.

Zoya also has a great reputation for creating long-lasting polishes and fantastic reviews.

2. Best non toxic nail polish for shine – Butter London Patent Shine 10X Nail Laquer.

If you want your nails to shine bright like a diamond and have a gel-like finish then the 10X shine range from Butter London could be the polish for you.

Like all Butter London’s polishes, the Patent Shine 10X range is 8 free: here’s the list of things you won’t find in Butter’s offerings:

1. Formaldehyde

2. Formaldehyde Resin

3. DBP

4. Toluene

5. Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide

6. Xylene

7. TPHP

Not only does this chip and fade-resistant polish not contain any nasty chemicals, but it actually harnesses the strengthening power of bamboo to give your natural nails a boost!

3. The best non toxic nail polish for allergy sufferers – Côte Toxic Free Nail Polish.

Cote claims that they make the “cleanest non-toxic nail polishes available”.

This is, of course, good for all of us, but it’s particularly good for allergy sufferers or those with sensitive skin.

Let’s see what boxes they check, shall we?

Gluten-free. Check.

No Parabens. Check.

Free from major toxins. Check.

All-natural. Check.

Not bad, Cote. Not bad at all.

4. Best non toxic nail polish for nourishing nails – Deborah Lippman Nail Laquer.

Most of Deborah Lippman’s polishes are 7-free and contain no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, xylene, camphor or ethyl tosylamide.

They are kind to nails, and their big claim is that their polishes “do no damage”.

In fact, Deborah Lippman’s polishes contain nail nourishing ingredients like green tea and biotin.

Great for keeping your natural nails in top shape.

5. Best non toxic nail polish with a great range of colors – Smith & Cult Nail Laquer.

This range of 8 free Nail Lacquers from swanky brand Smith & Cult will look fabulous on both your nails and on your dressing table!

The entire range is cruelty-free, gluten-free, and suitable for vegans.

Better still, you won’t find any parabens or phthalates in any of Smith & Cults polishes.

They have an amazing selection of colors, all of which are free from Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide and Triphenyl Phosphate.

The coverage is great, it doesn’t chip easily and it’s very shiny. Definitely a winner.

6. The best non toxic nail polish for vegans – Pacifica 7 Free Nail Colour.

If you love animals, you’ll love Pacifica.

This animal-loving company pride themselves on being cruelty-free.

They have a 7 free formula that’s not only long-lasting and cruelty-free, but it even comes with a vegan brush!

You also won’t find any parabens in any of their products

If you want vibrant colors and peace of mind, give Pacifica a try.

7. The best option for a fast non toxic mani –  Orly Breathable Treatment + Color Nail Laquer.

Orly claims that their Breathable 1 step manicure is 13 free.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any information as to what chemicals they leave out on their website. So, I’d proceed with caution.

The USP for this polish is speed.

Apparently, there’s no need for a basecoat or topcoat so you can literally paint a single coat and you’re done!

Sounds great, but the lack of information available online means that the jury’s still out on this one.

Best non-toxic nail polish remover Karma Organic Natural Rose Oil.

Of course, it’s not just nail polishes that contain chemicals, nail polish removers do, too!

That’s why I’m recommending this non-toxic nail polish remover from Karma Organic.

It’s a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly nail polish remover made from rose oil and it smells amazing!

It’s free from both acetone and alcohol and it won’t damage or dry out your nails.

You may not have heard of Karma Organic, as they are an Organic Spa with just 2 locations in New Jersey.

They have been making a name for themselves in the nail industry though, because of their “clean and green” philosophy and range of innovative non-toxic nail products.

Their products are safe for pregnant women and children, as well as for those with allergies or sensitive skin.

As well as a non-toxic nail remover, they also do a great range of 7-free nail polish colors, a non-toxic basecoat and a fabulous nail strengthener, all in recyclable packaging.

So there you have it. 7 of the very best non-toxic and chemical-free nail polishes.

I hope you are excited to give these a try.

Good luck and happy polishing.

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