18 Basic Nail Art Tools Every Aspiring Nail Artist Should Have

Published April 29, 2024

When you dream of being a talented and creative nail artist, the first thing you need to do is secure all the tools you need. These tools are crafted to help you with mastery and to guide you in every skills nail artists have in common. 

In this article, we’ll be having a rich discussion on all the tools you need to secure to master nail creativity. We’ll have you adding to cart all of them and get all excited on your journey. Let’s start. 

1. Nail art stickers

Nail art stickers are a fun, easy, and quick means to add intricate designs and patterns to your nails without the time and steadiness. They come with a variety of designs and patterns to complex images. Moreover, you can get stickers that are themed for holidays or events. 

2. Dotting tools 

Dotting tools are a vital component of your nail art kit. They can be the vessels for your creativity. They help create dots and start up nail designs. They usually come in sets of five with varying sizes of 10 heads. 

3. Rhinestones

An aspiring nail artist should invest in rhinestones. Different colors, sizes, and shapes add extra bling and style to the nails. You can use them to get uniquely designed nails, whatever you want. 

4. Striping tapes

These very thin tapes can add metallic lines to your manicure. They also come in many textures and colors that can add personality to your nail art creations. 

5. Bullion/ sprinkle/caviar beads

Bullion, sprinkle, and caviar beads bring exciting texture and visual interest to nail art. 

• Bullion beads are tiny, round metallic beads perfect for creating detailed and precise patterns. They are also best for accentuating parts of a larger nail art design. 
• Sprinkle beads are similar to bullion but slightly larger. They are mainly intended to add fun and playful texture to nails. 
• Caviar beads are tiny, uniform beads that resemble caviar when applied in a dense layer over the entire nail. They are often used for full nail coverage to give a luxurious, textured look. 

6. Loose glitter 

Loose glitter is a versatile and exciting way to give sparkle, depth, and texture to your nail designs. It is available in a myriad of colors, shapes, and sizes, allowing you to yield a range of effects, from delicate shimmer to bold, eye-catching finishes. 

7. Nail polishes

Nail polishes for nail art are specialized formulations to enhance creativity and precision. They come with various features tailored to different techniques and effects in nail artistry. Here’s a breakdown of some key kinds of nail polishes used in nail art: 

• Stamping polishes
• Striping polishes
• Dotting polishes
• Crackle polishes
• Magnetic polishes
• Glow-in-the-dark polishes
• Color changing polishes
• Matte top coats

8. Nail stamping kit

A nail stamping kit permits professionals and enthusiasts to replicate complex patterns and images on nails that would be difficult and time-consuming to achieve by hand. 

A typical nail stamping kit includes: 

• Stamping plates
• Stamper
• Special nail polish 

9. Topcoat and basecoat

Topcoat and basecoat are fundamental elements in the nail polish application process. 

A basecoat is the first layer of polish applied directly to the clean, bare nails. Its primary purposes include: 

• Protection
• Adhesion
• Nourishment
• Smoothing 

A topcoat is applied over the colored polish to seal the color. It also provides a fantastic finish to the manicure. Key benefits include: 

• Durability
• Finish 
• Quick drying
• Enhancement

10. Orangewood stick/ toothpick 

These are employed to pick up rhinestones and help in making dots for artsy designs. They are also very helpful in water marbling. Moreover, they can be used to push and clean cuticles for manicures. 

11. Nail grooming kit

A nail grooming kit is another must-have. It is a multipurpose kit that can be used for manicures and pedicures. It is a set of nail tools that contains many essentials. Here, you’ll find scissors, nail clippers, dead skin pliers, scraping knives, and cutters useful for grooming and perfecting nail art. 

12.  Nail polish remover

To remove nail polish, you can try nail polish remover wipes. They are the one-stop secret for pretty nails. They can easily remove all shades of nail polish. Typically, they contain natural olive oil and vitamin E. These wipes can also moisturize while preventing peeling cuticles and chipping nails. 

13. Lint-free cotton swabs/Q-tips 

These are needed to clean and rid polish from your nails. You should use lint-free cotton swabs because ordinary cotton leaves cotton fibers on your nails, ruining your manicure. 

14. Acrylic colors

Acrylic colors for nail art have revolutionized the beauty and fashion industry. These products provide a durable, versatile, and vibrant medium for creating stunning nail art. They are pigment powders combined with a liquid monomer. The result is a slid, glossy finish lasting for months without chipping or fading. 

15. Nail art brushes

A correct set of nail art brushes can boost your nail art game. These brushes help you effortlessly design your nail art as you desire. Each brush has its purposes and designs uniquely like no other. 

• Detailing brush 
• Striper brush
• Liner brush
• Flat brush 
• Angular flat brush 
• Fan brush 
• Round brush
• 3D brush 
• Oval brush
• Gel brush 

16. Nail polish correcting pen

Nail artists are not perfect, but they are constantly trying to be. A polish-correcting pen can erase errors and imperfections and make your nail creations look their best. The pen’s precision tip is filled with a nail polish remover, which can easily erase any mistakes along the side walls of nails. 

17. Matte topcoat

Matte polishes are still a hot fashion statement. They instantly give nails a boost in appearance. It’s one of the easiest ways to change any polish, shiny or not, and make it trendy-looking. 

18. Manicure tweezers

Manicure tweezers are another vital tool for nail art enthusiasts and professionals. They offer precision and versatility for a variety of applications. They are designed to handle delicate tasks in the nail art process. They can easily apply tiny decorations, position decals, and create intricate art.