Q: What is Airbrushed Nail-Art?

A: It is a process by which a water-based paint is sprayed on fingernails and sealed between paint-on enamel base coat and paint-on enamel topcoat. Spraying through stencils and/ or spraying over masks creates the images.

Q: What base coat is required?

A: Apply  Pink Opal Base Coat to finished, clean fingernails. Make sure that nails are free from oil and soap residue. Substitution of other base coats may negatively affect retention. Apply base coat close to the cuticle and wrap around free edge.

Q: What is varnish and do I need to use it as well as a topcoat?

A: Varnish is water based clear coat that is sprayed in a light mist over the water base paint. Its purpose is to form a protective barrier between the paint and the topcoat, thus allowing easier topcoat application. Varnish is not a topcoat. Lightly mist it on just prior to topcoat application. After applying Wet Glaze you may use an optional coat of heat cured or UV cured nail topcoat if you wish or apply a second coat of Wet Glaze. Additional coats will extend wear.

Q: How should I expect Airbrushed Nail color to wear?

A: When properly applied, airbrush will wear comparable to that of traditional nail polish.

Q: How do I clean my airbrush?

A: Flush out all remaining paint by depressing the lever and pulling it all the way back. Fill paint cup or well with water and flush it through. Use a clean sable brush and Airbrush cleaner to clean out the inside of the paint cup or well. Pipe cleaners also work well as cleaning tools. Flush a generous amount of cleaner through the airbrush. Repeat.

Q: I am having trouble with my paint going on wet. What can I do?

A: The farther you pull back on the trigger, the more paint you will release from the brush. Most people have a tendency to spray more than they need, thus flooding the nail with wet, runny paint. Paint should always be applied in light layers. This allows the paint layers to dry as you go along. If you see shiny, wet looking paint, you are applying it too fast. Until you develop better trigger control, it may he helpful to back up a bit from the nail. Work on pulling back on the trigger less. This just takes some practice.

Q: I tried to spray a stencil design and the edges weren’t sharp. What did I do wrong?

A: If your edges are fuzzy, your spray probably went under the stencil on an edge that was not held down firmly. Since it is often impossible to hold all edges of the stencil down perfectly, it is important that you aim your spray at a 90-degree angle to the nail. Also, if you spray paint too heavily it may run under the stencil.

Q: How long will it take to learn airbrushing?

A: Most users find that it takes 6 months of regular practice to gain competency, however your skills will continue to progress for years to come.