page 2
Buying an airbrush?
What
they don’t tell you.
Right
then, you’ve bought your airbrush, you’re laden down with stencils and
paints, you get home, place your self and your equipment at the table, why
can’t you be allowed to just airbrush away dozens of beautiful, perfect
airbrushed nails? Here’s a quick
insight into what professional nail artists don’t tell you about what goes on
behind the scenes.
Airbrushed the
client’s fingers and cuticles?
There’s no way to avoid getting paint around the nails.
Try oiling the fingers around the nails, in theory the paint should just
wipe away. Nope, all that happens
is you blow the oil onto the nail and defeat the whole object.
Get to know the paints you are using.
Createx Naileze paints can be wiped from the skin with a good old Wet One
(make sure the topcoat on the nail is dry first). The Wet One trick unfortunately doesn’t work as well on
Aztec paints though. Or use a
cotton bud dipped in nail varnish remover, some people say use water but if
you’re careful it’s quicker with remover.
Beautiful
design? Yes, until the topcoat went on!
If the design cracks after putting on the top coat you need to look at a
different make of topcoat. To be on
the safe side it’s always best to go with the recommended top coat that comes
with the paints, although they can sometimes seem like a bit of a rip off.
If you want to use a cheaper topcoat test it out first.
I’ve sat and watched some gorgeous designs end up looking like old
masters!! If the design doesn’t
always crack it could be that you’re putting the base white on too thickly.
You only need a thin layer.
On your 10th
colour and boom! the airbrush decides it’s doesn’t want to play your game
anymore?
There’s nothing more heartbreaking than a really difficult multiple
colour design being ruined at almost the last stage. Try this: Once you’re halfway through the design put a top
coat on, let it dry and then carry on. This
way, if you mess up after the topcoat just take a cotton wipe with airbrush
remover and take off the paint. Anything
under the topcoat will still be there.
Doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?
Bent needles?
Don’t throw them away. Once
the point is bent they become brilliant for digging dried paid from the airbrush
nozzle.
Quick
shopping list to accompany your airbrush.
Cotton
buds.
Believe me you’ll need ‘em. You
don’t need to splash out on these. Your
local pound shop will gladly sell you about 500 for two shiny fifty pence
pieces!
Small
paint brush.
These are ideal for swooshing around the paint barrel when you flush your
airbrush during colour changes. Make
sure the bristles are attached firmly or you could lose one down the nozzle, not
good!
Tupperwear
cup with lid.
These make excellent ‘spratz boxes’.
Just cut a small hole in the lid, stuff a piece of kitchen towel into the
cup and spray away your unused paint. This
stops the fumes wafting up your nose!
J-Cloths.
Excellent to lay across the table while airbrushing.
They absorb the paint and can be used over and over again.
Blu-Tack.
A small blob allows you to attach a tip to a finger rest so can maneuver
the tip as you need to. The tips are great for practicing or for using on your
display board.
You
need to advertise your services for up and coming Valentines Day.
Design fyers or posters with men in mind and they are the main targets.
You want them to book your services for their wives/girlfriends/lovers as
a gift. Suggest to them that ladies
don’t want more chocolate after the Christmas binge, they want to be beautiful
again. They
want their nails done!!
Advertise
in places frequented by men (ooh sorry, I only meant barbers shops!), offer a
discount if the booking is made by a guy for his valentine.
Men can’t resist a bargain!
Remember,
be nice to your valentine appointments. A
special occasion is usually the beginning of regular treatments.
If their treatment is a gift and they go out looking good they usually
want more.
go to page 3 - This month's nail tech, How, Why, Where, What, Who?
go to page 4 - Nail Art Gallery
go to front page - Introduction, Nail art