Beyond Polish: Learning Airbrush and Nail Art at Cosmetology School

Most of us have wandered past the enormous displays of exotic-looking nails at salons in malls and shopping centers. The patterns are so tiny and intricate and perfect, it makes you wonder how they are created. As a student in nail tech college, you can discover the secrets behind this delicate art firsthand. Classes that focus on airbrush and nail art are like a unique combination of art school and cosmetology school training.

Advantages to Airbrush and Nail Art Training

There are some key advantages to knowing how to airbrush nails as a cosmetologist:

Being able to offer clients creative designs directly on their own nails, without having acrylics applied
Lower costs on materials for acrylics jobs, as there is no need to outsource pre-painted nails

Airbrush and Freehand Nail Designs

Easy nail airbrush designs can be created with stencils. More complicated designs can be created with minimal artistic skill by overlapping the same stencil several times, using color variations within the stencil, or using several different stencils on one nail. However, there are some talents that must be honed to create the most intricate nail airbrush designs. An eye for color and form, a steady hand, and true artistic inspiration are all a must when you are working freehand.

Basic Airbrush Process for Nails

Many nail tech colleges and cosmetology schools explain the basic airbrushing process for stencil designs:

Apply a base coat
Apply a background color
Airbrush over the stencil
Clean up the excess using an acetone-based polish remover
Apply a top clear coat

Tips from Nail Tech Experts

For some nail tech students, the most difficult element is learning to use the compressor and airbrush gun. However, it becomes quite effortless with practice. Nail tech instructors and professionals offer some good advice for newcomers to the field:

Try to acquire a noiseless compressor to help maintain the calm atmosphere in the nail salon
Turn on the compressor and let it build pressure. 30 to 40 psi is required for most airbrush guns
Load the airbrush gun with color, working from the base color to the top one. Create a detailed color plan before starting a design with a multi-colored background
Apply each color one at a time, allowing the paint to dry between coats
Apply any stencils over the top of the background
Clean your airbrush gun by running warm water mixed with some cleaning fluid through it

You can create even more elaborate designs when preparing your own acrylic nails in advance. With practice, patience, and a touch of natural artistic ability, you can become the nail artist who makes customers rave (and keep coming back for more).