We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Beauty

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Nail Art Pen?

By Christine Hudson
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,852
Share

Nail art is the act of painting nails with decorative and creative designs using nail polish. This can be done simply to add interest to an everyday look or for special occasions. Many intricate designs can be done by a professional, and some are even known to use airbrushes to do so. A nail art pen, however, makes it possible to create nail art at home generally with little or no mess. A nail art pen may contain professional- or non-professional-quality polish, with professional-quality usually lasting much longer.

The key to using a nail art pen correctly is to begin with pre-shaped and pre-buffed nails. Nails should be filed to about the same length and shaped nicely, and a nail buffer can be used to smooth the tops of the nails. This creates a sort of clean canvas for the nail polish and prevents the natural ridges from ruining the design. Even professionals cannot create beautiful nails out of uneven and unshapely ones.

Applying a clear or neutral base coat of polish is generally a better idea than attempting to apply the nail art on bare nails. The base coat further evens out the surface of the nail and helps the art last longer. After the base coat, any color can be applied that is similar to the background, or the art designs can be drawn directly on the base.

Many beginners like to find designs and instructions to follow online or learn from books. Some local beauty schools or nail salons may also offer hands-on classes for creating nail art, which may be helpful. These courses may also be able to show the artist how to maintain the design once it's finished so it will last longer.

While a nail art pen typically uses nail polish, there are some which may use glitter to add more flare to the designs. Many are made as two-way nail art pens, which means the nail brush can be used to brush on the color, or the fine tip can be used to draw designs. This type of nail art pen usually makes it very easy to do any design.

Nail art pens come in many styles and colors and are manufactured by many companies. It may be helpful to look at brands located in professional nail salons and shops and then see if those brands make a nail art pen. This way, the beginner can ensure she is purchasing high-quality products. Speaking with professional nail artists can also give insight on which brands to shop for.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon129732 — On Nov 24, 2010

I found some great water base nail art pens from Sheba Nails - Color Gel Nail Art Pens. They come in a bunch of colors for just $2.99 each. You don't need a uv lamp, they flow from the pen like gel for smooth lines. I have had a lot of success with these and really recommend them.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-nail-art-pen.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.