Everything You Need for Airbrushing

And why buying the better quality products makes a huge difference

The airbrush is one of my favourite nail tools. There are so many ways to use it to achieve so many different looks, but having the right tools makes the biggest difference in the quality of your work. I started my airbrushing game with an airbrush from a well known nail extension brand that I immediately returned and was told they get returned all the time because they suck. It sure did. I was then put onto an airbrush brand that artists (and not just of the nail variety) use all over the world because they are known for their quality. From then on I understood the importance of having the right tools and materials so I didn’t have to struggle to make things work for me. Now, to save you any guessing work, I’ve put everything I use into a neat little list so you don’t have to go through the trial & error that I did.

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Hand Piece

Having started my career with a bad hand piece, I am a really strong believer in a good one. You need something with a relatively fine spray, lightweight, and I find a press and pull trigger to be most useful. The Iwata HP-B Plus checks all those boxes for me. It offers enough precision to get those small details, while still having the ability to do wider sprays for auras. It’s easy to take a part and clean, and because Iwata is such a well known and loved brand, there are so many resources available should you have questions.

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Compressor

My first compressor was the Iwata Neo. While it was good and did the trick, it wasn’t the longest lasting compressor. I ended up buying and using two of them until finally realizing it wasn’t worth investing in anymore. I saved up a bit of cash and ordered myself the Iwata Silver Jet and boy was that a great choice. This compressor is quite large (she has her own wheely cart in my studio) but she comes with power and the ability to customize the air pressure to an exact psi. Her solid metal case makes her extremely durable (unlike the afore mentioned Neo), and honestly I think if I ever had a flat tire she could come to my rescue.

I know there are a bunch of airbrushes out there on Amazon that are an all-in-one sort of situation with the hand piece attached right to the compressor, and I’ve used those so I can say this with confidence, don’t buy them. All the brands are making them these days but they’re basically all the same. They’re incredibly heavy, which is something to consider if you use your airbrush often because your wrist will not thank you, they have very few air pressure settings (if any!) which are very important when working, and the spray on them is usually quite grainy. I’ve tried multiple of them from multiple brands, and if you plan to make airbrushing a part of your art, I wouldn’t suggest those ones.