Airbrush

[Mrs. Fleming]

Hello Rhonda. I wanted to ask what type of airbrush you use. I'm starting off with using a badger its a Vega Nail air. This is what I'm using for right now. My airbrush I would really like to have is an Iwata. It the best on the line. But I'll upgrade as time goes on. Do you have important 101 info you can share with me or other techs starting out using Badger Products?

[Rhonda McCarthy]

Hi Mrs. Fleming, Hi Dayna! I would like to ask a few questions. Is your airbrush gun a Badger or your compressor or both? What brand of paint do you use? It is VERY important to get a quality paint. What if any problems have you encountered when attempting to airbrush?

[Rhonda McCarthy]

Hi Fleming! You did not say what brand of paints that you use. I recommend Iwata airbrush guns. It sounds as if maybe your gun is a side mount or has a bottle attached? If so it is the incorrect type of gun. I do have quite a few tips about cleaning the gun and in between client maintenance.

[Rhonda McCarthy]

Dayna: Wow, the price for that kit is, I don't know what to say. Anyhoo, here is a list of questions for you

When you airbrush does the paint come out with a controlled spray?
Does the paint look dry and powdery when it lands on the nail?
Is teh airbrush gun a dual action or single action?
How do you clean your airbrush gun?

[Dayna]

Rhonda McCarthy said:

Dayna: Wow, the price for that kit is, I don't know what to say. Anyhoo, here is a list of questions for you

When you airbrush does the paint come out with a controlled spray?
Does the paint look dry and powdery when it lands on the nail?
Is teh airbrush gun a dual action or single action?
How do you clean your airbrush gun?

[Dayna]

Dayna said:

Rhonda McCarthy said:

Dayna: Wow, the price for that kit is, I don't know what to say. Anyhoo, here is a list of questions for you

When you airbrush does the paint come out with a controlled spray?
Does the paint look dry and powdery when it lands on the nail?
Is teh airbrush gun a dual action or single action?
How do you clean your airbrush gun?

Yeah, thanks I know I spent alot, and what is more maddening is that I have NEVER USED IT! Except to practice.
Here are answers to your questions ...
When you airbrush does the paint come out with a controlled spray? YES
Does the paint look dry and powdery when it lands on the nail? YES
Is teh airbrush gun a dual action or single action? I BELIEVE ITS A DUAL
How do you clean your airbrush gun? Take it all apart and clean ut using cleaner and brushes to make sure there is no left over paint in the gun.
The issues that I have is that I dont know where to start, what colours go with each other, and how do I make my designs POP. I have a zillion stencils, but I have no idea what do do with them.

[Rhonda McCarthy]

Hi Dayna! Okay, let's start at the beginning okay? When you are creating a HOT airbrush design you can start by doing the following. It would be really great if you took your equipment out at this time and did this step by step as I respond. Get your fake out dummy hand and follow along. Once you try this style of airbrushing you can switch up or do something that is your own style if you like. This is just to try and get you pointed in the right direction.

Step 1: Polish your nail in a sheer color like "Cotton Candy".
Step 2: Do not use a base coat and only use 1 coat of polish.
Step 3: Once it dries, take a piece of tape or one of those sticky french manicure guides and place it on the nail. This will make the design look like a really WAY OUT french manicure when you finish.
Step 4: Take your airbrush gun and "mist" white over the nail (the area from the piece of tape to the free edge). You can look at my FACEBOOK photo album to see a demo pic from THRTE Buffalo.
Step 5: After misting white, select 2 colors for your background. Try orange or peach and hot pink.
Step 6: "Fade" or blend the two base colors. That means, spray the orange or peach on the top part of the design area. Leave a little bit of white towards the free edge for the hot pink. Hot pink is not a color that you want to use all over the nail as a base because the color is so strong that it will absorb almost anything that you spray over it except for very dark colors.

Do these steps Dayna and then come back. I think you will get a stronger sense of which stencils that you use based on how the base colors look. How the faded colors look usually makes me think of the shapes that I want on them. Come back when you are done and we will move to plan B. LOL! Happy airbrushing!