Are you hunting for the best acrylic brushes for nails? We researched the best nail brushes for acrylics below.
Scroll down to see reviews of professional acrylic nail brushes. Otherwise, keep reading to learn about how to pick the best acrylic nail brushes for your projects.
What acrylic brush should you use?
Professional nail brushes have features in common with fine art paintbrushes. For example, both kinds are usually made from kolinsky sable hair. Also, they come with different shapes of tips. But the best acrylic nail brushes have oval or pointed tips. After all, it’s for working on a small canvas.
If you’re vegan or just don’t want to use animal hair brushes, there are good synthetic options. We’ve included one example in the reviews below.
What number acrylic brush is best?
If you’re a beginner, the best acrylic nail brush size is 8. Blake Lively’s manicurist said that a size 8 acrylic brush covers a good portion of the nail bed without holding too much liquid or making a mess. She suggests applying acrylic like mayonnaise instead of brushing it on like nail polish.
However, once your skill level increases, you might upgrade to a larger brush like size 8. Nail art brushes usually come in a wide range from sizes 4 to 22.
What other features are important when choosing an acrylic brush?
Besides size and shape, there are other details that affect how well the nail brush performs. For example, sometimes you’ll see crimped ferrules. The tip may be pointed or rounded, but where the bristles join the handle, they are flattened instead of round. This design allows the bristles to hold more fluid than a completely round brush.
The bristles themselves make a huge difference. If they are high-quality, they won’t break easily and will leave a smooth finish. That’s why most acrylic brushes are made with fine Kolinsky sable hair from weasels.
Lastly, it’s important to consider the length of the brush, the shape of the handle, and how heavy it is. If it’s uncomfortable, it’s going to be harder to work with.
How long do nail art brushes last?
Professional manicurists might replace a nail brush every few weeks. Meanwhile, someone doing acrylics at home that takes care to clean the brush properly might get a couple years of use from it.
What other kinds of brushes can I use for acrylics?
If you’re on a tight budget or just want to play around with acrylics, it’s possible to use an eyeliner brush or a regular paintbrush. If it has soft bristles made from animal hair, nylon, polyester, or Taklon, it’s probably safe to use with acrylics.
Are animals killed to make acrylic brushes for nails?
Kolinsky sable brushes are made with animal hair from weasels. Although the weasels are killed for their fur, it’s not specifically for making brushes. The paintbrush industry uses the hair from the tails which are discarded. (1)
We appreciate that this makes people uncomfortable which is why we will start the reviews with a professional-grade synthetic brush for acrylics.
| The best acrylic brushes for nails | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| Americanails Faux Kolinsky Cruelty-Free Acrylic Nail Brush |
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| KADS Kolinsky Sable Acrylic Nail Art Brush |
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| PANA USA 100% Pure Kolinsky Hair Bristles Acrylic Nail Brush |
|
| Beaute Galleria Kolinsky Sable Round Acrylic Nail Art Brush Set |
|
| Larbois Acrylic Nail Art Brushes Set |
|
| Makartt 6pcs Nail Art Brushes Set |
|
| Morovan Acrylic Nail Kit |
|
Best Acrylic Brushes for Nails in 2024
Americanails Faux Kolinsky Cruelty-Free Acrylic Nail Brush
It’s not easy to find a synthetic acrylic nail brush that performs as well as a kolinsky acrylic brush. But we were pleased with how this one performs.
It has synthetic nanofiber bristles with the same texture as natural fur. The bristles are soft and strong and can be cleaned with a brush cleaner. Just be sure to not use acetone.
The cruelty-free bristles are mounted on a natural bamboo handle with a rust-resistant ferrule. As a result, the brush feels balanced and lightweight. It’s perfect for creating acrylic beads.
Choose the size you need and prepare to be impressed.
Pros:
- Synthetic nanofiber bristles that imitate the texture of natural Kolinsky sable hair
- Well-balanced, lightweight bamboo handle
- Available in various sizes
Cons:
- Avoid cleaning the bristles with acetone
KADS Kolinsky Sable Acrylic Nail Art Brush
Since most manicurists use Kolinsky acrylic nail brushes, they make up the rest of our reviews below. You’ll see that there are small differences between brands. For example, this one uses rosewood handles and alloy ferrules that won’t rust.
The sleek brushes come in sizes 6 through 18. At the time of manufacture, the bristles are coated with a special film that will need to be removed before you use the brush for the first time. Keep in mind that the brush may shed a few bristles the first time you clean it.
The usual method is to manipulate the bristles to get rid of most of the film. Then wash with warm water until the brush is completely clean. Reshape the bristles and allow them to air dry thoroughly. Don’t try to speed up the drying by putting the brush in strong sunlight.
If for some reason you decide to trim the bristles, we highly recommend using professional hair cutting scissors. If you use blunt blades, you may damage the bristles.
Pros:
- Professional-grade acrylic brush available in sizes 6 through 18
- Rosewood handle and rustproof ferrule
- Comes with factory coating to maintain the bristles’ shape
Cons:
- Never clean the brushes with acetone – it will strip the shine from the bristle and cause them to collect residue
PANA USA 100% Pure Kolinsky Hair Bristles Acrylic Nail Brush
This brand of salon-grade acrylic brushes offers sizes 6 through 22. We reviewed the size 8 as it’s the best fit for beginners. It has natural weasel hair bristles mounted on a mahogany handle with an alloy ferrule. The ferrule is crimped to hold the bristles flat and prevent deformation.
The brush has a nice weight and balance. It’s handy for fills and sculpting. Just don’t try to use it for lacquer nail polish or gels because it’s not made for that.
Like usual, you’ll need to flick off the starchy coating. This is applied at the factory to keep the bristles in the proper shape. Then rinse the brush in warm water to remove the rest of the film. Wipe it on a clean towel and reform the bristles before letting it air dry. We prefer to lay our brushes flat to dry.
After you use the brush the first time, clean it with a brush cleaner like Molimer. If you forget and use acetone, it will dehydrate the sable hair and wreck the bristles.
Pros:
- Natural sable hair brush in sizes 6 through 22
- Mahogany wood handle with crimped alloy ferrule
- Affordable choice for beginners with the right amount of weight and balance
Cons:
- Remember to remove the factory coating before the first use and please don’t clean the brush with acetone
Beaute Galleria Kolinsky Sable Round Acrylic Nail Art Brush Set
If you’re not sure what size nail brushes to get for acrylic application, try this two-piece set with numbers 8 and 12. The #8 is the most popular for beginners. Meanwhile, #12 is a little bigger and the next most common.
On the bright side, they have attractive handles. On the downside, the nickel-plated ferrules aren’t crimped. Still, they are good for beginners as they are easy to control and clean.
If you’d like to know the specifics, the manufacturer says the bristles are 22 mm long and the brush is 8 mm wide.
Pros:
- Affordable set with 2 sizes of acrylic brushes: #8 and #12
- Attractive handles with nickel-plated ferrules
- Easy to use and clean
Cons:
- The ferrules are not crimped
Larbois Acrylic Nail Art Brushes Set
Which is the cheapest acrylic brush? This set has a #8 sable hair brush with 2 additional nail art tools. The brush isn’t bad – it has a pretty handle and a crimped ferrule. It’s lightweight and feels pretty sturdy.
The bristles are supposedly pure kolinsky sable. The brand even suggests burning them to prove that they are the real deal and not synthetic. We suggest that you don’t set your new brush on fire to test it. Instead, if a couple of hairs come loose, try burning those and see if it smells like burning hair. If they melt, then you’ll know they are synthetic.
As for the other tools, they are convenient for drawing flowers and patterns. One is a liner pen and the other is a double-ended dotting pen. You can also use the letter for applying sequins.
Pros:
- One of the least expensive acrylic nail brushes with Kolinsky sable hair
- Size 8 with a pointed tip and crimped ferrule
- Set includes a liner pen and a dotting pen
Cons:
- Be careful not to get monomer on the handle as it will discolor
Makartt 6pcs Nail Art Brushes Set
Although we started out reviewing only the best acrylic nail brushes for beginners, we came across this irresistible set. It has brushes for doing gels, too.
The kit includes Kolinsky sable hair brushes with pointed tips in sizes 2 and 8. It also has 2 round brushes in sizes 4 and 6, and 2 flat brushes, also in sizes 4 and 6. What’s more, all the brushes have caps that keep them protected when you roll them up in the provided storage case.
The aluminum and plastic handles are all different colors so you can tell at a glance which one you’re grabbing.
Pros:
- Set includes acrylic and gel brushes for nails
- Crimped aluminum ferrules and protective metal caps
- Attractive handles in different colors
- Comes with a roll-up storage bag
Cons:
- Only 2 acrylic brushes, but you can use the entire as paintbrushes, too
How hard is it to do acrylic nails at home?
We are all about DIY nails. However, acrylics are not the easiest place to start. They require working with chemicals that can damage surfaces and hurt your skin. It’s a great idea to take a professional course. It’s generally just a few hours of instruction but can ensure your manicures are easier to do and end up with a professional appearance.
What else do you need to do acrylic art?
Besides nail brushes, you’ll need primer, liquid monomer, acrylic powder, tips, nail glue, nail dehydrator, clippers, and nail files. It’s not hard to find kits that include the essentials.
Morovan Acrylic Nail Kit
Here’s a great kit for beginners who want to do acrylic nail art. It comes with 3 sizes of acrylic nail brushes, monomer liquid, acrylic powder in 3 colors, nail forms, a file, and a glass cup. It’ll get you started if you’re eager to try 3D nail art.
Pros:
- Affordable beginners kit
- Includes monomer, powders, tools, and 3 sizes of acrylic nail brushes
Cons:
- Fast-drying liquid can be challenging for beginners to use
Conclusion
We hope we helped you find the acrylic nail brushes you need today. We had fun checking out all the options. It’s too bad that each of us only has ten fingers and toes to experiment on!
If you love your new nail brush, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to leave us a comment below.
Source:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolinsky_sable-hair_brush accessed August 25, 2022