Getting started in the nail industry can be both exciting and overwhelming. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of products available to practice with. Which products are best for beginning nail techs? How do you know which ones are truly worth your money?

In today’s blog, we share a simple nail beginner list: the best brushes, practice tools, and nail beginner kits for those just getting started as nail techs.

Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations

Here’s why you can trust recommendations from NailsPlus:

• We are a family-owned team of nail and beauty experts with decades of experience in building customer-first experiences. We test each product that comes through our doors, and we stand behind the quality of each product we sell online and on our sales floor. We’re proud to be ambassadors for several top nail brands, including Aprés Nail, Valentino Beauty Pure, and NotPolish.
• Our focus on education puts us a step above our competition. We are deeply committed to providing resources to new and experienced nail professionals through our educational blog and in-store demos. We also stay up to date with nail industry news by educating ourselves on new products and attending the top nail trade shows.
• Finally, our reviews speak for themselves. We have a 4.9 rating on Google with hundreds of five-star reviews citing our strong customer service.

Why Quality Products Matter

One of the first things you’ll learn as a new nail tech is that the products you use matter.

Think of it this way:

We often tell our customers that it’s important not to cut corners when it comes to nail prep. A clean, well-prepared nail is an essential first step in creating a beautiful full set. The same is true for nail products. Researching the best products available is the first step in creating beautiful nails. It will also help to build your reputation as a knowledgeable nail tech.

The Nails Plus Nail Beginner List

Our team has identified a handful of products as having the most impact for beginning nail techs. These nail products are great investments for anyone getting started in the nail industry.

Faux Kolinsky Brushes by Americanails

Faux Kolinsky hair brushes are a great tool for new nail techs. For beginners, we recommend smaller sizes—like these Size 10 and Size 12 brushes—as they are easier to work with. The faux Kolinsky brush is of great quality for the price.

To decide if you want to invest in a real Kolinsky hair brush, read our Kiara Sky acrylic manicure brush review.

Acrylic Nails Practice Mat

A nail practice mat is an incredibly helpful tool for beginning nail techs. This silicone nail training mat will help you to create various sizes of beads, learn application by zones, and work on different nail shapes (almond, square, stiletto, coffin, etc.).

Also, the mat is easy to wipe down and roll up when you’re done using it!

Quality Nail Table Lamp

If you want to create beautiful nails, it’s important to focus on the small details. And you can’t focus on the small details without the proper lighting. That’s why we recommend this LED nail table lamp for your nail workspace.

This lamp easily attaches to the work table at your nail station with an easy-to-use clamp. The LED lamp lasts 40 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

Nail Kit for Beginners

If you’re looking for a comprehensive kit that includes everything you need to get started with acrylic nails, we highly recommend the Young Nails Ultimate Pro Acrylic Kit. This kit includes all of the files, brushes, and tips you need for daily practice.

We especially love that this kit includes Young Nails Protein Bond and Swipe Nail Cleanser. Protein Bond is a non-acidic adhesive that helps prevent lifting; Swipe is a revolutionary product that cleanses the nail without water, preventing lifting caused by over-hydrated nails.

We hope that this beginner nail list is helpful for our readers and customers who are starting out as nail techs. As you grow in your nail journey, you can count on Nails Plus for the best in nail education, including reviews of the best new products on the market.

Have questions about the products in this blog, or any other nail product? Don’t hesitate to get in touch and follow us on Instagram and Facebook! We love chatting with customers about nails + beauty!

Beautifully Yours,
Kim Phan, VP