HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BRUSH
USE ONLY ACRYLIC NAIL LIQUID/MONOMER
How to Prep your New Acrylic Brush
When using a new acrylic brush for the first time, you’ll need to thoroughly remove the “protective coating” from the bristles.
Pour a small amount of acrylic nail liquid (monomer) into a clean dappen dish. Gently dip only the bristles into the liquid for about 15 seconds to dislodge the protective coating. Don’t let the ferrule (the metal part) touch the liquid. Lift the brush out and gently wipe it on a nail wipe or brush mat. Repeat a few times until the brush is clean.
Avoid pulling on the bristles. While the brush is still wet, gently shape it into the desired form, then wipe once more with a nail wipe. Discard the remaining nail liquid and your brush is now ready to use.
How to Clean your Acrylic Brush after use
Discard any remaining nail liquid, then pour fresh acrylic Nail Liquid (monomer) into a clean dappen dish. Soak the brush for 2–5 minutes to soften any acrylic particles left in the bristles.
Lift the brush out and gently wipe it on a brush mat. Using a cuticle pusher, carefully scrape away any remaining acrylic. Dip the brush back into the monomer to re-wet and smooth the bristles, then gently shape it into the desired form while it’s still wet. Wipe again with a nail wipe.
To condition the bristles, add a few drops of cuticle oil to a nail wipe and gently wipe the brush. Then apply one drop of Nail Brush Conditioner & Cleaner to a nail wipe and wipe the brush again. This final step helps lock in moisture, condition the bristles, and keep the brush neatly shaped.
CAUTIONS:
Never wash your brushes with soap, water, or acetone. These will dry out the bristles. It’s best to avoid solvents when cleaning Kolinsky or sable-hair acrylic brushes.
Also, skip brush cleaners for acrylic brushes. Their formulas are often too harsh and can dry out natural bristles. Brush cleaners are generally better suited to gel brushes made with synthetic or nylon bristles.
During use (and after use), never set your brush down without wiping it thoroughly on a nail wipe first. If you do, any acrylic left in the bristles can harden and get trapped, leaving the brush clogged and unusable.
If your brush does become clogged with acrylic, try soaking it in a small amount of acrylic nail liquid (monomer). The acrylic may soften enough to gently work out of the bristles.
REMEMBER:
if your brush becomes badly clogged, it’s often too late to save it. Investing in a good quality brush is worth it, it’s your most important tool! Clean it only with acrylic nail liquid (monomer) and take great care of it.
STORAGE:
First, check that all the bristles move freely when you dip your brush into the jar of nail liquid. Gently press the brush side to side, then lightly press it flat against the bottom of the jar to make sure no acrylic is trapped in the bristles.
Next, reshape the bristles on a nail wipe into your preferred shape:
a) a fine point, or
b) a flat shape.
While the bristles are still wet:
a) For a fine point: gently roll the brush between your fingers until the tip comes back to a neat point for storage.
b) For a flat shape: gently press and wipe the brush flat on the nail wipe until it’s smooth and even.
Store your brushes flat in a covered container or in a drawer. Don’t store them upright or where they can collect dust.
Avoid putting brushes back into their original packaging (such as plastic tubes or bags). Over time, contact with acrylic nail liquid (monomer) can cause the plastic to break down. The best option is to store your cleaned brush flat in a nail brush case holder.
GENERAL ADVICE:
If you look after your brush properly, it should last a long time. Most Kolinsky brushes are made from natural hair. Once you’ve prepared your new brush and thoroughly removed the “protective coating” (only when the brush is new), it’s a good idea to add a very small amount of cuticle oil to the bristles. The oil will help condition the hair—leave it in the bristles for a few minutes.
Using oil occasionally will keep your brush in better condition for longer. Think of it like your own hair: you wash it, then condition it to keep it healthy and soft.
Before your next use, gently wipe the brush on a baby wipe or a nail wipe lightly saturated with acrylic nail liquid (monomer). Conditioning Kolinsky brushes from time to time helps keep the bristles together and prevents the natural hairs from drying out.
Remember, these are natural hairs, so caring for them is just like caring for real hair. All brushes eventually wear out, but you can extend the life of yours by following these simple, common-sense guidelines.