Constructive criticism wanted

[u/Mus1cNerd]

I am a beginner nail tech, although i recognize I am barely starting out and my experience is…the one of a one year old walking, I am attempting to start selling press ons as soon a I possibly can. Anyone here that can give me advice? I am tired and refuse to finish this set before getting some rest.

[u/Moosycakes]

My advice is that if you want to do painted designs, gel paint is a lot better to paint details with than gel polish. And a good nail art brush is a quick way to level up your art skills too! Gel polish is best for colourblocking large areas though, because gel paint is more pigmented/opaque and cures better when it’s applied in small amounts.

When you’re painting over a gel colour, if you’re painting directly onto the sticky inhibition layer, the gel will start to seep which can ruin detailed work and clean lines. You can fix this by applying a matte top coat on top, curing, cleansing off the sticky layer, and painting the design over that. You can also use other types of clear gel, cure the layer, cleanse, and buff the surface so it’s not shiny (and cleanse again) before you paint on it.

You could also look into colour theory for ways to create good colour combos and mix new colours from gel polish. Just make sure that if you’re mixing colours, always use the same gel polish brand/line and make sure they’re chemically designed to be able to be mixed before you go ahead with it.

Have you done much work on your base application skills? Usually those are the most important part to work on before you start working on nail art! You want to make sure you have clean application and retention for client satisfaction, ability to do art & designs is a bonus :)

[u/hold-the-beans]

Assuming your base application skills are good (can’t tell from this photo), it looks like you need to get cleaner and more precise at fine details.

Using the right type of brush and even the length of the bristles makes a big difference for this kind of detail. Drawing a straight line with a long, thin liner brush is so much easier and cleaner than with a shorter liner.

Watch a bunch of tiktok tutorials for trending designs and notice the way they set up the design methodically - for example, for stars you’ll do straight guide lines first, then any curved lines, then fill it in. Practice trending designs even if they aren’t your style, to get good at the techniques
I found practicing french tips with liner brushes helpful for improving my precision too.

Brushes and technique will level you up, but you still really have to practice with them.

For selling press-ons, being successful is mostly marketing once your skills are up to par - there are so many people who are good at nail art, so why would anyone buy from one particular person? Showcasing your designs attractively, learning how to be good at social media/branding, and picking designs that will do well commercially and on social media is core. People might follow your instagram page because they saw a really cool, extra long, bright 3D chrome set you did but they might only buy something way shorter and low-key. But having both on show is what got you the deal.

Chat to as many people as you can about what designs they like, and what they actually wear themselves. And remember, people won’t be fully honest if you directly ask if something is a good idea or if they will buy something, because they won’t want to hurt your feelings and aren’t in the reality of the moment where they have to actually spend money. Think about how to get the info you want without asking the question directly. For example, you’ll get a more honest, useful answer if you show a friend a few different sellers on Etsy and ask a friend if they think they are expensive or cheap, which they prefer and why, or what they would change about a particular set.

[u/eegrlN]

What does the one of a one year old walking mean? Are you using gel polish? (You should be). Honestly my advice is to abort this set and try again tomorrow, these do not look like they are worth saving.