The Best Nail Pens

Buying Guide

While a regular bottle of nail polish can handle the job if you just want a simple coating, sometimes you might want to create a more intricate nail design with multiple colors or small details. That’s where nail pens make the job much easier. Each pen features either one or two tips so you can precisely apply your nail polish and make any design you can imagine. Some nail pens even have a regular nail polish brush on one end so that you can apply a full coat as well.

The most popular nail pens include polish inside of them so you don’t have to worry about buying it separately. These come in various styles and tip options. For example, some have a felt tip that you press down to make the polish flow out, while others have a container that you squeeze. You’ll also find nail polish pens with a design similar to mascara where you dip a brush into a container. In any case, dual tips are common where you have a wide tip or brush on one end and a narrow one on the other end for versatility.

You can find nail polish pens containing polish in many colors. Single-color options exist such as white pens for French manicure tips. However, you’ll more often get a set of five or more colors. You’ll want to choose the set carefully so that you have your favorite nail color options. Some kits even have glow-in-the-dark or glitter polishes if you want something more creative.

You’ll also come across nail pen sets that simply contain brush and dotting tools that you can use with nail polish you already have or purchase some separately. These are especially handy for detail work since you can find very narrow tips that suit complex designs. At the same time, you can find sets with wider brushes that suit adding strips on your nails. If you opt for these standalone nail design tools, you’ll want to make sure they’re suitable for the type of polish you plan to use such as gel or acrylic.

• Nail pen sets that target children often come with various accessories. For example, they might include a book that provides children with nail design ideas along with nail decorations such as stickers, gems and stencils. Some kits even have faux nails that kids can decorate so they don’t have to put polish on their natural nails.
• If your nail pens contain polish, check the instructions so that you use them properly and avoid issues getting the polish to come out. For example, you may need to shake the nail pen first. If it’s a felt-tip pen, you may also need to press the tip down on some paper to get the polish flowing first.
• It’s recommended to put on a base coat before you start adding designs with your nail pens. This is especially easy if your pen includes polish and has a regular brush end, but you can use regular polish from home if it doesn’t. If you don’t want a color underneath, you can always use a clear coat.
• After you finish decorating your nails, you’ll want to apply a top coat to keep your fun look lasting longer.
• Especially when you just start making nail art, you may make mistakes or get the polish on your skin. You can always start over either by wiping off the wet polish with a tissue or using nail polish remover.
• Waiting for your nails to dry can be inconvenient, so you might consider quick-dry polish options. You can also use something like a nail dryer. Plus, if you’re using gel polish, you’ll want to have a UV or LED lamp handy to cure it.
• Always keep the cap on nail pens with polish inside so you can avoid having them dry out. You’ll also want to clean off the tip of any nail pen after you use it.
• If you’re buying nail pens for kids, look for products that are marketed as non-toxic and water-based.
• While it’s not too common, some nail pens are refillable so you can add polish from home once the pen runs out.