7 must-have nail art tools for beginners in 2025

Having beautiful nails is key to making any outfit work. You'll need a few basic tools to start, regardless of whether you're a novice or an experienced nail artist. These tools and products will help you start with creating basic designs, and over time, with practice, you'll be able to create more fun and intricate designs.

These tools, although basic, are necessary to give good manicures and create fun and trendy nail art. So, if you are someone a little confused about where to get started with nail art, the tools mentioned here will help you get going.

Disclaimer: This article purely reflects the writer's opinion. If you have some other suggestions, please comment below.

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7 Basic nail art tools for beginners in 2025

Having the basic tools needed for nail art is necessary, along with your creativity and techniques.

Let's take a look at the different must-have nail art tools for beginners.

Dotting tools

A dotting tool is basically a small tool that has a round silicone or metal tip. This tool has two ends, and the dots at both ends are of different sizes to create various sizes of dots.

This dotting tool can be used to create designs like small flowers, polka dots, and minute details like eyes and noses. It can also be used to create a marble-like effect on the nails.

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Nail art brushes

Just like we have brushes for art that are created on a canvas, nail art brushes are also tools that can help you create detailed nail art. These brushes can include a fan brush to create textured designs, a striping brush to create lines and stripes, a detailed brush to create small patterns, and an angled brush for one-stroke designs.

You can also keep a clean-up brush, as it comes in handy to wipe off any excess nail polish around the nails.

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Striping tape

You might have seen geometric designs on nails; these are achieved using striping tapes. These are thin, sticky tapes that can be used to add metallic lines to the nail. They are available in several colors and textures. It can be used to create straight lines, metallic effects, French tips, and borders.

Other than using these tapes for designs, they can also be used as a stencil for clean and even nail polish applications.

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Nail art stickers

As a beginner, you might not know how to create the most detailed design; here is where nail art stickers come into play. These are pre-designed stickers that are easily available, quick, easy to use, and great for creating stylish nail art in no time.

To use these, all you have to do is peel the stickers and apply them on the nails. They are great for party looks and are also long-lasting.

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Manicure Tweezers

These are essential and useful for applying small and intricate decorations on the nail. They can also be used to apply nail stickers, pick rhinestones, peel striping tape, place foil or glitter, and remove any misplaced sticker without ruining the design.

Although regular tweezers do a pretty good job, angled tweezers are also good for better grip and control while working with tiny nail art elements.

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Top coat and base coat

Both of these are important to protect nail art. The base coat is a clear polish that is applied before the nail polish to make the nail stronger, for a smooth application, and to avoid chipping and peeling of nails.

While the top coat is applied after the nail polish. It seals and protects the nail color, adds shine, smooths the nail art, and helps the nail design last longer.

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Nail polish remover

After creating all the beautiful nail art, a tool or product that can remove or correct mistakes is something you need in your toolkit. A remover is, hence, a must-have in your beginner nail art kit. It's super helpful for taking off old polish, fixing any little mistakes like smudges or polish that has gone over the edges, and cleaning up dirt around your nails.

If you're working with stubborn gel or glitter nails, an acetone-based remover will do the trick. For a gentler touch, go for a non-acetone remover, which is kinder to your nails.

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With these tools in your kit, you're all set to start creating fun and trendy nail designs!