Popsugar Beauty Nails 21 Essential Nail-Art Tools to Add to Your Collection 21 Nail-Art Essentials That Every At-Home Manicurist Should Own 21 April 2020 by Jessica Harrington Image Source: Getty / Kevork Djansezian As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. Nail art has made a huge comeback in recent years, and even more so, at-home nail-art designs. With the right nail-art essentials and tools, you can get one step closer to becoming a nail pro in the comfort of your own home. Not only is doing your own manicure a huge money saver, but it can also be fun — and dare we say therapeutic. From nail-art stickers to fun decals, press-on foils, loose glitter, and mini gel kits, there's no shortage of nail products out there for you to shop and build up your at-home manicure collection. With the right nail-art tools at your disposal and a little practice, you'll be on your way to achieving a professional-looking manicure until you can next get to the salon. Keeping up with the latest nail trends is easy when you have everything you need to copy the look in your own nail-art kit. Ahead, we rounded up the best nail-art essentials that every budding nail artist should own for when creativity strikes — or you scroll past a really good DIY nail design on Instagram. — Additional reporting by Tori Crowther Nail-Art Brush Tool Kit Image Source: boots.com Let's start with the basics: brushes. A set of fine nail-art brushes like the Nailene Nail Art Tool Kit (£10) will allow you to paint intricate designs. Nailene Nail Art Tool Kit £10 from boots.com Buy Now Basic Manicure Tools Image Source: lilyengland.com Every at-home manicure kit needs the standard tools in it. The Lily England Manicure Kit (£17) is a five-piece set in a beautiful gold shade, which comes housed in a chic black case. Lily England Manicure Kit £17 from lilyengland.com Buy Now Cuticle Remover Image Source: nailpolishdirect.co.uk Avoid the temptation of cutting too much cuticle off with the CND Vinylux Cuticle Eraser, Gentle Exfoliator (£10). Simply apply to the cuticle area, leave it to work, and use a metal pusher to gently push back and remove excess cuticle skin. CND Vinylux Cuticle Eraser, Gentle Exfoliator £10 from nailpolishdirect.co.uk Buy Now Cuticle Oil Image Source: justmylook.com If you want to start using cuticle oil more often (which helps prolong the life of manicures, including acrylics and gels) but hate the faff, join the club. To help keep our cuticles looking fresh, we simply apply OPI Pro Spa Nail Cuticle Oil To Go (£8) whilst at our computer, taking a tea break, or sat watching the TV. Easy peasy! OPI Pro Spa Nail Cuticle Oil To Go £8 from justmylook.com Buy Now Nail-Art Polish Guard Image Source: nailpolishdirect.co.uk Every nail-art beginner can benefit from the Red Carpet Manicure Over Polish Guard — Cuticle Barrier (£13) because it makes cleanup so easy. Red Carpet Manicure Over Polish Guard — Cuticle Barrier £13 from nailpolishdirect.co.uk Buy Now Topcoat Image Source: nailpolishdirect.co.uk Lock in your nail-art design with a long-wear topcoat, like the Seche Vite Nail Treatment Topcoat (£9). Seche Vite Nail Treatment Topcoat £9 from nailpolishdirect.co.uk Buy Now Base Coat Image Source: amazon.co.uk Prep your nails before starting your nail-art masterpiece with a base coat. The Essie Here to Stay Base Coat (£9) helps extend the wear of your polish and prevents chipping. Essie Here to Stay Base Coat £9 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Nail-Art Corrector Pen Image Source: nailsinc.com Mistakes happen, but the Nails.Inc. SOS Corrector Pen (£13) makes it easier to remove polish from your cuticles without messing up the entire nail. Nails.Inc. SOS Corrector Pen £13 from nailsinc.com Buy Now Clear Nail-Art Stickers Image Source: ciatelondon.com Nail-art stickers on a clear back allow you to peel, stick, and place designs onto any nail-polish shade. The Ciaté London Cheat Sheets (£16) include abstract illustrations. Ciaté London Cheat Sheets £16 from ciatelondon.com Buy Now Nail-Art Tape, Dotting Tools, and More Image Source: amazon.co.uk You'll be set with this Teenitor Nail Painting Nail-Art Tool Kit (£12), which features brushes, nail-dotting tools, foil, manicure tape, and rhinestones. Teenitor Nail Painting Nail-Art Tool Kit £12 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Nail-Art 3D Rhinestones Image Source: amazon.co.uk Create a luxe-looking manicure with 3D rhinestones. The Nibiru DU Multi-Shapes Glass Crystal Rhinestones (£7) kit includes six wheels of flat-back rhinestones and a picker pencil. Nibiru DU Multi-Shapes Glass Crystal Rhinestones £7 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Metallic Nail-Art Foil Image Source: hobbycraft.co.uk Foil manicures are a huge trend right now, and the look is surprisingly easy to do at home. The Cosmic Shimmer Golden Jewel Gilding Flakes (£5.50) are already cut into tiny flakes and kept in a small pot for easy storage. Cosmic Shimmer Golden Jewel Gilding Flakes £5.50 from hobbycraft.co.uk Buy Now False Nails Image Source: amazon.co.uk The Kiss Full Cover False Nails in Oval (£6) contains 100 nails for you to create your perfect length and shape with no salon visit necessary. Kiss Full Cover False Nails in Oval £6 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Iridescent Nail-Art Foil Image Source: amazon.co.uk To really embrace the foil nail-art trend, stock up on more shades with the Nail Foil Transfer Sticker Roll Set (£6), which comes with 10 rolls. Nail Foil Transfer Sticker Roll Set £6 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Loose Nail-Art Glitter Image Source: amazon.co.uk Whether you use it for acrylic nails, gel nails, or to dress up regular polish, loose glitter like the Biodegradable Nail Glitter (£9) comes in handy. Biodegradable Nail Glitter £9 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Nail-Art Pearls Image Source: amazon.co.uk Half pearls allow you to dress up your manicure by glueing the 3D shapes anywhere you want. Try the Multiple Size Pearl Gemstones (£2) to get the look. Multiple Size Pearl Gemstones £2 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Nail-Art Sequins Image Source: amazon.co.uk The more nail decorations you have in your kit, the better. The Volodia Holographic Nail Sequins (£7) feature 12 different holographic sequin shapes for you to play with. Volodia Holographic Nail Sequins £7 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Mini Nail-Art Stickers Image Source: asos.com These Le Mini Macaron 'La Touche Finale' Mini Nail Stickers (£5) can be worn on bare nails or over polish. Le Mini Macaron 'La Touche Finale' Mini Nail Stickers £5 from asos.com Buy Now Nail-Art Rhinestones, Gems, Studs, and Foils Image Source: amazon.co.uk You'll never run out of nail-art essentials with the Teenitor Professional Nail Art Kit (£12) from Amazon. Teenitor Professional Nail Art Kit £12 from amazon.co.uk Buy Now Nail Strengthener Image Source: johnlewis.com Whether it's too many improper gel removals, acrylic extensions for years, or just weaker nails, sometimes our nails just need a teeny bit more TLC. Enter: OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener (£20). It's a little on the expensive side, but it's worth it — trust us. The formula is rich with calcium, and hydrolysed protein helps avoid splitting and peeling, in addition to helping speed up the natural nail-growing process. OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener £20 from johnlewis.com Buy Now Gel Removal Kit Image Source: nailsinc.com One of the worst things you can do to your nails is not removing gels properly. Although it's always better to go to the salon and have them removed by a professional, sometimes you just have to make do at home. Thankfully, there are some nifty kits such as the Nailsinc Gel-Less Remover Kit (£15) to help make things so much easier and better for our nails. Nailsinc Gel-Less Remover Kit £15 from nailsinc.com Buy Now NailsStaying HomeShoppableManicureNail Art