Nail Art.

Pigment, ink and magnet

Nail art media divide by how they are worked on the nail, not by the look on the swatch. Chrome and mirror pigments are burnished onto a cured surface with an applicator, so follow the surface the manufacturer specifies. Gel inks and liners are painted on with a fine brush and cured, which is how line work and lettering are done. If you are buying a cat-eye or magnetic gel, treat the magnet as part of the purchase, since its shape is what pulls the particles into a stripe or a swirl.

The brush matters as much as the medium

Detail work depends on the brush. A liner is shaped for long thin lines, a short flat brush is shaped for filling and blending, and loose pigment needs something to carry it, whether an applicator or a silicone tip. Look through art brushes alongside whatever medium you are buying, because the brush shape is part of the decision rather than an afterthought.

Effects and embellishment

Past painted work sit the dimensional finishes. If a design calls for a mirror surface, start at rub-on chrome powder. If it calls for scattered sparkle, start at glitter and confetti. If it needs something raised off the nail, start at rhinestones. If you are stocking loose pigment, glitter or stones, storage is part of the purchase; nail art organizers are worth looking at in the same pass.