DIY dotting tool realness.

The videos I watch the most in YouTube are nail art tutorials. I love watching a variety of them, from easy ones to complicated designs I won't bother to replicate. They're fun, they're relaxing, and the majority of these videos are easy to do, beginner or not.

One of the most used tools in these tutorials is a dotting tool. It's this dual ended stick that has 2 metal rounds on either side. This comes in various sizes which pretty much caters to anyone's preference. Dotting tools can be used for making dots and squiggly shapes, as well as simple flowers. They're heavily used in dotticures and for details in nail arts.

This is my dotting tool, the Daniel Stone #5. I got this in a Smoochiezz pop-up store in Singapore a long time ago. I think this is a good one to start with because you can achieve small and medium dots, sizes not too overwhelming for those who are just beginning with nail art as well as for those with short to medium nails. I got this for less than S$5.

Now I know some can't be bothered to spend a few bucks for a tool they won't really use that much so I created a list of products you can use as a dotting tool without breaking the bank. Most of these items are already in your household so you really won't have to buy anything. 

Sewing pins

-Go get your sewing kit because you probably have these in there. You basically just pin one on a pencil's eraser end and you're pretty much good to go. The size of your dots will depend on your pins. Glass pins, quilting pins, and ball-point pins are preferred but I think you can also experiment with a silk pin. This is one of the oldest and most used dotting tool hack in the nail art community and the most effective too!

End of a brush handle

-In the photo above, I used my GNF(C) Omni Golden Nylon Flat #2 brush to achieve these dots. They're smaller than the sewing pin dots but again, it'll depend on a brush's end. You can always use the end of a makeup brush, nail art brush, or watercolor brush. Just play around and see which brush gives the best result.

A pen

-If you have a pen that has run out of ink, don't throw it out yet as you can use it as a dotting tool! All you have to do is dip the metal point onto a polish and tada! Instant dots. I think this was one of the easiest tool to I've used in this post and if my dotting tool gets lost or destroyed, I'm definitely using a pen to do all the dot work.

Wooden cuticle pusher

- The pointed end, of course. As you can see, the end of this wooden pusher creates smaller dots.SO if you prefer smaller ones, go for this. BONUS: substitute for this? A toothpick!

Paperclip

- Last but not least is the common office supply: the paperclip. I know, random, right? But the end of a paperclip creates small dots easily, as easy as the ones created with a pen. Just straighten out one end and you're set. If this end isn't working anymore, you can easily straighten out the other end! Two uses in one. Isn't that great?

Side by side by side: L-R: sewing pin, brush handle end, pen, wooden cuticle pusher, paperclip, dotting tool. The largest dots were produced by the sewing pin, followed by the bigger end of the dotting tool. The smallest dots were made with the pointy end of the wooden cuticle pusher.

And that's it! I know there are still a lot of items you can use as a makeshift dotting tool but these are the ones that were lying around the house. Anything with a pointed end can be used, essentially, as a dotting tool. Just be careful not to stab yourself!