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Best airbrush 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated September 1, 2023
My name is Brayden Diaz. I have been a freelance writer for 20 years, focusing mainly on technology related topics. I spent 33 hours researching and testing 15 different types of airbrush and found that material, variety of sizes, and style were most important.
My main objective is to write article on these subject so that buyers like you can have the best assistance and education in making that next purchase. What I would like you to remember as you browse my website is that I don’t work in the industry so the reviews I have are based on good old fashioned honesty.
Best airbrush of 2018
Based on customer reviews and my own experience with the cowboy method I’ve found the best 3 airbrush on the market. Simply review and buy them.
Many brands have introduced airbrush on the market. These brands have resulted in a variety for the user. These require that the consumers be well aware of what they are buying so as to make the best choice. Before you spend your money on airbrush, start by familiarizing yourself with the various types.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
 |
 |
| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Ease of use |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Materials |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Performance |
4 points
|
4 points
|
5 points
|
| Price |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the airbrush by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Cafego 100-250V Dual Action Airbrush Portable Airbrush Gun with Mini Compressor Kit for Art Painting Tattoo Manicure Craft Cake Spray Model Air Brush Nail Tool with Airbrush Cleaning Set
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this airbrush win the first place?
I also liked the delivery service that was fast and quick to react. It was delivered on the third day. I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing!
5
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
№2 – Paasche VL-3W Double Action Airbrush in Wood Case
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this airbrush come in second place?
The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. The design quality is top notch and the color is nice. I like this product. For such a low price, I didn’t even hope it to be any better. It’s decently made. Managers explained me all the details about the product range, price, and delivery.
4
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
№3 – Pinkiou Double Action Airbrush Kit Air Brush Spray Gun with 0.3mm/0.2mm/0.5mm Needles and Air Hose for…
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this airbrush take third place?
This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. I hope that the good reputation of the manufacturer will guarantee a long-term work.
4
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
airbrush Buyer’s Guide
Internal Mix vs. External Mix
The way the paint hits the air stream is important simply because it changes the way the spray looks when it hits the surface.
Unless you have a good reason to choose external mix you should choose internal mix simply because you get more consistent, more even spray.
The paint gets introduced into the center of the air stream.
Choosing the Manufacturer
Iwata positions themselves at the top of the airbrush food chain. The Eclipse CS (gravity feed) and the Eclipse BCS (siphon feed) are the two most popular airbrushes they produce. I know their customer service and technical support rocks.
Paasche
In the grand scheme of airbrushes and sprayguns, choosing the right airbrush compressor is the least important step and, possibly, the most expensive step.
People who make the best choices answer these three questions first.
Suffocation
Rough handling that knocks or shears off the head allows all the pent up gas to escape turning the docile air tank into a torpedo.
Avoid this problem by not handling the air tank roughly. If you can strap the tank against something else upright to avoid the tank falling over.
Silent compressors are very expensive!
On/off switch is very useful when it comes to quiet work environment. They mostly come together with the compressor.
Also, check our glossary of terms in order to get acquainted with the basic parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing the right compressor.
You will have to purchase an air compressor in order to use this as the set doesn’t come with it. Be sure to find one that is compatible with the Paasche to ensure optimum ease of use and quality of paint. Overall the Paasche offers excellent performance at a low price, and it can be used for almost any type of hobby and would make a great gift on most occasions. In addition, if you are a newcomer to this type of artistry, the instruction booklet comes with practice exercises to get you warmed up.
TEMPTU SP-40 Makeup Airbrush
Uses the AIR Pod technology, instead of a cup, so it does not easily spill and does not need as much cleaning.
The compressor runs quietly between and 1PSI. You can also adjust the airflow settings, from low to high, allowing you to do body art or tanning.
How at home airbrush makeup kits work
This type of makeup technique requires an airbrush gun that is loaded with makeup to spray onto your face. You only need to use a tiny amount of makeup, but what’s great about this technique is that it can last for hours. The loaded airbrush gun should be held a few inches away from your face before the spraying starts.
You will be surprised at how light the airbrush makeup feels on the face. It allows your skin to breathe, helping you prevent acne or skin damage. The gun sprays makeup finely onto your face to create that smooth and natural glow. Depending on the makeup’s quality, it should last up to 1hours with little to no retouch necessary.
Iwata Silver Jet
The Iwata Silver Jet promises a high quality and reliable airbrush makeup system. Belonging in the more expensive price range, this unit uses an oil-free, piston motor that does not require any servicing. The kit includes a coiled hose, an airbrush holder, a hose connector, Pistol-Grip Filter, pressure adjustable knob, handle, and pressure gauge. The compressor is easy to use and assemble, and runs between and 30 PSI. The airbrush dock in the center keeps your airbrush gun secured when not in use or in between applications.
Glow Fusion
The Glow Fusion Air Glow airbrush makeup kit is one of the most affordable on the list, selling at a nice mid-price point. The kit is quite delicate, and requires utmost care and proper cleaning as it gets clogged easily. The manufacturer, however, assures that the unit is dermatologist-recommended and is non-comedogenic. If you are searching for an affordable airbrush makeup system that produces decent results, then this could be your best bet.
Glam Air The Posh
Glam Air has a wide range of airbrush makeup kits available for you to choose from, with prices ranging from low to moderate price. All Glam Air kits contain the same airbrush makeup system, but the more expensive models have more makeup options. The Posh is the brand’s starter kit, and can be compared to the likes of Dinair and Tempty.
Other upgrade kits contain extras, such as the bronzing kits, blush colors, and an extra travel bag. Glam Air uses the same compressor for all systems, but users will definitely love the extensive makeup range and kit options that are friendly for nearly all skin types. Best of all, this makeup contains minerals, Vitamin E, and moisturizers that can keep your skin healthy.
Why Airbrush
There are various reasons to choose airbrush makeup over the conventional technique. The spray gun used to apply this makeup produces a thin and even coating on your skin. This is why airbrush makeup feels lighter and breathable. The good thing about this makeup is it does not transfer to your hands or other materials, unlike traditional makeup. It is also capable of lasting for up to 1hours with minimal to zero touch ups.
How it Works
Airbrushing uses a spray gun to spread an extremely thin layer of makeup onto the skin. There is a makeup specifically created for airbrushing. However, it is possible to use your traditional makeup on this tool. All you need is to dilute it and load it on the gun. Applying airbrush makeup will take regular practice, but it is not as difficult as you think.
Simply apply a small amount into the gun, and hold it a few inches away from the skin before spraying. This will make it easier for you to apply the makeup evenly, as desired. All airbrushing kits should have a manual with complete instructions.
What’s in the Kit
This is the tool that works to compress the air. Compressors normally come with pressure settings or continuous settings that let you adjust the air pressure as desired. Keep in mind that the ones with more pressure settings are more costly. Beginners can opt to purchase an airbrush compressor with a continuous setting.
Choosing an Airbrush Foundation
Check your inner wrist. The foundation should blend evenly with your skin to achieve a barely-there look. Ideally, you need one that is one or two shades lighter than your natural skin tone, or has the same skin tone as your inner wrist.
Know your skin tones. It is crucial to be aware of your skin’s natural color variations. Most people will fall into one of these three groups: the warmer skin tones will have yellow or golden tones; the cooler ones will have more blues and pinks; while those with neutral skin tones will have a combination of the two.
Water-based products will work great on individuals with naturally oily and/or sensitive skin.
Other Important Airbrush Makeups
The bronzer and blush can give your cheeks their naturally healthy glow without that chalky effect. You can even mix your bronzer or blush with your foundation to create a color that seamlessly blends with the rest of your makeup. Most products will have a natural shimmer that can add glow to your overall look.
People who want the perfect jawline and cheekbones will want a good highlighter. You can either use your bronzer or foundation as the highlighter, or purchase a makeup with this function. Make sure to purchase a highlighter in the same color family as your airbrush foundation, but only a few shades darker to be applied on your jaw, cheekbones, or along the nose for contouring.
Add-Ons
Airbrushing kits do not normally come with makeup. It will be a wiser move to purchase a kit with makeup options as it will cost less in the long run. Add-ons will usually include a foundation, correctors, concealer, eyeliner, blush, bronzer, eyeshadow, and luminizer.
Single action airbrush
Single action airbrushes are usually used to paint large area, rather fine details. For instance they would suit very well if you need to for with stencils or masking.
Would suit least experienced users or beginners that would require less adjustment options. Even children can use those airbrushes as they are much easier to control that the double action airbrushes.
Single action airbrush are usually cheaper than the double action airbrush. So if you are not planning to work on fine details and you have a pretty tight budget, this could be the way to go for you.
Double action airbrush
Double action airbrushes are probably the most widely used airbrushes out there. They are more precise airbrush, ideal for art painting for instance. They allow much more control and are much more precise than the single action airbrushes. The airflow is controlled by pressing the airbrush trigger and the paint flow is controlled by pulling the same trigger back. The more you pull the trigger back, the bigger the paint flow is, making the spray pattern wider.
Yes it is great to be able to control both airflow and paint flow, but it makes double action airbrushes more difficult to use than single action airbrushes.You will need a certain amount of practice before you can master it. Double action airbrushes are usually more expensive than single action airbrushes. But I would say it is well worth the money as you have a tool that will allow you to produce fantastic details work.
Siphon Feed airbrush
You can recognize those type of airbrushed with their bottle or container located generally at the bottom or on the side of the airbrush. As the air is going through the airbrush, the paint is pulled up by a vacuum into the airbrush towards the nozzle to be atomized.
The bottle on those airbrushes is larger than gravity feed airbrushes so they be useful if you have to pain larger surface without having to refill the bottle. They are also fitted with larger nozzle than those fitted on gravity feed airbrushes. Also colour swapping is making easier with siphon feed airbrushes as it is very easy to just interchange bottle of different colour paint. You could potentially have few bottles of different colours ready to be used and also a bottle of cleaner you can use in between colour changes. All of those above characteristic make the siphon feed airbrushes more suited for users that want to paint large area.
Artists that paint on T-Shirt or work on airbrushed Tattoos often use those kind of siphon feed airbrushes.
On the other hand
So it is hard to answer the above question, the choice of the nozzle\needle assembly will really depends on what you are going to do with it.To make it easier, some airbrush like the Badger SOTAR 20/20 comes with a set of different nozzle\needle.
For me, 0.4mm is a good compromise to get started. Starting with a 0.15mm / 0.2mm needle is complicated: the nozzle and needle are very fine and can get clogged easily, and you may spend much more time cleaning the airbrush than painting.
In the table below, you will be able to see some advantages and inconvenient for the different types of airbrushes I described previously. You can also see which type of airbrushes is suitable for what application.
Nozzle
You can find double action airbrushes with different size on nozzle\needle out there: 0.mm, 0.mm, 0.mm, o.mm, 0.mm …..I already cover that in the previous paragraph.
If you need to work on large area, you will want to choose an airbrush with a large nozzle (0.mm or more). If you need to paint fine details, thin line, then obviously you will require a finer nozzle.
You can have a type of airbrush for a particular type of job. However, you can find some airbrush out there that have an interchangeable nozzle system. That will allow to do several type of jobs with the same airbrush (like the Iwata-Medea Eclipse HP CS). This will give you a lot of flexibility. You could spray background with a set of nozzle and then swap the nozzle\needle\cap for a thinner one do work on the details.
Choosing an Airbrush Compressor to Meet Your Needs
There are many purposes for compressors as they can be used for personal, commercial or industrial purposes. A hobbyist would use their device for personal purposes. However the type of art work varies from one another. The intended purpose of the compressor needs to be considered, whether its for make-up application or for model painting. The following list presents some of the characteristics of the different types of airbrush compressors.
Silent Compressors: A lot of people believe the silent models are the best. They typically require little to no maintenance and beginners favor them as the silence allows one to concentrate on the task at hand. As most of the silent models are smaller than their counterparts, they are more portable, which is also preferred by many.
Oil-less Compressors: These models produce some noise however they are durable and handy over extended use. For an oil compressor, it is necessary to change the oil over time (generally every to months). The oil-less models do not require such frequent changes and they usually better regulate temperature and prevent overheating. Overall, these compressors are more expensive.
Diaphragm Compressors: These air compressors are the least expensive and preferred by hobbyists. The one downside is the pressure generated by the motor. The model would advertise a specific PSI, say 45, but once you pull the trigger, the pressure decreases significantly. For a small job, this may not be a problem but for a job that a requires a constant pressure over an extended period of time, a bigger compressor would be preferred.
Choosing an airbrush
Most beginner airbrushes come with a single-action airbrush. If you want to become a little more crafty and complete more advanced projects, a double-action airbrush may be required (these can easily be purchased separately). Let us explain the difference between each type of brush.
Single-action: As the name states, a single-action airbrush has just one action, either on or off. In essence, you have no control over the amount of paint comes out of the nozzle in proportion to the air pressure. It happens automatically.
A double-action airbrush takes practice to perfect but the control over the paint and pressure allows one to complete a wider range of projects. A beginner hobbyist is recommended to practice using a single-action airbrush before moving on to a double-action. Using a double-action while inexperienced can lead to a lot of wrecked projects.
Other factors
Capacity: A model with high capacity is always preferred over one with less capacity. You never know what kind of project you will undertake and how much capacity is needed. Therefore, when choosing a model, choose one with more capacity than you expect to use.
Multi-purpose Use
At the present day, the most popular air brush product is the best with complete control. It is a less expensive option to learn the proper techniques of honest hair brushing with pure satisfaction. The easy-to-understand guide is necessary for competition with the constant race of beauty presentation.
Accurate Hair-Root Therapy Brush
John Frieda Salon is its appropriate instance. It concentrates to accurate hair-root therapy. Subsequently, it can generate positive ions for hair to contribute shine with manageability. Above all, it is not much expensive. Salon shape hair brushes can transform hair with the easy-to-use feature. Well-balanced products for natural movement make easy hair style procedure. Furthermore, real ceramic heater with iconic conditioning feature is premium to all.
Alternative Blow Hot Dry
New designed with advanced ionic technology is better for glossy and more convenient hair. For instance, anyone can get salon quality styled hair through a natural alternative to dreaded blow dry. By the way, body while smoothing hair with gorgeous and shining curls and straightening provide the simultaneous feature with the styling tool. Protection with proper services is desired to all. Additionally, the products are light weighted and easy to handle.
Answer
Fix the position of the rating plate, usually a small, flat plate or label on the bottom or back of the product. 120V or 120V 60Hz indicates 120 to 240 volts. 50Hz indicates a dual-voltage item. Above all, an assortment of voltages (e.g. 120V to 240V) also indicates dual voltage.
Prepare Pieces for Paint
If you haven’t already, carefully dissasmeble your kit and sort the pieces by the colour you intend to paint. Unless you’ve put your kit through hell there isn’t a need to wash it like older plastic models.
Take your skewers/toothpicks and alligator clips/putty and attach them to your pieces in a way that won’t prevent any part from getting painted. The alligator clips work best when there’s something on the inside of the piece. Sometimes there isn’t a good surface or it’s too small making poster putty your best bet. Place the pieces in the foam or cardboard piece you’ve prepped making sure that they don’t bump or rub into each other. You’ll be removing a piece at a time, giving it a coat, and returning it. If you have excess material it can be helpful to move pieces between holders as you add coats to keep track of what you’ve painted and what needs a bit more lovin’.
Priming
Priming is an important step for many projects, but not all. I decided to pull information about priming out and give it its own section on the Guide. Take a look and determine whether it’s suited for your project. If so, now’s the time to prime. Look at that, a rhyme!… I apologize for that. Before painting make sure that you’ve achieved a nice, even coat with the primer and that it’s fully cured before painting.
Thinning
Thinning is very important to getting a smooth coat. Different paint types, companies, and thinner producers all have their own recommendations about the right mixture to use. A rule of thumb that a lot like to use is “thin to the consistency of milk.” Unfortunately not all milks are created equal.
I recommend starting with a paint-to-thinner mixture of 75-25% and adjust from there. Sputtering from your airbrush, running paints, or other issues are often related to a poor mixture. In such an instance you just need to adjust by adding more thinner or more paint to effect the mixture. Try to do a little at a time or you’ll find yourself with the right mixture, but way too much paint. Remember that if you use too much thinner your paint will not adhere properly and will be more likely to create drips and pooling.
In some instances you’ll find that different brands of paint/types of paint/even different colours will require their own special treatment. At one point I had two colors of the same kind of paint from the same company. Even though I mixed the same way per the instructions one sprayed great while the other was pretty weak.
Touch Ups
It’s likely that during construction you may have scratched some paint off. You could disassemble, repaint, and dry again, but it’s much easier to just fix it while it’s all together. To avoid getting paint on other parts just grab a fine tipped brush and dab it on in small amounts. Try to use the same paint you previously thinned for air brushing to achieve the best outcome. Alternatively you can carefully use a note card as a backdrop & separator to cover up other parts while air brushing. Note cards can also be used for crazy spray effects… if you’re the creative type.
To achieve a natural and ultra-chic look, you need to make sure that the foundation you buy matches your skin tone.
The rule changes, though, when you are buying makeup foundations for use on theatrical presentations. In this case, you can go for bolder shades since theater makeup is expected to be heavier than your casual and everyday look. You should also opt for makeup foundations that leave a matte or thick texture for easy application.
Make Me A Diva Airbrush
Between these two options, dual-action airbrush guns are certainly much better because of their impressive features. These come with two settings for your trigger, which may either by for makeup or air only.
If you have ever owned an air compressor before you know that they can sometimes be a lot of work. There is a lot more maintenance involved than most people think. However, thanks to the single piston motor installed inside this compressor it is virtually maintenance free.
Air Compressor Options
An airbrush compressor should be an oilless, diaphragm type, with a water trap and an air pressure regulator.
To spray FasKolor paints from a bottle you should be at about 50psi air pressure. If you use the side cup you can get away with 25psi, but more is better.
The Essential Accessories
The F-airbrush actually comes with a hose, a bottle adaptor and extra bottle to mix colors or spray cleaner.
I kind of like the basic vinyl hose it comes with, as I have cats and it is hard to see when they make holes chewing on the cloth ones. If you don’t have cats, then by all means get the better hose, but this one is fine for now.
The bottle adapters are convenient to get spraying quickly, but they require more air pressure. They are really convenient. When you get several, then you can have all your colors lined up and ready to paint.
The side cup, however, will let you work at a lower pressure, for better detail and so your air compressor choice won’t be so critical. I use the side cup, 99% of the time. Other brands of cups work fine in the F-1, but this one has a curve in it so it is at a better angle and I don’t get paint all over my jeans when I get too excited making streaks.
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the airbrush by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your airbrush wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of airbrush
- №1 — Cafego 100-250V Dual Action Airbrush Portable Airbrush Gun with Mini Compressor Kit for Art Painting Tattoo Manicure Craft Cake Spray Model Air Brush Nail Tool with Airbrush Cleaning Set
- №2 — Paasche VL-3W Double Action Airbrush in Wood Case
- №3 — Pinkiou Double Action Airbrush Kit Air Brush Spray Gun with 0.3mm/0.2mm/0.5mm Needles and Air Hose for…
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about airbrush is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!
