Which Airbrush Is Right For You?

Which Airbrush Is Right For You?

If you’re new to airbrushing, it can be quite confusing to know which airbrush is the best choice for you. This article will hopefully sort out any questions you have and help you translate some airbrush jargon!

Single-Action Airbrushes

Single-action airbrushes are very simple to use, especially for beginners. They work very similarly to a spray-gun, in the way you pull back the trigger and the product will spray out. With Mistair’s Onyx Airbrush, the air flow is constant so the trigger is only controlling the amount of product that sprays out.
This type of airbrush is ideal for those looking to easily apply even coverage with make-up.

Dual-Action Airbrushes (Aka Double Action)

This type of airbrush is very responsive and great for all aspects of cosmetic airbrushing. Mistair’s MA35 and SL1000 airbrushes are both dual-action, offering great versatility and a lot of airbrush techniques and effects can only be achieved using a dual-action airbrush.
This type of airbrush is typically more compatible with thicker products, such as body paint.

Airbrush Jargon

Gravity-Feed

All of Mistair’s airbrushes are gravity-fed straight out of the box. This type of airbrush works by letting gravity pull the make-up down through the airbrush. This is typically the most common type of airbrush for cosmetic purposes because it works well with low pressure and it much more economical as it doesn’t need much make-up to be able to work.

Syphon-Feed

Syphon-fed airbrushes work by pulling the paint up through an attached bottle. This type of airbrush can be a little less responsive so isn’t great for detail work but is ideal for covering large areas with one colour. Mistair’s SL1000 Airbrush offers an optional attachment to convert it into a ‘syphon-gravity’ hybrid. Depending on the angle you are working with the airbrush with this attachment, depends on which method of feed it uses. This is perfect for body painters who need to be able to spray at all angles.

Needle/Nozzle Setup

The parts of an airbrush which dictates what size spray it will product is the needle and nozzle. Lots of airbrushes have a fixed needle/nozzle setup, meaning they can only spray one size and you can only customise this by playing with spray distance.
Mistair’s SL1000 airbrush has an interchangeable needle/nozzle setup, with three different size options, essentially giving you three airbrushes in one. This is perfect for body art or character make-up.

Overspray

This is something to bear in mind for all airbrush artists. This refers to make-up/body paint that doesn’t land on your chosen canvas but floats around in the air. This can be dangerous to breathe in so ensure you are always working in a well ventilated area.

Pressure Adjuster/Regulator

This refers to a part in-built or connected to the air compressor where you can adjust the air pressure that comes out of the airbrush. It works in the same way as a bleed valve, the further you turn it down, the more air escapes from the regulator, giving you a lower pressure.