Nail painting has been a beauty trend since the time of the Pharaohs. It soon evolved into unique art that helped women take their nail game to a new level; however, the type of art consumers could showcase was limited.
But in today’s world, salons and nail art lovers can say goodbye to those limits. Nail art printers have entered the spotlight to revolutionize the nail art industry. They’re also a profitable way to enter the nail beauty market.
Sound attractive? Explore this article to discover why nail printers are the perfect nail art trend and what to know when choosing them in 2024.
Table of Contents
How big is the nail art printer market?
How do nail printers work?
Benefits of nail printers
Factors to consider when choosing nail printers for salons & personal use
Wrapping up
How big is the nail art printer market?
According to research, the nail art printer market will reach US $1.20 billion by FY 2031 at a predicted 6.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The market is growing fast due to the exploding popularity and demand for anime-inspired Japanese nail art.
Women’s wide adoption of the Western lifestyle is another significant driver for the nail art printer market. Women are now more independent than ever, pushing them towards investing in more grooming products.
Experts predict Asia-Pacific will emerge as the highest contributor to the global nail art market’s revenue. Nail art printers were invented in Asia, with China and Japan dominating the industry since their debut.
How do nail printers work?
Before the inception of nail printers, nail artists had to draw their clients’ desired designs manually. So, there was only a limited selection of what consumers could put on their nails.
Now, nail printers offer a digital way to print designs on nails, allowing them to handle even the ones too complicated or detailed to do by hand. They also use specialized cartridges with unique ink that work like nail polishes.
Although nail printers adopt different working mechanisms according to manufacturers, all types rely on sensor cameras for accurate nail size and shape measurements. Some of these machines also demand that consumers use white polish to distinguish the nails from the fingers.
Others require using a particular device on the finger to produce more accurate prints. Nail art printers also use special base gel to create a better bond between the nail and color while protecting it from damage.
Benefits of nail printers
Nail printers offer several benefits to salon and home users, making them sought-after products for anyone with a thing for nail art. Here are some of these benefits:
Time efficiency
Nail printers are popular for their incredible speed and efficiency. They’re 100% faster than nail art by hand, with the process taking a few seconds per nail. No matter how intricate the designs, these machines will do it quickly, saving consumers valuable time.
Limitless design options
With these machines, consumers can enjoy various pre-designed patterns and images. They can even express their creativity and personalization with custom designs.
Consistency and precision
Nail printers will beautifully craft consumers’ desired designs with impressive consistency and precision—no more human errors!
Increased productivity
Salons with nail printers can attend to more clients without long wait times. It increases productivity and reduces stress.
Cost savings
Nail printers may be expensive initially, but they’ll cost consumers less in the long run. At-home users won’t need regular appointments, while saloon owners won’t have to buy costly nail art supplies.
Factors to consider when choosing nail printers for salons & personal use
Functions and features
Not all nail art printers are the same. Some boast advanced capabilities, while others only do the bare minimum. One function businesses must prioritize is the ability to print intricate designs. Such printers don’t limit what consumers can achieve with their devices.
Then, sellers can check for the following functions and features before buying:
- Design library: This feature is a must-have for nail printers, especially if consumers want to scan and reproduce their custom designs. Design libraries host a collection of pre-loaded designs and allow users to import something more personalized.
- Customization options: Having a design library without customization is a big no for most consumers. The best nail printers allow consumers to modify and personalize the preloaded designs. These options may include color changing, adding text, or adjusting size and placement.
- Compatibility: Nail printers should be compatible with the target consumer’s software and apps. It’ll help create a seamless integration and efficient workflow.
- Nail art accessories: Some printers include additional accessories, like nail polish, stencils, and stickers, to enhance consumer nail art creations.
Printing technology
Nail printers also use different printing technologies to produce designs. Now, these manufacturers can use two major technologies for their nail art printers: inkjet and laser. Here’s a closer look at each of them.
Inkjet
These nail printers are similar to home printers. They use tiny nozzles to spray pigmented ink onto the prepared nail surface.
Pros
- Inkjet is the most widely available nail printing technology. Numerous brands and models exist at various price points.
- Generally, inkjet nail printers are the most cost-effective.
- This printing technology is versatile enough to create photos, text, patterns, and intricate designs.
- Inkjet printers can also produce fine details and photorealistic images.
- These printers are great for beginners; they’re easy to set up and use.
Cons
- Art printed from inkjet nail printers may smudge if consumers don’t dry them properly with a nail lamp.
- Inkjet prints may chip or fade faster than anticipated.
Laser
This printing technology melts powdered pigments onto the nail surface to create durable and raised designs.
Pros
- Laser nail printers can create highly chip-resistant and fade-proof art.
- Consumers don’t need UV curing for this printing technology. The laser melting process handles everything.
- These printers can do more than nail art. They can also print on other materials, like phone cases.
Cons
- Laser nail printers are more expensive than inkjet variants.
- They’re also less common than inkjet nail printers.
- These printers also have more complex setups, so consumers need technical knowledge to calibrate them.
Note: Thermal printing is another emerging technology for nail printers. However, it’s still in its early stages.
Ease of use
Printing technology is not the only factor determining ease of use. Nail printer user-friendliness also depends on other factors like navigation and loading of designs.
Sellers must prioritize models with intuitive user interfaces if the printer has a built-in screen. That way, consumers will find it easy to select and print designs. Sending designs also won’t be a hassle with a user-friendly interface.
In contrast, if the nail printer requires external control, look for models with user-friendly software. Connectivity also plays a big role here. Such nail printers must have wireless connectivity options, like Bluetooth, allowing consumers to print from their tablet or smartphone easily.
Regardless of the control type, nail printers must have an effective USB connection. This feature makes it easy to connect nail printers to computers for file transfer or operation—plus, it’s more reliable than wireless connectivity.
Wrapping up
Nail art has evolved from painting solid colors to crafting delicate images and prints. The best part is that nail printers are at the forefront of this development. According to Google data, interest in them has grown by 50%, from 8,100 in FY 2023 to 14,800 searches in January 2024.
These stats show that 2024 already looks like a promising year for nail printers, and businesses can jump on this trend by focusing on the factors discussed in this article. Consider the features/functions, printing technology, and ease of use before sourcing nail printers this year.
