Airbrush Makeup Systems: A Practical Guide to Cleaning and Maintenance

There are two main types of cleansing required for those who use airbrush makeup. The first is cleaning between the application of different makeups; the second is cleaning after completing your makeup routine. For those new to airbrushing, this might seem a bit daunting, but it’s actually no worse than keeping your regular makeup tools clean. Remember, airbrush makeup guns will not function properly without regular and proper cleaning. This article will help you significantly reduce your cleanup time and also contains information on the correct cleaning products and tools to use when cleaning your airbrush makeup gun.

Most airbrush makeup kits come with a name-brand liquid cleanser. It will most likely be alcohol or chemical based. However, for daily cleaning and rinsing, soap and water or even plain water is usually sufficient. The most important thing is not to use ordinary tap water, as it contains trace elements and metals that accumulate in the airbrush gun over time and will eventually damage or clog it. Use distilled or filtered water only. Some airbrush makeup kits also come with a cleaning kit that contains the proper tools (usually brushes of various sizes) as well as instructions for cleaning the airbrush. It is very important to be aware of these instructions because they can be extremely helpful, but it is also good to know how to clean your airbrush without fancy equipment or name brand cleaners. Actually, all you need is a Q-tip and a cotton swab (or lint-free cloth). For those with an eco-conscious, there are plenty of chemical-free cleaners that will be up to the job of cleaning your airbrush gun. Look for a cleaner that is non-toxic, food-grade, hypoallergenic, and pH balanced.

There are two main types of airbrush makeup: silicone-based makeup and water-based makeup. As you can imagine, the former is more difficult to clean. The main parts of the airbrush gun to focus on are the needle/nozzle area and the cup area. The cup is the region where you drip the makeup and the nozzle is where the makeup is sprayed from the gun.

With a Q-tip (or a cleaning brush) clean the remains of makeup that will remain inside the cup. Always be careful not to damage the needle that is just below the area you are cleaning. This step will not remove all makeup, so rinse with distilled water or a “bubbling back” cleanser. Back fizzing is the technique used for blending makeup where the trigger is pressed halfway causing some air to bubble into the glass and the makeup to blend. If you do this with just water, the bubbling effect will have a physical cleaning action and effectively rinse the airbrush gun. To rear bubble, block the nozzle of the airbrush gun with your finger or a nozzle cap (provided with some airbrush makeup kits) and pull the trigger back, which will cause air to escape through the bubble. cup (as opposed to mouthpiece). Once you are satisfied that the makeup has been released from the cup area, unblock the nozzle and spray the liquid through the nozzle onto a tissue. You may have to repeat this two or three times before the makeup is completely rinsed out and only clean water/cleanser comes out of the airbrush gun.

Don’t forget that distilled water is better than tap water because it doesn’t contain minerals like calcium, which will cause residue buildup over time.

Now you must clean the needle. Do this by removing it according to the manufacturer’s instructions and wipe off any excess makeup. I highly recommend using a lint-free cloth for this, as cotton or cotton swabs can tear or leave bits of material inside the airbrush.

A cleaning technique that most airbrush makeup artists use is to soak the airbrush overnight or while not using it. Some manufacturers sell special cups, or ‘coupling jars’, designed for this purpose and will fit your airbrush perfectly. However, there is no need to spend more if you have a spare container on hand. The airbrush gun must be soaked in distilled water and upside down. Simply place it in the container and leave it until you want to airbrush again. You will see that the excess makeup will have been diluted in the water and, since the airbrush is submerged in liquid, the makeup will never harden inside the components.

From time to time it does not hurt to do a maintenance cleaning of the nozzle. Do this by removing the air cap and then gently clean with a cotton swab soaked in water or cleaner. Again, it may be best to use a lint-free cloth that won’t leave fibers on the needle. Lots of people use bandanas, but it’s really not worth the risk.

Don’t forget to be very careful with the needle, as it can be easily damaged and the airbrush won’t work without it.

So, you see, it’s not very difficult to keep an airbrush makeup gun clean and fully operational. The back-bubbling technique should be part of every airbrush makeup artist’s routine, just like regular soaking in a coupling jar. You do not need to disassemble and reassemble the airbrush each time you use it, but keep in mind that the cleaner the airbrush gun is, the better it will perform and the longer it will last.