Aside from receiving nail mail, one of the exciting parts of being a nail tech or a nail art lover is swatching your newly purchased nail products, whether they're dip and dap powders or gel and lacquer. It's like road testing a car or watching a magic show where you see the beauty and wonder of a color unraveling!

Color Charts and Swatches are not only meant for you to see the variety of pigments and textures, but they're also crucial for several practical reasons. 

As beauty enthusiasts, we've always known that swatching is a part of the industry since it allows us to see if the shade suits us or won't give us allergies. We're here to enlighten you on the importance of Color Charts and Swatches and why it's a must-have for every nail tech.

 

 

What are Color Charts and Swatches?

 

Color Charts are color references that nail techs and customers can check for the different collections of their nail products, like the dip powders, gels, and lacquers. It usually comes in a chart or compiled version of the products, while swatches are nail products or cosmetics applied to your skin, a piece of paper, or empty nail tips to see their shades or texture and actual color payoff.

 

 

Top 5 reasons why Color Charts and Swatches for nail techs are essential:

 

 

1. Easy to organize your nail desk

 

Color Charts and Swatches are not just pretty to look at; they're also a great way to keep your nail desk organized with a nail swatch display rack. 

On a booked-and-busy day, polishes, powders, and tools, such as drill bits and e-files, can be all over the place; having Color Charts and Swatches makes it easy to check inventory and go over countless nail product shades, especially when you're in a rush. You can check out our blog on how to effectively organize your products!

 

 

2. Can immediately differentiate nail product shades

 

Watching iGel Beauties do Swatches live or product tutorials can be stress-relieving and visually pleasing. It's like watching beauty content creators do their makeup or nail techs do a step-by-step tutorial on acrylic nails. 

Swatches and Color Charts help nail techs determine what shade they will need before and during a nail session. Since Color Charts have categories and labels, you can quickly identify what color you need to contrast with your nail set. Think about the 2025 Pantone color; what complements a mocha mousse shade? Read our 2025 Pantone color of the year blog for nail inspirations! 

 

 

3. Nail clients can pick a shade hassle-free 

 

Think about the first time you entered a nail salon; a nail tech probably handed you a color chart or magazine of swatches to pick a color for your first manicure.

There are plenty of colors to choose from, and everything looks beautiful! Imagine the excitement of getting nails done, your nail client picking and loving a color, and suggesting colors that complement their undertone or seasonal color.

Color Charts and Swatches are like the menus of restaurants; customers can order what they want with various choices, or they can ask for your suggestion for the best-selling dish.

 

 

4. It helps fuel your nail art creativity 

 

Just by looking at swatches or color charts, you can experience a eureka moment that can inspire you to create your next nail art design. You'll be surprised how a couple of vibrant shades and various nail art designs from the swatches of Crackle Gels and dip powders can get you out of a creative rut. 

Sometimes, you have to trust your guts and just let your creativity shine when working with colors and nail sets. You can binge-watch countless swatch videos and live demos on our iGel Beauty social accounts. The best part of being in a community is the empowering feeling you get and the thousands of inspirations available within the community.

 

 

5. Color charts and swatches are an investment 

 

To avoid ordering two shades of the same nail product, having Color Charts and Swatches can help you do a successful inventory of what nail products you have run out of.  Swatches can also help you select shades you don't own yet, and they're a helpful tool for determining which nail products should be part of your nail collection.

Another benefit of using Color Charts or checking out Swatches is that you can identify any nail products that seem defective or not pigmented enough. In the case of dip powder nails, you'll be able to tell which products cause marbling and how it can be avoided.

The process of swatching helps iGel Beauties use nail products effectively, preventing them from committing acrylic mishaps or gel polish mistakes. Swatches and Color Charts for nail techs help you determine which products to buy and invest in, so it's a must-have.

 

 

 

Color Charts and Swatches should be a part of your nail tech must-haves since they can help your nail career in the long run. We can't blame you if you find watching swatches online addicting and aesthetically pleasing, 'cause we do too!

You can find a lot of live demos and swatches on our iGel Beauty Facebook community. Not only that, you can also get updated on iGel Beauty's new product launches and sales. Join us now, and you won't regret it!