1. Check hose connections and make sure there are no kinks or leaks in the hose itself. If the airflow is blocked or not connected properly, the airbrush won't spray.
Check the screw-on hose ends at each attachment site: While holding one of the hose ends upright, pull the textured silver fitting to the very end of the hose so that the black ring on the end of the hose sits at the bottom of the fitting. Then, make sure the threads are aligned properly while screwing the fitting onto the compressor/airbrush stylus. See the "Watch 1st" video on our "How to Aeroblend" page here.
2. Check the air pressure on your compressor. Start at the lowest setting on our 1.0 touch start compressors. The first level on the compressor should be more than sufficient but if you feel that you need more you can tap to the next level. It is recommended that you check the hose connections as described in the first step prior to this. Be sure to test the pressure with water to avoid wasting the product.
3. Sometimes parts in the airbrush stylus can get loose and just needs a simple adjustment.
Just follow the troubleshooting directions in the photo below:
4. Airbrush stylus is dirty.
This happens when makeup buildup and dries inside the airbrush stylus clogging it and not allowing air or makeup to flow through.
Keeping the airbrush stylus clean allows it to work smoothly, no need for any harsh cleaners or taking the airbrush completely apart.
For everyday cleaning, all that is needed is running warm water through the airbrush and incorporating some "back bubbling" with warm water. Back bubbling is when you use a finger to cover the tip of the airbrush stylus while slowly pulling back the lever until you see some bubbling. Then running more warm water through the airbrush until the water comes out clear.
Sometimes a deeper cleaning may be necessary and we have a how-to video for that.
5. If it is still not spraying and you've already tried the troubleshooting above, it may mean that the makeup is really clogged in the airbrush stylus. Try soaking the airbrush stylus in a cup of water. Take the needle cap and nozzle cap off (the tip of the airbrush), take the needle out, and place all parts in a cup of water. Let it soak for a few hours (2-3 hours). The water should help soften and break down the makeup. Then you can proceed with the deep cleaning video again.
6. Does the lever feel springy? Or does it feel loose or floppy? If the lever feels loose or floppy, check out the troubleshooting detailed in this article.
7. You're not shaking the makeup well enough to mix all of the pigment. Please make sure that you are shaking it really well. Especially upon first use. Like, shake it more than usual even if you feel like you've shaken it really well. It is natural for the pigment to settle and may take extra shaking the more it sits over time (ie. when stored to be used at a later time or stored in the warehouse after production). Once you can get it going though, it will be much easier to mix with regular use, and less shaking is required.
Having trouble with shaking or trouble with makeup squeezing out of the bottle? Check out this article.
#AeroTip: Test your airbrush flow with water so that you don't waste your makeup. :)
#AeroTip: We recommend only using Aeroblend airbrush products in our airbrush systems as we cannot guarantee other products or other airbrush brands will not clog your Aeroblend airbrush.