hi kimberlie i'm not an expert i mess up i've purchased brushes and only a few were worth buying my fine tip brushes flay out bristles separate hence i mess up partly because i'm not accustomed to the technique and terrible brushes both most likely i have trouble seeing the touch down so maybe the flaying is caused by me
some have mentioned they bought brushes from a nail salon store a fine arts store an arts store online michaels i've purchased from michaels and i bought from sally's beauty supply i got two at sally's one flayed the other is sitting in my brush cup lol i was pissed anyway i went back to michaels and bought another script brush #0 one of my problems in finding a brush is i don't know what type brush to purchase sable goat hair etc i can honesty say that the brushes i've purchased were not inexpensive (not bragging) and honestly say i'm at wits end for the money put into buying and not knowing so yes i've wasted money
alright i know lucy/honeycat cookies kat rutledge dolce sentire post info on brushes they use to do certain things their posts are here i'm sure there are others that should be cited but i cannot remember their names
i think under forums you can find links for troubleshooting
hopefully others will contribute to your inquiry