Not if you do this:If you're a woman who uses a sponge to apply and/or blend your foundation, you know to wet the sponge then squeeze out the water before using it, right?This is done because it prevents the sponge from sucking up the foundation from your face.We can borrow from this technique to prevent these nail sponge brushes from sucking up the polish you're either applying to the nail with it, or when you're using it to create an ombré/gradient effect.Simply put some no-wipe clear topcoat on your palette, and dip one end of one of these nail sponge brushes into it, then gently "pounce" the sponge a few times on a clean area of the palette to work the top coat into the sponge.Now it's ready to go.You can apply polish directly to the nail with a nail sponge brush.Or, when using a nail sponge brush to create an ombré/gradient effect with two or more colors, paint the polish on the nails with a brush, leaving a small band (⅛" wide) of unpolished nail in between each color.Then use the sponge to pounce over each of those bands, which will sheer out and blend the color above and below it.When pouncing, remember to use a quick up and down motion. Don't move the sponge when it's touching the nail; that will just smear the polish.I think these nail sponge brushes are great! I'm especially pleased that this seller includes replacement heads with the nail sponge brushes, because it is difficult to completely remove all the polish from them after they've been used.91% isopropyl alcohol is typically what I use to clean sponges I've used with gel polish, but that can be fairly damaging to sponges. (I gave up on using any of those egg-shaped beauty sponges to apply my foundation, because the sponges broke apart the second or third time I cleaned them with 91% isopropyl alcohol).I haven't used these nail sponge brushes much, so I don't know yet how much cleaning them with 91% isopropyl alcohol will affect the number of uses I can expect from each sponge.HTH!I have been doing nails both for myself and semi-professionally for many years. I have used all sorts of sponges for ombres from very porous to almost silicone in texture (as well as ombre brushes which take a long time to create a good ombre). Nothing has compared with these little sponges. It's hard to believe that a sponge could make all the difference, but I've found that it does. I've been using these for about 6 months now and won't go back to other sponges/brushes. I think these simply absorb just the right amount of gel, they are a fine pored sponge and the round shape helps. I usually use gel paints not gel polish for ombre and that definitely helps to make things go more quickly. Any brand will do- from cheap Amazon brands to the high end brands- they are all pretty much the same with a thick viscosity and highly pigmented. To ombre with these, you only need the slightest amount of gel paint, press the sponge (rounded one) into it and then tap tap tap on a palate or surface that you can clean- I use a glass plate. Use the dry tapered sponge on the other side to even out and help blur the ombre line. Cure for usually 30 seconds (in UV/LED lamp). Repeat the same procedure for each coat. I've found I don't need to re-dip into the gel more than every 3 fingers- these sponges really hold the gel. For the photos, to give you an idea, the left nail of each color (black/red and babyboomer) is traditional sponging (4 coats with gel paint and topcoat), the right one is with these- only 2 coats and even then, the 2nd coat is just at the tip. SO FAST!! I'm really impressed with these, so much so that I just ordered 2 more sets. These have really upped my ombre game and have made the clients service quite a bit faster.These work great for ombré blending.Good for blending. I'm no pro but can do a decent ombre with these. Washable too and plenty of replacement headsMust clean sponge heads after useWith isopropyl alcohol to prevent polish from drying on sponge making it unusable. A definite must for doing nail art.it dosent give the smoothest transition for an ombré nail but it still worksMaravillosoGood product!!Wasn’t able to do any nail art with this ..Love these! Used for all sorts of painting techniques.