Provided is an assembly for a nail pen comprising: a) a nib made from a material that is configured to allow for movement of varnish from inside of the nail pen to the nib, and from the nib to a nail; b) a guide made from a material that is non-absorbent to the varnish, the guide extending below a surface of the nib that is configured to apply varnish to the nail; wherein a user applies a strip of the varnish to a distal portion of the nail by holding the guide against an edge of the nail and moving the nail pen along the distal portion of the nail so that the surface of the nib holding the varnish contacts the distal portion of the nail to apply varnish to the nail.