Buy several sets of pastels. Purchase high-quality pastels in each different type: hard, soft and pencil. By having the whole range of pastel types, you can create a wide range of effects.
Purchase pastel paper. Pastel paper has a variety of surfaces. Rough surfaces catch large chunks of color, creating a colorful surface that sometimes shows the underlying color of the paper. Smooth paper creates a smooth, unbroken surface. Pastel paper varies in color, as sometimes the color beneath shows through, so choose a variety of colors depending on the color palette you hope to use. Purchase a wide variety of pastel papers to experiment with how you want your final product to look. Remember that the smoother the texture of paper, the less you will be able to blend many different colors on top of each other, as the paper will already be filled with color.
Buy a soft eraser, torchillons, blending brushes and some sort of fixative. A soft eraser can remove excess pigment. Both torchillons and blending brushes are used for blending colors, but each creates a different effect. A fixative refers to a fluid (usually sprayed on) that sets your pastel and helps keep the pigment from rubbing off or smudging.
Plan your picture before you start. Block out the basic dimensions and forms and give yourself a pattern to work from.
Take a class in pastel basics. This is the best way to assure that you understand how to use your pastels in a variety of ways. Find pastel classes in your area by checking with local colleges, adult education centers or art galleries.
Make your art area safe. Hard pastels create a great deal of dust, so to avoid breathing that dust, make sure you draw in a well-ventilated area. Consider using an air filter in your art area. Since pastel pigment is often very strong, try to draw with gloves.
Store your pastels properly. Always wipe off your pastels with a paper towel when you are done with them and store them in rice to keep the colors from rubbing off on each other. Keep your pastels out of extreme heat.