Shimmer & Gems: Nail Art

You’ve made it through another year, which means you deserve some flashy & bright nail art– and this one doesn’t disappoint. This design calls for minimal hand drawn steps, which means even if you have zero nail skills you can still have an A+ look. To ensure you have the perfect manicure while toasting champagne, we’ve asked Neroli Salon & Spa Nail Designer, Lisa to give us the low-down on glue on nail art.

Nail Prep:
• Orangewood Stick
• Yellow Block Buffer
• Nail File
• Cuticle Oil (Aveda’s Beautifying Composition)
• Cuticle Softener (Aveda’s Cuticle Control)
• Cotton Rounds
• Nail Polish Remover (Zoya’s “Remove +” is my fav!)

Polish Application:
• Base & Top Coat (Zoya’s “Anchor” & “Armor”)
• Nail Polish Colors
* For this design, I used the following colors:
OPI’s Alpine Snow & Worth a Pretty Penne

Art Supplies:
– Acrylic paint or nail polish colors
– Gems in a few different sizes
– Nail glue

Prep time: 10 min
Polish time: 15 min
Art design: 20-30 min
Drying time: 30-45 min

Step 1: File nails with your nail file. When finished, apply cuticle softener (I use Aveda’s Cuticle Control) to your cuticles. Let sit on for 5 minutes, then rinse off. Push back cuticles with an orangewood stick.

Step 2: Apply cuticle oil (like Aveda’s Beautifying Composition) to cuticles and massage into nail beds to add hydration. Buff nails with your yellow block buffer as this will allow for a smooth surface.

Step 3: Prep nails for polish with nail polish remover. This step is really important because any oil or lotion that is on your nail won’t allow the polish to adhere and dry properly. Next, apply a thin base coat.

Step 4: Apply 2 color coats to nails, giving about 10 seconds to dry in between each layer. Applying thin coats is important so it can drop properly and evenly. Let nails dry for 10 minutes before starting art.

Step 5: Nail Art Time!

Step 6: Once your art has set for about 5 minutes, apply a thin top coat. Make sure to cap the edges of your nails to seal everything in, too! This step helps your polish application to last a lot longer. If you did use the Zoya system, Finish with Zoya’s drying drops to help speed up drying time. Give nail polish about 30 minutes to fully dry, though Zoya sets in about 10 minutes.

Rose Gold Triangle: Using your fine point paint brush, starting on either outer edge of your cuticle, paint a slanted line going towards the middle of your nail. Repeat on the opposite side, and connect the point of the triangle. Fill in. Two to three layers may be needed to get full coverage.

Geometric Gems: Before placing these on your nails, you’ll want to figure out what sizes to use to create the right shape. I let my nails dry and placed them on my own nail to see, but you can also lay them down on a piece of paper or a flat surface. I used bigger gems at the top and center, and smaller ones as I went down.

TIP: Once you’re ready to apply them. paint a little nail glue where the gems will be (you can also use top coat if you don’t have nail glue). I use my plain old finger to pick them up, and just press firmly down onto the gem to pick it up (you can also wet your finger with a little water to make it stick better). Tweezers are also an option as well. Place the gems into place, and wait one minute for them to fully dry.

Step 7: Once your art has set for about 5 minutes, apply a thin top coat. Make sure to cap the edges of your nails to seal everything in, too! This step helps your polish application to last a lot longer. Use some fast dry drops or spray to help the polish dry quicker.