How to Apply Nail Designs
There are hundreds of design methods out there and knowing a few
basic techniques and tips will help ensure a professional look.
For the sake of brevity, we will stick to the more common types of
nail designs of nail polish designs, airbrushing, and using appliqués.
Here are a few tips for nail polish design
• Always make sure that the nail is prepared for treatment. Make sure
nails are clean and buffed.
• Have the proper tools on hand and ready for use. Q-tips, acetone
for quick removal of mistakes, toothpicks for applying dots or swirls, a
pair of tweezers if using appliqués, and fine tipped brushes are going
to be needed.
• Apply a minimum of one coat of base. Two coats are better because
it strengthens the nail, but remember to allow each coat to dry
thoroughly before applying another coat.
• Use a fine tipped brush to draw the outline of your design and
allow the polish to dry. This will keep smudging and smearing down to a
minimum.
• Once your design is outlined and is dry, fill in your design with
the colors you have chosen. If you are going for a swirled look, make
sure you work quickly with your colors, using a toothpick to drag
through the polish quickly before it begins to set.
• If applying stickers or appliqués make sure the nail is dry.
Carefully set the appliqué with a pair of tweezers, press firmly and
allow it to dry.
• After your design is complete, protect your look with at least one
coat of clear coat. Again, two coats are ideal but remember to allow
each coat to dry before applying another one!
Airbrushing is a fun and common way to apply designs and artwork to
your nails.
• Many of the above tips apply to airbrushing as well, so review them
again if you need to before moving on here.
• Practice! Get out some scrap paper and use this as your canvas for
awhile. It is easier to make mistakes on paper than on your nails and
paper will allow you to experiment with the different techniques of
dots, lines, dagger strokes, pinwheels loops and shading. Practice these
techniques, relax and you will become more comfortable with your skills.
• An often overlooked, but very important skill you need is a working
knowledge of the color wheel. Begin with the primary colors of red, blue
and yellow and work up to more complex colors and how they compliment
each other.
• Learn how to make crisp edges with stencils. Stenciling sounds easy
in theory but will take practice to get a clean and finished look. Keep
that Q-tip and acetone handy to remove excess polish and just keep
practicing.
Glued on decals and appliqués
A
very quick word here about decals and appliqués. Apply them carefully
with a pair of tweezers and allow them to dry completely before applying
a layer or two of clear coat to protect them from damage. Nothing more
need be said here, they are that simple.
Nail designs are fun, fanciful and a beautiful way to accessorize
your look and style. All it takes is a bit of basic knowledge, a few
simple tools, patience and a lot of practice and you will benefit from
the results! |
