I don't know about you, but gel polish has totally spoilt me as a nail tech over the past few years. How easy is it to create blinged up, full on glittertastic nails for clients? Such a simple application of pressing glitter in to the cured, tacky inhibition layer, the application of two gel polish top coats et voila!
There is nothing quite like a client asking for rockstar nails with nail polish to make your heart drop to my knees; the mess, the wasted glitter and knowing that more than likely they were not going to last as well as a gel polish rockstar. Try as I might to convince my clients to upgrade to a rockstar gel polish manicure or pedicure, their hearts were set on having nail polish. And it's understandable, maybe they only wanted it for the weekend or the colour went perfectly with their outfit for an upcoming wedding but not for their Monday morning board room meeting or just the general consensus that nail polish on toes is like an impenetrable shield that would survive an apocalypse.
So it was with great delight that I found out about the super easy 'cheat' that creates the ease of a gel polish application without using gel polish, no ruined brushes or swear words uttered in my head or worrying about timing it to the second as to when to apply my glitter- is it too wet? Is it tacky enough? Oh my god the glitters not adhering! My nerves were shot to bits by the end of what should have been a relatively easy appointment.
With that in mind I wanted to share with you today this ridiculously simple application method, and I guarantee that you will kick yourself and ask "why didn't I think of that?" I know that's what I thought!
So here are your super simple easy steps. If like me you prefer a visual, then scroll down to the video below and watch how easy this method really is.
The Method:
Step One: Sanitise your clients hands or feet and prep their nails. Use a 240 grit file to create the desired shape and length. Gently push back the eponychium and remove cuticle from the nail plate. Remove any dust, oils or contaminates with a lint free wipe and your chosen prep solution.
Step Two: Apply your base coat to all ten nails and go in with your subsequent colour coats, but do not topcoat. Allow your polish to touch dry before going on to the next step.
TOP TIP: A quick drying polish like CND Vinylux or Caption Nail Polish by Young Nails is great for this method as it speeds the process up perfectly. By the time you've applied colour to all ten nails you know the polish on the first nail is good to go for the next step.
Step Three: Apply a thin layer of nail art foil adhesive, but do not cap the free edge. Wait for your adhesive layer to dry/become tacky as you would when applying nail art foil.
TOP TIP: The Edge Nail FX foil adhesive makes this step even easier as it applies blue and dries clear. Once the adhesive is clear you know your tacky layer is ready.
Step Four: Use a soft nail art brush or gel brush and press/pat your glitter in to the tacky adhesive layer covering the entire nail.
TOP TIP: Start applying your glitter from the free edge down towards the eponychium. This ensures that you never compromise the tackiness of the adhesive and if your brush happens to touch an area of the nail, it is only touching the glitter you have already applied. There's nothing worse than de-tacking your tacky layer!
Step Five: Use a soft fan brush to gently sweep away any excess glitter on the nail and along the sidewalls and eponychium. This also ensures that your glitter lays completely flat.
Step Six: Apply two nail polish top coats to ensure a super smooth, seamless, high shine finish.
And that's it! How super simple and easy is that?
Feel free to share your comments below, post any questions you may have and send us any photos of your super sparkly nail creations using this method.
Take care folks!
Laura x
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