Soft square manicure. Design, photo, fashion trends

IN harmonious manicure it is not only the color of the varnish, the design that matters, but also the shape. One of the most common and comfortable is a soft square.

Shape characteristic soft square

Nail shape is essential in manicure.

Experienced craftsmen select the form individually for each client, analyzing the initial data:

• the shape and length of the fingers;
• the width of the nail plate;
• length of the nail bed;
• the state of the natural nail plate;
• the anatomical shape of the cuticle;
• type of natural nail.

First of all, the master pays attention to the anatomical shape of the cuticle, the type of natural nail and the length of the nail bed. To perform a manicure by a beginner who does not have sufficient experience and knowledge or at home, it is advisable to use the table below.

Grouping of acceptable free edge shapes depending on the type of natural nail:

A soft square manicure, the design for which is selected individually, is considered the most versatile shape after the oval. The lateral parallels act as stiffeners, which significantly increases form strength and wear. Rounded corners are more practical than a sharp square and do not cling to clothing. Hard materials used in modeling are capable of correcting the shape of natural nails.

This technique allows you to correct the architecture of the nail, add the required length to the free edge, and strengthen the naturally weak plate.

Shade selection

The color palette for the soft square is borderless. The colors look most impressive on nails of medium length and more. Especially when it comes to materials such as cat's eye, mirror rubbing, or the multi-color gradient technique. Their characteristic effect is fully revealed on long nails. Limitations in color and length are associated with a person's professional activities or everyday life.

Camouflage shades of bases and gels are suitable for everyday wear:

• natural;
• pink;
• dairy.

Gel polishes are preferable to choose light pastel shades or colors muted with gray:

• beige;
• pale pink;
• lactic;
• Gray;
• pale yellow;
• mint;
• olive;
• lavender;
• peach;
• cypress.

For special events, the shade is selected based on many factors:

• subject of the event;
• dresscode;
• the color scheme of the outfit;
• availability of accessories and jewelry.

Naturally, for the bride, the best option would be light natural shades in harmony with the image. But guests can afford brighter, bolder colors and designs.

Difficulty performing manicure

Manicure in terms of processing the cuticle and removing horny skin for a soft square shape is performed according to a standard scheme, and the design depends on individual preferences.

The most common types of manicure are:

• European;
• classic (edged);
• hardware;
• combined (apparatus + cutting tool).

When using artificial materials for coating, nail service experts recommend giving preference to hardware and combined. These techniques are performed without soaking the skin and nail plate, which increases the wearability of the material.

Step-by-step instructions for sawdust in the form of a soft square:

1. Inspect all nails, choosing the shortest one. The comparison is made by measuring the length of the nail from the cuticle to the free edge. It is he who will determine the length of the future manicure.
2. Firmly holding the finger in the area of ​​the lateral ridges, it is necessary to position the file perpendicular to the frontal axis, visually drawn through 3 phalanges and the nail to the free edge. Saw the butt with long movements without strong pressure. You can check the angle of the sawdust by turning your hand away from you.
3. The finger is alternately turned over on the left and right sides to cut the lower parallels. The file is wound under the nail, positioning it diagonally to the point of growth and parallel to the central axis. Without touching the growth zones of the nail plate, they perform long soft movements.
4. The formed sharp corners are rounded with short reversing movements of the file, brought under the nail.
   
5. To remove the remaining particles of the natural nail, the butt is treated with a buff.

The main difficulty is maintaining the perpendicularity of the free edge in relation to the central axis of the finger. The natural nail does not always have the correct anatomical structure, which makes it much more difficult to give it a clear geometric shape.

The most common (anatomical or mechanical) growth defects of the natural nail plate:

• points of growth are at different levels;
• offset direction of growth relative to the central axis;
• pecking and curling nails;
• springboard-like growth direction;
• lack of side walls.

Coating natural nails with gel polish with base leveling allows you to achieve the following results:

• fix minor irregularities of the natural nail plate;
• increase the term of wearing gel polish;
• strengthen the nail;
• complete the apex and correct the architecture of flat nails;
• align the longitudinal arch.

It is possible to correct more significant defects only when modeling with rigid materials (gel, polygel):

• adding the length of the free edge;
• bending of the transverse arch;
• raising biting nails;
• restoration of missing side walls and corners.

New manicure

Any existing novelty is a modified version of existing techniques. The soft square is a classic manicure. All the innovations that have appeared in this direction over the past few years are associated with the improvement of the manicure procedure in general. The main value for a modern woman is such a resource as time.

Material manufacturers are constantly improving their products, improving their characteristics:

• chemical composition;
• health impact;
• consistency;
• wear;
• fast polymerization with minimal heat generation;
• practicality in application.

To facilitate the execution of designs without wasting time and quality, various decorative elements are created:

• rhinestones;
• sequins;
• foil;
• dried flowers;
• stickers and sliders.

Following fashion trends, manufacturers of familiar materials are constantly modifying the concept of their products, and experienced craftsmen experiment with new techniques for their application. At the moment, the technique called stamping is very popular. Allows you to make designs with drawings without having artistic skills.The wide theme of the images will not leave indifferent either the client or the master.

Cat's eye with 3D effect and gradient remain steadily popular. However, these techniques do not look as impressive on short nails as on long ones. After a period of holidays, bright and luscious manicure becomes less popular and is replaced by neutral pastel shades with designs in the style of minimalism or geometry.

3D effect

Soft square manicure (3D and 5D designs) is performed using cat eye gel polish. It is distinguished from the usual by the presence of shimmering metallized particles. Depending on the manufacturer's firm, it can have a thick or more liquid consistency. The severity of the effect depends on the density and hiding power of the material. In addition to the gel polish itself, you will need a magnet, thanks to which the sparkles fold into a glare of a certain shape.

There are several types of magnets:

• rectangular;
• round;
• sphere;
• magnet pen.

Despite the variety of forms and manufacturers of magnets, the scheme of their action is identical. Metallized particles in the varnish react to a magnetic field and, under its influence, form a glare. It should be borne in mind that for this material, the surface must be perfectly flat, otherwise the glare will reflect all the irregularities and flaws in the alignment.

Step-by-step diagram of the cat's eye design:

1. After leveling or modeling, the surface of the nail is degreased with a lint-free cloth soaked in liquid to remove the sticky layer.
2. Then two layers of dense black gel polish are applied with intermediate drying in a lamp. The black color makes it possible to reveal the characteristic effect of the cat's eye most clearly and expressively.
3. The surface is covered with a middle layer with a gel varnish with metal fractions and a glare is formed. Its direction depends on the location of the magnet in relation to the nail and the shape of the magnet itself.
   
4. The clarity of the glare depends on the power of the magnet and the speed of operation. With a liquid varnish consistency, the finished glare can spread and deform. That is why you should not hesitate with polymerization. The material is dried using a standard gel polish cycle.
5. The cat's eye can be used as a stand alone design or as a substrate. To fix the result, cover the surface with a glossy or matte top.

Geometric design

Geometric designs are the most requested designs this year. They gained their popularity due to two lightweight ways of performing it. Not so long ago, drawing geometry by hand required a master of fine brush skills and lengthy training for hand firmness. The development of such a direction as stamping allowed craftsmen to exclude manual drawing and speed up the design.

Special engraved plates, when used correctly and selected materials, allow you to transfer a clear image in two touches. An even easier way is to use stickers and sliders. They are ready-made images printed on a transparent base. All that is needed is to carefully transfer it from the base to the surface of the nail and secure with a top coat.

The geometry is unique in that it can be combined with most existing techniques and decorative elements.

Typically, images are:

• contours of geometric shapes;
• straight lines;
• geometric patterns;
• combinations of the listed elements.

Geometric patterns look most harmonious in combination with neutral shades or camouflage bases.

With wire

This thin metal decorative element allows you to make various curly compositions and fix them on the surface of the nail using artificial material.

The most common patterns using wire:

• lines;
• shapes of geometric shapes;
• abstraction;
• openwork curls;
• framing the nail at the cuticle or free edge.

Despite the fact that they are lighter, but no less effective, the techniques are gradually replacing the described design, it still has loyal female fans.

Foil

A soft square manicure, the design of which is made with an effect visually reminiscent of antiquity, looks charming. The glossy surface of the nail with particles of gold or silver resembles a fragment of an old vase or a cut of a rare mineral in texture. This can be achieved through the use of foil.

There are several main types of foil:

• cut loose;
• transferable;
• tear-off;
• gold leaf.

To age the surface and give a metallic sheen, tear-off foil and gold leaf are used. Transfer foil with the use of special glue allows you to transfer the finished image to the nail or the selected element. With the use of cut loose, the design of broken glass is performed in the aquarium technique.

Rhinestones and sequins

A soft square design that needs to be complemented with a shimmering effect is performed using rhinestones or sequins. Despite the fact that the materials are used for the same purpose, the resulting effect and fastening technique differ dramatically. Dry glitter is applied pointwise, stretching or completely overlapping the plate. For application, use a brush, typing on it a mixture of sparkles and a transparent base or top.

In rare cases, dry glitter is poured onto the nail smeared with a rubber base, and then dried in a lamp. Rhinestones are a more versatile and voluminous element.

The larger the rhinestones and the more complex the composition, the thicker the material will be required for fastening, the list of the most used ones is listed below:

• top;
• base;
• gel;
• polygel.

Compositions with the use of rhinestones and stones of various sizes, combined with broths and crystal chips, look the most harmonious.

French

This classic design is unique in its ability to blend harmoniously with any nail shape. Subject to correct technical execution. The most difficult is the laid-on jacket technique, however, drawing a smile line will also require training, hand firmness and the skill of using a thin brush. The most common combination is a combination of camouflage bases or modeling gels in natural shades with white, black or another shade of gel polish.

Neon shades and a jacket made using the aquarium technique are especially attractive. The moon jacket has become a new trend in the art of nail art. Its various variants and combinations can be performed in the classical technique or using glitter, decor, stickers, sliders.

Bright manicure

Bright shades of gel polishes allow manicure to become part of a woman's image. The color can be combined with clothes, shoes, accessories or jewelry, or dilute the restrained style with bright accents. In the fall, reds, yellows and oranges are especially popular for the season. In winter and before New Year's holidays, the demand for shimmering rhinestones and sparkles, thematic drawings increases.

However, the most saturated in terms of brightness is the vacation period. This period allows women to experiment with colors without restrictions or dress codes.

Matt

Sometimes the selected color after application looks too bright, upsetting the balance of the manicure. You can get out of the situation thanks to the top with a matte effect. Its chemical formula is such that after curing in a lamp and removing the sticky layer, the surface looks velvety. Matting softens the brightness of shades without losing color. The colors muted in this way are harmoniously combined with glossy surfaces.

Drawings and inscriptions

A separate direction in manicure designs is the use of a combination of fashionable patterns and inscriptions. At the moment, such designs are at the peak of their popularity, especially among clients under the age of 30-35.The design allows you to be creative and make the manicure unique, give it individuality, using phrases and drawings related to the personality of the client.

To complete the design, apply:

• manual drawing;
• stamping;
• stickers;
• sliders;
• transfer foil.

Making inscriptions by hand is a rather complex technique that requires artistic and brush skills. The rest of the methods are based on the use of ready-made inscriptions, their correct transfer to the nail and fixation.

Minimalism

Until recently, it was believed that minimalist designs are an office version of manicure, with a strict dress code. Gradually, this direction is gaining more and more popularity. This is not only due to fashion trends. The modern woman has a rather busy schedule and an eventful life, and the most valuable resource is time. A minimalist manicure allows her to look elegant and sophisticated, spending a minimum amount of time.

Minimalism involves the use of natural, pastel or muted shades. The designs are modest and laconic. Abundance of glitter, massive decor, complex patterns is excluded. According to all the canons of the beauty industry, the primacy among nail shapes remains with the almond shape. However, in real life, not every woman can afford a length sufficient for her sawdust. The soft square is a more versatile type of manicure for nails of various lengths and designs.

Video about manicure soft square

How to make a soft square shape correctly: