Glitter manicure (glitter) has been at the peak of popularity for more than one season. This design, made with gel polish, not only looks festive, but is also worn for up to three weeks.
Fashion trends of glitter manicure in 2019-2020
Modern nail art suggests using glitter not only in manicure design for special occasions, many variations allow you to use it in everyday life.
For office manicure a design with sparkles in the style of "minimalism" is suitable: glitter is added only as an element of the nail design, or an emphasis is placed on one nail. For such nail art, small monochromatic sequins are used, creating a slight shimmer without excessive brightness.
It is easy to diversify a festive manicure with glitter, playing with the colors and texture of sparkles. Scales, sequins, fine sand, rubbing and kamifubuki create amazing and original images.
Types of glitter gel polish
Over the past few years, manufacturers of gel polishes have significantly diversified their line of glitter products in polishes and base coats.
| Types of glitter gel polish | Main characteristics |
| Transparent gel polish | Transparent gel polish with sparkles of different sizes and colors is suitable for decorating, both colored background and flesh. Without any problems, such a gel polish creates the desired effect. The most popular is a transparent gel polish with fine glitters, which creates a slight shimmer without unnecessary accents. To avoid stains and lumps, the varnish is carefully distributed over the entire nail plate, if necessary, a second layer is applied. |
| Color gel polish | Color glitter gel polish is easy to apply to nails and does not require additional background coating. The quality of the coating directly depends on the density of the texture: the denser the pigmentation, the brighter and more uniform the manicure will look. |
| Metallic grit gel polish | Metallized crumb in the gel polish allows you to create the effect of a "cat's eye". This requires a special magnet, which is usually sold in a professional cosmetics store. Varnishes have a wide range of shades. |
| Mica gel polish | In gel polish, there are translucent heterogeneous blotches of mica that reflect light well, which are usually combined with small sparkles of a contrasting color. When choosing, you should pay attention to the pieces of mica - it should not be too dense, but very thin mica will crumble and will not give the desired effect. |
Types of glitter for gluing
In addition to gel polishes, manufacturers offer a wide range of glitters that are applied to the nail surface with a brush or fingertip.
The sequins can be divided by size:
- kamifubuki - multicolored small pieces of foil of different shapes: circles, flowers, rhombuses, squares and triangles;
- glitter - the most popular type of glitter, which includes multi-colored or monochromatic pieces of foil up to 3 mm;
- will give - very fine sparkles that can be easily rubbed into the surface of the nail (they give a metallic sheen);
- shimmer - glossy acrylic powder used to give a matte shine.
Techniques for shimmering gel polish manicure
All features of the use of sequins in nail design are based on their composition.
- Glitter gel polishes. To create a manicure with such a coating, it is necessary to carefully work out the nail plate and apply a base coat. After the base has completely dried, a layer of gel polish with glitter is applied. For a higher density of glitter, you need 2-3 layers of varnish. Experienced nail masters recommend rolling the bottle between your palms before using the glitter gel polish, this will allow the glitter to be evenly distributed over the transparent gel.
- Dry glitter it is convenient to cover both the entire surface of the nail and part of the pattern. For even distribution, it is best to use a small brush, apply to the base coat with a tacky layer. For a quality design with dry glitter, you need:
- prepare the nail plate and apply the base;
- you can glue the skin around the nail with tape, then the glitter will not stick to the skin;
- apply dry glitter to the nail with a brush or dense sponge, controlling the density of application;
- fix with a finishing top, remove excess with a soft brush.
- Acrylic powder or shimmer allow you to create a mirror effect on your nails. Such a coating is created by rubbing the powder into the surface of the nail plate, which has already been painted over with the main color. The combination of background black with a silver shimmer looks original - a complete feeling of a mirror-like nail is created.
- Glitter gel polish manicure created and using kamifubuki - larger shiny particles. They can be used both for covering the entire surface and for individual elements of nail design. The color gradation effect created using kamifubuki looks interesting.
Manicure options with glitter gel polish for different lengths and shapes of nails
Glitter manicure looks good on both short and long nails. The glitter is evenly applied to the nails and is well distributed over the surface.
The shape of the nail plate does not affect the overall impression of the manicure, but the length still dictates some restrictions:
- For short nails it is not recommended to do French manicure using glitter - the additional shine visually shortens the nail even more. But the short length allows you to experiment with the color and density of the coating.
- Long nails do not apply glitter or kamifubuki in a dense layer - it will look pretentious and reduce the cost of the image. On long nails, a complex design with rhinestones and beads, a shiny jacket and an ombre effect looks especially good.
Classical
A classic style glitter manicure is a design made with glitter gel polish. In this option, it is best to combine pastel shades. Sequins are used in classic gold or silver colors.
The glitter polish can be applied in a thin layer to all nails for a subtle shimmery shine.
With this option, it is better to use a single color coating. You can use a transparent gel polish with multi-colored glitter, highlighting 1-2 nails. This will add sophistication to the classic manicure, while not drawing undue attention to the design of the nails.
Gradient
The color gradation on the nails, made with sparkles, looks relevant in any situation. You can “stretch” a color to obtain the desired effect in any direction: diagonally, horizontally, vertically, from the center in a circle, from the center in a square, diamond or any other shape. The main condition for a high-quality gradient is smooth color transition.
The effect of color gradation from the center to the edges looks especially good on long nails.To do this, it is worth making a shiny geometric figure in the center, gradually lightening it to the edges of the nail plate.
Gradient manicure on medium-length nails can be done with kamifubuki sparkles, making the edge of the nail near the hole bright. On short nails, a vertical gradient made by dast looks especially good. The smooth transition of the gloss visually lengthens the nail, giving it additional volume.
Aquarium
An aquarium design requires careful preparation of hands and nails, as its originality will undoubtedly attract the attention of others. Dust or shimmer quite often become the background for subsequent decor, be it dry flowers, small stones, feathers or drawings. But no less beautiful look aquarium nails, completely covered with sparkles of different textures.
In aqua design, foil or mica is often used, small pieces are laid out with tweezers and filled with transparent gel. This creates the effect of broken glass. The ombre-style aquarium manicure looks original - the bright sparkles of the top of the nail gradually dissolve into a monochromatic substrate. This option in turquoise color creates a feeling of the depths of the sea, in blue - the starry sky.
Seasonal
It is quite simple to choose sparkles for the season, and the chosen design will allow you to beat the color at your own will. Manicure with glitter gel polish for summer will be done in bright neon colors. Accordingly, the sparkles will be selected taking into account the bright colors of the main manicure.
Autumn manicure designs can be decorated with sparkles in yellow, orange and brown shades. Nails with autumn leaves highlighted with orange glitter will look organic.
Winter nail art involves the use of blue, blue, white and silver sequins. Snowflakes painted with white acrylic paint and sprinkled with acrylic powder look gentle and winter-like.
Spring manicure is traditionally dominated by green, blue and pink shades. Sakura flowers look delicate, along the contour and in the center, duplicated with golden glitter.
Ombre
Ombre can be classified as a type of gradient color. This type of nail design is most often used in two variations - from the hole to the edge of the nail and vice versa - from the edge of the nail to the hole.
Ombre is created according to the same principle as the gradient. The only feature of this design is the play on contrast: a dark background color and small silver sparkles. This effect can be achieved by applying fine sparkles to the edge of the nail, followed by stretching the color towards the hole.
French
A shiny jacket can be attributed to the classic version of the nail design. As mentioned above, it is more suitable for long and medium length nails. There are an unlimited number of options for color design of a jacket, it all depends on the mood and personal wishes. For a tighter smile, it's best to use the smallest glitter options.
A sequined jacket can be done on several fingers, or it can decorate the entire hand. For the design in the style of "minimalism" no additional elements are added to the French manicure. For a brighter festive design, you can add a pattern, rhinestones, beads and stickers to the jacket.
Matte glitter manicure
The matte finish gives a special depth to the dark shades of gel polishes.
In combination with sequins or rhinestones, you can achieve the effect of velvet with precious stones.
The most common combination of two textures: full coverage of one or two nails with sparkles of different textures, contrasting in color with the main varnish, covered with a matte top.
A more complex, but also more attractive solution is a pattern of small stones and rhinestones on a matte nail background.
Usually, one nail is designed this way so as not to overload the image with unnecessary details.
Colored gel polishes with a shimmer under a matte top look unusual: the illusion of fabric on the nails is created (especially dark red, dark green, dark blue and purple colors).
Shimmering transparent manicure
For girls who doubt the practicality of sequins, a shimmery transparent manicure can be recommended. This design suits any style of clothing and does not look overly provocative.
It is done quite simply: it is enough to apply a thin layer of sparkles to the base coat of the nail. It can be glitter gel polish, dry glitter, and acrylic powder. Modern manufacturers offer a glitter base coat to make it even easier to create shimmery nails.
Glitter decor
Glitter has the most optimal size of shiny particles, which is why it is so widely used in nail design.
There are a lot of options for nail design with glitter:
- rich and bright ombre effect is obtained on the tips of the nail;
- iridescent overflows are created by combining different shades of sparkles;
- shiny patterns look spectacular, or parts of the drawing applied with a brush;
- a bright accent will be a nail completely covered with glitter.
Sparkling moon design
The lunar design is based on the principle of highlighting the nail socket:
- the hole remains transparent, and the nail is covered with colored varnish;
- the hole is painted in one color, and the nail itself in another;
- the hole line and the smile line of the French manicure are drawn;
- between the hole and the coating of the entire nail, an empty space remains, or a duplicate contrast line is drawn.
The moon design uses fine, dry glitters to create a dense finish and allow for easy line correction when needed.
New Year's decor
On the eve of the New Year holidays, the choice of nail design is approached most scrupulously, because there is a belief that as you meet a year, you will spend it. And it is the sequins that help add uniqueness to the whole image.
In the New Year's decor, most often there are themes of winter nature, snow, a Christmas tree and Christmas tree decorations, therefore, depending on the chosen direction, different types of sparkles are used.
- You can add shimmer to snowy landscapes with acrylic powder, shimmer and dast.
- To create icy nails, you can use pieces of mica or foil topped with a glossy top.
- Confetti, Christmas tree decorations and fireworks can be imagined as large kamifubuki.
- Sequins will add volume to any pattern with a New Year theme.
Shiny French manicure
French manicure is a timeless classic, constantly renewed.
- for special occasions, you can dilute this classic with shiny splashes in the finishing background;
- Another option for updating French manicure is to replace the traditional white smile with sparkles of bright color;
- a smile in a mirror style looks ultra-fashionable: a smile is drawn with a black gel polish and a metallic shimmer is rubbed in.
Silver nails with shiny sand
Shiny sand is a type of acrylic powder that contains shiny and reflective particles. The combination of silver gel polish and glittery sand can create a holographic effect.
If there are more metallic particles in the composition of the sand, then rubbing it into the surface of the nail can result in overflows and stains. Coarse sand can add volume to the applied design elements.
Such a spectacular manicure requires a thoughtful look and is more suitable for a solemn event than for everyday wear. Moreover, it will look great on nails of any shape and length.
Glitter on the tips of the nails
Long almond-shaped nails look neat and festive when applied to the sharp ends of shiny placers. You can add glitter to one nail, or you can decorate all your fingers with glitter.
For everyday manicure, lighter shades of glitter are suitable, for special occasions, you can choose rich colors. When highlighting the tips of the nails, it is important to stretch the glitter so that it appears as a gradual transition from a more saturated color to a pale color.
Accent nail
A manicure with glitter gel polish does not have to be saturated with a variety of colors, textures and patterns. Sometimes the emphasis on one nail gives the desired effect without overloading the image as a whole.
The most common way of accentuation is to highlight one nail with a contrasting color or sparkles.
Varieties of nail accentuation:
- completely painted over with shiny gel polish in 2-3 layers;
- sprinkled with small sparkles of different colors, a rainbow effect is created;
- kamifubuki are applied using the color gradation technique;
- rubbing creates a mirror image;
- on the entire nail, tightly to each other, rhinestones and small stones are laid out.
Lace holiday nail design with rhinestones
Lace designs include abstract designs with monograms, nets, dots, curls, and floral designs. For a long time, lace manicure was considered a wedding and was not particularly popular in everyday wear. Currently, such nail art is actively used both in holiday manicure and in everyday manicure.
Usually lace is drawn on one nail, while the rest are painted in a single color. Another option: a complex lace pattern is applied to one nail, and small lace elements are placed on the rest. Rhinestones and small stones add a special color to the lace pattern.
You can place them in different ways:
- lay out a composition of stones at the base of the hole;
- lay out a pattern of stones and rhinestones on the adjacent nail;
- to beat the lace elements with single rhinestones of different sizes.
Glitter Removal Methods
Like any gel polish, glitters are removed in two ways: by cutting or applying a special liquid to remove gel polish. In salons, the gel coating is easily removed by hardware. At home, you should use a method of removal that is safer for the skin around the nail - the use of a special liquid.
To do this, you need to prepare:
- cotton pads cut into 4 parts;
- small strips of ordinary foil (cosmetic can be replaced with food);
- gel polish remover;
- pusher or orange sticks;
- buff and files of different hardness.
The removal process is quite simple, first you need to carefully cut off the top layer of the coating, being careful not to damage the nail and skin of the hands. After that, moisten parts of the cotton pads with nail polish remover and spread them on the nail plate. Wrap each finger with a piece of foil and hold your hands like this for 5-10 minutes.
After the specified time has elapsed, the varnish is easily removed from the surface of the nail with a pusher. At the end of the procedure, the nails can be polished with a buff, and the skin can be treated with cuticle oil or greased with hand cream.
Glitter manicure has firmly entered the life of modern gel polish lovers, creating images not only for special occasions, but also for every day. A wide range of shades and textures of sequins, presented by modern manufacturers, allows you to maximize the individualization of the approach to creating a manicure.
Author: Yulia Loboda
Glitter manicure video
Glitter aquarium manicure: