Not all color combinations look good on short nails - some shades shorten the nail bed even more. But gray manicure is versatile, visually lengthens the free edge and adjusts its shape.
Fashion trends 2020
Nude and pastel shades are in fashion, so gray is at the peak of popularity. The dark, cool undertone of the varnish goes well with bright colors: orange, blue, pink and burgundy. In design, it is better to focus on geometry, floral ornaments, negative space, rubbing, gradient or velvet sand. These trends will be popular in the 2020-2021 fashion seasons as well.
How to choose
Color and design are chosen depending on the shape of the nails and skin tone.
Gray manicure on short nails
Color combination table and nail shape:
Gray-pink
Gray yellow
Black gray
Gray-blue-boy
Gray with white
Gray blue
Gray beige
Gray with red
Square
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Soft square
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+
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+
Oval
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+
+
+
+
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—
Square oval
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Round form
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+
+
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+
Almond
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The table does not indicate the decorative shapes of the nails (pointe, beveled, cat) - they are made at a greater length. The design aims to hide certain defects. For example, geometry needs to be done only on perfectly formed, neat and uniform nails.
For all forms in nail aesthetics, nail filings of different lengths are allowed, depending on the size of the finger (on the little fingers - the shortest, and on the thumbs - the longest). Some cold shades make light skin painful and dull. Before applying the color to the nail, you can apply it to the tips and try it on.
Features of creating a gray manicure on short nails
A gray manicure on short nails will look neat only if the nail plate is well prepared.
Creating a gray manicure
This process includes:
Removing the old coating.
Directly manicure (sawdust in shape, removal of pterygium, cuticles, grinding of the side ridges).
Removing gloss from nails with a soft buff.
Degreasing the nail plate.
Alignment (if necessary).
The colored coating is applied evenly, close to the cuticle. Leakage on the skin is removed with an orange stick or solvent.
Color solutions
Gray is a versatile color that can be combined with other cold, warm or juicy shades.
Gray is best suited for pastel-colored manicure designs.
Gray-pink manicure
It looks contrasting on dark skin, and light skin makes it healthier and more well-groomed. Visually lengthens nails. Colors blend well in smooth gradients, becoming the basis for floral ornaments, geometry and volumetric designs with velvet sand.
Gray-yellow manicure
A bright combination of colors, demanding accuracy of execution. Suitable for oval and rounded nails. The design combines glitter, matte finish, abstraction and slider design.
Black and gray manicure
A classic combination for special occasions and everyday wear. Suitable for all nail shapes. The design combines with marble, matte, geometry, glitter, rubbing, foil and kamifubuki.
Blue-gray manicure
An interesting combination for the autumn-winter period. Suitable for rounded or clearly square nails, it can be performed in both pastel and bright colors. Complemented with foil, holographic glitter, chameleon rhinestones, rub in, negative space and gradient.
Manicure gray with white
In this combination, white is often used as a design substrate. This is a discreet, versatile color combination. Especially carefully white should be painted over at the base of the nail - streaks are visible immediately. Suitable for all forms of nails and any design options, from sliders and stamping, and ending with geometry and rhinestone inlays.
Gray-blue manicure
Gray in combination with dark blue is suitable for rounded and square nails. Complemented with shimmer, glitter and geometry varnishes. To visually lengthen the nail plate, it is combined with a moon manicure or negative space.
Gray-beige manicure
Easy, unobtrusive combination. Peach and flesh shades of beige are best combined with ash. Suitable for all nail shapes. Beige can be used as a design background. It is better not to overload a manicure in this color with unnecessary details. Unobtrusive geometry, light gradient, simple monograms, shimmer or a small amount of rhinestones will do.
Manicure gray with red
Most designs in gray-red tones look strict and concise. It is suitable for classic lovers and owners of square-shaped nails. Complemented with matte finish, voluminous designs, few glitters and negative space.
Gray matte manicure
The matte texture of the finish layer visually smooths out all the irregularities and defects in the coating. For contrast, it is complemented with glossy or shiny elements. Matte looks good on monograms, floral and abstract ornaments, in any color combinations and on any nail shape.
Gray manicure options for all occasions
The gray manicure on short nails is complemented by a slider design, holographic glitter and rub, gossamer gel, ornaments, geometry and natural textures. Below are detailed descriptions of the execution of some options for the original design of nails.
Airbrushing
To implement the design you need:
airbrush;
airbrush paints;
stencils or manicure tape;
cuticle protector.
Manicure with an airbrush
Airbrushing allows you to create smooth transitions between colors, leaving certain areas clean. You can use stencils in your work. In everyday life and in amateur manicure, it can be replaced with aero puffing, which is cheaper and allows you to create similar visual effects.
French manicure with gray varnish
The traditional white line of a smile on a gray background looks boring and uncomplicated. Metallic or complex French manicure will look more interesting. To draw a clear line, you need to make an even sawdust in shape. Next, a stencil or markup is used.
French manicure is one of the most popular.
In the second case, you can symmetrically put 2 points in the lateral parts of the nail. These will be the starting points, between which a rounded strip is drawn with a flat, oval line.
Gray matte manicure
The matte texture in this color, in contrast to white, is not easily soiled. A matte finish is made at the final stage: after covering the nails, the design is completed with a matte top. If there is no top with such a finishing layer, then you can cover the nails with a simple glossy fixative and, after complete drying, walk over the surface with a soft buff.
Mehendi
Mehendi-style patterns are difficult to draw, they are detailed and often symmetrical.To implement them, you can use stamping or stencil.
Mehendi on gray manicure
If there is no suitable stamping plate at hand, then the drawing can be reprinted from another surface. A piece of film or an unnecessary bonus card on which the drawing is performed will do. Then, with a stamping stamp, it is easily transferred to the nail. You can also dry the drawing and then, separating it from the surface, stick it like a slider.
Gradient in gray
Gradients combine gray with white, black or pink. To make a gradient, you can use both special brushes and finely dispersed sponges or aero puffing. In the latter case, the transition will be especially smooth. The gradient is done in 2 layers.
The gray gradient can be completely different.
Even if the transition border is in the middle of the nail, the dark color should be applied less, otherwise it will darken the design too much when shading. 2 colors are applied at once to different parts of the nail, and then mixed with smooth movements to obtain an intermediate shade in the area between them. Such a design always looks gentle and visually lengthens the nail.
Lunar manicure with gray gel polish
In gray, the recess of the moon manicure is painted in light colors. To draw this line straight, use size 00 brushes with a medium bristle length.
Lunar manicure with gray varnish
First, the outline of the smile is drawn and dried in a lamp. Then it is filled with color, refined and dried. The main color is painted after the design itself is ready: in this case, convex layers of paint will not be visible at the place of the smile, as if the manicure was performed on the finished coating. Short nails will appear thinner and longer even under the top layer.
Geometry
Geometry, like moon manicure, is drawn with the thinnest brushes. At the initial stage, you can make a small markup, clarify the details and dry them.
Geometric gray manicure
After that, the finishing work takes place: drawing thin lines and complementing them with color. For geometry, a gossamer gel is also used. This material is easy to work with, it is a viscous, viscous gel paint. Even a beginner who cannot hold a brush can draw a straight line with this material.
Marble
The design in this style is performed on a white background. You will need a basic black color, a thin brush and a colorless varnish. First, the main color, strongly diluted in a colorless varnish, is applied to the nail. It is applied with shaded spots in different places of the nail and dried. Then the color intensifies and a few more, more saturated spots are put. They can intersect with the first layer.
At this stage, 1/3 of the entire surface should remain unpainted. After that, thin, uneven, torn lines are drawn with pure black paint (varnish). A literally trembling hand. The less symmetrical and even they are drawn, the more natural the design will be. The result is covered with a glossy or matte finish.
Cat's eye with gray gel polish
Gray manicure on short nails with a cat's eye is performed with a clear vertical glare. Otherwise, the nail will look even shorter.
The design is complemented by a matte finish with a pattern. Monograms, floral ornaments and abstractions will do. Symmetry is best avoided.
Mirror rub
The rub is applied to the top without a sticky layer and completes the design. Rubs in silver or pearlescent shades are better suited. After rubbing in, removing powder residues from the side rollers and cuticles, the free edge of the bafat nail. The design is covered with a top in 2 layers.
Monogram
Monograms are drawn with a thin, long brush on the surface without residual stickiness, otherwise the pattern will blur.
The process of drawing monograms on a gray manicure
To make the contour of the monograms even clearer, you can pre-buff the nail or cover it with a matte top. You can also draw with thin dots, in which case you will not need to control the pressure of the brush. This method is suitable for beginners.To make glossy monograms on a matte surface, use gel paint or gel paste without a sticky layer, which does not need to be additionally covered with a top.
Examples of gray manicure with a pattern
For short nails, an unobtrusive, small pattern with a vertical orientation is suitable. It will help to visually increase the length and reduce the width of the nail plate.
Decoration of gray manicure with rhinestones
It is better not to overload the small length of the plate with volumetric inlays. A few stones in the cuticle area will suffice. Rhinestones are attached to a drop of the base or top. After drying, the stone is additionally fixed with a top: the edge of each rhinestone is smeared with a thin brush in a circle.
Gray glitter nail design
You can sprinkle the top with sequins, after polymerization, simply removing all unnecessary. You can also add dry glitter to the top drop and paint the nail with the resulting mixture. You can make a drawing or highlight a design with a shiny varnish. It is better to paint 1-2 fingernails with glitter without overloading short nails with unnecessary details.
Velvet
To create a velvet effect, special compounds or acrylic powder are used. First, the design base is carried out and covered with a finish. Further, those elements that should be velvet are covered with a top. Acrylic powder is poured onto the undried top to create volume and texture. After drying, all excess is swept away with a brush.
Even on short nails, a beautiful, stylish design can be made. Gray manicure is versatile, it is suitable for both a solemn event and for everyday wear.
