Decoration Designs for your Nails
When it comes to designing your nails there are an infinite amount of
possibilities out there and the only limiting factor is your
imagination. Designing with polish, airbrushing, stickers, or pre
designed nail tips can range from classy to spunky but the real trick is
to be able to decide what kind of nail design is going to suit your mood
and your style. With all the techniques and options out there, it’s no
wonder. Before beginning any design, remember the basics.
One, your nails are your canvas and designing on your own nail bed
will require at least one layer of base coat; two is optimal as it will
strengthen your nails. If you are applying artificial nails, be sure to
prepare your nail bed appropriately to ensure a longer lasting result.
Having all of the appropriate tools on hand, clean and ready for use,
is your number one priority. No matter what method of decorating you are
using, having a bottle of acetone nail polish remover, Q-tips or a small
brush on hand for removing mistakes quickly is essential. Professional
nail art kits are full of brushes, marbling tools and stripers, but if
you’d like, you can improvise with toothpicks, bobby pins and painting
brushes with very thin tips from your local art store. You can even
experiment with acrylic paints as they are a whole lot cheaper than
brand name polishes and work very well as long as top coat is applied
and thoroughly dried. Whether you are designing with polish,
airbrushing, stickers or even glitter, you should have these tools on
hand.
If you are designing on your own nail bed, start simple and slow.
There is nothing more frustrating than making so many mistakes that you
become disheartened and never want to try again. Draw a simple design or
outline on your nail with a very thin tipped brush and begin to fill it
in with color. Dots are also a great design idea and simple to do with
the tip of a very fine brush. If you are going to use more than one
color let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the second color,
unless of course you are blending or marbling. Don’t forget the top coat
to protect your art from wear and tear.
 If
applying any type of stickers, bindis or appliqués, use a pair of
tweezers. Gently place the sticker or appliqué onto your nail. Press
down firmly and allow to dry. Make sure that you apply at least one coat
of top gloss to protect the design from wear and tear.
If you are going for a little glitz and glam then applying glitter is
a great option. There are a few different ways to apply glitter,
depending on your design. You can mix your nail paint with the glitter
itself and apply with a brush, or you can sprinkle your glittery dust
over the wet paint on your nail. Either way is a great technique; just
don’t forget to apply that clear top coat to protect your artwork!
Airbrushing is a great technique for nail design and with all the
stencils available, it is an endless source of creativity. Airbrushing
is not for the beginner and is best left to the professionals until you
get some experience with nails under your belt.
Lest I forget, remember always the true classy look of a French
manicure! Nothing says sharp like this classic and it can also be spiced
up with a few jeweled appliqués or a simple flower design.
Anyway you decide to fashion your nails, just remember the basics,
have your equipment on hand, clean and ready to use and let your
imagination soar! |
