How to acrylic nails - 3D bow and red sparkles

3D bows never seem to bore me. They are pretty, sexy, classy and cute at the same time. It can go with almost any design. And the fun part is: They are easy to make when knowing how to work with acrylic. Sure it takes some practice but once you understand how it works, you will be able to create one perfect bow after the other. Handcrafted designs are much desired amongst nail lovers.

After removing the old design and doing prep and prime, I applied the red glitter mix the the free edge and spread it all the way across. To create a fade, I drag my brush upward trough the glitter towards the cuticle. Depending on how far you want your fade to be, you need more or less glitter.

Right before applying the clear acrylic to encapsulate the glitter and forming the nail, I applied a last coat of primer. While the primer is still wet, I applied a big ball of clear acrylic near the cuticle and held her hand in an angle so that it will run downward rather than up. This way prevents lifting problems.
Pat the acrylic all the way across from one side to the other and brush down. Because the ball is large, it should cover the whole area. If you feel like you need more acrylic in some places, you can always add more. The less you use, the less you have to file away. Don't forget to smooth out the acrylic to make filing much easier and faster.

When everything is dry, I filed and shaped the nail to the desire thickness and shape. (You know when the acrylic has hardened when you tap on it with the end of your brush and you hear a "tick tick tick" sound. If you hear a more of a muffled sound like "tok tok", you should wait a little longer)

At this point, I let her wash her hands with warm water and soap to get rid of any dust and residue chemicals.

Now for the fun part! For me personally, it is easier to create the opposite side of the bow first. For example: I am right handed, so I create the left part first. The reason being is: it's much more easy to get an almost exact copy of the left side.
So to create the left hand, I let her flip her hand so that her fingernails are pointing up. Doing this, the left side of the nail will temporary be on the right, making it easier to sculpt with my right hand. (It makes perfect sense in my head, so I hope you understand)

I picked up a small ball of white acrylic with a size 4 oval acrylic brush. On a paper towel, I drained the back of the brush to get rid of any excess monomer. I placed the ball on the right side of the flipped nail and wiped my brush to get rid of the left over monomer. I started pushing the ball in the middle towards the right, creating a flower petal. Depending on how big you want your bow to flair out, you press more and more upwards and downwards. To create the bow shape, I pushed in the right side to the left side. While the acrylic is setting, I keep on pressing lightly to ensure the shape of the bow will stay that way. When that bit is done, I flipped her hand back to normal so the bow on the right will now be on the left. And now you do the same on the right side to create the other part.

To get the center of the bow, also pick up a small ball of acrylic and drain the excess monomer. Place the ball in the middle and let it sit for a couple seconds. With tweezers, I put a Swarovksi crystal right in the middle and pushed it in. Not too hard, but deep enough so it will stay put. If the middle for some reason is not round anymore you can go around it with your brush.

When it has fully hardened, I applied a coat of glaze 'n go on the entire nail. Do NOT put any gel sealer on top of the crystal, or else it will not be sparkly anymore. I let this cure for 3 minutes.

Done!

Pink glitter nails with 3D flowers

I personally don't pay attention to what season it is when it comes to nails. Some people want red gold or silver for the Christmas times, bright for summer, brown for fall and soft pastel for spring. I go with whatever I feel like having on my nails. I could even go with red and gold during summer.

Now for this particular design I just used some soft pink gliter, clear acrylic powder and a pearly white powder. Let's get started.

After a complete prep and prime I created a fade with a pink glitter mix.
I encapsulated the glitter with clear powder.
Once everything was dry, I filed and buffed the nail to the desired shape.
Using a pearly white powder I created small flower petals. (I think the pearly white powder is from vivalanails)
I applied glaze 'n go on the entire nail, including the flowers. Before curing it, I placed a little metal ball in the center of each flower.  I let it cure for 3 minutes.

Classy medallion nails

Don't we all love those beautiful 3D acrylic designs? But you have gel nails? You think you can't have some of that? Guess again ladies! Having some 3D acrylic art on your gel nails is easy. You still have the benefits of your gel nails but now also the benefits of 3D art. It is really easy. Let's have a look.

After prep and prime, apply a thin base layer on all 5 nails, one hand at a time. Go around the cuticles with a rose woodstick and let it cure for 2 minutes.

Apply a thin layer of clear gel on the free edge. This is the layer your glitter will adhere to. With a clean gel brush, apply the glitter on the nails. Wipe your brush between a paper towel to remove all the glitter and clean up your smile line. If you have 2 gel brushes, you can use one for patting the glitter on and one for cleaning up the smile line and for the whole gel application. After cleaning up the smile line, let it cure for 2 minutes.

Doing one nail at a time now, I apply a thin layer of builder gel clear on the entire nail. First the nailbed and last the glitter. Otherwise you will have glitter transferring onto your nailbed. After doing so, I am using the string technique to "build" the thickness of the nail. Go around the cuticle and let it cure for 3 minutes.

When all the nails are fully cured, I remove the tacky layer with none acetone nail polish remover and a lint free wipe. I also reshape the sidewalls and free edge.

Wherever you decide to do acrylic art is where you need to remove the shine of the gel nail. Acrylic needs those tiny scratches to adhere to. It has a tendency to pop off from something smooth and shiny and we want our art to last long. Make sure the nail is dust free.
Using NSI attraction radiant white, the same brand monomer and an acrylic brush, I picked up a medium size ball to create a circle shape on the nail. Keep patting the acrylic in place while it sets. When it's dry I used a stamp to create the zebra print.
I brush on a coat of Glaze 'n go on the entire nail and also on top of the medallion. Don't cure just yet, we need that coat to put our tiny pearls in. Just pick them up with a rosewood stick dipped in a bit of Glaze 'n go and arrange them around the medallion. Let it then cure for 3 minutes. Finish off the rest of the nails with a clear topcoat.

Watermelon nails

Having a simple design is classy, but having a little extra is more fun. Sure, it's not everybody's taste, but if you like it, you rock it!

The previous design has been removed, as shown in this video. The nails are clean and dust free and are ready for being prepped.

With NSI prep dx, I am applying it with a small nail brush to the new growth. This is a dehydrator and it dries to a somewhat chalky white.

Next up is primer, applying it sparingly to the natural nail only. If applied on the left over acrylic, it can cause yellowing.

Right before applying the acrylic to the nail I am applying one more coat of primer to the natural nail only, for better adhesion.

Using colored acrylics directly on the natural nail can cause staining so I am applying a thin layer of NSI attraction totally clear over the entire nail.

Picking up a very bright pink acrylic color from EzFlow and placing it near the cuticle area. Pat it in place and drag it down towards the free edge. Shaping the smile line with your brush will create a smooth and crisp line. This is also called the reverse technique.

Repeating the same process on all nails with NSI attraction extreme pink. This is a translucent pink acrylic powder.

If you feel like your smile line isn't as crisp or as sharp as you want, you can always go ahead and file it.

With a premixed bright green glitter, I placed a small ball against the smile line and pushed it in place to create a thin line.

With a dark green premixed glitter, I filled in the rest of the free edge. Same goes for the rest of the nails.

Encapsulating the glitter with NSI attraction totally clear.

When all the nails are completely dry, I shaped and buffed them. Applying a coat of NSI Glaze 'n Go near the cuticle area of the ring finger as a sticky base for the "watermelon seeds". Picking them up with a dotting tool and placing them near the cuticle. Let it cure for a minute to lock them in place.
Then apply Glaze 'n Go on the entire nail and let it cure for 3 minutes.

Finish off your service with some cuticle oil.

Alice in Wonderland

After prep and prime I applied a thin layer of IBD builder gel clear as a base layer and went around the cuticles with a rosewood stick. Letting it cure for 2 minutes.

On the free edge I applied a thin layer of the same gel and applied a gorgeous blue glitter. Also letting it cure for 2 minutes.

When all the nails are covered in glitter, it is time to build the nails. I am using the string technique.

Remove the tacky layer with a lint free wipe and none acetone nail polish remover. Reshape the sidewalls and free edge to get rid of any scratchy edges.

In order for the 3D flowers to stick better to the nails, I remove the shine with a soft buffer.

I picked up a tiny ball of white acrylic and placed it onto the nail. With my size 2 acrylic brush I start to form the flower petal. Repeating the same process over and over till you have as many flower petals as needed. The larger the ball of acrylic, the larger the petal.

In the center of the flower petal I placed a Swarovski crystal. And when all the flowers are made, I sealed the nails with NSI Glaze 'n go and let that cure for 3 minutes.

mermaid nails and toes

Mermaids have always been one of my favorite mystical creatures. They were always described as mesmerizing, long hair, beautiful tails and their scales would shine in the moonlight.

Now I love bling and I love mermaids so lets do some nails!

Turquoise and purple are the main colors I am working with on the fingernails.

One the fingernails, the old design has been removed and the nails are prepped.

I picked up a ball of NSI attraction totally clear and I dipped it in the Turquoise hexagons.

I placed that ball on the nail and I start working with it to distribute the product from side to side and fading it up towards the cuticles.

When it is time to encapsulate, I did another coat of primer (NSI superbond) and picked up a ball of NSI totally clear and placed it at the cuticle area, patting the product into place, stroking it toward the free edge.

I placed another small ball at the free edge and feathered it up.

This step was the same for all 10 nails.

After filing and buffing, I let my friend wash her hands to remove all the chemical residue.

I brushed on a bit of NSI Glaze 'n Go on the ringfinger and I placed down some Turquoise hexagons in a half circle at the cuticle to give it that extra touch. Let it cure for a couple seconds to lock it in place.

Finish all the nails off with a nice coat of Glaze 'n go, cure for 3 minutes and you are done.

Now for the toes, I used gel and nail polish. Less hassle, but the same result.

Nails are prepped with a coat of IBD natural nail primer.

With a gel brush and IBD builder gel clear I brushed on a thin layer on all 5 toenails, went around the cuticles with a rosewood stick and let it cure for 3 minutes.

This gel layer acts as a super duper long lasting base layer, and not as strength. Toenails generally don't need strength, but the nail polish tend to not last that long.

So instead of a nail polish base coat, I used gel.

After curing, I cleansed the nails with none acetone nail polish remover.

I painted the toenails with China Glaze - 553 Sexy in the city.

Let that dry for a bit and went in with a second coat.

With an old nail polish brush I picked up some of the nail art dust mixer.

This dust mixer a lot more liquid than clear nail polish, therefor making it a lot easier to pick up nail art and blend it all out before it dries out, making it smooth and even.

So with the nail polish brush I dipped in the hexagons and brushed it on the nails, fading it up.

I added more when needed.

I finished off with Orly glosser.

These toenails lasted for 7-ish weeks before they were too long and needed to be redone.

Gel as a base layer makes your nailpolish :

*last longer

*stay on without chipping

*dry a lot faster

*don't stain the nails

Dazzling Emeralds

Prior to the video I already removed the old design and prepped the nails with NSI superbond. Superbond is a great primer for those who suffer from lifting, myself and my mother included. Since I started using this, I rarely have lifting, and the lifting on my mums nails are not as severe as they used to be.

(The reason of our lifting problems is genetic, also very thin natural nails)

First off I start by brushing on a thin coat of IBD builder gel in clear and let that cure for 2 minutes.

This is my base layer.

vivalanails was so kind to send me this emerald glitter, crushed shells and dazzling butterflies.

Thank you.

I mixed some emerald glitter with gel and with a gel brush, I brushed on some glitter to give it a gradient look. With a dotting tool I placed more glitter on the free edge to add more coverage.

With a rosewood stick I picked up the crushed shell and placed that randomly on the uncured gel.

The reason I did not cure the gel is : I now can push the crushed shell in the gel. If I were to cure the gel and then add the crushed shells, it would be on top of the nail, and that makes it unnecessary thick.

I let this cure for 2 minutes.

On the ringfinger I brushed on a thin coat of IBD builder gel clear and added 3 dazzling butterflies, and let that cure for 30-ish seconds, just long enough to lock them in place.

Then I brushed on the final coat of gel and filled the nail up with strings. These will land on the nails, exactly where I want them to be, and it will merge together leaving a smooth area.

I let this layer cure for at least 3 minutes, to make sure everything is hardened.

With a lint free wipe and none acetone nail polish remover, I removed the tacky layer and reshaped the free edge and sidewalls.

Lastly I put on some clear nailpolish, this one is Glosser from Orly, just to give it that bit extra shine.

I hope you like this design.

3D Flowers

This time I have the honor to use a glitter mix from Melbeautynails called "Mardi Gra"

It's a gorgeous gold and purple mix with all sorts of colored hexagons.

Prior to the video, I removed the old design and already prepped the nails.

First, I start off by removing any excess dust and oils from the nails with Nail pure plus and a lint free wipe.

With the "Mardi Gra" glitter mix (mixed with clear acrylic), I put a ball at the free edge, spread it from side to side and with the flags of the brush, I fade the glitter up towards the middle.

I am using a Nr. 6 acrylic brush.

Next I put on NSI superbond primer and with a Nr. 8 acrylic brush, I picked up a ball of NSI totally clear and placed that at the cuticle area, leaving a space between the acrylic and the cuticle.

I pat the ball from side to side and swipe it down towards the free edge.

If you need more acrylic, you can always add an extra ball.

It's better to add more than to take away.

This is the same for all 10 nails.

After shaping and filing, I let my friend wash her hands to get rid of any excess chemicals on her skin and dust from the nails.

For the 3D flowers, I put some pure acetone in the monomer to let the acrylic dry a whole lot faster.

(This is so your ball of acrylic won't get runny/too wet)

I think I use 40/60 acetone/monomer.

I am using a Nr. 2 acrylic brush, which tip comes together to a point.

Picking up small balls of acrylic can be tricky, so make sure to have a little practice.

I place a tiny ball of NSI radiant white on the nail.

I put my brush in front of a ball and start pushing my brush down to whichever side I want my petal to be. when you lift your brush and you petal starts to form a ball again, this means you have to wait a couple more seconds, because it's too wet.

You know when your ball is ready when it starts to get dull.

Depending on your Acetone/monomer ratio, it takes longer or faster to dry.

When I get 3 petals, I place a ball of acrylic in the middle immediately put a Swarovski crystal on top and pushed it in. The color is in "aurora borealis" (AB)

If you need to fix the appearance of the centerpiece, do so.

I created flower petals on each nail.

To finish off the nail, I put a coat of NSI Glaze 'n go on the nails (NOT on the petals)

and let that cure for 3 minutes.

And last but not least I massaged the cuticles with cuticle oil.

I really love this design, Thank you Mel for sending me this glitter mix.

I hope you liked this tutorial and thank you for reading/watching

x

Nicki Minaj Nail Art

My lovely mom never really went all out with her nails, but lately I can convince her to go a bit more wild and colorful.

And I sure do take advantage of that.

In the videoI start off by pushing back her cuticles for then to remove her old design with a drill and file. I also took away the shine of the natural nail.

When all 10 are done, I dust off the nails and hands. With a nailwipe and IBD prep I dehydrate the nails and that also removes any excess dust and oils.

Then I primed the nails with NSI superbond, because my mom is prone to lifting.

With a gel brush, I brush on a layer of IBD builder gel clear and go around the cuticles with a rosewood stick and let that cure for 2 minutes.

With the same gel, I brushed on a thing layer on the free edge only(except the ringfinger) and put some neon-ish pink on it. With a clean brush I cleaned up the smile line, and let that cure for about 2 minutes.

On her ringfinger I put a layer of gel on the entire nail because I was planning on doing a two color fade, but my mom loved the way it looked with just the purple glitter. Anyways, I let that cure for about 2 minutes.

Then I brush on a thin layer of gel and then did the string technique to fill up and build up the nail, going around the cuticles with a rosewood stick, then letting it cure for 3 minutes.

(This process needs to be done, ONE finger at a time, or else your gel will run off the nail, leaving a complete mess, so when one hand is in the UV lamp, you can work on the other.)

With a nail wipe and nailpolish remover, I removed the tacky layer, and with a file I filed the sidewalls and the free edge.

In the nail of her ringfinger on her left hand, I drilled a hole with a Nail piercer, and then I put on some ORLY Glosser, which is a clear nail polish.

When that was completely dry, I put in the handmade Swarovski dangle.

Then some cuticle oil and some pictures and I'm done.

I hope you like this design.

X

☆★Leopard print + dangle ☆★

I am completely obsessed with leopard print.

Clothes, scarfs, bathrobe, umbrella, socks, bracelet, arm pillows and nails!

Leopard print is hot, it's sexy, very feminine and yet classic.

Some might think it is ordinary, or even over the top.

But you know what? I do not care at all. I've gotten to a stage in my life where I stopped worrying about what other people think of me.

 I am who I am, I wear what I want.

And only now I dare to show it.

My close friend Karen wanted the same design on her nails like me, so let's go ahead and get started.

Perfect opportunity to film a video.

In the video I start off by sanitizing her nails and pushing back the cuticles.

With a coarse drill bit I took off her previous design  (she thought she'd make it easier for me and already removed her glaze 'n go and design. Thank you lol)

I forgot to press record after drilling away the previous design. But all I did was file with a 100/180 file (180 side), file away any bumps and removed the shine from the natural nail at the cuticles where the nail has grown out.

I removed dust with a kabuki and also with a nail wipe and IBD prep

Then I took NSI prep dx and dehydrated the natural nail.

On her index finger I placed a form and rebuild the nail with NSI clear powder (she broke one because a horse bit her nail, hooray for fake nails!)

Then I start forming the smile line with gold glitter(mixed with clear powder) and with a clean brush I clean up the smile line.

With NSI superbond I primed the natural nail only and starting filling up the nail with NSI attraction totally clear.

When all 10 nails are completely dry, I shaped and filed the nails, removed dust and let Karen wash her hands with warm water and soap to remove dust and excess chemicals.

With a stamper, stamping polish and an image plate, I did the leopard print.

Then I put on a UV activated topcoat : Glaze 'n go and let that cure for 3 minutes.

With a nail piercer I drilled a hole in her nail on her ring finger.

I put a dangle trough and closed it with pliers.

On her other ring finger, I made a 3D bow with NSI white powder and a no.2 acrylic brush.

With some cuticle oil, I massaged her cuticles and then took some pictures.

I hope you like this design.

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