Mirror manicure: step-by-step instructions, photos, videos

Mirror manicure is not a new thing, some will say. Any good salon will be able to give you a high-quality manicure with a mirror effect, the only pity is that this service is quite expensive. Yes, “metallic nails” of a wide variety of shades have conquered women’s hearts. In addition, this particular manicure is recognized as the most fashionable this fall. We will not tell you about “metallic film or stickers” for nails, because this is an outdated way of creating such a manicure. The editors of WomanSovetnik have prepared for you a fascinating review of a new product on the beauty market - pigment for mirror manicure. After all, with it you can really create a high-quality, beautiful and neat mirror manicure at home.

Looking for the right product on the shelves of beauty stores

Mirror pigment for nails is a very finely ground aluminum powder. It fits perfectly (or rather, rubs in) into a gel or varnish base.

The result - a mirror effect - works well even for girls who have never done professional manicure before.

It is important to understand that ordinary sparkles, even the smallest ones, cannot replace chrome pigment for nails. So if you want to buy just such a mirror powder, look for one of the following names on jars of products:

1. Chrome Powder;
2. Glitter Powder;
3. Mirror Powder;
4. Chrome Pigment and the like.

These are not brand names - they are variations of the product name.

Stylish ideas with rubbing on long nails

There is no better way to show off the beauty and charm of the rub than by placing it on long nails. Moreover, the shape of the nails is of secondary importance. The rub looks great on almond, pointed nails, pointe nails and others. The choice of rubbing depends on the preferences of the girl herself. On long nails, black, white, burgundy, and pale blue designs with rubbing look equally attractive.

On long nails, a plain manicure with rubbing looks great. The master’s task is to show the beauty of the material and not to fill it with additional decor such as contrasting patterns.

What do you need for a mirror manicure?

Before you get a metallic manicure, make sure you have all the necessary materials in your arsenal.

We will need:

1. Mirror rubbing. We choose the color of mirror powder that you like most, because the main thing is that you like the result;
2. Gel polish or gel without a sticky layer, not necessarily single-phase. If you only have gels with a sticky layer, you will also need to take a sticky layer remover;
3. Top. There are also different tops for artificial and natural nails. We take the one that you need;
4. Gel for extensions. We use it only if we plan to extend a little nail before doing a mirror manicure.

It is important to know: different gel polishes and gels are used for natural and artificial nails. You should not replace one with another if you want your manicure to last as long as possible.

Fashionable manicure with rubs 2021-2022: luxurious design ideas with manicure powder

We won’t talk about the technology of applying rubs, because it’s better to create a fashionable manicure with rubs using video lessons.

But it’s probably worth talking about the most successful and trendy new nail art products with rubs in the best variations of mirror and holographic designs, noting the innovation of combining rubs with other decor ideas.

The rubbing on the nails itself looks very rich and impressive, so you can choose your favorite color of gel polish, make a beautiful oval shape of your nails and apply the rubbing taking into account all the rules of technology, without using other decor.

As we have already said, it is possible to master the creation of such a manicure on your own; you just need desire, patience, perseverance and a little imagination.

If you noticed, we recommend doing a manicure with rubs, ideally on oval-shaped nails of short or medium shape. The shape of a rounded square or pointe shoes with a bright and shimmering rub can look very intrusive due to the very shape of the nails in combination with such a creative coating

The shape of a rounded square or pointe shoes with a bright and shimmering rub can look very intrusive due to the very shape of the nails in combination with such a creative coating.

However, such variations of mirror design are also acceptable. And you can try them in one incarnation or another.

In addition to the monochrome solution, rubbing on the nails will be perfectly combined with a complex nail design, combined with rhinestones, three-dimensional designs, and a matte finish.

It's no secret that a rub-in manicure can be done using the ombre technique, resulting in a gorgeous shimmer on the nails in different shades of gel polish.

Lovely ladies may prefer design ideas where the rub on the nails is combined with monograms in a contrasting shade of varnish, laid out in different ways with pebbles, drawn with oval or triangular shaped holes.

Decorate a manicure with polishes with chrome strips, complement the polishes with regular gel polishes, create a pearlescent shine in harmony with matte nails.

You can also play with glitter of different textures, decorate your manicure with rubbings in the form of delicate flowers, and transform your nails with geometric patterns with a chrome effect.

If you need an impeccable wedding nail design, it is the manicure with rubs that should attract your attention as one of the most trendy and stylish in all seasons. As for the color scheme, you can also experiment here, choosing delicate pink, blue, oil shades, or preferring bright and deep shades of gel polishes, combined with smooth or textured rubbing

As for the color scheme, you can also experiment here, choosing delicate pink, blue, oil shades, or preferring bright and deep shades of gel polishes, combined with smooth or textured rubbing.

Do you want more ideas, new products, examples? Then look at our collection of the best designs with rubs for every taste.

Is the color of the coating onto which the powder will be rubbed important?

If you have already held a jar of mirror powder in your hands, then you have probably noticed that its pigment is translucent, that is, the shade of the coating into which the chrome powder will be rubbed will also affect the result. If your goal is gold or silver nails, choose a black coating, but if you take a colored coating, you will get a completely different result - a mirror-colored coating with a gold, silver or pearlescent tint (depending on the color of the mirror powder).

Watch the video, choose the color of the coating

"Dusty" features

This is the most important part of the dossier. Knowledge, without which you can’t get a beautiful design. Intrigued?

• A flat surface plays a huge role. Polish your nails thoroughly, remove nail dust and apply a base without bald spots! If there are uneven spots or kinks from the extensions, do not try this nail art yourself. Let a competent master do micromodeling first. In cracks and irregularities, the pigment will certainly roll off and there will be no appearance.
• The dust should lie evenly over the entire surface, only then will you get a mirror shine.
• Cover the top of the rub only with a glossy top coat. The matte finish that is fashionable today does not work in this case; it only gives a dull grayness.
• The pigment is very light, and only a translucent layer is visible on the nails the first time. Therefore, sprinkle it generously, do not hesitate in choosing the color of the varnish. On different tones, pigment from one jar can manifest itself differently.

And now – less words, more action! Two of the most popular nail art with rubbing for your attention!

Mirror manicure with glitter step by step

• 1On the prepared nail (your own or an extended one), treated with a base (to even out the surface of the nail plate as much as possible), apply the appropriate gel or gel polish. If we choose gel polish: apply it in a thin layer, very carefully and quickly begin to dry so that it does not have time to spread. If the layer is too thick, it will not be possible to avoid the appearance of wrinkles on the surface during drying.

Tip: Before each use of gel polish, we recommend shaking the bottle and mixing the liquid with a brush, since pigment settling occurs in most bottles. If we choose a gel, we apply a thicker layer, evenly distributing the mass over the nail plate.

• 2In order for the mirror pigment to lay down as smoothly as possible, you should dry your nails much longer under the lamp;
• 3On perfectly dried nails, covered with gel polish or varnish, begin to rub in chrome powder. This can be done with either a fingertip or an eyeshadow applicator, a silicone brush, or even a foundation sponge.

Secret: rubbing will give a mirror shine only if you don't rub your nail too much. All movements should be smooth so that the already fixed sparkles do not move or roll down. It is most convenient to rub it on the nail plate with your fingertips, but along the edges and near the cuticle, a small sponge or a fairly hard brush can effectively apply mirror powder.

• 4As soon as the entire nail looks like a mirror, use a soft fluffy brush to brush off all excess glitter. You need to clean especially carefully near the cuticle so that there are no unnecessary sparkles left there, which with their lonely uneven shine can ruin the entire manicure, because our goal is a shine like metal, and not a manicure with sparkles.
• 5To make your manicure look neater, you should file the edge of your nail; this will help smooth out the edge and remove excess glitter.
• 6We begin to apply the top. If you see that there are several sparkles on the top brush, carefully remove them so as not to spoil the manicure.

Secret: if you don’t want glitter to get into the jar with the top (after all, you can also use it for other manicures that should not have glitter), we recommend that you first select the required amount of top, place it on the palette, and then draw from there onto the brush and “seal” the nail with it.

Read also:  Shocking manicure for Halloween. The best holiday nail art ideas
• 7Before the final drying of the manicure under the lamp, once again carefully inspect the surface of each nail for the presence of single loose sparkles. If there are any, carefully pick them up with a regular thin brush for drawing patterns on the nails.
• 8Dry your nails under a lamp. If the pigment on the nail is uneven, you can apply another layer of rub-in directly onto the topcoat and then “seal” the manicure again with another layer of topcoat.

Rubbed design for short nails

Short nail lengths are increasingly gaining momentum in the 2022 fashion season, and designers have prepared many interesting proposals for fashionistas regarding the style of nail design. Manicure for short nails with rubbing is one such example. As you know, a short nail plate is very sensitive to excessive amounts of shine and bulky designs, so everything should be in moderation here. If your plans include applying powder to all your nails, then you should give preference to pearl pigment. When using a material with a more striking effect, masters advise rubbing only part of the nail bed or a couple of nails. The designs should be neat, and the stripes or patterns should be positioned vertically.

Brands

The production of mirror nail polishes began relatively recently. We can say that this product has replaced glitter. Let's talk about in which manufacturers' lines you can find a coating with a mirror shine:

• Avon “Mirror Shine” is a budget series of the brand, the name of which is translated as “Mirror Shine”;
• Maybelline with the “Mirror Image” collection;
• In the palette of Sally Hansen varnishes there are unusual mirror shades such as rose gold, blue, lilac;
• The best among professional brands is the Zoya brand with “Trixie” products;
• Lesser-known brands with mirrored new products are Layla, El Corazon, Briggite Bottirier;
• Among luxury brands, we note Chanel in silver and golden shades;
• El Corazon “Kaleidoscope” presents a collection of 14 mirror shades, including crimson, blue, beige, green and others. The cost of the bottle is low; in terms of quality, this varnish is considered one of the most worthy.

The presence of a separate collection of shiny coatings indicates their high quality, thoughtful formulation, durability and the ability to choose shades.

Quality

The first thing you need to pay attention to when performing this type of manicure is the quality of the gel polish.

Branded manufacturers, as a rule, offer a good product with the required consistency, which should be quite liquid. Thick varnish will take a long time to dry, so its even application will become difficult. Proper storage of this composition is also important. The bottle itself is matte

This protects the product from direct sunlight, which can cause the varnish to peel. The expiration date is also important. Of course, expired gel polish is not put on shelves. But if the date of use is coming to an end, it is better not to use this composition either. If the date on the package is erased, expiration date can also be determined using the sense of smell. A low-quality product will have a sour smell. The brush has a big influence on the coverage. The hairs in it should be spaced frequently (thick brush), tightly adjacent to each other. If these criteria are not available, it is better to use a separate accessory of suitable quality.

The best sparkling varnishes and powders

Undoubtedly, glossy shine is not an ordinary manicure. It allows you to look perfect on holidays and celebrations, and will add newness and radiance to your everyday look. However, before you decide to make changes, let's see how much they can cost.

Read the article on how to choose a liquid for removing hair extensions.

"Northern lights"

Many women are interested in how they can achieve the “Northern Lights” effect on their nails using rubbing. It's very simple, the pigment contains tiny reflective particles. Working with this material is no less easy than with the previous ones. The rub should be applied to any colored coating that has been previously dried or to a topcoat. To obtain an excellent result, the nail design master should apply a second layer of rub on the previously applied topcoat. Thus:

• manicure will last longer;
• your nails will acquire a dazzling shine.

Now there is no need to visit beauty salons every week to update your manicure. With the advent of gel polish, this procedure can be visited no more than 2 times a month. And a mirror rub on gel polish will become an invariable companion to your perfect manicure. In addition, you can apply this coating to your nails yourself, without visiting a nail design specialist.

Advantages and disadvantages

The use of rubs deserves attention due to the specific features of the technology. It has a twist. She makes those around her wonder how such beauty can be created on her nails and how much time was spent on it. And in most cases, those who do not yet know about rubbing are mistaken. At first glance, it seems that performing a mirror manicure is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.

Three main advantages of rubbing: simple application technology, affordable price and quick results.

In addition, rubs have a number of other advantages.

Wide possibilities of ney art. The material is pliable, the color palette is varied, so you can bring your wildest ideas to life. Versatility. Any type of rubbing is suitable for use on all surfaces. This can be ordinary enamel, which does not require polymerization in a lamp, gel varnishes, biovarnishes, shellacs

It is important to consider only the composition of the enamel. There should be no acetone in it - it will corrode the powder particles. Long lasting manicure

The nail design will last as long as the base. For enamels, the period is short - a week or a week and a half. With gel polish, you don’t have to think about a new manicure for at least three weeks. Harmless composition. The rub does not come into direct contact with the nail plate. She cannot scratch it or cause any other harm.

• Simple application technology. Creating designs using colored powder requires practice, but even non-professionals can do a single-color coating.
• Looks beautiful on nails of any length and shape.
• Shine and pearlescent tints visually make nails denser, smoother and healthier.
• Economical use of funds. To spend a minimum amount of rubbing, you need to get used to the bulk material, but this is not difficult to do.

Rubbing has fewer disadvantages than advantages. It can be frustrating with unpredictable results when combined with acetone-based enamel. Also, during the first time of use, everyone notes the unusual way of applying the material, which you need to get used to.

In rare cases, the rub does not stick to the nails. This may be due to poor quality material or characteristics of the body. Some types of gel polishes do not take root on nails, and the decor goes away with them. This situation can be corrected by choosing a suitable base and rubbing from a professional brand. Such a product will cost more than from a Chinese site, but the effect justifies the cost of materials for a pro.

How to use foil correctly?

Varnish film or special foil paper is an excellent alternative to the previous option. It is sold in different colors, sometimes even decorated with iridescent stripes and patterns. To glue it, you need glue, which in its consistency resembles the usual PVA, but looks like ordinary varnish. So, you will need transfer permanent foil, a background covering similar to its color, a pusher or orange stick, gel polish with a sticky layer or glue. Let's start the procedure.

• Prepare your marigolds. To do this, remove the old coating, degrease them, and give them the desired shape and length. Correction after attaching shiny paper is quite problematic and can ruin the result.
• Apply a thin layer of varnish evenly. This is necessary so that the natural surface is not noticeable through small gaps. Therefore, the base should be as similar in shade as possible to the upper zone.
• Dry the area and apply glue on top and wait until it dries to a transparent state.
• Place the foil on top with the shimmering side (no need to cut it to the shape of your nail) and gently smooth it with an orange stick. Give extra care to the area near the cuticle and the edges of the tips. If wrinkles form, do not get discouraged ahead of time. You tear off the tape, and only the desired brilliant result remains. Do you see gaps where the color was printed poorly? Press the paper down again.

Original foil version

Magnificent golden
The main disadvantage of the method is its fragility. Without a top coat, the manicure will last one day. If you treat it with a transparent varnish on top for durability, the bright shimmer will be lost.

Advice! Try to distribute varnishes in thin layers. They dry faster and do not create wrinkles.