5 ways to do a marbled manicure step by step • NAILS Magazine

Modern trends towards naturalness continue to hold their top positions in the 2022-2023 season. Masters of the nail art industry are demonstrating more and more new ideas for natural nail designs, among which marble manicure takes pride of place.

Marble design on nails looks luxurious and mysterious, which will undoubtedly appeal to many representatives of the fair sex. To create a “marble stone” design, you will need several varnishes in contrasting shades, which, under the influence of a special technique, create realistic patterns.

Use pastel or dark colors as a base for an intriguing design, such as:

nude;
black;
grey;
green;
pink;
white;
blue;
red or burgundy.

The “marble effect” can be created on all fingers at the same time or as an accent on 1-2 nails. Additional elements for marble design will include rhinestones, rubbing, foil and sparkles.

Elegant nail art will be a good complement to business or everyday looks, and marble nails with decor will be an excellent choice for a festive option.

Which marble design would you prefer for the 2022-2023 season: discreet and elegant, or extravagant and unusual? We invite you to consider the top versions of marble manicure in different shapes and lengths, among which every woman will find her ideal option.

What is marble manicure

Marble manicure is a type of nail design that involves creating stains on gel polish or varnish that imitate the color of marble or other natural stones.

The design came into fashion in 2022, when natural motifs were reflected in nail art, although the first appearance dates back to 2013.

You can create a design using:

gel polish and brushes;
polyethylene;
stamp for stamping;
alcohol;
acrylic paints;
using water.

Some manufacturers, especially in Chinese online stores. They also offer varnish with a marble effect, but the result in this case is not very expressive - stone stains are difficult to see.

Varnishes with marble chips, such as those from Blise, can also help imitate natural stone. The effect of stone in this case is achieved through small inclusions of particles of different colors and sizes.

Also in stores you can find slider stickers with a marble pattern. The largest selection, of course, is on Aliexpress and other similar sites.

Review of materials and tools for stamping

Multi-colored stains

Using the method described above, you can create any stains. To do this, varnish of several colors is dripped onto the surface of the water, alternating them in the chosen order. Thus, the pink color combines beautifully with grey, a fashionable shade this season.

Before dipping your nail into the liquid, be sure to mix the colors randomly with a toothpick. The result is a pink marble manicure interspersed with light and dark gray.

Palette for marble manicure

In this case, of course, there are no restrictions, but the combinations provide the closest proximity to natural stone:

white and pink;
white and black or gray;
blue and blue. In this case, you will get an imitation of turquoise;
different shades of green will give the feeling of malachite;
beige color and its derivatives will help create an extravagant but discreet manicure, suitable for everyday wear;
black with metallic shades - gold and silver.

Tips for creating a marble manicure:

choose medium density varnish . A varnish that is too thin will not spread, and a thick varnish does not mix well and does not give smooth streaks. All products for marble manicure must be of high quality, otherwise the coating will quickly peel off. Consider professional brands - OPI, Essie, Sophin, Rio Profi;
be patient . Like any technique, marble cannot be rushed. If you don’t want to sit over the drawing of each nail, choose several nail plates that will be accent and work on them properly;
marble manicure requires some skills, so be prepared that the design will not turn out perfect the first time . At first, practice on tips to get better at it.

Malachite: trendy ideas for an unforgettable manicure

As for natural malachite, it is represented in absolutely all possible shades of green. You will be able to see the mineral ranging from light green to almost black in color.

At the same time, the texture of malachite can be glossy and shiny, or matte and muted. All these options were taken into account when creating a manicure with a malachite subtheme.

As for the color scheme on the nail plates, they are represented not only by greenery. You can enjoy the blue, purple, pink, white, cyan palette.

A manicure with interesting stains, which can be seen on a cut of malachite, looks especially impressive. In this case, transitions can be subtle or performed in a more contrasting color.

It is worth noting that malachite options can apply not only to accent nails, but can be repeated on absolutely all fingers. We leave brighter colors on one or two nails; delicate and light stains can be splashed on each nail plate.

The imagination of the craftsmen on the theme of malachite did not stop at the visual recreation of the surface of the stone. They went even further and began to use mineral shades when applying grout, which gives a mirror-like shine to nails or creating herbal patterns.

With all this, malachite manicure will fit perfectly into your everyday look and will delight you with its fabulous story.

Gel polish and brush

Perhaps the most obvious way to create a stone effect is to paint with a brush. In order for the design to be successful, basic artistic skills will be required.

Prepare for work:

gel polish in two shades. It is better if the funds are from the same company. To create a classic marble design, use white and black;
base and top;
thin brush. Such brushes are available in almost all brands of manicure products – ruNail, TNL, Irisk. The photo below shows a Runail Nail Art Nylon brand brush No. 000/3, 12 mm.

Prepare the background

Wipe the nail plate with degreaser and after it evaporates, apply base;
Dry the base layer in a lamp for 30-120 seconds. depending on the type and power of the device;
Cover the nail with white gel polish and then dry it. If necessary, reapply the background color to ensure an even coverage;

Creating a drawing

Apply a thin layer of top coat over the dried gel polish;
With a thin brush dipped in black gel polish, begin to draw barely noticeable thin lines. With a damp top the lines will blur – this is normal, as it should be;
Draw stripes randomly, differently on each nail, until their number is sufficient for your idea. The lines do not have to be clear, so some tips can be deliberately shaded.

If you are not satisfied with the result, remove the pattern using a disk soaked in cleaner and lightly buff the surface with a 180-240 grit file. Wipe with degreaser, apply topcoat again and start over.

The final stage

Dry the pattern in a lamp. In ICE this will take 60 seconds, in UV – 120;
Apply the finish to your nails and dry again.

Before applying the finish, the design can be supplemented with rhinestones, sparkles or other decorative elements. In this case, it is better that the top applied to create the pattern has a sticky layer.

How to securely secure large stones?

You can lay the pebbles on a mixture consisting of fine acrylic powder and a rubber base. A fairly large drop of such material should be placed in the center of the nail and the largest pebbles should be placed on it. Next, the first part of the composition must be dried well.
Then, with a brush dipped in a thick base, we outline large stones and frame them with small rhinestones, pixie crystals, bouillons or pieces of tear-off foil. Let's dry it. To ensure that everything is firmly fixed, we additionally outline each pebble with a top coat.
In this simple and quick way you can lay out a beautiful composition of rhinestones, stones and any additional metal decor. Inlay with voluminous stones is most often done on long nails, because on short nails it can look bulky.

Alcohol solution

Tools and materials:

gel polishes in black and white colors;
base and top;
alcohol solution. It is better to take pure alcohol rather than tincture;
brush. The brush should be densely packed and with not too long bristles, for example, “Column” No. 01 from Irisk.

Manicure brushes - types, purpose, how to choose and care

Preparatory stage

Do a manicure, degrease your nails, apply a thin layer of base and dry;
Cover your nails with white gel polish and dry as well. If necessary, repeat the color application.

Creating a Pattern

Moisten a sponge or lint-free cloth with an alcohol solution and wipe the nail thoroughly;
Using black gel polish on the alcohol surface, draw a thick line diagonally - from the right corner of the cuticle to the left corner of the free edge. When applying a strip, do not press the brush too hard - do it with light pressure, as the varnish immediately “floats” on the alcohol surface;
Take a brush and lightly press it onto the liquid black gel polish, blot the stain;
Remove unnecessary details of the design from the surface using a brush dipped in alcohol;
In the other corner of the nail, make one small streak with black varnish and repeat blotting with a brush;
Dry the design in a lamp and cover with top coat.

Be careful, the method using alcohol dries the skin very much, so after finishing the procedure, be sure to moisturize the cuticle and periungual area with oil.

Stone manicure: types of stones in nail art

Marble manicure

This is one of the most popular types of design, although it is often attributed to even those stones that are not marble. It just so happened that marble manicure began to be considered all designs in which there are dark stains on a lighter varnish or vice versa. In fact, marble has its own special structure, which is difficult to confuse with other stones.

This is a heterogeneous color (white with gray, beige with brown, etc.) with the effect of internal cracks on a smooth surface. These dark or light-colored cracks add adjacent shades to the main color of the stone.

The most common variation of this design is the traditional white and black marble. It looks noble, does not weigh down your nails, and is universal for daily wear. To achieve maximum similarity, try to make the lines blurry and unclear.

Turquoise stone manicure

Turquoise is a very spectacular stone that becomes especially popular in the summer season. It is in the summer that we most often see rings and pendants with turquoise, as well as manicures with turquoise. Its effect is almost marble, but the shade must be blue. The richer the better.

Turquoise manicure goes well with light outfits, bright colors in clothes, and creates a rich contrast with black. But for a business and conservative style it is unsuccessful. Turquoise will be a good companion for vacations, weekends, or in the absence of a dress code. It is also the most favorite boho stone.

Quartz manicure

Another stone that has won the hearts of women with its delicate color is rose quartz. Quartz manicure is actively gaining popularity, as it is not conspicuous, looks romantic and feminine, and is suitable for every day and with any clothes.

It is not easy to achieve the quartz effect on your nails on your own, so it is better to contact a master who has been practicing stone manicure for several days.

Manicure "Cat's eye"

This spectacular manicure technique has gained popularity in record time and is not going to give primacy to other types of stones. This is one of the youngest trends, which even a beginner can do. And the secret lies in the smallest metal particles added to the varnish and a thin magnet, which creates a radiant sheen.

There are a lot of colors of varnish with the “Cat's eye” effect, which once again proves its wild popularity. You can experiment as you please, create one clear vertical line along the nail, an oblique line, or several small ones.

Varnish and acrylic paints

nail polish of any color;
black acrylic paint, for example, from the Runail set;
a thin brush, for example, the same Runail Nail Art Nylon No. 000/3;
small container with water.

The varnish can be used without additional means - a fixative and a base, but their presence will help preserve the design a little longer.

Prepare your nails - do a manicure, apply color and wait until completely dry;
Squeeze a couple of drops of black acrylic paint onto a small piece of foil or plastic;
Wet the brush with water and pick up a little dye, wiping off the excess on the foil;
With light movements, begin drawing a marble pattern on your nails. A mixture of paint and water allows you to make not clear lines, with minor stains;
If desired, add a little sparkle to the pattern and wait for the marble to dry completely in the open air.

Painting with gel paint and pigments on gel polish

Manicure ideas with stones

Having looked at popular nail design techniques, let's move on to some ideas for fashionable manicure with stones that will be relevant for the period 2022. They are all made as standard with gel polish using different decor and patterns.

The simplest design involves laying out a strip of rhinestones and larger stones in a vertical stripe. To make the stones look beautiful and there are no glimpses of the dark color of the gel polish between them, use a glitter backing.

Don’t forget that nude finishes in a matte version remain trendy. They look great in combination with beautiful inlay. The result is a neutral and at the same time richly decorated design.

Considering the latest manicures from last winter, we highlighted designs that will be relevant in the coming winter. These are various snowflakes, made not with painting, but with the help of a beautiful arrangement of stones, half-beads and broths. It turns out to be a kind of symbiosis of drawing and inlay.

If we talk about a French jacket with stones, now almond and oval shapes with a slightly pointed smile line are in fashion. Since French design tends more toward the classics, it is decorated with some simple elements. For example, large rhinestones located on a shimmering path of sparkles.

Recently, inlay and transparent “liquid stones”, made in the form of some interesting designs, have become popular. The photo shows beetles and spiders, but it could very well be something romantic and girlish like flowers or hearts.

To make a beautiful manicure with a stone texture, you can add a little mica and create a pattern on a white translucent camouflage base. It will turn out tender and at the same time deep.

You can also add a metallic effect to a marble manicure by using silver or gold casting foil. As a novelty, you can try making marble in an unusual pink color and covering it with a matte finish.

Here's another idea for a silver texture on a stone or shell, which can be done using holographic transparent foil or prism pigment. Manicure is performed in several layers:

the first is to create a hologram effect,
the second – darker wet stains,
third - lighter stains,
fourth – drawing contours.

The last example of stone texture nails is a combination of blurred designs, sparkles and glitter. Shiny inclusions create a 3D effect and shimmer beautifully in the sun.

Such designs look best on a camouflage base.

Using dense polyethylene

base and top coat;
gel polish in gray or black;
a small piece of polyethylene - 10 by 10 will be enough. The polyethylene must be dense so that when compressed it forms edges and does not crumple into a lump.

Prepare the background for your future marble manicure by applying a base and a white background. Each layer is dried separately in a lamp;
Apply dark gel polish to the crumpled polyethylene;
Print the pattern from polyethylene onto your nail, dry it in a lamp and seal it with topcoat.

Deep black

One of the main trends for 2022-2023 will be black marble manicure. Dark nails harmonize perfectly with marble patterns of different tones. For example, women with refined taste should give preference to a combined design with a light pattern, and extravagant ladies will undoubtedly like variations with foil.

The top design for 2022-2023 is black marble nail art, decorated with gold, which can serve as additional elements or be used as a base.

Stamp for stamping

Using this method, you can create an imitation of malachite or amethyst on your nails. At the same time, special skills and abilities are not needed to implement such a manicure. This method can be used both at home and in beauty salons.

base and top coat;
gel polishes in three different shades, close to the colors of the selected stone. For malachite, for example, two dark shades of green and gray are used;
stamping stamp with a silicone pad;
liquid tape.

Before creating a pattern, do a manicure, cover your nails with a base and color.

Cover the skin around the nails with liquid tape;
Place a few drops of different gel polishes on the stamp. Don’t be afraid of mixing them - this is what will allow you to create a pattern close to the natural color of the stone;
Stamp the polish onto the nail, but not as in the stamping technique, but with short pressing movements, as if you were dabbing the nail plate. The varnishes will mix with each other and create a realistic stone print;
Remove the adhesive tape and dry your nails in a lamp and seal with topcoat.

If streaks have formed under the nail, remove them with an orange stick before polymerization.

Overview of stamping technology

Manicure with stones: malachite, granite and crystals

Who is this fashionable amulet suitable for and how does it look on the nails?

Natural stones have always been considered an effective amulet. Talismans brought beauty into a woman’s life and made her dreams come true. Malachite is responsible for the sensual sphere. Granite symbolizes refined sophistication. And crystals give us creative power.

A stone manicure can become your fashion amulet. The main thing is to place the accents on your nails correctly.

Malachite manicure

The stone from the fairy tale about the Mistress of the Copper Mountain has so many beautiful shades in life: from juicy black-green to delicate velvety emerald. Agree that it is difficult to choose just one. Dark green color will visually give a fresher look to your hands. Malachite manicure looks best on nails that are short and round in shape.

Granite design

Black or white granite looks strict but impressive on your hands. However, a solid black manicure can look theatrical on long nails. Save the idea for special occasions. Light granite is a laconic and everyday option without a touch of boredom.

Manicure with crystals

There are many ways to decorate your manicure with crystals without looking flashy like a Christmas tree. If you don’t want to attract too much attention to yourself, you can focus on a few nails.

Ideally, it will be one small crystal at the base of the nail. Crystals go well with any length and shape.

Fashionable nail designs imitating natural stones or decorated with crystals look exquisite if you choose the right color, length, shape and place accents.

Benefits of turquoise nail design

The best time for turquoise is summer: the holiday season, when bright colors are most organic. An aquamarine manicure will look especially impressive.
Turquoise looks great on short nails and even visually lengthens them.
Azure is good on its own, without decorative elements, which confirms its independence and self-sufficiency. This means that you don’t have to waste precious time decorating your nails with designs and rhinestones. You can apply a single-color coating and feel free to go outside.

Review of turquoise polishes

Nail polish Colorama, shade Winter freshness, Maybelline
© ozon
The varnish is quite liquid, but dries quickly. The brush is not as comfortable as I would like. The coating should be applied in two layers to avoid gaps.
Nail polish Color Riche, shade “French Riviera”, L'Oréal Paris
© rivegauche
The brush is very comfortable. The varnish applies well. The product has a gel texture that provides long-lasting, chip-free coverage and a glossy shine. For vibrant, rich color, apply in two coats.
Nail Polish, shade Turquoise and Caribbean, Essie
© wildberries
The varnish should be applied in 2-3 layers to avoid gaps. The brush is wide, which allows you to paint the nail plate in just a few strokes without dirtying the cuticle. Dries quite quickly. Manufacturers promise durability of at least five days.