Foam manicure: how to make bubble nail design

Foam manicure is a type of textured design that, with its simplicity, fits perfectly into the general trend of nail minimalism. As soon as they call it: snake skin, crocodile skin, mermaid tail, lava, lunar craters. Masters agree on only one thing - it’s fast, simple, incredibly stylish and, best of all, suitable for absolutely all ages and occupations. Today we will tell you about all the subtleties and life hacks of bubble nails manicure, which has become so popular that it threatens to seriously displace traditional winter design methods and become the most popular New Year's nail outfit.

Photo author: @_teodora_atanasova_/Photo author: @sheva.nail

Textured foam manicure: history of the trend

Original nail decoration with imitation of natural textures or animalistic textures (reptile skin or fish scales) is not a new topic in nail art. But foam nails are the simplest and most accessible technique for beginners to create a spectacular and trendy look. If previously experienced craftsmen used natural snake skin, imitated lava and mermaid tails using 4D gels, combined thick tops, gels and sprinkling with acrylic or glitter to create patterns (and beginners with little experience resorted to stamping or thematic sliders), now the most A simple mono manicure takes a minimum of time and effort, and looks just as attractive as painstaking work that takes many hours.

Photo by: @dze_manik

The general theme in the nail industry in 2022 is a return to naturalness, simplicity, minimalism, as well as a promise to combine techniques (using several trendy ways to decorate natural or extended nails in one look). And the trend for manicure with improvised means - the most common soap foam, which in the form of soap for cleansing the hands of a master or client is present in the office of any nail artist - fits perfectly into these two contradictory directions. Depending on the artist’s inspiration, the client’s imagination and the availability of the necessary varieties of decorative materials at hand, nails in any state of health can be presented with a unique outfit that will give not only a lot of good mood, but also a sea of compliments.

Photo by: @stylowypazur_official

Like any other technique, bubble nails have their advantages and disadvantages, important points and life hacks that you need to know about before offering this design to a client or trying it on yourself. Let's take a closer look at the features of the new trend.

Pros and cons of textured bubble nails

The trend for bubble nails has spread so rapidly and contagiously precisely because it has a lot of advantages compared to other nail techniques.

Let's look at the advantages of this new and at the same time well-forgotten old design:

This decoration option is perfect for nails of any length and shape.

On short nails, the design looks like textured stone beads, which will appeal to clients who prefer the unity of manicure and favorite jewelry made from natural materials. However, this image looks most impressive at a length of medium and above. If the client’s natural nails cannot boast of flexibility, strength, or strong length, it is worth resorting to strengthening (base and acrylic powder or a duo of rigid and elastic bases, such as Structure Rigid element base and Structure Elastic element base from the ONIQ brand). Another way to flaunt good length and trendy nails is to get nail extensions using acrylic, gel or polygel. If you choose colored polygel or acrylic with glitter for extensions, the artist will no longer need to use additional decorations, and the final design will look modest, elegant and quite office-appropriate;

Photo by: @asiagrandinelli/Photo by: @karpinchik_paris

The design, made in compliance with technology, does not cause discomfort when worn and does not cling to clothing.

Despite the fact that the surface of the nail is ribbed and not completely smooth, foam nails are easy to care for, maintaining the beauty of the manicure right up to correction. Contaminants that get into the design/pattern are easily washed out with water, regardless of whether they are made with a matte or glossy topcoat;

When performing a manicure, the master is not limited in the choice of tools in order to polish the nails quickly and at the same time beautifully.

Tips-sticks for applying foam, bottles of foam for washing with a special dispenser, cups for acrylic liquids for diluting the soap base in water are used.
It is also possible to apply foam with a fan brush (makeup brush). And if the foam turns out to be as dense as possible, then to save time you can apply it directly with gloved fingers. Photo author: @anastasia_nails48/Photo author: @usti_na

As for the downsides, these include the following:

foam nails - a design involving about 4-5 layers of material on the nails.

This means that the client’s nails must either be in good condition initially, or prepared for wearing a multi-layered look, so as not to suffer at home or at work;

if you forget the stage of “combing” the texture (when the prickliness of the dried top is removed with a buff or nippers), such a design will be uncomfortable for the client to wear (it will cling to clothes, hair, and may leave scratches on the skin;
Despite the apparent simplicity, you need to maintain a balance of correctly applying foam to the almost finished design.

Photo by: @kittycia_/Photo by: @za_anneta_nails_ridder

The beauty of foam nails is ensured by the even distribution of foam. It should lie in a uniform layer, covering the area both at the cuticle and at the free edge. If the foam does not reach the cuticle, you will end up with an unaesthetic indentation. And if the free edge is not covered, the visual integrity of the textured surface is violated. In this case, the indentation should be no more than a millimeter so that the top with foam does not flow into the subcuticle pocket when drying in the lamp.

the master works at speed. It is better to create a foam texture one nail at a time, since the bubbles quickly collapse and there is a risk of not having time to dry them in foam form.

How to create this beautiful design quickly and correctly, avoiding possible disadvantages and experiencing only the advantages? Let's look at a step-by-step manicure using the simplest options - foam nails stylized as frozen lava and rubbed foam.

Colors

A lot depends on the right color. But we can’t say that some shades are suitable for New Year’s manicure on almond-shaped nails, while others are not. If you choose the right color combination, even a simple design will look very impressive. And it can be either a classic festive red and gold tandem, or something completely unexpected.

Reds

A high-quality red manicure for long almonds looks chic in itself, even a plain one without additional decorations.

If you want something bright, but not too complicated, you can add sparkles in the form of glitter or a reflective jacket.

For lovers of bright New Year's designs for almond nails, the scarlet palette is ideal. After all, this color goes with all shades:

red and gold;

red and white;

red-black;

red-silver;

red-green;

red-blue.

Rhinestones, sparkles and other decors are great for any combination. The main thing to remember is that red is a very bright and strong color and not to overdo it with decoration. Otherwise, a stylish New Year's manicure will turn into tasteless.

Burgundy

Burgundy color is almost red, but more subdued and calm. Some designs with it look even more interesting than with defiant scarlet.

Black

Black manicure for the New Year is not gloomy and sad, but stylish and impressive. All the designs and sparkles on it look very bright and contrasting.

Gold

Gold on nails is almost a classic. Even those who consider a golden manicure pretentious and provocative can afford a golden nail on New Year's Eve.

This New Year's manicure looks equally impressive on both long nails and relatively short ones.

Pastel

Pastel shades add tenderness and tranquility to New Year's manicure. These tones are suitable for those who do not want a noisy holiday, preferring a quiet, cozy evening with loved ones.

Beige

A nude manicure is usually performed in beige color. But this does not mean that this shade is only suitable for nude and minimalism.

On a beige background you can get a very impressive New Year's manicure. The main thing is to add a couple of bright accents and successfully choose the design and length of the almond.

Greens

Green is another traditional New Year's color. Emerald shades can serve as a background for other designs or be used for decoration.

White

White is the main color of winter. Snowy shades are used both as a single-color coating and in the most common designs: French, gradient, etc.

Another plus of a white New Year's manicure is that this shade suits any color and style.

Silver

A completely silver manicure is quite rare.

Silver often serves as a bright accent for other gel polishes. After all, this tone is universal and perfectly suited for winter.

Blue

Blue has become a hit this season! The bright and rich shade was able to displace even classic red. New Year's designs in this tone look no less chic and impressive.

Blue

Blue New Year's manicure with almonds looks more gentle and calm. Subtle frosty patterns harmonize wonderfully with this shade, creating truly winter coziness.

Pink

Some girls consider pink a shade of warmth and spring, but this is not true at all. This color can also be winter. The main thing is to use muted powdery tones, they will help create a delicate New Year's manicure.

The main advantage of pink color is that it is suitable for both short and long almond-shaped nails.

Lava foam manicure technology

Photo author: @kirichenko_nails/Photo author: @markelova__darina

Complete preliminary preparation of the nail is performed: a hardware manicure with a machine or a combined manicure using clippers. If lengthening is not intended, a degreaser and then an acid-free primer are applied to the nails with the gloss removed;
Nails are covered with a base. Depending on the intended image, this can be a camouflage tint base (used as an independent color coating), a strengthening rubber base, or a duo of hard and elastic classic bases. The material is applied in one layer and polymerized in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations for the prescribed time in a hybrid, UV or LED lamp;
The selected color gel polish coating is applied to the nails in 1-2 layers. This can be a monochromatic manicure in a dark color palette, or a delicate lava in a nude color palette (chocolate stylized with bubbles), or a daring disco-neon lava. When choosing a material, you should give preference to the most pigmented material (ideally, use a dense single-layer);
After drying the gel polish in a lamp, the sticky layer is removed from it, and a matte top coat without stickiness is applied in one thin layer to ensure the wearability of the finished design. The top is dried in a lamp;
Apply the second layer of matte top very thinly with a semi-dry brush. Doesn't dry out! Soap foam is applied to the selected nail (or to all nails in turn), after which the nail is immediately placed in a lamp for polymerization;
Use a paper towel to blot off any remaining foam. A lint-free cloth soaked in cleanser is used to treat the surface of the nail with a foam pattern;
There is no need to cover the design with a third layer of topcoat. If, after drying, particles of the top coat remain with sharp edges or there are flaws in the polymerized top foam in the area of the cuticle and side ridges, this can be removed with nippers or smoothed out with a soft buff. The buff needs to be strictly soft, so as not to cut off the entire textured effect, and so that the nail is slightly smoothed and not scratchy. Movements of the buff on the nail should be light and smooth;
The classic version of lava nails does not require the use of additional decor. But if desired, matte lava nails (if only part of the nail is decorated with foam) can be supplemented with rhinestones, broths or “Spiderweb” gel paint.

Photo author: @korkhovam/Photo author: @manikur_v_pushkino

Foam manicure technology - rubbing under foam

Repeat steps 1-3 of the previous design. We choose a dark (black) gel polish to make the design look as spectacular as possible;
Such a spectacular image as a foam rub looks most expressive when the base (gel polish) is applied using the “under the cuticle” technique. This allows you to wear such manicured beauty longer without losing aesthetics while the natural nail grows smoothly;
The selected mirror rub is rubbed onto the dried top without stickiness - with a gloved finger or an applicator. Depending on the type of rubbing, the top can be cold (completely cooled) or hot (immediately after the lamp) at the time of rubbing. In this case, the rub can be applied both to gel polish (and then the nails are covered with foam) and to foam bubbles after drying in a lamp. Before applying the foam and drying the top with foam in a lamp, the manicure should be completely prepared: brush off the rub-in with a brush (brush), buff the ends of the nails to seal the rub-in with a second layer of top coat;
After polymerization of the foam in the lamp, the remaining foam is blotted with a napkin, the nail is wiped with a cleanser, and the surface with the pattern is carefully buffed. If the client wishes, the design can be supplemented with additional decorative elements.

Photo author: @karrina_bg_nails/Photo author: @natalykashtanova

While practicing to create one or another type of foam design, nail artists noted several important recommendations, following which the chances of creating absolutely irresistible foam nails increase significantly. Here are some of the most significant lifehacks when performing a Bubbles Nails manicure.

Contrast bubble openwork manicure 2020-2021

Openwork patterns of foam manicure look more expressive if you create this design using different shades. Bubble nails can be made in different colors. To do this, it is better to apply the top ball of the selected color in the thinnest layer.

How to choose the right materials for foam design

Selecting a top
.

The top used in this manicure should not be very thick, otherwise the design will turn out to be in the form of huge lunar craters, which are not comfortable to wear and tend to cling to everything. A top of medium consistency or liquid is better, but do not forget to apply the finish in a very thin layer. If you go too far with the thickness of the top layer, the resulting rough edges from drying the foam in the lamp will cause discomfort in life;

Choosing color gel polish
.

When choosing a color base, it is better to choose single-layer coatings, since the design ends up being multi-layered. The lighter the final look, the more comfortable and pleasant it is to wear;

Selecting foam bubble size
.

To obtain a pattern with small cells (bubbles), the foam base, diluted in water, must be shaken for a long time and vigorously until small, dense bubbles form.
If you shake lightly and briefly, large air bubbles will form. The most stable and uniform bubbles are obtained if they are diluted from water and ordinary ready-made soap bubbles. Photo by: @macanailart/Photo by: @maniilandia

What is bubble manicure

Bubble manicure got its name from the English word bubble, which means “bubble”. The designer who came up with this creative idea and who remains unknown for certain, was inspired by the appearance of bubble gum. The essence of this type of manicure is to make the nails voluminous, giving them a round shape, reminiscent of a swollen bubble of chewing gum.

To realize the idea, acrylic is used: the master applies it layer by layer to the nail plate and dries it. After applying an n-number of layers, the nail becomes round and voluminous.

Types of bubble nails. Top 10 most spectacular variations of trendy manicure

Fashionable foam manicure allows the master to create without limiting the flight of imagination. You can use absolutely all decorative coatings, bulk decor and materials for painting, casting, sculpting, as well as to create the effect of volume and depth. Let's look at the most popular options for making foam nails according to Youtube and Instagram craftswomen.

Lava nails (pumice nails)
. This design involves the use of only a matte topcoat. Additionally, the image is not decorated with anything and, for greater stylistic similarity, is executed in a monocolor version. The top of the marigolds is not additionally fixed with a top, so that the effect of the textured natural surface does not disappear.

Photo by: @alla_nails/Photo by: @shimmer_beauty_studio

Photo by: @lolka_nail_art/Photo by: @marafet_nails_art

Foam rub
. At the request of the client (and the inspiration of the master), absolutely any rubbing can be used. Rubs that imitate precious metals or stones look especially chic. But if the idea allows, you can use the most delicate options (pearl rubs) or creative decor (rubs “”). Have you accumulated rubs in your decor arsenal that are not pleasing with their visual graininess? Don't be afraid to use them for this look! With additional fixation with a top and foam, the shortcomings of dry decor will be reliably hidden in the original image.

Photo author: @lidiya_wownails/Photo author: @nogti_service_05

Photo by: @nastroenie.nails/Photo by: @rknails___

Foam "cat"
. This type of bubble marigold is the second most popular after rubbing! Because the look combines one of the most favorite coatings - “Kitty” gel polishes (with even a 5D effect), and 2 trendy techniques at once - “foam manicure” and “volumetric highlight”. If you want to perform a manicure using the combination of 2 techniques, do not forget to acquire powerful magnets for playing with metal particles in the thickness of the gel polish coating. And if you don’t have ready-made “cats”, mix your favorite gel polish with magnetic rubbing!

Photo author: @victoria_ikki/Photo author: @legeyda.olga

Photo author: @aksenova_toma_nails/Photo author: @elena_muzika_nail

Foil under foam
. Another spectacular nail decor that goes well with foam (and evokes associations with molten or solidifying lava) is glossy or matte foil. It is preferable to use a one-color decor without a pattern, since the pattern under the bubbles will be difficult to distinguish. If the image allows you to complement the textured design with drawing gel paints or gel pastes, this can be done either on neighboring fingers, or done using the same beautiful product as the “Cobweb” gel paint (in the classic version, or “cobweb” metallic ").

Photo author: @tatarnikova_kogalym/Photo author: @heavenlynailsbypatrycja

Photo by: @_nails_mary_/Photo by: @heavenlynailsbypatrycja

Colored foam on a contrasting base
(“canvas” is made of contrasting gel polishes applied in layers). The foam is applied in this way not on the top covering the selected gel polish, but on the second color of the gel polish (not dried). This flirty design evokes associations with openwork lace (veil) and is perfect for those who do not like to combine texture with additional decor, but want to see an interesting twist in the finished design. Such “foamy” nails look attractive both in a rough lava design and with the perfect highlight of a glossy top.

Photo author: @nails_elena_od_ua/Photo author: @olesianails_korolev

Photo author: @nail_shellac_minsk/Photo author: @jal.nailartist

Foam and rhinestone inlay
. With a certain selection of colors, bubble manicure is visually very reminiscent of sea corals, which love to show off on nails paired with artificial pearls, bright broths and a fashionable girl’s best friends - artificial diamonds. Rhinestones can be either flat or conical. The main thing is that they combine beautifully with the texture of the foam, do not draw attention to themselves, and match the color of the main shade of the gel polish.

Photo author: @liza.kushnarevich/Photo author: @goodilina_anastasiya

Photo author: @_nailslabelle_/Photo author: @nailstylist_ninakonnik

Neon foam
. In a certain sense, foam nails are a kind of shocking nail art, and therefore bold natures choose the daring duo of lava foam and neon coatings (or neon pigments). With such an explosion of color and its spectacular frame, your hands will definitely not be left unnoticed! And they will lift your spirits for a long time with their beauty.

Photo by: @pro_nails_berezoof/Photo by: @katrin_beauty_style

Smooth foam
(aquarium bubble nails). Girls who cannot imagine their image without a breathtakingly beautiful perfect highlight on their nails, as well as those who prefer ease of wear in nail design, choose foam under the reliable fixation of a glossy top. This image loses its natural originality (texture), but gains in durability and wearing comfort. Quite often, this type of foam on nails is supplemented with sliders, flexible tapes, and 3D decor.

Photo author: @tatiana_paraso4ka/Photo author: @nataliavolkova_nail

Photo by: @sokol_nails_master/Photo by: @vilutevilute

French foam, “moon” foam or foam patterns
. Both modest women and fashionistas will find the ideal option for themselves in the variety of foam looks. Include foam in your favorite nude or creative French manicure, use it to make painting on your nails voluminous and “alive”, play with abstractions, ethnicity and geometry (decorating the hole or side edges of the nail with foam)! A soapy “trick” in your favorite design will help you fall in love with it with renewed vigor, and the master will not sigh when you meet: “Well, they’ve come for a French jacket again!”

Photo by: @eolin.nails/Photo by: @aseevanail24

Photo author: @nailolgasaenko/Photo author: @mani_maniaczka

Foam with 3D decor
. Molding and three-dimensional painting, a recent hit - the “Tear of a Unicorn” design, also coexist perfectly with foam in one design. Openwork bubbles in a contrasting color or the same color as the gel polish base will beautifully highlight liquid metal, 3D sliders, and favorite figures/flowers/ornaments. In such a manicure, the main thing is to ensure that the accent smoothly balances between the two leading nail decoration techniques. Otherwise, the newest trend will not be revealed in all its charm.

Photo author: @darya_kamenskih/Photo author: @irinakaraustova

Photo author: @_ekaterina.zhukova_/Photo author: @ok.sana3676

Stylish nail art ideas

Nail designs with bouillons have a completely unusual and unique voluminous style. You are absolutely free to choose color compositions and patterns. Use your imagination and realize all your manicure ideas with broths. Let's look at some cool ideas for creative inspiration.

You can decorate all your nails or focus on one. It is not at all necessary to limit yourself to broths of one tone. A color mix will make your nail design more cheerful. You can decorate each finger in a certain shade. Don't be afraid to mix different colored broths. Rainbow compositions will cheer up not only you, but also those around you.

Try to diversify your nail design with voluminous designs, ornaments and patterns, or add rhinestones. Believe me, such nail art will not go unnoticed! You can verify this by enjoying the colorful photos of manicures with broths.

The design of nails with small balls will perfectly complement various types of manicure. The classic French jacket can get a new lease of life. Decorate the tip of your nail with a scattering of broths, and your manicure will sparkle with new colors. Microbeads will look great in combination with various patterns. When performing a manicure using stamping, add some zest to the design in the form of small “caviar”. In the photo you can see different variations of colorful compositions.

In conclusion, we invite you to watch a video from which you will get 4 interesting ideas for a bright manicure. By the way, the author of this video applies caviar to nails in a very original way. Enjoy watching, dear girls!

Foam nails and classic nail polishes

Unfortunately, not all nail fashionistas can constantly wear gel polish without interruptions, or are generally forced to make a choice in favor of weekly gel polishes or classic nail polishes due to an allergy to gel polish.
But even such restrictions will not prevent you from being on the crest of manicure fashion and delighting yourself with a foam manicure. Is it possible to decorate polishes with foam, and will such a manicure be wearable? Find answers and options for lacquer-foam design in the video master class presented below. Author of the video: Nails Nails As for the wearability of such an image, you can only find out in practice. A mixture of varnish, water foam without fixation with a top coat and even with the most reliable finishes for weekly gel polishes, of course, will not show the same phenomenal durability as a gel polish manicure. However, it will allow you to change your look more often and “bring to light” your entire arsenal of varnish coatings.

Armed with theory and choosing an image you like, reinforce your knowledge with visual learning. We have selected for you the most informative reviews of the new manicure trend that will help resolve all possible difficulties and questions when trying to perform foam nails.

Photo author: @tatyana_nailsmaster/Photo author: @nogotochki_saratov64

How to do a manicure with broths at home

To create this type of manicure you will need the following materials:

Base coat (if you use gel polish)
orange stick
Base polish (regular polish or gel polish in your favorite color)
Jar of bouillon (small balls)
Paper
Top coat or special sealer

The process of creating a design with bouillons:

First you need to prepare your nail. You need to start by removing the cuticle and giving the desired shape to the nail plate. You can simply use an orange stick to push back the cuticles and apply an emollient to them.
The second stage always involves carefully thinking through a stylish design. A well-thought-out drawing eliminates the possibility of various unforeseen undesirable results for a beginner.
Apply base coat and wait until completely dry.
Applying a simple polish or gel polish of a suitable color. After this, we begin to carefully lay out the broths. This is where you need a sheet of paper. Place a sheet of paper and lay out the beads, scooping them out with an orange stick. Gently press them onto the nail with your finger and straighten the edges with an orange stick. Afterwards you need to remove the excess with a soft brush. It may not work out neatly the first time, but over time you will get used to working with such unusual bulk material.
We apply a fixative glue or a top coat (this can be a clear varnish). You need to cover the nail with a completely thick layer. It will take a long time to dry, but your beads will be securely attached.

This manicure will look chic and very unusual. No one will definitely forget your image.

Step-by-step photo - how to make a manicure with broths with your own hands

And now a step-by-step photo tutorial with a detailed overview of how to create a good and correct manicure with small beads.

Step by step unique design technique.

Video lessons “manicure with broths” (master class)

On YouTube you can watch thousands of master classes and video lessons for free from various masters of the nail industry (Svetlana Sokolova, Masha Krit, Anastasia Daylida, etc.).

Let's start watching the most interesting video ideas.

The simplest option

2. Beautiful hearts

3. Caviar manicure

4. Design in combination with stones and rhinestones

Share with your friends!

Read us in the Zen channel

Starfall

Space manicure is trendy today. Girls paint entire constellations on their nails. Manicure with kamifubuki 2022 can be very different. Silver or gold stars on a black or dark blue background will help create a real night sky.

Gray elements on a snow-white base look amazing. Such an interesting composition also deserves attention. This manicure can be worn every day, combining it with different wardrobe items.

A design with contrasting elements will attract attention, but it is better to use kamifubuki for 2-3 nails. A scattering of bright stars in rich colors goes perfectly with the pastel background. For these purposes, choose ash-gray, beige or pink shades.

New Year's version

Glittery confetti is in demand when creating a bright image. They are perfect for the holidays. Sparkling circles accentuate one finger or decorate everything with a beautiful scattering.

It’s easy to do a New Year’s manicure with kamifubuki. Shiny elements are laid out in the form of snowflakes, creating abstract patterns and compositions with Christmas trees. The background can be almost anything, it all depends on the desired effect. Select a base to match the outfit or accessories. Mother-of-pearl, holographic elements under the topcoat layer shimmer in different colors.

To complement the festive look, fashionistas use different options. You can choose a matte base with round glitter. For decoration, use a light or dark background, and choose different or the same size peas.

Coating

Also, when choosing a New Year's manicure, you should pay attention to the topcoat. The same design covered with a matte or glossy top will look completely different.

Glossy

New Year is a bright and brilliant holiday. Therefore, New Year's tonsils are often performed in gloss.

Matte

Matte manicure looks more fashionable and stylish. But it has two significant drawbacks:

such a coating wears off much faster and takes on an untidy appearance;
This design shows all the alignment flaws. If you have doubts about the level of professionalism of your own master, it is better to choose gloss.

But it’s worth noting that New Year’s almond manicures are usually not completely matte. More often, nails are selectively covered with gloss or bright accents are added in the form of rhinestones or sparkles.