Nail art with “negative space”, or, as they say in common parlance, transparent manicure, is not a new concept at all, but this does not mean that it is not relevant. The presented trend was noticed at Fashion Week, which was held in 2015 in New York, and since then it has been wandering from season to season, transforming and enriching itself with designs. Nowadays, transparent manicure with glitter is such a popular phenomenon that it can safely be called a trend.
Why is it so in demand?
Today there are a huge number of different manicure ideas. Some people believe that the brighter the nails, the more beautiful they are, and if you add rhinestones, they will even become a work of art. Others prefer laconicism and simplicity, so they choose something discreet but beautiful, for example, a transparent manicure with glitter. This is a tribute to fashion; many girls adore glossy magazines, follow trends, which means they cannot miss fashion trends in manicure.
Fashionable ideas for gray nail designs with glitter
As usual, any of our publications begins with a short overview of fashion trends for one or another type of manicure, and gray nail design was no exception. So, let's begin. First of all, what we would like to draw attention to is the fact that any shade of the palette can be used as a base for such a manicure, from dark to the lightest. It can be graphite or granite gray, the color of wet asphalt, steel, monsoon, French gray, ash, smoky, light gray and many other tones with no less original names. At the same time, gray varnishes combine wonderfully with other colors and get along with each other.
As for glitter, silvery particles are considered the constant leader. However, you can always experiment a little and decorate your nails, for example, with golden or black sparkling fragments. Among the current techniques are the unchanging classics of a single-color coating, original variations of the French manicure, lunar design, manicure with patterns, rhinestones and many other proposals. Next, let's talk about everything in order.
Advantages
The main advantages that you should pay attention to when choosing a manicure with clear varnish and glitter:
- The transparent base is an excellent opportunity for flight of fancy. You can choose any decoration, not just sparkles. True, sparkles on transparent nails look neat, cute and not provocative.
- The effect of well-groomed and clean nails is created.
- A transparent manicure with glitter is suitable for short nails, as well as for long ones. Its versatility is its main advantage.
- This manicure can be done quickly and easily; this is especially true for business girls who find it difficult to fit trips to salons into their busy schedule.
- The coating can be kept on the nails for a long time and will not be noticeable if they grow back.
- It's natural, which means it's fashionable.
- Any craftsman has a clear varnish in his arsenal.
Choosing a clear varnish
Choosing quality material is not so easy if you don’t know anything about its features. Before doing a transparent manicure with glitter, you should learn a little more about this type of varnish and what nuances to pay attention to when choosing it:
- Transparent varnish differs from colored varnish in terms of drying time and consistency. This is immediately obvious, so take this fact into account.
- The product must contain an ingredient called a film former. This component eliminates the possibility of chipping after the varnish has hardened.
- The photoinitiator is also an important component of the product. It is responsible for protecting the gel from ultraviolet radiation.
Interesting decorating ideas
Making a transparent manicure with glitter is not difficult, but you can diversify the design a little with interesting solutions. This is a fairly common design option for nails, because such a design is in no way tied to a specific event, image, or even time of year. Now there are a variety of transparent manicure ideas with glitter that are worth talking about:
- Decoration with glitter. These are shimmering sparkles of different sizes that look spectacular on short nails.
- Rhinestones. You can not only apply a little sparkle, but also complement the design with rhinestones in a scattered or ordered form, it all depends on your imagination. This is the perfect manicure for the New Year.
- Confetti. Sequins can emphasize individuality and add brightness to ordinary workdays. A beautiful option and very popular among young students.
- Pixie. This is an option for brave girls. These manicure glitters look a little like confetti. However, they are more pliable and have a unique geometric shape.
As you can see, there are a lot of creation options, and these are not all the ideas for transparent manicure with glitter, the main thing is to choose something that suits your style.
Manicure in gray tones with sparkles and rhinestones
We have already mentioned more than once in our publications about the harmonious combination of such decor as rhinestones and sparkles in manicure, so it would be a big omission not to decorate gray nails with such a masterpiece. Sparkling particles perfectly complement any type of design, be it extremely discreet minimalism, a design in a romantic style, or a manicure for an evening look. Decorate the smile of a Frenchman or the base of your nails with a pattern of rhinestones, add an accent stone and a scattering of shiny particles to the designs, highlight the nails on your ring finger with a sparkling composition - any of the examples looks great and will transform your manicure.
Unlike black, gray does not have such conservatism and depth, but this does not at all affect its popularity in the fashion world. Today, manicure design in gray tones is not only dozens of different design ideas, but also a stylish, fashionable addition to any female look. With such nails, no one will dare to call you a “gray mouse”, because such nail design ideas are worthy of the queen herself.
How to make an interesting manicure yourself?
There are a few simple shortcuts worth mentioning. Here's how to add variety to your marigolds:
- The easiest way is a transparent manicure with glitter on the tips. Just apply the polish to the nail, and then use a brush to spread dry glitter on the edges of the nail. Secure everything with a second coat of varnish.
- Another application option. Dip a brush already moistened with varnish into glitter and transfer this entire mass to the nail.
- The third method is a little different. Paint your nails with clear polish and apply large and medium-sized glitter with a toothpick or thin stick.
- Apply clear polish to the desired part of the nail, and then dip your finger in a jar of glitter, they will stick to the part of the nail you need.
Now it’s worth talking about the detailed creation of a manicure with glitter on transparent gel polish. The simplest option is to apply not a dry material, but a liquid colorless base with glitter or dust. Such varnishes are often sold, it is not difficult to buy them. Here's how you can use them:
- Get a manicure and give your nails the shape you want. First apply primer to your nails, then cover them with a transparent base, then dry them in a lamp for a certain time.
- Choose the color of the nail polish base with glitter, apply it in one or several layers, it all depends on the quality of the material. Do not forget to dry each layer under the lamp for the prescribed time.
- The last stage is applying the top so that the surface of the nail is glossy or matte (it all depends on your personal preferences or mood). The top also needs to be dried under a lamp.
This is the simplest manicure that anyone can do, even if they have no experience with gel polishes.
How to make a manicure with shiny stripes?
This is a very unusual and stylish manicure option that will suit every girl, no matter whether her nails are short or long. First, you will need to do a simple manicure, apply a transparent coating to your nails, and then move on to creating shiny stripes:
- You should have a special adhesive shiny tape in your arsenal. It should lie flat on the nail, not peel off, or rise.
- Simply cut off the excess tape, but do it carefully, because scissors can lift the edge of the strip.
- Glue the decor so that you stretch the tape a little. First, you should apply it to the center on a convex point, and then distribute it as convenient for you, pulling it lightly along the edges.
- Carefully cut the tape as needed and complete the manicure by applying a top coat.
This is how you get a beautiful manicure with a clear finish and shiny stripes.
How to properly apply dry glitter to gel polish?
If you have small, dry glitter, then the simplest option is the following: first do a manicure, apply a colorless coating and a modeling layer, and then dip your nail in a jar of glitter. Excess can be easily removed by tapping the nail on a hard surface, and then you will need to immediately apply a top coat. This method is ideal if you need to cover the entire surface of the nail.
There is another way to apply dry glitter:
- After the manicure is done and the nail plate is covered with a base and modeling layer, you will need to dry the nails in a lamp.
- Apply the main pigment in several layers, dry everything under the lamp.
- Now apply a thick layer of fancy-shaped gel polish, do not dry it, but carefully sprinkle it with glitter, and only then send your nails to the lamp.
- Excess glitter is simply tapped, then top coat is applied.
As you can see, if you spend a little time and effort, you can create a beautiful and unique design with different patterns and sparkles.
Step-by-step instructions for applying glitter
It’s easy to create a feeling of celebration if you follow a certain sequence of actions. Before starting the manipulation you must:
- Prepare your nail plates - you need to apply shiny polish to a well-done manicure. Otherwise, on shaggy cuticles or nails of different lengths, the sparkling coating will look ridiculous and careless.
- Prepare tools - everything you need should be at hand.
- The nail plate must be degreased, primer and base applied, and painted with gel polish. All operations alternate with drying under an ultraviolet lamp.
- Cover your nails with top coat and, while the surface is still wet, apply shimmering decor. Shiny shellac requires more careful handling - the delicate coating can be damaged by metal tools. Brush off excess glitter with a soft brush.
- After applying the shimmering particles, they are covered with a top coat. Otherwise, the surface will remain uneven and will cling to clothes. In addition, the topcoat will preserve your manicure for a long time and give it a finished look.
A shellac manicure with glitter looks great on both short and long nails.
What tools are used to apply glitter?
To create the sparkling beauty of well-groomed hands, you must first do a neat manicure. For this you will need:
- various scissors;
- files;
- buff;
- cuticle nippers.
Then apply the coating using:
- degreaser;
- primer;
- clinser;
- base, gel polish or shellac and top coat.
In this case, you cannot do without an LED lamp. The shiny particles themselves are applied with an orange stick, dots, tweezers, or brush. The choice of tool depends on the size of the glitter. If this is a powder version, then you can’t do without a brush to shake off excess coating. Perhaps the master will suggest dipping your sticky nail into sparkling dust.
Options for combining sparkles
A hot new product for the coming season will be nail designs that are simultaneously coated with shellac with glitter of various sizes. You can apply large glitter particles on one nail, microshimmer on the other two, and sprinkle dry medium-sized glitter particles on the other two. A manicure will certainly attract the attention of others.
Interesting ideas for the holiday
If you are thinking about what kind of manicure to do for the New Year, then here are some original ideas with a transparent coating and glitter:
- An original idea now is to decorate one or more nails with sparkles; on the remaining nails you can draw snowflakes.
- French manicure in the form of a shiny iridescent line on a transparent base.
- Highlighting the iridescent decor with shiny varnish.
- Drawing different designs, lines and patterns with glitter.
- Ombre. This is a gradual reduction in the application of glitter dust.
Types of glitter
Nail artists use different types of glitter to create shimmering designs. They differ not only in the shape of the shimmering particles, but also in the consistency of the material and its method of use.
More photos and publications: Plain manicure for 2022 - fashion trends with photos
There are dry glitters - glitters, kamifubuki, mica, hexagons, Yucca flakes. They are glued to the applied transparent or colored coating, after which they are polymerized in a lamp. There are liquid glitters: liquid mica gel polish, shiny gel paint. They are applied with a separate brush to the already dried coating, then dried in a lamp.
Small sparkles
Small shiny elements create a dense, shiny coating. Due to the small particle size, it turns out to be less multifaceted and calmer. This makes the design with small sparkles suitable for everyday wear.
Small sparkles can be used as a drawing material. With their help, you can draw monograms and curls, fill holes, and draw a line of a free edge. A French manicure with a shiny tip is very feminine and sophisticated.
Large sparkles
The larger the glitter, the more eye-catching the design will be. Glitter with large shiny elements can be used to create a festive design. If you want to use it for everyday wear, it is better to combine a minimum of colors in the design. The best option is a transparent coating and glitter, without the use of additional decor and colored gel polishes.
A moderate design with large glitter can be achieved if you apply it to only 1 – 2 fingers.
Round glitter
Round sequins called kamifubuki allow you to create a confetti-style design. Even on a transparent background, kamifubuki look quite bright and catchy, since the shimmering elements are large in size and have multi-color tints.
In design, it is important to have a sense of proportion and not to overdo it with decor. Kamifubuki are self-sufficient and do not mix well with other decorative elements.
Square sequins
An unusual result can be achieved by using square sparkles in your design. They can be successfully used in geometric designs. Their correct shape will allow them to harmoniously complement geometric designs.
It is also important to observe moderation here so that the sparkles become an interesting addition to the design, and not its main accent.
Glitter straws
An imitation of shiny cobwebs or Christmas tree tinsel can be created using glitter straws. They look like thin and short metal threads packed in small jars. Loose glitter is applied to the uncured coating, after which it is polymerized in a lamp. By changing the density of glitter application, you can achieve different effects.
Other forms
In addition to the above options, you can find sparkles of other shapes on sale: stars, hearts, droplets, triangles. For aquarium and abstract designs, you can use sparkles of chaotic, unequal shapes, for example, Yucca flakes.
Don't limit yourself to just one type of glitter. You can combine shiny elements of different shades and shapes in your design. This will give it depth and make it more impressive.
What to do with short nails?
If you have short nails, this does not mean that manicure is contraindicated for you. On the contrary, well-groomed hands are always held in high esteem! In addition, excessive length of nails is not in fashion now, and short nails can be easily decorated with taste if you put in a little effort. An excellent solution is a manicure on a transparent background, complemented with rhinestones, sparkles or various decorative elements.
Delicate designs made with sparkles look great on short nails. Flowers, branches, leaves, and cobwebs stand out especially clearly. Sequined lace trim looks interesting and elegant.
Transparent manicure with kamifubiks - a new trend
Sparkles can be completely different components. Kamifubuki is now actively used in manicure. These glittery confetti create a great mood and look great in the evening lighting. Attaching kamifubuki is not difficult, so you can do this nail art yourself. Kamifubuki themselves are made from the thinnest foil or plastic films. The most popular shape is a circle, but confetti in the form of thin stripes, stars or hearts are popular.
French manicure design ideas
We are sure that all fashionistas, without emphasis on age category, can only characterize French manicure on the positive side, since for many decades this particular nail design has not left the leaderboards and perfectly adapts to fashion trends. Depending on the mood and preferences of the young lady, such a design of nail plates can be an ideal addition to both everyday and evening looks, and a French jacket with glitter is a direct confirmation of this. You can use decorative material of any color, shape and structure. These could be sparkling lunulae, gradient style stretching and other proposals. The designers were especially interested in the non-standard application of the smile line. An envelope, an oblique smile, a double smile, a drawing or an unfinished smile made with the help of small sparkling particles in this case can be called a “trick” of nail design in 2022.
How to make your own glitter polish?
If desired, every girl can create glitter polish at home. To do this, you will need to take transparent varnish and loose glitter of various sizes: take more large ones, smaller ones - medium ones, and very few - small ones. Mix everything thoroughly. That's all, the varnish is ready. In this simple way, you can create your own designs by mixing all kinds of glitter colors with each other, however, you should be able to combine shades so that your nails look elegant and not flashy.
This option is available to every girl, while it is also budget-friendly and gives free rein to fantasy and imagination.
Recommendations from professionals
If you have done a transparent manicure with a matte top, then do not forget to wash dishes only with gloves. In addition, with such nails you should be extremely careful: you should not get face or body cream on your nails, because the matte varnish will quickly deteriorate and will not be expressive.
Don’t forget that now not only matte nail art is in fashion, but also glossy. It can be presented in different ways in the form of minimalistic patterns or in a complex way in the form of a “broken glass” manicure, rubbing powder, and so on.
Dark gray nail art with glitter
The main feature of a gray manicure using dark tones is expressiveness. This, of course, is not comparable to the brightness of blue or red nail art, but for a harmonious image you still have to take care of softening the shades, especially if they are as close to black as possible. As in the previous example, the coating can be monochromatic, with shiny accents on one or more fingers. The matte texture in this case looks especially chic. Among the attractive ideas are manicure design “different hands” using several colors of varnish, manicure with clearly drawn geometric shapes, nails with glitter and rubbing, “knitted” patterns on a shiny base, as well as all sorts of combined variations, for example, a French twist with glitter or design with gel web.
