Mirror manicure 75 photos: how to do it at home with a mirror rub

There are several ways to create a mirror manicure at home: use varnish with a holographic effect, loose glitter, flash tattoos and rubbing. We talk in detail about each of the methods - and offer step-by-step and photo instructions.

Any coating should begin with a manicure. Watch our training video that will put everything in its place.

Mirror manicure with gel polish and rubbing

A mirror finish on nails created using rubbing (shiny powder of different shades and density) is still one of the most fashionable trends in manicure. In the fall-winter 2021-2022, “chrome” nails, for example, were chosen by Mulberry nail stylists (we wrote in more detail about other trends of this season here).

If you want to create a mirror manicure using a rub-in, you will need gel polish and everything you need to cover it. What should be the sequence of actions?

If there is old gel coating left on the nails, it must be removed. Those who do not have time to go to the salon can do it at home. But keep in mind: to remove the coating without damaging the nail plate, you will need at least an hour.
Remove the gel polish first from one hand, then from the other. To do this, you will need foil, special silicone caps for removing gel polish, cotton pads and gel polish remover (you can use any acetone-based nail polish remover instead).

Wrap your fingers in foil and keep in this state for at least 25 minutes. When the old gel polish comes off, remove it with a pusher or an orange stick. To avoid injuring the nail plate, work with it carefully, without pressing too hard.

Get your nails manicured and degreased. Apply gel polish base and cure under a UV lamp for two minutes.

Apply two layers of burgundy or wine-colored gel polish to your nails (you can use Essie Gel Couture long-lasting gel polish in shade 370 “On the Hook”) - it’s in fashion this fall. Dry each layer under a UV lamp for two minutes.

Apply the top coat without a sticky layer in two layers to all nails - dry each one under a UV lamp for two minutes.

Take your nails out from under the lamp and, while they are hot, instantly apply the rub - use an eyeshadow sponge to do this.

The hotter the nail plate is, the brighter and richer the rub will look. On a light background it will resemble pearls, on a dark background it will resemble a cosmic sky.

Reapply the top coat in one layer and cure under a UV lamp for two minutes. Manicure is ready!

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Coverage selection criteria

You can create a glossy effect on your hands in several ways:

the actual nail polish of a certain shade and composition;
a similar gel polish, differing in both application technique and durability;
auxiliary means, for example, powder, foil.

Let's start by purchasing the simplest composition with the necessary shine. It is worth considering that only a high-quality product will give its owner truly beautiful nails. The wrong choice is fraught with, at a minimum, a lack of mirror shine, and at a maximum, spoiled health. What should you definitely pay attention to in the store?

TNL Glass Effect Palette

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First of all, this is the shelf life, the composition of the product and its structure. Of course, we immediately sweep away the deposits of dusty shelves. Then we carefully read the names of the components and exclude varnishes containing formaldehydes, toluenes and dibutyl phthalates. These are toxic substances, experiments with which can end sadly.

As for the contents of the bottle, the mixture must be homogeneous, without exfoliated liquids, without any inclusions of glitter.

Any disturbances in the structure of the varnish most likely indicate improper storage of the product, and it will be impossible to achieve an ideal manicure with this product.

Finally, the following parameters may not be so important for identifying unsuitable products, but they are needed for ease of work - the shape of the brush and the thickness of the product. It is ideal when a drop flows quickly enough from a smooth, round instrument.

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Mirror manicure with metallic varnish

You can create a mirror-like effect using varnish with a metallic sheen. For example, in the Essie palette it is presented in four shades. How to apply them?

Get a manicure and degrease the nail plate.

Apply the base coat in one layer. Let it dry completely.

Apply metallic effect varnish in two or three layers. Typically, this product requires special care when applying; try to distribute it in one direction to achieve a perfectly smooth surface.

Complete the procedure with a topcoat that will extend the durability of your manicure.

Product Features

Mirror polishes are a little more difficult to apply than regular ones. This is due to the presence of a huge number of particles that reflect light. To get the desired mirror effect, they must lie in a certain way. If something is done incorrectly or carelessly, the defects will be obvious.

Creating a mirror manicure using a special varnish has the disadvantage that the coating will have a slightly muted, matte rather than glossy shine. But it still looks very attractive. At the same time, the varnish allows you to save time and money, since you can use it yourself and no visit to a manicurist is required.

mirror manicure with gel polish: 8 tips

We answered the most frequently asked questions about gel polish.

Is it harmful to apply gel polish?

Everything is individual - there are people whose nail plate deteriorates, and there are those for whom gel polish does not harm. As a rule, this is a coating that “breathes”. If you do a manicure with gel polish yourself, choose files with minimal abrasiveness and do not “file” your nails with buff before applying the coating. It is recommended that nail polishing be done once a year for women and twice a year for men.

How often can you apply gel polish?

It is advisable not to do a manicure with gel polish more than three times in a row. Do not forget to take breaks between “approaches” - a week or at least ten days.

What to do when your nails are shiny, but you don’t have time to remove the gel polish?

Renew the coating with a base or fixing varnish - gloss will appear on the nails, and the gel polish will not peel off from the nail plate.

Why does gel polish “come off” along the edges of the nail?

There may be two reasons for this - either the skin on the hands is often damp, or the nail plate was poorly degreased. There is only one way out - if you can’t go to the salon, apply a top coat to your nails and dry it properly.

What to do if the gel polish coating chips?

In this case, the winner is the one who covers his nails with gel polishes of transparent or neutral shades: in this case, chips are practically invisible. If the color is bright, a regular varnish of a similar shade will come to the rescue, which must be applied to the chip site, and a fixative varnish.

Is it possible to file nails with gel polish?

Many masters do not recommend doing this. But if you are uncomfortable with the existing length, file your nails very carefully - and in one direction. Then secure the coating with topcoat.

How to choose gel polish to match your skin color?

Focus on your skin tone. For girls with porcelain skin, warm shades are suitable (cold ones may look unnatural), while for girls with tanned skin, light pastel shades are suitable. Varnishes of any shade will harmoniously combine with dark skin.

Can I use gel polish if my nails are peeling?

It’s possible, but before that you need to remove all the “detachments” using a buff. And after that, make sure that the surface of the nails is not rough - only in this case will the gel polish be distributed evenly.

Drawings, rhinestones

Since the nail surface itself is bright, doubts arise about the advisability of adding rhinestones and stones to the manicure. But if you look at the photo, mirror polish goes well with them, making the manicure richer and more festive.

To fix the stones, special glue is used, a drop of which is applied to the dry surface of the nail. If this is not available, a transparent topcoat can be used in a similar manner. They can also be glued to the varnish itself while it is wet, carefully pressing the stone into it.

Another decoration for shiny nails will be painting. Openwork patterns will make the manicure more elegant, slightly muting the flashy brightness. White or black varnish is ideal for design.

We will prepare the necessary materials

Before you start doing a metal manicure, make sure you have all the necessary materials. What is it about?

We have already talked about special powder. Choose the copy that suits your liking.

Fashionable decoration for your nails

Gel polish without a sticky layer. An ordinary one will also work, but in combination with an adhesive surface remover.
Top for natural or artificial plates (depending on personal preference).

Please note that the result is affected by the shade of the base coat. Since the pigment is translucent, the background matters. For gold or silver, black is suitable, but if you take a colored base, you will get an extraordinary mother-of-pearl or other design.

Amazing lunar

Chic golden

Beautiful tints

Advice! Before each use of gel polish, shake the jar and mix the contents. Craftsmen often note settling of pigment.

Master class from a blogger

Of course, the easiest way to do a mirror manicure is after a video with a master class. After all, even the most complete text will not tell you about all the nuances that are so important for perfect nails!

In this video, Yulia Kotova (blogger MixStyleCappuccino) will talk about the most trendy version of nail art for this summer - mirror manicure with a holographic effect. The trendy “hello from the 80s” is a hit on all beaches and festival grounds this season. Experts say that spring and summer 2022 will also be the peak of popularity for mirror manicure.

Be sure to try it again! To do this, watch the video tutorial:

What it is?

This method of nail design has come into fashion relatively recently. Nails look impressive and most often this manicure is done for special occasions. However, mirror manicure is quite suitable for everyday life. Here are its main features:

the nail is covered with an absolutely even, smooth layer like a mirror or chrome surface;
you can give this surface any shade;
You can apply varnish on an artificial base.

What nails look like with this manicure can be clearly seen in the photo. You will notice that the “mirror” actually has a fairly diverse palette of colors.

Mighty Dust

Fashion trends of recent years have brought so much decor to the table of manicure lovers that it is literally bursting with its varieties. Sliders, holographic foil, films, kamifubuki, rhinestones of all shades and sizes, adhesive tapes... The list can go on for a long time. One of the varieties of modern decor is pigment glitter. Everyone is already accustomed to glitters, which are sparkles and serve as decor for a festive manicure. But for rubbing, such a fine pigment is used that it looks more like powder or even dust. By the way, the most effective design is obtained with the finest powder.

Nail art got its name from the fact that the pigment is actually rubbed into the plates. It is so weightless that it sticks to any surface, especially to the sticky layer of varnish.

Where and what to rub?

Finely ground glitters fit perfectly onto a sticky layer of gel polish, gel paint or acrylic. Sprinkle with pigment and carefully distribute over the entire plate. Afterwards, shake off the excess and cover with a top coat so that the beauty lasts as long as possible.

If desired, the rubbing can be done using regular varnish, but the work will be very painstaking. Good old varnish, as everyone knows, does not dry quickly. And you will have to guess the moment when it still retains stickiness before hardening, and rub in the pollen. Be sure to apply a topcoat, otherwise the luxurious effect will last only until the first hand wash.