Gel nail paints: how to apply, which one to choose for manicure

There can be many options for a spectacular manicure: nail decorations on any background, patterns, photo nail designs, etc. After all, most often they take gel polishes as a basis and improvise with the appearance of the nail through combinations of color, rubbing, and painting. Now it has become much easier to make elegant patterns and drawings, since a product has appeared that resembles acrylic paint in pigmentation, but has the structure of a liquid gel. A new convenient material for manicure design is gel nail paint.

Gel nail paint - what is it?

Already from the name it is clear that the cosmetic product has something in common with nail gels and acrylic paint. Many users of gel paints compare it with the usual colored varnishes, since it does not have such a dense texture and consistency as gel polish. The product takes the following features from gels:

the coating on the nail plate is uniform and perfectly covers the entire surface of the nail;
polymerization takes place under LED or UV lamp radiation;
has amazing durability.

The cosmetic product inherits from ordinary colored varnishes and acrylic paints:

dense pigmentation;
extensive color palette;
light texture, which allows you to carry out any artistic painting, even thin lines, and provide convenient mixing of colors;
the ability to wipe off the drawing without harming the applied base layer (if there is one).

There is no need to stir the colored gel paint before applying it to the nail, and unlike acrylic paints, the product will not dry out while working. Ideal for detailed painting, where you can take your time with the drawing and devote enough time to the process.

You can use gel paint on natural nail plates, as well as on nails after extensions, or any artificial coating. The consumption of the product is quite economical, since it is usually applied with a thin brush, controlling the amount of paint on it. If you use the product to cover the entire surface of the nail, then the product will not only be used up faster, but you will most likely need to apply a second coat.

Advice from professionals

When painting your nails with acrylics yourself, you should consider some recommendations from professional nail artists:

To perform the procedure, you need to choose a comfortable place where your hand will lie without tension.
When covering the surface, do not press hard on the brush.
You shouldn’t choose a complex pattern for the first time.
When depicting a drawing, first of all, draw an outline, which is then shaded.
It is better to perform a complex design on one nail plate; on the remaining nails, depict simplified fragments that echo the main theme of the design in color.
Any image made with acrylics must be fixed with a special fixative.

Advantages and disadvantages

The clear advantage of this product is its resistance to drying out while work on the nail design is still in full swing. Also, the ease of use is also captivating. And many more “positives”:

when covering the entire surface of the nail with several layers of gel paint, a minimal layer is formed that does not thicken the nail;
the ability of the nail to “breathe” under a layer of such coating;
optimally used for various design techniques: Chinese painting, aquarium design, for a “smile” or “moon” in French and lunar manicure, casting technique, etc. Ideal for use in a unique planar design;
no need to intensively file the nail (remove its shiny layer);
While the gel paint is drying, you can adjust the design;
It is possible to mix different colors to obtain a unique shade, just like real artists do.

But besides all the positive qualities of the product, there are also minor disadvantages:

It will not be possible to remove gel paint with special liquids; you need a mechanical solution to the problem: files, a router;
It is inconvenient to use on thin nails, since gel paint does not provide them with additional strength.

Once you get the hang of using gel pigment to design your nails, you can create real masterpieces. And your inner sense of style will only help you create an organic tandem of gel paint and other auxiliary accessories: foil, mica, rhinestones, stones, etc.

Lifehack for watercolor painting

To save time or if you lack artistic skills, use ready-made watercolor-style stickers. You can find them in online stores of nail products and, of course, on Chinese sites.

Stickers can be:

water - to separate them, you need to place the fragment in water for 10-15 seconds;
on an adhesive basis.

Before transferring the image to the nail, do a standard manicure, apply a top coat and a colored background.

What is the difference between gel paints and gel polishes?

The opinion that cosmetic products such as gel polish and similar gel paint are one and the same is untrue. Although there is a lot in common between them, there is also a colossal difference:

Structure. Gel polishes are denser and more viscous, which makes them difficult to work with. With gel paints it’s the opposite: they are pliable due to their fluid structure, and their liquid consistency allows them to be used for various decorative purposes;
Pigment. To obtain a bright color, varnishes need to be applied a couple of times, and paints only need to be applied in one layer. This is due to the concentration of pigments in both products - there is much more of it in gel paint, even several times higher;
Persistence. Gel paints are less susceptible to chipping than gel polishes;
Delete. Gel paints cannot be removed with any solvent, unlike gel polishes.

Although gel-based paints are considered followers of gel polishes, and not a separate type of coating, there is still a difference between them and it is significant.

Reviews

Lyudmila: “I really enjoyed creating masterpieces on my nails with acrylic paints. Drawing with them is simple and convenient. If you make a mistake, you can easily correct it with a damp cotton swab. I come up with the drawing as the work progresses. I must first apply the base to the surface, and then immediately paint it with acrylic and fix it with the composition.”

Evgenia: “I’ve been using these paints for almost two years. I bought them for 600 rubles, but the consumption is very economical, 2-3 drops are enough for one simple manicure, so the money has long since paid off. I grab the paint onto a damp brush and start creating; if I make a slight mistake, I immediately erase it with a damp cotton swab. I like to put two or three different colors on the brush, then the effect of the stroke is immediately visible in the smooth transition of colors. After drying, I cover the top with colorless varnish. I advise everyone to try this kind of creativity.”

Maria: “I used to use regular nail polish. I must say, it is very difficult for them to depict any kind of drawing. It turned out sloppy and took a very long time to dry. When I switched to acrylic paints, it became clear that this was the most suitable option for painting nails. For now I’m making simple versions of patterns, but I’m happy with the work, it’s very convenient to use acrylic. It dries quickly, does not smell and lays down smoothly, and you can easily correct mistakes before it dries completely.”

Kinds

Like gel polishes, paints can have a sticky layer after polymerization. But this doesn't always happen. There are also those that do not require dispersion removal. But these are not all the differences between gel paints. They are also distinguished by the following types of structure:

dense;
translucent;
transparent.

Thick paints completely cover the nail, resulting in a monochrome coating. Translucent, as well as transparent, you can tint the previous layer or create the effect of stained glass, penumbra, gradient, etc.

With a sticky layer

There is no particular difference between the result obtained after using gel paint, which has or does not have a dispersion layer after drying. It's more of a production cost. If you use this product, you will need additional liquid to remove stickiness.

Paints with a dispersion layer allow you to create designs using the casting technique and other effects where “gluing” is necessary, for example, velvet manicure.

No sticky layer

For a manicurist, a product without a sticky layer is more convenient to use. Most modern paints have lost the ability to leave stickiness after drying. Practicality is evident: after each drying step under the lamp, you do not need to wipe your nails. Also, products without a sticky layer do not need to be fixed with a top coat if the surface of the design covers less than half the area of the nail.

Paints without a sticky layer are optimal for all painting techniques. You can create original design options by combining a dense texture with a transparent or translucent one.

Benefits of watercolor manicure

Watercolor nail design has many advantages. This becomes clear even with a quick glance at this unusual manicure, because it:

original;
with the effect of weightlessness;
universal - suitable for all shapes and lengths of nails, looks great on any substrate;
catchy in the best sense of the word.

This painting will make any girl stand out from others. Therefore, a master who skillfully masters the watercolor technique is worth his weight in gold.

How to apply gel paint: step-by-step instructions

Applying a coating such as gel-based paint does not require any special preparation or special tools. If you have experience working with gel polishes, then mastering the technique of applying paints will not be difficult.

For the paint application procedure, you will need some tools that are best prepared in advance:

a special thin brush (necessary for creating a French manicure or complex designs). If one is not available, then it can be replaced with a thin artistic brush made of artificial material (nylon, for example);
a brush of medium thickness (for filling large areas of the nail);
palette (the most affordable option is a piece of foil or thick polyethylene);
lamp with UV radiation or LED + related tools for manicure, liquid for removing the dispersion layer, etc.

After preparing the necessary tools, materials, trimmed or hardware manicure (if the nails are well-groomed, then no manicure is done), you can begin to cover the nails.

Treat the nail with a buff, then with a degreaser.
Apply base (primer).
Cover the nail plate with one layer of gel polish (you can use clear or colored gel). Dry. If necessary, repeat the procedure (make a second layer).
Remove stickiness with a special product (cliner).
Apply liquid gel paint with a thin brush (the number of colors and shades depends on the design and idea). If you need to get a new shade, you can mix several colors on the palette.
After completing the drawing, the nail should be dried under a lamp. The polymerization time directly depends on the type of drying lamp and the characteristics of the product. The exact time can be found on the paint bottle.
If there is any stickiness left, you need to remove it with a cleaner.
It is better to apply a fixing top coat over the design to extend the durability of the nail design.

If you need to use gel paint not for painting, but for completely coloring your nails, then the coating scheme is as follows:

Degrease the surface of the nail. You can additionally use a dehydrator.
Apply the primer by applying it to the nail plate (for high-quality and durable nail paint).
Using a medium-thick brush, apply an even layer of gel paint. If there are paint leaks onto the skin or far beyond the contour of the nail, correct them with an orange stick.
Dry for the required amount of time under the lamp.
High-quality products do not require re-application of gel paint, providing an even coating. But if the required quality of the layer is not achieved, then translucent paint of a similar shade is used or the product must be applied again.
If there is a dispersion layer, it is removed with a special liquid.
Cover with top coat, dry under a lamp, remove stickiness.

With the help of gel paints, you can create an original French manicure and simply a bright manicure, because the texture allows you to make uniform ombre-type transitions, as well as make clear lines of different thicknesses. The most popular use of the coating is in tandem with regular gel polish as a base.

Which paint to choose

The choice of acrylic products for nail painting depends on the priorities of a particular artist.
In terms of price, these products do not have sharp differences between different manufacturers. Therefore, when choosing, it is worth starting from quality characteristics. For example, Runail brand products are intended mainly for drawing in watercolor style.

Acrylic material can be easily mixed and diluted with water. IRISK brand products have similar qualities, having rich colors and good mixing. New generation paints produced under the Polycolor and Qumaxi brands are used mainly by experienced professionals to apply unique, vibrant designs. This acrylic art material is especially suitable for such purposes.

When choosing acrylic, consider the following factors:

freshness of the product, which can be determined by its more liquid consistency;
focus on choice in the art departments of stores, since it is easier to find quality products there;
good ability to dilute with water.

Photo examples of designs on nails with gel paints

Nails can be decorated with designs of varying complexity. It all depends on the skills of the master. The simplest painting options are geometric motifs (dots, stripes, combining various geometric shapes into one composition, etc.). Some of the more complex ones include floristry and animal patterns. Shades and competent color transitions are important here.

Applying varnish

Varnish on gel nails
Wondering whether it is possible to paint extended nails with regular varnish, girls are afraid whether the coating and its removal will damage the plate itself. If we are talking about acrylic nails, then this fear is not unfounded. Although the danger is not the coating itself, but the means for removing it.

Acrylic nails become dull when exposed to acetone-containing compounds. Their regular use can cause cracking and softening of the layer and greatly ruin the manicure. However, acrylic nails are also extended “under varnish” because such a nuisance is easy to avoid. You just need to purchase an acetone-free nail polish remover designed for acrylic nails. A simple “acetone-free nail polish remover” like “Laska” or “Dream” will not work, since it still contains acetone, just in a smaller amount and in combination with a different type of solvent.

You can also decide whether it is possible to paint extended gel nails with varnish. While a composition with acetone can potentially cause minimal harm to the gel plates, erasing the varnish with special compounds will help avoid such trouble. Buy a product for extended nails and update your manicure as often as you want.

https://youtu.be/P2lOYg4gSLo

Review of brands of gel paints for manicure

A beautiful design can be obtained from the use of high-quality materials. Proven products will provide stable results after each use and will not give unexpected effects.

Paints are usually produced in small jars (bottles) with a volume of 4-6 ml. The consistency allows you to take the required amount of product onto the palette for subsequent painting so that use is economical.

Kodi

The most popular brand for nail technicians (and not only). One of the first to produce high-quality gel paints. The amount of product is 4 ml in one jar. Gel paint self-levels after application, thanks to the gel included in its composition.

Video on the topic:

The product does not leave a sticky layer after polymerization. Suitable for various design ideas: planar drawings, casting, volumes. The low cost of the product allows it to be used not only in salons, but also at home.

E.Mi

A good range of colors of these gel paints can be purchased individually, as well as in sets. Among the palette there are special colors - silver and gold. Products in a bottle (tube) – 5 ml. Polymerization takes place quickly if you use a LED lamp.

A large number of pigments in the gel makes it possible to apply clear designs and mix colors evenly.

RuNail

Branded gel paints from RuNeil can be purchased in different volumes - 5 ml and 8 ml (depending on needs and volume of work). The paint does not spread, the optimal consistency allows you to easily apply any decorative paintings.

Although the palette does not contain hundreds of shades, the existing quantity is enough to obtain new necessary shades after mixing paints.

Canni

Economical 5 ml jars from the budget segment have a high concentration of pigment, are easy to apply and dry quickly (especially if the lamp has good power). Gel paint mixes well to form the desired shade.

The paint applies evenly, does not form thickenings in some areas of the nail, and does not spread.

Miranda

A good selection of shades can be found in gel paints from Miranda. Various shimmers of mother-of-pearl, matte or shiny paints can be mixed with each other, combined and created real masterpieces. The affordable price only contributes to this. The cosmetic product is produced in small jars containing 8 ml of paint.

The product has a high concentration of pigment, which allows you to apply bright and rich designs. Doesn't spread over the nail, holds the contours well.

This video will tell you how to choose the right gel paint

It is very important to read:

Matte manicure for long nails
What are nail sliders?

Photo: Chinese manicure

Chinese nail painting is a direction of floral design, which is characterized by the presence of a volume effect. It is achieved through a special painting technique with various brushes. The beauty of the created mini-painting on the nails will not leave even the most capricious woman indifferent. Moreover, you can appreciate all the beauty of Chinese painting even from the presented artistic photos.

Popular manufacturers of acrylic paints

When choosing paints, pay attention to (“Lady Victory”). She has proven herself well in the nail industry because she sets the best prices for her products and is not limited to the same type of colors. Their palette is much wider than similar brands, and the shades are many times richer, which is extremely important in spring and summer. The main advantage of the composition can be considered the gloss included in the paint. After drying, the surface does not remain matte, it shines radiantly and reflects light.

An equally popular manufacturer can be considered “Qumaxi”. This is one of the most reputable and sought-after companies in the field of nail design. The main feature of their products is the presence of luminescent paints and extraordinary tones that do not require mixing. It is this manufacturer that you need to contact if you want to make the surface bronze, gold, metal or silver.