Nail rub: how to apply? Step-by-step instruction

Incredibly simple and beautiful: very delicate, very mirror-like and very winter-y. And you don’t need to be a manicurist - you can create a gradient with a mirror rub yourself! And apply it over regular polish too. It doesn’t work, the rub doesn’t stick - now we’ll decide everything: tips and secrets on how to apply the rub correctly, why it doesn’t stick and what to do to make it stick and shine.

How to do a manicure with rubbing: tips, secrets, a selection of photos for inspiration and video.

What is a nail rub?

Nail rub is a special finely ground acrylic powder. Its particles are so miniature and weightless that when applied they fit tightly to each other, creating the illusion of an absolutely smooth metallized surface. Usually this pigment for design is sold in a jar and its price is very symbolic, but consumption, on the contrary, is very economical.

Chrome rubbing is similar in properties to foil, but significantly exceeds it in terms of durability and reflective capabilities. It has a number of advantages that not only professional nail technicians, but also beginners should know about:

• unlike varnish containing glitter, the coating with grout is easily removed from the nails without unnecessary friction;
• wide price range and the widest choice of palettes. There are even brands that make a vegan rub that is not tested on animals. A striking example of this is the company Severin or Melange;
• It’s easy to create shiny nails at home, because it doesn’t require any special skills or additional tools;
• volumetric design on nails? It’s elementary, just sprinkle a drop of glitter on the sticky layer of the design. The powder will evenly cover the decor and fix itself on it;
• regular shellac extends its original durability when grout is applied to it.

Expert advice

A manicure using rubbing may not work out the first time, but the problem is not always a lack of experience. Experts advise buying only high-quality certified products from well-known brands, and also paying attention to the expiration date.

A cheap rub from an unknown manufacturer will not provide an even coating; chips, cracks and bald spots will quickly form on it, and the nails will lose their presentable appearance. Experienced professionals recommend not saving on manicure products.

To achieve the perfect chrome finish on your nails, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. The pigment is applied to the coating without a sticky layer, otherwise it will be impossible to achieve perfect shine.
2. It is best to choose a dark colored substrate, then the pigment will look brighter and more saturated.
3. If you want a gentle and calm design, then you don’t have to make a backing, or it should be light in color.
4. Make sure that while rubbing, there are no specks, hairs, etc. on the surface of the nail that could ruin the perfectly smooth coating.
5. The nail coating layer should be thin or medium. But by no means fat.
6. Gel polish should not be over-dried in the lamp, otherwise the pigment will not rub in.
7. You need to rub in the pigment immediately after drying the gel polish. The sooner you start rubbing, the better.
8. It is ideal to cover the mirror rubbing with a special top designed to cover the slider design.
9. If you get a mirror shine on your nail with bald spots, then cover it with a top coat without a sticky layer and rub it in again.
10. When working with mirror pigment, a glossy top is used.

Types of nail rubs

Inspired by bright pictures from Pinterest and Instagram, beauties begin feverishly searching for the treasured jars of powder. This must be done in specialized manicure stores, but in order not to get confused by the breadth of the assortment, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the types of powder in advance, choosing the most desirable one for yourself.

Mirror rub for nails

The luxurious mirror shine that attracts attention to your graceful hands is thanks to the chrome effect rubbing. Gold and silver powders are popular, highlighting the luxurious shine of precious rings on the thin fingers of their owner. There are also blue, red, purple, cyan and other colors of “star” dust, which look especially cool in futuristic, alien designs.

Pearl rub for nails

Surely you have more than once noticed the gentle, soft tints of a manicure, asking a completely logical question - what is the name of a nail rub of this type? Let’s not pretend to be too mysterious; this type of decoration is called pearl powder. It imitates the creamy glow of natural pearl beads. Mother-of-pearl beauty complements the seasonal New Year's manicure, the bride's manicure, which we already talked about in the previous article, as well as the classic French manicure.

By the way, in the rich world of nail art there are several interesting variations of the classic pearl rub and these are:

• unicorn powder Fantastic lilac powder for a “princess” mood and complete immersion in a fairy-tale, childishly naive atmosphere;
• mermaid powder It is easy to guess that the inspiration for creating the decor was the silver of the illusory mermaid tail. Ariel's fish scales are an unusual option for brave young ladies who are fans of the work of old man Disney;
• aurora powder The ghostly glow of a mystical star sounds romantic, doesn't it?

Holographic nail rub

Holography on nails is a simple but effective way to make others look at your manicure with interest. Repeats the effect of gasoline spilled on asphalt, making the display in a puddle a colorful extravaganza of color. Essentially, this is a rubbing prism that bends the light. The principle of its application is simple, the main thing is to use a contrasting background. Black paint is best suited for this role.

In addition to the well-known options, there are a couple of new products that have won the hearts of the most discerning young ladies and force even the most avid conservatives to surrender to the power of experimentation. These are the heroes:

• a chameleon rub that changes its color depending on the angle of light;
• chafer rub, imitating the emerald green shell of an insect;
• diamond rubbing, relevant for those ladies who love rhinestones and diamonds, stones and cubic zirconia not only in accessories, but also on their nails.

"Chafer bug" - for stylish girls

“Chameleon” or chameleon is just gaining popularity, but it will undoubtedly become a hit of the new season. It got its name from the fact that the color scheme after application resembles a cockchafer. Shades of gold and green are more pronounced. But at different viewing angles, other colors appear. Mainly brown and purple.

How to determine a man's character by his nails

For the base, use gel, gel polish or varnish of any color. The originality of the design depends on it.

It is interesting that the chameleon rubbing powder is not golden or green, but gray-flesh.

The design of such a manicure can be varied:

• Plain coating;
• Rubber coating not all nails on the hand, but selective ones;
• Drawings and patterns;
• Combination with matte finish;
• Lunar and French manicure;
• Decoration with glitters, rhinestones and stones;
• Decoration “rain”, “kamifubuki” and so on.

How to use nail rub

Nail rub is not a fussy material, but it requires some skill and knowledge of certain subtleties. The special composition of the decorative product requires the presence of crumbly glitter, and for their proper application in manicure, there are a number of tools, the purpose of which is highlighted in our table.

Design examples

The most popular rub-in gel polish design is to cover the entire surface of the nail. You can design all your nails this way or just one.

If you apply pigment using a stencil, you can get an unusual holiday manicure with beautiful patterns. In this way you can make a French jacket with rubbing for every day. It is better to choose a vinyl stencil - it fits tightly to the nail and does not disturb the pattern.

For special occasions, you can complement the design with rhinestones. It is better to do such decorations on 1-2 nails so that the manicure does not look overloaded and flashy.

On long nails, pearl powder looks impressive with a smooth transition of colors or shades.

Patterns on nails with rubbing will help you create a stylish design. Stylists call origami-style designs and geometric patterns the fashion trend of 2022.

How to make mirror nails at home

Many girls are interested in the question - how to create the coveted metallic effect so that the result pleases with its impeccability and is distinguished by the extraordinary durability of the coating? You shouldn’t immediately put off the desired idea, explaining this by the excessive complexity of the design. Knowing some of the nuances of the work, you will understand that nothing is impossible.

Rubbing on regular nail polish

Pink and white, lilac and rainbow, gold or silver - the variety of powders for decorating nails beckons you to immediately realize your ambitions as a creator. Let’s not put things off for a long time, explaining the algorithm of actions step by step:

• We prepare the nails as standard, performing the usual manipulations of cutting the cuticle and correcting the shape of the nails;
• We pay special attention to grinding the plate, thoroughly polishing every unevenness with a buff;
• apply the base protecting the lipid layer with a loose ball;
• choose the desired shade of varnish, giving preference to consistencies of medium fluidity;
• apply the varnish in two or even three layers so that the coating is completely opaque;
• remember how rubbing works and apply the finishing top directly to the undried layer of varnish;
• a metal rub is placed on top with translational movements;
• We complete the manicure and, for a change, we can play with contrast by choosing a matte top coat to cover the rest of the nails.

Another variation of decor is the use of art stickers; the pink up brand is in high demand among craftsmen.

How to rub in gel polish

If in the case of ordinary varnish everything is more or less clear, then the question of applying a rub-in to gel polish still remains open. In fact, the technique is as simple as two:

• Perform a routine hygienic manicure, carefully polishing the nail plate to avoid unevenness. This manipulation directly determines how well the steel rubbing will fit and whether it will emphasize the relief;
• degrease the nails with a special product;
• Apply the strengthening base in a thin layer, drying it for 30 seconds in an LED lamp or 2 minutes under ultraviolet light;
• after choosing the shade you like, apply a layer of color to the claws, drying them again;
• The question arises - which top to choose for such an intricate decor? The most common glossy topcoat for gel polish, when applying it, do not forget to seal the ends;
• While the coating is still “warm”, we begin to rub our powder directly onto the top with a sticky layer. This can be done with an applicator or even with your finger. We act extremely carefully, without pressing too hard with the pads;
• Use an orange stick to easily remove any remaining glitter from the skin. If you have hangnails on your cuticle, wait until they are completely healed and only then begin your beauty experiments;
• Apply a glossy top coat on top again, dry it and remove the sticky layer.

Voila, enjoy a catchy, unusual design that adds variety to even boring everyday looks.

Reviews

Larisa: It looks fantastic, that's a plus. It applies quickly and takes the same amount of time as regular shellac. So I often do this manicure. But there are also disadvantages. Doesn't last as long as I would like. I often hit the keys, and my nails are long, so they chip, but it will last for three weeks.

Polina: I did it a couple of times during the holidays. I don’t know how it is with regular polish, but with gel it looks very good. I didn’t like it on light nails – it’s unimpressive. Incomparable with dark varnish!

Anna: The first time I did it myself, it didn’t turn out very well. The layer was sticky, so the silverware rolled up. But after a good gel polish, there are no complaints. The nails end up smooth, all particles are covered with topcoat. For a manicure on the go, this is just the thing.

Natalya: After a manicure in the salon (my nails were my own), I did some housework, but my nails didn’t care. The durability is amazing. By the way, it can be easily removed, but only with special means. I tried different shades and settled on gold. It matches your skin color amazingly.

Why does the nail rub “not rub in”? Possible reasons

In the previous sections, we have already found out what kind of animal this is - the now fashionable metal powder. We figured out how to use a funny powder to create a steel mirage on the nails. And they even began to implement the exciting plan “X”, but something went wrong in the process. The rub came out in flakes, began to flake off, or didn’t “rub in” at all? There is no need to panic; working on mistakes only consolidates your newly acquired knowledge and improves your skills. Find answers to all your questions in the video:

Mirror, chrome, holographic rainbow and even unicorn rub. So many ways to brighten up your everyday life. Which one is closest to you?

"Magic dust" for manicure

The manicure business is developing by leaps and bounds. Have you noticed that the arsenal of specialists is constantly changing and improving? I think yes. Not long ago, rubbing was invented. This is a shimmering nail powder that a nail technician rubs into the nail surface. It is also sometimes called:

• dust;
• pollen;
• sprinkles;
• powder pigment;
• fine sand, etc.

It was she who made a splash in the beauty industry, because with her you can create incredible effects. Brilliant? Mirrored? Pearl? Rainbow? Please!

This manicure will look great at any time of the year: in the summer heat it will dazzle you with its sparkle on the sea coast, and in winter it will create a feeling of celebration against a snowy background.

Where to buy high-quality and professional materials for creating rubs

• “MIR FILOK” – own production of nail files.
• "WORLD OF FILES" is the main supplier!
• The showroom is located in Moscow.
• Delivery throughout our vast Motherland!

Why is “WORLD OF FILES” the best option for purchasing a product for you?

• Our store is built on our own production of saws. Thanks to this, you get: minimized cost of service, tested and confirmed product quality, fast production, attractive conditions for distributors.
• Our nail file is made only from materials that have repeatedly proven their quality (South Korea).
• Wide variety of product. Thus, a manicurist with any level of professionalism will be able to satisfy his interests.
• You can figure out which file is right for you. We carry out individual orders.
• Another advantage is the application of your brand logo on the working surface of the files.