How to properly glue foil on nails: types of decorations and methods of applying decor

Most women prefer to complement their look with metallic glitter. This applies not only to clothes and shoes, but also to manicure. Foil nail designs are often found. If you don't know how to use foil for nail art, you will find all the answers to your questions in this article.

Types and features of using nail foil

Manicure with foil has many ideas and variations. It is used for everyday and evening design. You can apply foil to your nails as a base coat or as an accent decoration. Shiny material is used to create abstract designs, three-dimensional patterns, and delicate compositions.

Tear-off

Available in rolls or stickers. Tear-off foil is used for nail extensions or finishing nail designs. Before decorating, you need to cut or tear off the required number of fragments along the perforated lines.

How to apply nail foil:

1. Perform a classic manicure and correct the shape.
2. Polish your nails so they are not rough.
3. For a stronger hold, apply primer.
4. Cover your nails with base coat and dry in UV rays.
5. Apply two layers of colored gel polish, drying alternately.
6. Cut out shapes, fragments for a pattern, try them on your nails.
7. Apply special glue to the back side of the material.
8. Lay out the drawing with tweezers, straightening the fragments with a pusher or stick.
9. Fix with topcoat after a few hours, dry, remove the sticky coating.

It takes patience to apply the foil correctly. If there are any shortcomings in the work, they can be corrected with a nail file.

It is allowed to replace the gel with a classic colored varnish, and the finishing top with a transparent layer.

Transferable

Suitable for beginners because transfer foil is easier to use. The material is produced in rolls, packaged in plastic containers. This ensures a long shelf life. The structure of the product is less dense and costs less than tear-off samples.

How to glue transfer foil:

• prepare your nails in the usual way;
• apply colored varnish or shellac of a suitable color;
• air dry or process under a lamp;
• Apply glue on top and let it dry completely;
• cut off a fragment and apply it to the center of the nail plate;
• press lightly, smooth with a wooden stick;
• pry off the protective film and remove;
• fix the result with a top coat after a couple of hours.

If the desired effect is not achieved immediately, the procedure can be repeated. It is necessary to use the glue again, dry and transfer the foil. When a manicure is performed for one evening, it is not necessary to fix the decor with a top coat.

Review of the best manufacturers

The popularity of extended nails is not decreasing, since thanks to modern materials they can be chosen for any look. Consumables are constantly being improved and their quality is improving. Competition between manufacturing companies contributes to the fact that the consumer becomes confident in the environmental friendliness, naturalness, health benefits, high strength and reliability of nail glue.

Coo-Coo-City

The nail glue package contains two components contained in plastic containers. Their contents are mixed in equal volumes, having first broken off both tips. The glue ensures good adhesion of the tips and securely attaches rhinestones, silk and other decorations. The glue does not cause harm, is non-toxic, and is strong and reliable. The volume of the product is 25 milliliters.

ORLY

The manicure set for nail repair includes:

• bottle with glue and brush - polymethylacrylate, 5 g;
• powder - quartz, acrylic polymer, 4.25 g;
• sanding block measuring 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm x 0.3 cm.

Glue can be used to easily repair a cracked or damaged nail. To do this, you need to apply glue to the plate and then immerse it in powder. The coating is polished with a sanding block after the glue has dried. To ensure a stronger adhesion, it is necessary to apply a second layer of glue and powder.

Nail Glue

According to experts, Nail Glue is one of the best glues. It comes in a 3 ml bottle and is designed for quickly gluing artificial nails and repairing natural ones. Before using glue, it is necessary to remove fat, oil, and varnish from their surface. After this, a drop of the product is applied to the damaged area. If necessary, for better adhesion, press the gluing area with a wooden stick. After use, the spout of the container is wiped and closed with a cap.

KODI Professional

Using KODI Professional glue you can easily glue tips onto a natural nail and then give it the desired shape and length. The consistency of the product is viscous, the appearance is transparent. The bottle of glue is equipped with a brush, small and convenient. With its help, it is easy to apply glue to the nail plate without staining the skin. The product dries instantly. It has no toxic or irritating effect, is easy to use, and therefore can be used at home.

Kiss Brush On Nail Glue

Kiss Brush On Nail Glue is designed for fixing tips. It is convenient to apply, for which you need to distribute a small amount of the product over the inside of the false nail and rub it with the spout of the bottle. After this, place it on a natural one and press for a few seconds. It is necessary to avoid the appearance of air bubbles so that peeling does not occur prematurely. Excess glue is carefully removed. To remove the glued plates, use a special liquid.

RuNail

RuNaiL brand glue meets all medical standards and contains no toxic substances. The consistency of the liquid is viscous and transparent. There is no smell. Reliably glues tips to the surface of the natural nail. Adhesion, fixation and hardening occurs in just 6-8 seconds.

Which foil glue to choose and how to use

To make a brilliant Hollywood manicure, you need to choose a decorative material and glue for it. Special compositions have a strong hold, so they firmly hold the foil on the nails.

Global Fashion

Hypoallergenic gel adhesive for transfer-type foil. Global Fashion dries quickly and sets well. The glue is sold in 15 g tubes with a narrow or wide brush. Place foil on the dried product, press down, and then tear it off with a sharp movement. The design is imprinted onto the glue on the nail plates. Use topcoat to secure.

Rio Profi

The transparent product leaves a glossy finish on the surface. The special features of Pro glue for transfer foil are fast drying time, uniform distribution, and water-repellent properties. Complete polymerization of the composition occurs within 3 minutes. How to glue foil with glue: apply, wait a couple of minutes, attach the transfer fragment, align, sharply tear off from the plate, fix with topcoat.

Jina

Jina glue dries quickly and evenly and secures complex decorative elements well. You can dry the material without using a lamp. The product is sold in a compact jar with a brush and is inexpensive. Foil glue is used after applying colored varnish or shellac.

Kodi Professional

The standard volume of a glue bottle is 10 ml. The composition is hypoallergenic, after drying it forms a transparent coating on the nails. The design can be transferred to the entire nail or part of it. Before gluing, you need to wait 3 minutes for the product to exhibit adhesive properties.

Naomi Foil Glue

Manicure glue is convenient to use for casting techniques. Sufficient stickiness ensures reliable fixation of tear-off and transfer foil. You can treat your nails completely or partially. Naomi Foil Glue is sold in a 12 ml tube with a nylon brush.

Hongyi

The glue holds decorative decorations well, including rhinestones and applied tips. Suitable for mirror manicure with a transfer pattern. The product is released in a 16 ml tube with a thin brush. After application to the nails, the layer is dried without a UV lamp, the material is applied, the excess fragments are trimmed after 5 minutes, and the nails are covered with transparent varnish.

Star Gel Glue E.Co Nails

E.Co Nails adhesive gel with a sticky layer is available in a compact 10 ml bottle with a built-in brush. First, apply a gel polish base and dry it under a lamp. Then cover the nails with glue and polymerize for 60 seconds under LED lighting. The foil is torn off, the ends of the plates are sanded with a soft buffer, and a top coat is applied.

Jess Nail

Jess Nail transfer foil adhesive is also suitable for gluing tips, rhinestones, sparkles, and can be used to restore nail plates. To obtain the desired effect, it is recommended to use a base that matches the foil under the gel polish. Before applying the glue, you need to remove the sticky layer, let the composition dry for a minute, and print the design.

Art Star Glue

With glue from the manufacturer KaSi, you can create nail designs from transfer foil. Art Star Glue is sold in 16 ml bottles with a built-in brush. The design is transferred to the nails after applying the glue and the substance becomes transparent.

When decorating nails with foil, you need glue, gel polish or regular polish, a base and top coat, an orange stick or a pusher. The excess part of the material is cut off with nail scissors, filed down, and the edge of each plate is sealed.

Before applying the foil, you need to let the glue dry for 1-3 minutes. When the product becomes transparent, you can glue the decor.

What adhesive composition is suitable

Glues for gold leaf have a general name: Mordan. The second name used by manufacturers is mixtion.

In composition they are:

• alcohol;
• water-acrylic;
• oil

The choice of adhesive composition depends on:

• from the decoration area;
• base material;
• external conditions for work;
• location of the artistic element;
• experience working with adhesives.

Properly selected glue is the main condition for the high-quality execution of a creative plan.

Water based

Inexpensive, universal glue has 3 varieties:

• water-acrylic;
• pasty;
• hard.

The water-acrylic composition can be predominantly water-based or acrylic. Water-based glue is used for gilding 15-60 minutes after application to the surface. Within half an hour it loses its stickiness. The specific terms of its use depend on the temperature and humidity in the room, the thickness of the layer, and the type of material. Water-based adhesives are used only indoors, in the absence of dust and high dry air. The products are convenient and easy to use when decorating small items and small surfaces. Do not allow the composition to get on the front side of the gold leaf.

Acrylic-based adhesives retain sticky properties for 1-2 hours and have better adhesion than milk. When working with wood or plaster, the surfaces are impregnated with a special varnish before applying glue. On varnished and synthetic materials, glue is applied after degreasing and removing dust. Restoration work is carried out with its help indoors and outdoors. The solid form comes in the form of a pencil. A pencil is the most convenient form for working with gold flakes.

Oil

Oil adhesives for gold leaf are produced based on natural oils (for example, linseed) or animal fat (most often rabbit). Adhesives are used by professionals when carrying out interior and exterior restoration work. Oil-based adhesives dry completely in 10-12 hours. The layer thickness is no more than 1 millimeter. To reduce viscosity, they can be diluted with turpentine in a 1:1 ratio. To obtain a strong connection with gold leaf, the surface for decoration undergoes thorough preliminary preparation.

A mixture of natural oil, fish glue, and chalk is applied to wooden and plaster elements. After drying, the surfaces are painted with acrylic paint, then sanded and varnished with shellac. This technology provides high-quality gold leaf coating for a long time. Depending on the thickness of the adhesive layer, the characteristics of the material, temperature and air dryness, 3 and 12 hour mixtions are used (which means the time period through which the glue can be applied).

Alcoholic

Alcohol mixtions are among the most popular among handmade lovers. Depending on the modification, they retain sticky properties from 2 to 24 hours. Drying time – 30 minutes. The glue can be diluted with ethyl alcohol.

How can I replace foil glue on my nails?

Instead of a special product for decorating nails, you cannot use super glue, PVA, Moment glue, or other aggressive compounds. They are unsafe for nail plates and destroy their natural shine.

Gel polish

To make a manicure without glue using durable gel structures, you will need a UV lamp or LED source, a standard set of tools (scissors, pusher, buff), nail foil of any kind, and means for applying shellac (base, top, colored gel).

How to properly glue foil onto gel polish:

• perform normal preparations;
• apply a thin base coat;
• dry under the lamp according to the instructions;
• use a primer for fixing;
• prepare fragments for the pattern;
• if the material is untranslatable, cut out the elements;
• Do not remove the sticky layer of the gel; place foil on it with tweezers;
• Use a stick to smooth out the shiny figures;
• if the material is transfer, tear off the film with a sharp movement so that the design is printed, repeat the procedure if necessary;
• if the foil is tear-off and sticks to the entire nail, cut off the excess part with scissors;
• apply the top: it must be dried (if using LED light, dry for 60 seconds, if using a UV lamp, hold for 2-3 minutes);
• remove the dispersive sticky layer.

In the same way, you can glue crumpled foil and transfer material onto shellac gel polish.

Requirements for the adhesive composition

The general requirements for the adhesive composition are as follows:

• hypoallergenic;
• provides strong fixation to the nail plate;
• creates a reliable connection;
• upon contact with water retains its original properties.

The characteristics of the adhesive depend on the type of foil with which the composition is used. These parameters determine the service life of the connection between the nail plate and the applied material.

The following types of foil are produced for nail treatment:

1. Tear-off. Available in the form of stickers or in rolls. This foil material is used for nail extensions or finishing plates.
2. Translated. Used mainly by novice manicurists. This product is less expensive than tear-off foil, but is also available in rolls.
3. Thermo foil. Such stickers are fixed on the nail plate without glue. In this case, gel polish is used for fastening.
4. Foil for casting. This sticker option allows you to create an original design. Thanks to this foil you can create a casting effect. This material is often combined with matte stickers.
5. Reaped. Thin material, produced in compact containers, is used to create aquarium manicure.
6. Holographic. Available in various forms, including self-adhesive stickers.
7. Stencil. This type of foil is recommended to be fixed on nails using an adhesive composition.

There are other options for manicure foil. Some types of stickers, as noted above, do not require the use of glue. If thin material is applied to the nails, it is recommended to purchase compounds that do not deform the foil.

Manicure ideas with foil

The entire palette of shades is used for design - any version of shiny decor is in trend. Bright colors, matte shades, and mirror finishes are popular. How to make a manicure with foil:

1. Versatile silver material suitable for everyday design. Combines with pastel gel polishes in pink, powdery, blue, milky shades.
2. Gold foil looks interesting in formal looks and evening manicure. Looks impressive on a black background, combined with green, blue, red, white. You can glue the decor with stripes or patterns.
3. Colored metallic coating looks beautiful with a contrasting background, combined with nude shades and rich monochromatic varnishes. You should not use acid tones - they are not in fashion.
4. Matte manicure in nail design gives the image nobility and sophistication. Compositions of shiny pieces, ornaments of thin stripes, and three-dimensional designs with a casting effect look interesting against a velvety background.
5. Lunar manicure is a current classic. You can decorate the hole with shiny material, giving it any shape. It is better to use contrasting combinations of foil and colored varnish.
6. A French jacket with a shiny free edge or an emphasis on the “smile line” is suitable for everyday and formal design. Oblique and straight French looks beautiful. You can take sheet and transfer material for work.
7. The design with multi-colored dots is made from crumpled foil. It needs to be finely torn and randomly placed on glue or sticky varnish.
8. A reflective mirror manicure is easiest to do using thermal film. After heating, the product becomes soft and lies evenly on the entire surface of the nail plate.

A win-win option is to decorate your nails with shiny stripes. They can be hung in different directions, narrow and wide fragments can be used, and geometric patterns can be made.

Volumetric decorations

Working with voluminous stickers or parts requires care, but the result is worth the effort.

Kinds

The main details of volumetric decor are rhinestones, bouillons, crumbly glitter, beads, golden mesh or acrylic figures.

Three-dimensional design is not used in everyday life. On special occasions, this is an original and creative solution. The execution is done on one or two fingers, if these are large protruding decorations in the form of flowers or figures. Broths, beads or glitter can occupy the entire surface of the nail. Playing with color is used to accent or capture images.

Expert advice

It is not always possible to glue foil onto your nails the first time. If you do not follow the technology, the decor will bulge and look sloppy. Recommendations from nail technicians for creating a brilliant design:

• Nails must be perfectly prepared and covered with a base coat.
• Foil must always be applied to a sticky surface, otherwise the material will not stick (except for stickers).
• If the decor is made without glue, there is no need to dry the gel polish or regular polish under a lamp.
• In order to print foil on shellac with high quality, the dispersion layer cannot be removed from it.
• If glue is used for fastening, the product should become transparent, and then foil can be glued to it.
• The thermal material must be heated with a lamp or hairdryer before gluing.
• If the transfer foil is not printed the first time, you need to repeat the procedure, pressing the decor harder.

In order for the manicure to last longer, you need to secure the work with a top layer and seal the free edge of the nail plates well.

A manicure with foil is called Hollywood for its spectacular shine, expressiveness, and brightness. Decorating your nails with shiny fragments adds an original touch to your design. Foil can be glued in any combination, so each work will be unique.