May
We all like nice nails and yet they are the one thing that is forgotten about when dressing up for a special occasion. The art of artificial nails is, however, becoming more and more popular whether you apply them yourself or go to the salon and have them done professionally.
Long nails always make a girl feel more elegant and creative nail art completes the look. With nail art you can experiment with designs and colours. You may feel that it’s expensive but there are plenty of products on the market, all at an affordable cost. It just takes time to perfect the art which is the highest cost you will have to pay.
There are a few different applications now in artificial nails which all have their own benefits. Gel nails are probably the most expensive but give a natural, high gloss finish. This type allows your natural nail to grow underneath and if anything helps to strength them.
A less expensive option and therefore more popular type are acrylics. These are less natural looking than the gel type and do not allow your own nails to grow underneath because they are much thicker.
There is a relatively new type of artificial nail now called the stiletto nail. These are long and very pointed transforming short, dumpy fingers into long, elegant ones. These were originally popular in Russia, but are now generally available everywhere.
Using the correct equipment will help you to achieve the best results with your nail art.
For a smooth finish you must prepare your natural nails. Apply a nourishing cream which helps soften the cuticles before pushing them back with a cuticle remover which is usually a double ended tool. One end is used to cut the cuticles while the other end is used to push the cuticle back.
Another instrument for pushing back cuticles is an orange stick. This has a flat edge on one end and is pointed on the other. The flat edge is used for pushing back the cuticles and the pointy-end you can use for cleaning underneath the nails, but remember throw away the stick once you’ve finished using it.
One of the most important pieces of equipment is a good nail file. Now these come in many different materials. Most people use an emery board which is made from sandpaper but the grit wears quickly or falls off, so these don’t last that long.
A relatively new file that is becoming more popular is the glass file. This is engraved on both sides and guaranteed never to wear out. It has also been proved that regular use helps strengthen your natural nails and reduces chipping, splitting and peeling.
The most popular in salons in the electric file but you can also get many home electric files at affordable prices. This type comes with a selection of attachments to aid in perfect filing, shaping, sanding and polishing.
The brush is probably the most important item for great nail art. The best are made from sable fur. To create intricate designs you will need a selection of different brushes which you can buy in sets to suit your needs.
The most used brushes are:
Long brush – The length gives excellent control and precision over intricate designs.
Sector brush – Helps achieve textured finishes with its fan shape bristles.
Flat brush – This is the most used brush and is excellent for flat, solid colours like French manicure. It also allows you to use two colours at the same time without mixing giving a great effect for flowers and similar designs.
Angled flat brush – This has an angle cut into it but otherwise does similar effects to the flat brush.
The dotter – For great dots use a dotter. The amount of paint determines the size as the paint reduces on the tool so the dots get smaller.
So there you have it, the basic equipment for great looking nails!
Nail art is one of the latest fashion accessories. Autumn Jepson explores this fascinating world with her new site Nail Art Equipment. She explores the ins and outs of this fashion and gives an overview of the different types of nails used to create amazing nail art.