The skull is a popular element that modern designers, stylists and beauty masters use very widely. The nail industry has not ignored this trendy image, so it can often be seen in the works of the best masters of nail art.
Our article will tell you how to make a manicure with a skull. Consider several ideas implemented in different techniques.
Real trend
The times have sunk into oblivion when only informal teenagers who rebelled against stereotypes could decorate clothes, hair, accessories and their own nails. Today you can see skulls in everyday collections of fashionable youth brands (for example, Zara and Pull-and-Bear).
This element has conquered even the world of haute couture. For example, Alexander McQueen - a real art bully and a great Gothic lover - adorns clutching clutching skulls and belts, gorgeous shoes and ankle boots, and even evening dresses with sparkling grinning skulls. However, he is not the first to decide to bring the idea that once seemed gloomy and impartial into a new direction: his beloved Vivienne Westwood did this at the end of the last century. There are many such examples.
Sugar skull, which Mexico has presented to the world culture, deserves special mention. Celebrating the Day of the Dead in many countries of Latin America is a real carnival, colorful and joyful, with luxurious costumes and sweets. Sugar skulls decorated with flowers and sparkles are a constant attribute of the festival.
It is not surprising that the masters of nail aesthetics also fell in love with this fashionable idea. When the skull began to come into fashion, everything had to be done manually, but today manufacturers of nail art materials offer many ready-made solutions that can greatly facilitate the work.
Skull in the art of manicure.
Let's start with the styles in which this element will look appropriate. First of all, of course, it is worth mentioning rock, glam rock and grunge - styles that are characterized by the use of black, metal elements and rhinestones. Today, these areas are very relevant, such a nail design is chosen not only by girlfriends of musicians and bikers, but also by most ordinary girls.
The image of the sugar skull is characteristic of ethnic style and all kinds of variations on the theme of boho. Such designs are characterized by the use of a bright palette of colors, often the design is complemented by rhinestones or bright camifubuki.
A manicure with skulls and rhinestones looks organically on both short and long nails. But if you opt for extreme lengths and aggressive shapes, the question arises of relevance. The shape of the age, arched almonds and stiletto nails decorated with skulls are not the best idea for an office or theater. But at a rock concert or party in a nightclub, you will probably hear many compliments.
As for the color scheme, the choice is not limited. Skulls look interesting not only on a charcoal black background, but also in the company of bright yellow, dark blue, purple and even pale pink. The main thing is that all design elements and shades are harmoniously combined with each other.
Preliminary stage of work
It is advisable to decide on the design before starting work. But whatever it is, you need to start work with the preparation of nails.
Degrease the nail plates, carefully move the cuticle with an orange stick or a sharp cutter. Remove pterygium, cut and grind the cuticle. Give the nails the same length, if necessary, increase the broken corners. Make sure the shape is the same. Polish your nails with a buff or soft file. Apply the primer and let it air dry. Cover the nails with the base, trying to form a flat surface, dry in a lamp.
Using sliders and stickers
This is a great solution for those who are not confident in themselves as an artist. Just pick the finished design.
Cover your nails with colored gel polish, dry in a lamp. Cut out the picture, leaving as little background as possible, and for a few seconds put it on a cotton pad moistened with water. When the substrate gets wet, the slider will easily detach from it. Pry the picture with tweezers and lay it on the nail. Level and press, smooth the surface. To do this, you can use an orange stick or a silicone brush. Remove water droplets with a lint-free cloth and cover the skull slider with a thin layer of base. After baking, evaluate the result: if folds stick out, if there are any bulges. You can remove small errors using the buff.
It remains only to cover the design with a top - glossy or matte, as you like.
Foil for manicure
Determining the idea of a manicure with a skull, you should definitely pay attention to decorative foil with a pattern. There are a lot of options that are suitable for our purposes.
This material is a thin film coated. You can print a decorative layer on a special adhesive for foil or on the stickiness of the top, but it is important to do this immediately after polymerization, until the top has cooled down.
First apply a varnish that matches the color. Then - the top layer. Having taken a hand out of the lamp, press a piece of foil to the fingernail, carefully align it, press down with your finger. With a sharp movement, tear off the substrate. The design will remain on the nail. To make it last longer, apply another layer of top.
Drawing
This is a complex technique that will require the ability to draw, a thin linear brush, a round or flat brush and gel paints in black and white.
It is better to draw a skull on a contrasting background, for example, on black. First, the so-called undermining is done - the outlines of the skull. Draw a base and paint over. For this, white paint is used.
To get a three-dimensional image, you need several shades. It is better to cover the skull with a light gray translucent color. To do this, mix a small drop of black and white paint and spread with a base (or top). You will receive material similar to watercolor varnish. Cover them with a skull figure.
Use black ink to draw eye sockets and the cavity of the mouth. Set white highlights, clarify the shape of the teeth a little. Highlight the zygomatic bones.
In black paint add shadows: under the cheekbones, in the nose, under the superciliary arches.
You can decorate a black manicure with a skull with gold leaf, opals or rhinestones. Using black velvet sand, some nails can be distinguished.
Rhinestone skull
If you want to make a manicure with a skull made of rhinestones, pick up the smallest crystals that you can get. Transparent, silver or gasoline are suitable, completely black can also be a great idea. By and large, you can make a skull from rhinestones of any color.
The smaller the stones, the clearer and more detailed the image can be obtained.
First, coat the nail with varnish - contrasting or in tone with rhinestones. After polymerization, lightly walk along the surface with a buff, then it will be easier to draw. Sketch a sketch of a skull. You can use a liner or a simple pencil.
Paint the skull outlines with a thick rubber base or clear building gel. You can also use a liquid base, combined with acrylic powder (transparent).
With tweezers or a wax pencil, lay out rhinestones starting from the middle of the pattern. If necessary, add small broths to the tone. Dry the nail in the lamp for 1.5-2 minutes, so that the stones grasp well.
Moisten a thin linear brush with a top without a sticky layer and carefully walk between the stones. Try not to get the top on the rhinestones themselves, otherwise they will lose their luster. Cure.
Stamping
This technique allows you to get an image with high detail and very thin clear lines. You only need a suitable plate with skulls, a scraper (putty knife) and a stamp.
If you are using stamping for the first time, before doing manicure with a skull, practice your tips. It is advisable to choose a transparent stamp so that you can evenly place the image of the skull.
Before starting the design, cover the nails with colored varnish, dry it and remove the sticky layer. Put a drop of contrasting varnish on the plate, carefully rub with a spatula. Lean the stamp and press, then transfer the image to the nail. Cover the top.
Reversing stamping
Special mention deserves this option for the use of plates. With it, you can make a colorful design of manicure with a skull. To do this, the image on the stamp must first be painted with gel paints, as shown in the next video.
Volumetric decor
The next photo shows a manicure with a skull, for which ready-made decorative elements were used. They can be made of plastic, glass, metal. To fix such an element on the nail, use special glue for rhinestones or a transparent sculptural gel. A normal base may not hold a relatively heavy element.
It is worth noting that nails with such a voluminous design may not be very comfortable to wear. But if you are used to designs with cone rhinestones or candy balls, there will be no problems.