Gradient manicure still does not lose its relevance. He continues to occupy one of the leading positions in the world of nail art due to its ease of implementation and the ability to create various design options. You can make all the nails in a gradient technique or combine it with other techniques. Anyway, the pens will look stylish and spectacular.
What is this technique
Gradient manicure implies a smooth transition of one color to another. You can choose both shades of one gamut, and differing in several tones. There are several varieties of this technique:
- horizontal;
- vertical;
- gradient with transition.
Make such a manicure yourself is not difficult. The main thing is to choose the right combination of colors and make a smooth transition.
Features of creating a gradient with a transition
This is the simplest technique of this manicure. To do this, you will need 5 varnishes with shades of one gamut (for example, blue). First, you cover one nail with blue, then the other - already a shade lighter. Thus, you should make up all the nails.
You can choose both bright shades and more restrained pastel shades. The main thing in this technique is to choose the right colors and gently paint the nails.
How to make a manicure in horizontal and vertical technique
Now the transition must be done on the nail plate, starting from the base to the very tip. If you choose the appropriate shades, then your manicure will turn out to be very smooth and feminine. If you decide to take contrasting colors, then it will be bright and original.
You can use any number of shades. Only the more contrasting colors you take, the sharper your transitions will be. And vice versa, if there are many similar shades, the more gentle and smooth the manicure will turn out. Apply varnishes in horizontal stripes.
The vertical technique is based on the same principles as the horizontal, only its difference is that the shades are applied vertically. The next version of the manicure will look original and beautiful: one nail is covered with a monophonic coating, the other is made in horizontal technique, the next in vertical, and the remaining nails are covered with similar shades. This will make the manicure even more spectacular.
What do you need to complete it
To make the gradient manicure yourself, you need to prepare the following accessories:
- several shades of varnish;
- a sponge or sponge to create and apply a gradient;
- orange stick or toothpick;
- nail polish remover;
- top cover.
It is best to choose varnishes that have a dense texture and good pigmentation. They are quite simple to do manicure and do not need to apply many layers of coating to make the color saturated.
Creating a smooth transition with a sponge
There are two ways to create a gradient manicure, and both of them are quite simple. In the first method, a smooth transition is created using a sponge:
- Cover the prepared marigolds with a base coat.
- Then apply several shades of varnish on the sponge and immediately transfer them to the nail with light patting movements. Thanks to this, the shades mix and smooth transitions turn out.
- Fix the result with a top coating.
In this method, execution speed is important. Because if you work too long and carelessly with a sponge, then you will not get a smooth transition, but a dirty shade. Therefore, it is better to use not contrasting colors, but shades of one gamut.
It may be that the lacquer strips on the sponge dry quickly, because the layer is very thin. Then you need to transfer them to the nail and wait for the coating to dry. Then again draw strips on the sponge and transfer them to the nail.
Also, during the creation of a manicure, there is a chance that you will get dirty during the work. Therefore, use a liquid tape - it needs to be placed around the nail plate. After the manicure, you will remove it along with excess varnish. But if you don’t have it at hand, you can use cotton swabs dipped in nail polish remover.
The second way to create a smooth transition with a sponge
To create a gradient, you will need not only a sponge, but also a palette or a solid surface in order to mix colors.
The following steps need to be done:
- Cover the nail with the lightest shade you use for the gradient.
- Moisten the sponge slightly so that the varnish does not dry too quickly. Then apply a dark shade and a light shade to the palette or surface so that they lightly touch. To make a smooth border between them, mix them with a stick. All these manipulations must be carried out quickly so that the varnishes do not dry out.
- Transfer the resulting gradient onto the sponge with patting movements, while slightly smearing, so that the transitions turn out even smoother. Then transfer the gradient to the nail.
- Fix the result with a top coating.
- Remove excess varnish with a liquid tape or cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.
During the procedure, you need to update the varnishes so that the coating turns out bright.
Features geometric design
An increasingly popular type of gradient manicure on nails, such as a geometric pattern. It is performed with gel polish and a thin brush. To make such a design, you need only two types of varnish - white and color.
On the palette, you mix colored varnish with white to get different shades. You need to create a gradient from the lightest, gradually approaching the darkest and most saturated. Apply a thin layer so that it does not spread. Drying each layer is not necessary - only when the entire drawing is done.
If you do not want to make a manicure with gel polish, you can use a simple coating. In the above photo of a gradient manicure with a geometric design, you can see how beautiful it looks. In order to make a geometric pattern, you will need stencils. It is ideal for simple varnish, because it dries quickly and does not spread, and its excess can easily be removed with a special liquid. You can create an unusual gradient design using a simple coating.
How to make a manicure gradient gel polish
Before creating smooth transitions, you need to conduct a complete preparation of the nail plate. It is necessary to apply a base coat, preferably with a leveling coating. And remove the sticky layer before you start drawing smooth transitions.
The easiest way to create a gradient gel manicure is to draw in a horizontal technique. Cover the nail with one coat of colored varnish and dry it. Then apply the second one and, without drying it, drip into the cuticle area with a different color. Just be careful - do not paint over the cuticle itself!
Now you need to stretch this drop over the entire surface of the nail, without bringing the shade to the very tip. How well you blend the shade, so smooth and you get the transition. To make this easier, use a special brush for the gradient - it is wider than usual and allows you to evenly stretch the color. After you have dried the nails in the lamp, apply a topcoat.
There are unusual varnishes for manicure gradient, which change their color depending on the temperature. Apply them in the same way as other coatings. They are called thermal varnishes, and thanks to them you can make a very interesting and beautiful manicure. The gradient can be combined with other techniques, which will create an interesting nail design.