Gel polish nail gradient: application technique and design ideas
Among many techniques, gradient coloring is popular not only on the hair, but also on the nails. Popular design looks very stylish and spectacular. And you can do a manicure in this way by yourself. To get a correct and neat manicure, you should use the tips and tricks of the professionals who perform the ombre technique on the nails every day. Create your own unique image using smooth or structured transitions using gel polish is now easier.
Features
Gradient is a popular technique of applying two or more colors on the nail plate with the transition from one to another. Flow can be smooth, creating another new semitone on the border, or clear in the form of a geometric pattern. Features of modern design offer a very different embodiment of this familiar technology. You can take as a basis shades of the same color or the most contrast in the palette. The gradient is created with the transition of color from one finger to another or within one nail plate. Women of all ages love him for the endless possibilities of color combinations and compatibility with other popular techniques.
An interesting technique and in solo performance. You can choose to apply any material: ordinary varnish, shellac, gel, glitter, dry pigment. The highest resistance and the best quality of work gives a manicure, gel-done varnish. This framework provides ample opportunity for experimentation with design, style and color palette. Particular in its characteristics coating makes the work convenient.
The gradient design on the nails has a number of advantages:
- suitable for a wide variety of styles and outfits;
- You can choose for any occasion and occasion from the wedding manicure to the theme party;
- looks great in everyday manicure when performed in neutral nude tones;
- the technique is simple to perform and is suitable even for beginners;
- special professional tools are not required, improvised tools can be used;
- combined with a variety of textures and designs: acrylic sand, broken glass, monograms, rhinestones, etc.
There are several different techniques for applying a graduated coating. All of them are called one word gradient, but each has a more specialized name. They are united by one fundamental principle of applying several shades with a transition. However, the effect is different depending on the subtleties of the application technique.
The simplest option is to dye each nail on the hand in one of its own tone of the same color, for example, chocolate or blue. Thus, it turns out fervent transition from nude beige on the little finger to the dark rich chocolate on a large nail. Such a manicure on short nails looks good in young active girls.
In the classic version, stretching between layers of color is done horizontally. However, modern technology welcomes no less spectacular vertical gradient. Also popular is the direction of the bands on the diagonal. And the most recent solution is the chaotic flow of flowers.
Ombre is often confused with a gradient. According to the technique, this is the gradient.But if in the first case, fairly clear boundaries between colors are permissible, then the ombra allows only smooth flow of shades one into the other with some of the popular ways blurred by borders. For example, orange and indigo.
Such an artistic solution in manicure is ideal for the day of the nails of different shapes and lengths. It should only harmoniously choose shades and techniques for the features of your nail plate. So, for short nails, it is considered optimal to use no more than two colors in order not to visually shorten the fingers. Vertical design looks great on them. With extra decor it is better not to overdo it. Long and medium marigold have more opportunities to create a variety of colors. The nail form “ballerina” is ideal for creating an ombre smooth flow technique. Especially elegant will look at them matte finish. Transitions of shining particles go to everyone without exception.
Vertical design is usually done using two colors. They can be both tint and contrast. Are distributed exactly in half, or one of the tones may occupy a large area of the nail plate. Such a manicure visually lengthens the fingers.
The horizontal gradient is a classic of the genre. It is performed in various techniques using a wide variety of tools and colors. Often, it serves as a backdrop for another richer design in the form of a painting or decoration with sparkling decorative elements.
Classic ombre is one of the variants of French manicure. It is performed in a horizontal overlay of two light nude shades. The most commonly used are ash-pink, light beige, peach, or milky. In this case, a lighter tone is placed closer to the tip of the nail plate.
Striped manicure is one of the most uncomplicated options. One after the other, several tones of the same color from the gentlest to the most saturated are simply applied on the nail. The direction of clear bands, as a rule, is chosen horizontally or diagonally.
The geometric version became fashionable quite recently along with the trend in the geometry in the design of nails. The transition here is clearly underlined. And on the nails it is important to draw a pattern of clear geometric figures repeating after each other. These can be corners, triangles, rhombuses, ovals and other shapes. Paint them from light to darkest shade, each in its own color.
To decorate the nails for a special occasion or simply to create a holiday mood, you can perform a gradient of glitter. It looks good on any nails. Traditionally, girls choose a combination of gold and silver. You can use both a special pigment, a small shimmer, and rather large spangles and even kamifubuki of different diameters.
Air manicure is the same ombre, but only applied not by hand, but by machine. Usually it is used in the workshops of nail art professionals. The color coating is applied in layers on a white neutral base using a special device, an airbrush. The result is stunning, with smooth transitions.
Chaotic manicure is the latest trend in gradient technique. The color nuances here are not strictly following each other in a clearly defined direction, but are spread on the nail plate with chaotic spots. To create an extraordinary effect, some experience and artistic taste are required.
The design of "Beverly Hills" is similar to the manicure in the classical style and is performed with smooth transitions using the ombre technique. This coating is distinguished by a special noble color palette. The coloring is performed as a smooth transition of two most delicate tones: delicate coffee crema, marshmallow, cream, the shade of the finest Chinese porcelain, etc.
Skittles are the exact opposite of the previous design. This manicure wins due to the use of rich and bright colors.They resemble the basic tones of world famous sweets. Smooth and clearer transitions are allowed. And you can combine the most unusual contrasting colors on one nail.
New design
Designers tirelessly coming up with new versions so that any woman can please herself with a special manicure that will help her stand out from the crowd and look perfect. Even if you choose the classic two-color ombre or the simplest gradient with the transition of pure colors from nail to nail, increased attention is provided. In combination with any manicure techniques, the gradient helps to create even more impressive nail art on nails.
The gel nail polish gradient is the most convenient, effective and practical solution. The coating looks amazing, it is easy to apply, and the design will be happy for a few weeks. You can choose any of the options - from classic french to seasonal (autumn, spring) or thematic painting. Colors are selected according to the standard table of combinations of shades and in accordance with the color type of skin. You should not be afraid of combining the seemingly opposite shades, because in this way you can get a very effective manicure and an individual design.
Ombre technique is simply an ideal universal coating that looks perfect on nails of various shapes and lengths. The only thing that should be taken into account is that you cannot use more than two shades for short nails when drawing a pattern in the horizontal direction. The rest of the choice is quite wide. This design will suit any style of clothing, mood, and women of different ages.
To create a carefree summer mood, you can use the brightest berry shades: raspberry, blackberry, bright orange, fresh mint. The brightest transitions are allowed. Especially successful is the coating on the nails of medium and short length. Additional emphasis, as a rule, is not required. Although bright details and not prohibited.
Where there is no fashionable matte coating this season - matt fever and ombring technique have captured. You can arrange in one style execution all the fingers, through one or accent. And sand and powder are also good in this combination, giving the nails extra volume. True, the colors will be more blurry and light.
The metallic effect can be given using foil and rubbing on the accent nails. Successfully looks manicure with a coating "chameleon". Gentle and mysterious shine of the nails can be given with the help of glitter. A gradient-style manicure can be created only with the use of some radiant particles of different size and density. At the same time, as a rule, a thicker coating and large shiny particles are applied at the base of the nail. Toward the end of the claw glitter becomes small and rare. Although it is possible to apply in the opposite direction.
In working days, instead of the classic French manicure, they often use a delicate ombre in French style. Use to create a picture of the most delicate shades: salmon, heavenly, milky, baked milk. The rim of the nail can be made in the traditional white color. To highlight the moon, they often use a contrasting dark tone, silver or gold. Highlighting the accent nail with a gentle liquid glitter is quite welcome.
Geometry is more popular than ever, especially in the ombre technique. An interesting effect is obtained with a clearly graded color transition in geometric shapes. Most often use rhombuses, triangles, ovals. Radial color transition is the latest trend in this technique. Overflow colors are created in circles from a more saturated center to the periphery. In addition, the chaotic application of the gradient is coming into fashion. To create this version of manicure requires a little imagination, initial skills in creating a gradient and an artistic sense of color.
In the fall, a gradient in red-yellow-orange tones is often chosen, repeating the natural shades of bright nature.As a quieter option, you can prefer shades of chocolate or gray overflow in combination with delicate fuchsia. The design in the style of imitation of a knitted sweater on nails will help to add a manicure of comfort. In the ombre technique, it has its unique charm.
Autumn mood will help create and drawings on the theme of the season. Chanterelle, falling leaves on accent nails, monograms, reminiscent of the first frost patterns on the window, create a full picture. Ideal soda will fit the usual satellites of autumn - raindrops. They can be made in a special “dew drop” technique or simply stick a placer of small transparent rhinestones.
A luxurious evening look will help create a variety of decorative elements. Radiance will create different types of glitter, iridescent shimmer, patterns and drawings, stones, rhinestones and bouillons. Professionals advise not to decorate all the nails at once, and try to curb the desire to shine from head to toe. Having decorated only a couple of nails on your hand, you can look stylish and be in trend, without going out on the line of bad taste.
Octromodic flock coating is also performed using a gradient technique to obtain greater effect. The floral motifs and various types of monograms, loved by any and all women, are perfectly combined with gentle ombre transitions. It is better to choose a medium-sized pattern and place it on the side of the nail.
It is recommended to cover with a pattern of not more than one third of the area of the nail, so as not to close the spectacular gradient at all.
Complement the ombre and other fashionable techniques. So, the Chinese painting, origami, hieroglyphs, made in the laconic black color, look very elegantly on the nude ombre. The last few seasons' popular techniques for creating the effect of broken mirrors or glass, as well as the stained glass pattern in combination with the gradient create stunning combinations. When creating a manicure, the ombra often use the selection of a moon, which creates an additional effect of a complex transition and fashionable geometricity.
The most fashionable is not a single use of the gradient on all fingers, but a combination of it with other drawings and techniques. Each subsequent season to complicate the manicure. Ideally, at least 4-5 techniques should be used on the arm. So, the thumb can be painted in a classic gradient style. The index finger with a gradient can be decorated with a selection of a moon. On the middle finger, add an accent moon with rhinestones and broken glass. Accent nameless sprinkle with small eggs or highlight with metal foil and cover the little finger with a matte top.
Color combinations
Modern trends in nail art do not impose strict requirements on the choice of color manicure. Fashionable and stylish is exactly what suits you. Colors should be chosen on the basis of compatibility with a skin tone, appropriateness in a particular situation of wearing a manicure, your own taste preferences. There are some classic combinations like red and black, yellow and blue, milky and pink. But sticking to these rules is not at all necessary. Fashionable gradient leaves full freedom for creativity.
White color calmly combined with all. Moreover, it often serves as a diluent to clarify a gradient in shades of the same color. Trendy light beige is gorgeous with blue, milky and all shades of chocolate. Noble gray is successful in combination with noble wine, dusty pink, milky and blue. Pink looks with mint, olive color, pale blue, melon and lime.
Red is very rich in various shades. Each particular combination depends on the pitch. So, the tomato looks creamy, sandy, blue. Crimson tone is combined with white and damask rose color. Orange is good with purple, yellow, black and indigo. Olive color looks noble with black, brown, dark orange. Turquoise is luxurious with fuchsia, yellow, dark purple and marshmallow color.Versatile black, gold, silver and copper are beautiful in all possible combinations.
What is required?
Gradient manicure does not imply a complex technique or special devices for its performance. A simple flat brush with a rounded tip and a UV lamp for drying gel polish are sufficient. If you are going to do manicure professionally, then gradually you can purchase professional accessories, because the gradient is very much in demand in any season.
Among the required attributes you will need:
- base, top coat and gel polish itself in two or more shades (depending on the chosen manicure design);
- sponge, ordinary sponge for dishes with small pores (you can use a small sponge on a stick for applying shadows), as well as a brush (depending on what the application technique is);
- cotton swabs, foil, manicure correction;
- Clinser and UV lamp.
Additionally, you may need decorative items, tape, wooden toothpicks, a palette. If you have the opportunity to purchase professional devices, you should buy a comb-brush, a fan brush and a device for airborne application.
If it is not possible to purchase any of the tools yet, you can make them yourself. For example, a brush is often used from old varnish, pre-cleaning and cutting hairs along the diameter at the base to the desired size. But on the quality coating gel varnish should not save, because it will depend on the accuracy and appearance of all the work.
How to do step by step?
Performing a gradient manicure is quite simple at home, using step-by-step tutorials and applying small tricks for the perfect effect. They make a smooth transition with a special brush, beginners use sponges or ordinary household sponges with small pores. You can draw clear transitions with a stencil or scotch tape.
Before creating a unique design, nails should be carefully prepared. The old coating is carefully removed, the nails are lowered into the nutrient bath with oil and salt. After that, the hands are treated with a nutrient, and the nails are degreased. The nail plate needs to be leveled, give it the desired shape and length. After that, apply a base coat to protect the nail. If the selected shades of gel polish are sufficiently light and transparent, the milky-white base instead of the usual transparent will give them brightness. Detailed technology of applying manicure in the style of the gradient is described below.
Classic horizontal gradient sponge.
- After drying the base layer, take the selected two or three tones of gel polish and drip a drop of each color onto a piece of foil next to each other. Using a needle or toothpick, mix the edges of the coating.
- We take a sponge with a finely porous structure and dip it in the resulting colors. To begin with, we make two or three prints here, on a foil, in order to get rid of excess paint. Then apply a three-layer gradient on the nail with a light-driving movement.
- To smooth out the possible resulting bubbles, immediately apply a transparent top-end coating on top and then dry under a UV lamp for 10 minutes.
Vertical ombre flat brush with a rounded end.
- We take two selected shades and put them vertically on the dried and prepared base next to each other. You can make two layers at once.
- Using a wet brush in a clinser, with quick vertical movements from the moon to the tip, lightly rub the boundary between the layers of gel polish.
- Dry the coating under the lamp. Then we repeat the procedure to obtain a more saturated tone once or twice. We cover the top with a protective coating and finally thoroughly seal the manicure under the influence of a UV lamp.
Beautiful examples
Thanks to the bold ideas of the masters of nail art, you can create your own actual manicure in your favorite gradient technique.They can be covered with marigolds in a solo performance or combined with one of the fashionable techniques, decorate with decor. Choose an option to your liking and create a unique image with a gentle feminine ombre manicure.
- Ombre with smooth transitions in soft creamy shades on short rounded nails - perfect for every day.
- Two techniques of a gradient in one manicure quite harmoniously get along. The finger-to-finger gradient on the accent nails is complemented by strict geometric.
- Ombre will effectively decorate the nails of any length and shape. Applying transitions in a diagonal direction is one of the latest fashion trends. For day manicure fit the most delicate shades. On a special occasion, you can choose a rich palette.
- Any gradient with the addition of black looks gorgeous and mysterious. Black gives depth and ambiguity to manicure.
- Red is never boring, it has too many shades. You can choose any shade that creates the image of a femme fatale or a sophisticated lady.
- Skittles style gradient is the perfect solution for a fresh summer manicure. Especially suitable for young and perky, and also recommended as a means to lift the mood.
- In trend juicy berry shades. Choosing gentle tones, do not be afraid to experiment with combinations.
- Neon shades look great on tanned skin. A great choice for travelers. The shape of the nails is very practical and allows you to forget about their condition for at least a couple of weeks.
- Saturated shades look noble and luxurious. Ombre becomes more than just a smooth transition technique. This is a good final touch to any image.
- If you need to quickly transform a modest office manicure into an evening version, it is enough to add to it luxury in the form of a pattern made of rhinestones and stones. It turns out very impressive.
- Glitter gives a manicure a gradient in volume, depth and a special mysterious shimmer.
Whichever option you choose, you can be sure that the manicure in the gradient technique looks great and impressive. With it, you can create a trendy geometric pattern, a delicate translucent effect in the style of watercolor painting, a luxurious manicure with a shining decor. It looks great both in the original performance, and in combination with various techniques.
You will learn about the six ways to apply a gradient manicure in the next video.