Gradient on nails with gel polish: application technique and design ideas
Among many techniques, gradient staining is popular not only on the hair, but also on the nails. Popular design looks very stylish and spectacular. And you can do it yourself in this way. To get the right and accurate manicure, you should use the tips and tricks of professionals who perform the ombre technique on the nails every day. Creating your own unique look with smooth or structured transitions using gel polish is now easier.
Features
Gradient is a popular technique for applying two or more colors to a nail plate with the transition from one to another. The overflow can be smooth, creating another new semitone at the border, or clear in the form of a geometric pattern. Features of modern design offer the most diverse embodiment of this familiar technique. You can take as a basis shades of one color or the most contrasting in the palette. A gradient is created with the transition of color from one finger to another or within the same nail plate. Women of all ages love him for the limitless possibilities of combining colors and compatibility with other popular techniques.
Interesting technique and in solo performance. You can choose any material for application: regular varnish, shellac, gel, glitter, dry pigment. The greatest durability and the best quality of work gives a manicure made by gel polish. This foundation provides the broadest possibilities for experimenting with design, style and color palette. The coating, special in its characteristics, makes the work convenient.
Gradient nail design has a number of advantages:
- Suitable for a wide variety of styles and outfits;
- You can choose for any occasion and occasion from a wedding manicure to a 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;
- no special professional tools are required; improvised tools can be used;
- It is combined with a wide variety of textures and design: acrylic sand, broken glass, monograms, rhinestones, etc.
There are several different graded coating techniques. They are all called one word gradient, but each has a more specialized name. Combines them with one fundamental principle of applying a number of shades next to the transition. However, the effect is different depending on the subtleties of the application technique.
The most simple option is done by coloring each nail on the hand in one tone of the same color, for example, chocolate or blue. Thus, a fervent transition from nude beige on the little finger to dark saturated chocolate on a large nail is obtained. Such a manicure on short nails in young active girls looks successful.
In the classic version, the stretch between the layers of color is done horizontally. However, modern technicians welcome the equally spectacular vertical gradient. Also popular is the direction of the bands on the diagonal. And the freshest solution is a chaotic flow of flowers.
Ombre is often confused with a gradient. Technically, this is the gradient. But if in the first case fairly clear borders between colors are acceptable, then the ombre allows only smooth flow of shades one into another with borders blurred by any of the popular methods. Such as orange and indigo.
Such an artistic solution in manicure is ideal for a day of nails of different shapes and lengths. It is only necessary to harmoniously select shades and techniques for the characteristics of your nail plate. So, for short nails, it is considered optimal to use no more than two colors, so as not to visually shorten the fingers. The vertical pattern also looks great on them. With additional decor, it is better not to overdo it. Long and medium nails have more opportunities to create a variety of color schemes. The shape of the nails “ballerina” is ideal for creating the technique of smooth flowing of ombre. The matte finish will look especially elegant on them. Transitions from shining particles go to everyone without exception.
Vertical design is usually done with two colors. They can be both tinted and contrasted. They are distributed exactly in half, or one of the tones can occupy a large area of the nail plate. Such a manicure visually lengthens the fingers.
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 murals or decoration with sparkling decorative elements.
A classic ombre is one of the options for French manicure. It is performed in horizontal overlay of two light nude shades. The most commonly used are ash pink, light beige, peach or milk. In this case, a lighter tone is placed closer to the tip of the nail plate.
Striped manicure is one of the most simple options to perform. Several tones of the same color from the most delicate to saturated are simply applied one after the other to the nail. The direction of clear stripes is usually chosen horizontally or diagonally.
The geometric version has come into fashion recently, along with the trend for geometry in the design of nails. The transition is emphasized clearly. And on the nails, the pattern of clear geometric shapes repeating one after another is important. It can be corners, triangles, rhombuses, ovals and other shapes.They are painted from light to the darkest shade, each in its own color.
To design marigolds for a special occasion or just to create a holiday mood, you can perform a gradient of brilliance. It looks good on any nails. Traditionally, girls choose a combination of gold and silver. You can use either a special pigment, a fine shimmer, or rather large sparkles 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 workshops by nail art professionals. Color coating is applied in layers to a white neutral base using a special device, an airbrush. The result is simply amazing, with smooth transitions.
Chaotic manicure is the latest trend in gradient technique. The color nuances here do not follow strictly one after another in a clearly defined direction, but spread out on the nail plate with chaotic spots. To create an extraordinary effect requires some experience and artistic taste.
The Beverly Hills design is similar to a classic-style manicure and is made by 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 delicate tones: delicate coffee foam, marshmallows, cream, a touch of the finest Chinese porcelain, etc.
Skills is the exact opposite of the previous design. Such a manicure wins through the use of rich and vibrant colors. They resemble the basic tones of world famous sweets. Smoother and sharper transitions are allowed. And you can combine the most unusual contrasting colors on one nail
New Design
Designers tirelessly come 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 technique, the gradient helps to create even more impressive nail art works on the nails.
Gel polish gradient on nails is the most convenient, effective and practical solution. The coating looks amazing, it is easy to apply, and the design will delight the design for several weeks. You can choose any of the options - from the classic jacket to seasonal (autumn, spring) or thematic painting. Colors are selected according to the standard table of combinations of shades and in accordance with the skin color type. You should not be afraid to combine seemingly opposite shades, because in this way you can get a very effective manicure and individual design.
The ombre technique is simply an ideal universal coating that looks perfect on nails of various shapes and lengths. The only thing worth considering is that for short nails you cannot use more than two shades when drawing a pattern in the horizontal direction. Otherwise, the choice is quite wide. This design is suitable for any style of clothing, mood and women of different ages.
To create a carefree summer mood, you can use the brightest berry shades: raspberries, blackberries, bright orange, fresh mint. The brightest transitions are allowed. The coating on the nails of medium and short length looks especially successful. Additional emphasis is usually not required. Although bright details are not prohibited.
Where without a fashionable matte finish this season - matte fever and ombre technique captured. You can arrange all fingers in one style, through one or accent. And sand and powder are also good in this combination, giving the nails an extra volume. True, the colors will be more blurry and lighter.
Metallic effect can be given using foil and rubbing on accent nails. A manicure with a chameleon coating looks good. Delicate and mysterious shine to the nails can be given with glitter. A gradient style manicure can only be created using only shiny particles of different sizes and densities. In this case, as a rule, a denser coating and large shiny particles are applied at the base of the nail. Closer to the end of the marigold, the luster becomes shallow and rare. Although it is possible to apply in the opposite direction.
On weekdays, instead of classic French manicure, they often use delicate French-style ombre. Use the most delicate shades to create a picture: salmon, heavenly, milk, baked milk. The rim of the nail can be decorated in a traditional white color. To highlight the lunula, a contrasting dark tone, silver or gold is often used. The allocation of accent nails with 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 they use rhombs, triangles, ovals. Radial color transitions are the latest trend in this technique. Overflows of color are created in circles from a more saturated center to the periphery. In addition, chaotic gradient application is becoming fashionable. To create such a variant of manicure requires a little imagination, initial skills in creating a gradient and an artistic sense of color.
In autumn, a gradient in red-yellow-orange tones is often chosen, repeating the natural shades of vibrant nature. As a more relaxed option, you can prefer shades of chocolate or gray tints in combination with delicate fuchsia. Design in the style of imitation of a knitted sweater on nails will help to add cosiness to a manicure. In the ombre technique, it has its own unique charm.
Drawings on the theme of the season will help to create an autumn mood. Chanterelle, falling leaves on accent nails, monograms, reminiscent of the first frost patterns on the window, create the completeness of the picture. Ideal satellites will fit in the usual companions of autumn - raindrops. They can be performed using the special “dewdrop” technique or simply glue a scattering of small transparent rhinestones.
A luxurious evening look will help to create a variety of decorative elements. Different types of glitter, iridescent shimmer, patterns and drawings, stones, rhinestones and broths will create radiance. Professionals advise not to decorate all nails at once, but to try to rein in the desire to shine from head to toe. Having decorated just a couple of nails on your hand, you can look stylish and be in trend without leaving the line of bad taste.
The trendy flock coating is also performed in the gradient technique to obtain a greater effect. Loved by all women, without exception, floral motifs and various types of monograms are perfectly combined with delicate ombre transitions. In this case, it is better to choose a medium-sized drawing and place it on the side of the nail.
It is recommended to cover with a pattern no more than one third of the area of the marigold so as not to completely close the effective gradient.
Complement the ombre and other fashionable techniques. So, Chinese painting, origami, hieroglyphics, made in a laconic black color, look very elegant on a new ombre. A few recent seasons of the technique of creating the effect of a broken mirror or glass, as well as a stained glass pattern combined with a gradient, create stunning combinations. When creating a manicure, ombre often use the allocation of the moon, which creates the 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 tends 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 manner. The index finger with a gradient can be decorated with a selection of the moon.On the middle finger add an accent lunula with rhinestones and the broken glass technique. Sprinkle the accented nameless 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 colors for manicure. It’s fashionable and stylish that suits you. Colors should be chosen based on compatibility with skin tone, relevance in a particular situation of wearing manicure, personal taste preferences. There are some classic combinations like red and black, yellow and blue, milky and pink. But sticking to these rules is not necessary at all. Fashionable gradient leaves complete freedom for creativity.
White color calmly combines with everyone. Moreover, it often serves as a clarifier-thinner to create a gradient in shades of one color. Fashionable light beige is gorgeous with blue, milk 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 fundamental tone. So, tomato looks creamy, sandy, blue. Raspberry tone is combined with white and the color of a damask rose. Orange is good with purple, yellow, black and indigo. The olive color looks noble with black, brown, dark orange. Turquoise is luxurious with fuchsia, yellow, dark purple and marshmallow. Universal black, gold, silver and copper are perfect in all possible combinations.
What is required?
Gradient manicure does not imply complex equipment or special devices for its execution. An ordinary flat brush with a rounded tip and a UV lamp are enough to dry the gel polish. If you are going to do manicure professionally, then you can gradually acquire professional equipment, because the gradient is very 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);
- a sponge, an 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 will be);
- cotton swabs, foil, means for correcting manicure;
- clinser and UV lamp.
Additionally, decorative elements, scotch tape, wooden toothpicks, a palette may be required. If you can buy professional equipment, you should buy a comb brush, a fan brush and a device for air application by air -uffing.
If there is no way to purchase any of the tools, you can do them yourself. For example, a brush is often used from an old varnish, pre-cleaning and cutting hair in diameter at the base to the desired size. But you should not save on a quality gel-varnish coating, because the accuracy and appearance of the whole work will depend on it.
How to do it step by step?
Performing a gradient manicure is quite simple at home, using a step-by-step guide and applying small tricks for the perfect effect. A smooth transition is made using a special brush, novice masters use sponges or ordinary household sponges with small pores. You can draw clear transitions using a stencil or adhesive tape.
Before creating a unique design, nails should be carefully prepared. The old coating is carefully removed, the nails are lowered into a nutrient bath with oil and salt. After that, the hands are treated with a nutrient, and the nails are degreased. The nail plate must be aligned, give it the desired shape and length. After that, a base coat is applied to protect the nail.If the selected shades of gel polish are sufficiently light and transparent, a milky-white base will give them brightness instead of the usual transparent. The detailed technology of applying a gradient style manicure is described below.
Classic horizontal gradient sponge.
- After drying the base layer, take the selected two or three shades 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 borders of the coating.
- Take a sponge with a finely porous structure and dip in the resulting colors. To begin with, we make two or three prints here on the foil to get rid of excess paint. Then with a light driving motion we apply a three-layer gradient on the nail.
- In order to smooth out the resulting bubbles, we immediately apply a top-coat on top of the transparent coating and then dry it under a UV lamp for 10 minutes.
Vertical ombre with a flat brush with a rounded end.
- We take two selected shades and apply vertically to the dried and prepared base next to each other. You can make two layers at once.
- Using a wet brush in the clipper, with quick vertical movements from the lunula to the tip, slightly rub the boundary between the layers of gel polish.
- Dry the coating under the lamp. Then repeat the procedure to obtain a more saturated tone one or two more times. We cover with a protective coating on top and finally carefully seal the manicure under the influence of a UV lamp.
Beautiful examples
Thanks to the bold ideas of nail art masters, you can independently create an up-to-date manicure in your favorite gradient technique. You can cover them with nails in solo performance or combine with one of the fashionable techniques, decorate with decor. Choose an option to your taste and create a unique image with a delicate feminine ombre manicure.
- Ombre with smooth transitions in delicate creamy shades on short rounded nails is an ideal option for every day.
- Two gradient techniques in one manicure get along quite harmoniously. The finger to finger gradient on accent nails is complemented by a strict geometric.
- Ombre will effectively decorate nails of any length and shape. Making transitions in the diagonal direction is one of the latest fashion trends. For daytime manicure, the most delicate shades are suitable. For a special occasion, you can choose a rich palette.
- Any gradient with the addition of black looks elegant 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 fatal woman or a sophisticated lady.
- Skittles gradient is the perfect solution for a fresh summer manicure. It is especially suitable for young and perky, and is also recommended as a means to cheer up.
- The trend is juicy berry shades. When choosing gentle tones, don't be afraid to experiment with combinations.
- Neon shades look great on tanned skin. Great choice for travelers. The shape of the nails is very practical and will allow you to forget about their condition for at least a couple of weeks.
- Saturated shades look noble and luxurious. Ombre is becoming 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 option, just add luxury to it in the form of a pattern of rhinestones and stones. It turns out very effectively.
- Glitter gives a manicure in a gradient technique to volume, depth and a special mysterious flicker.
Whichever option you choose, you can be sure that the gradient manicure looks great and impressive. With its help, you can create a trending geometric pattern, a delicate translucent effect in the style of watercolor painting, luxurious manicure with a shining decor. It looks great both in the original version, and in combination with various techniques.
You will learn about six methods of applying gradient manicure in the next video.