Nail art trends change with the seasons and, for nail technicians, having your eye on the recent styles can make your business so much more profitable. Here, we look at the latest trends and the products needed to create them.
Women have been decorating their nails for thousands of years, from the Zhou dynasty in ancient China to Cleopatra in Egypt. In modern times (through most of the 1900s), nails were simply coated in neutral shades with the occasional pop of fiery red, and nail art was, for the most part, nonexistent. Then the ’80s arrived, with its shock of neon colors and all things extra.
Over the years, nail art slowly made its way to the masses. But it wasn’t until around 2012 when nail art truly became mainstream, courtesy of celebrities like Zooey Deschanel, Rihanna, Beyoncé and Katy Perry, who began sporting mini masterpieces on their tips for red carpet appearances. Glossy women’s magazines were finally featuring nail art tutorials on their pages and novice nail aficionados gained notoriety with their nail art blogs.
Today, nails and nail art simply go hand in hand. What was once a specialty, only created by the uber-talented, is now easily accessible for any nail tech thanks to innovations in nail art products like decals, stamps, foil and other prefab embellishments. Being able to apply a nail enhancement with the correct liquid-to-powder ratio was once the mark of success; now that skill has been replaced by the ability to create awe-inspiring nail art, the new prerequisite to gaining a successful clientele.
Nail art styles are as diverse as the clients who wear them. Some women consider an accent nail art, while others want all the hand-painted designs, plus stones and crystals piled high on top. What you offer on your service menu has as much to do with what your clients' desires as it does with your skill level. If you’re more art adverse, play with color. Think: “skittles” nails (where each nail is painted a different hue), colored French looks and abstract art using the gel or lacquer bottle brush to swipe random strokes across each nail. You might also consider using a dotting tool and basic liner brush, as these instruments will easily become your best friend for all kinds of designs from dotted flowers to animal prints to plaids.
If your clients wear a lot of enhancements (hard gel, acrylic), then you might want to practice with gem gels and resins so you can adhere 3-D elements like Swarovski crystals, pearls and charms for the more adventurous customers. From a small smattering of tiny crystals to large stones nestled together, there’s a technique to placement and application so that they don’t get caught on clothes or fall off before
the next appointment.
For more advanced art, those who are well-versed in acrylic can practice creating three-dimensional designs both directly on the nail and off for later use. Just build 3-D embellishments on a form and save them in a small box to add to clients’ nails later on.
And, of course, if you’re a natural artiste, then you have the luxury of being able to choose from it all! Invest in nail art brushes in different sizes so you can create all types of designs. Also, look for quality gel paints with a medium-to-thick viscosity (you don't want the color to run when you place it on the nail) that are highly pigmented so you can do your detail work in one stroke.
Regardless of the style of art or the technique you use to achieve it, if you want to compete with the other great nail artists around, then you have to practice, practice, practice. Online classes are great for introductions to nail art or to help you with additional tips once you’re already competent in a style, but nothing beats in-person instruction to really take your skills to the next level. Find other nail techs who do art that you like and reach out to them for advice; most people are willing to share the knowledge and help you out.Like fashion, nail art trends tend to be cyclical, which means what was once old becomes new again in no time.
And for those countless nail technicians out there who are super skilled at polishing, lengthening and overall enhancing nails, but freeze up when it comes to art — that’s OK! You don’t have to be artistically gifted to create nail art. The key is to keep up with the trends, identify the ones that are easier to achieve and then find shortcuts to recreate them yourself. Again, thanks to the myriad nail art products on the market, you don’t need to be a Picasso to give your clients a beautiful set of artful nails. Mia Secret has a bevvy of nail art products that can make your job a snap. Check out our favorites below!
Blooming Gel
$12.50
Blooming Gel is a clear gel that can be applied over any color. It spreads out the designs made with gelux. After the nail is ready with either Acrylic or Gelux , apply a thin layer of Blooming Gel. Do… read more
Gel Paint Snow White
$8.50
Gel Paint allows you to create intricate designs on your nails! Note, this product is not a gel polish! It is for nail art only. Comes in a variety of colors for all nail designs.… read more
Gel Paint Silver
$8.50
Gel Paint allows you to create intricate designs on your nails! Note, this product is not a gel polish! It is for nail art only. Comes in a variety of colors for all nail designs.… read more
Metallic Flakes CH-76
$10.00
This nail decoration consists of metallic flakes that will add a unique and vibrant look to your manicure. With a sparkly and eye-catching style, Metallic Flakes will take your nails to the next level.… read more
4-D Nail Plastiline
$8.80
4D NAIL PLASTILINE is a white gel which can be applied with different tools such as; needles, dotting tools, silicone tools, and 3D nail art brushes. It's an easy and fun product to use, you can also create astonishing 3D… read more
