Shellac with mica. Manicure with mica - luxury and brilliance

Mica for nails is small shiny pieces of foil. Most often they have different shape and negligible little weight. Mica is mainly used in nail extensions. However, you can try to make a mica nail design at home, which I actually did. And, in my opinion, it turned out very even nothing.

How to make a manicure with mica

To do beautiful nails with mica we need the following:

• - mica,
• - clear nail polish,
• - dots or toothpick
• - metal file.

Before you start creating a design, prepare everything you need. For convenience, it is better to pour the mica itself (not all!) On a flat surface. And decide on the application option. At the end of the article there are some interesting option decoration with mica. There are many options for applying this decorative element. For example, you can decorate the entire nail, create a pattern, combine colors, etc. And you can even make a jacket with mica, that is, decorate only the tips of your nails with it, which, in fact, I did.

Step 1. Draw on the tip of the nail a strip of clear or colored polish (I have lilac polish) and immediately start applying mica. The best way to do this is with dots - manicure tool with a round metal end. By the way, I ordered it in the Avon catalog. Of course, Avon dots are far from the best and most convenient, but still they are better than toothpicks. Although if there is no dots, you can use it.

Step 2. Choose small pieces of mica, press them with a dots or a toothpick and transfer to the nail. After the entire tip of the nail is covered with mica, reapply the clear polish.

Step 3. Do the same with all the other nails. When the clear coat dries a bit, press down on the mica more firmly and reapply the clear polish to the tips of your nails. It is better to press mica with a metal file.

Step 4. To better hold the mica, apply another layer of clear varnish. The more layers of varnish, the stronger and more beautiful the jacket with mica will look. True, and dry like this Not regular manicure will be long enough. Therefore, it is better to use mica under gel polish, I wrote about how to use it at home.

If you are going to make mica for gel polish, then it is better to apply it on the main (color) gel polish, then send it under the lamp, then cover it with a top coat and dry it again. It is advisable to apply 2 - 3 layers of the top, then the mica will hold well.

P.S.: Dasha, thanks for the mica =)

Having taken a leading position in nail art in 2015, mica manicure is still a favorite design of many girls and masters. Due to the multifaceted overflows and bright colors it can completely transform both natural nails and extended ones.

Mica, what is it?

Natural mica is a mineral with a layered texture and a fascinating pearlescent sheen.

Mica for design, when viewed, looks like pieces of cut foil. This mica is commercially available in the form of plates and chips and boasts a huge color spectrum.

Types of decorative mica

Dry or regular - has a dense structure that resembles pieces of foil. Sold in jars or bags, in which large particles can come across, they are very easy to cut with ordinary nail scissors.

Note! Dry mica is used by nail masters during nail extension. This is because when applying it, it is necessary to apply a thick overlay on top. It is necessary to eliminate tuberosity and roughness on the surface of the nail.

Liquid mica ( liquid foil, wet gloss) is a brilliant pigment that is evenly superimposed even on natural nails. It is used for manicure with gel polish or ordinary varnish.

French manicure with dry mica

To create an extended jacket with mica, you will need the following materials:

1. Orange stick.
2. Manicure nippers.
3. Files: for natural nails (180-220 grit), for artificial nails (80-100 grit).
4. Nail brush.
5. Acid free primer.
6. Paper forms for building.
7. Extension gels (base, modeling and finishing).
8. Dry mica.
9. Extension brush and dots.
10. Sticky layer remover.
11. Cotton discs.
12. Ultraviolet lamp.
13. Cuticle oil.

The first step is to prepare the nails for extension:

Let's start building and decorating:

1. We put a form under the nail, you should make sure that the “ears” are connected without overlaps.
2. Applying the first thin layer base gel, creating the shape of the future nail, dry in the lamp for at least 40 seconds.
3. We make the second layer with the base gel a little thicker, dry for at least 40 seconds.
4. We are filming paper form, remove sticky layer. File the surface with a file for artificial nails, shape free edge.
5. Degrease the surface with an adhesive remover.
6. We draw a “smile” with a modeling gel, apply mica on a sticky layer with a dots, align the pieces, polymerize for at least one minute.
7. Cover the nail completely with the finishing gel, in the lamp for one minute. We remove the sticky layer, file it with a file for artificial nails, and degrease it.
8. We make the second layer of the finish, dry for three minutes, degrease, apply oil to the cuticle area.

French mica nail design is ready. Nails with such a manicure effectively sparkle and are suitable for both everyday look as well as for the holiday.

Home manicure using liquid mica

Not all girls like extended nails, and not everyone knows how to do them. Therefore, two ways will now be considered on how to create a simple manicure with mica, photo step by step process will help to perform it even for beginners at home.

For starters, you can perform a regular manicure using glitter nail polish. There is nothing tricky in such a process, but the effect will be literally sparkling.

Step-by-step creation of manicure with sparkles:

Everything is quite simple, but the nails already look much more original than with a simple color coating.

You can also do a manicure at home using gel polishes and liquid mica:

1. At the first stage, it is necessary to do the processing of the nail plate, follow the instructions from the nail extension example.
2. We cover the nails with a thin layer of the base under the gel polish, seal the end of the nail, in the lamp for two minutes.
3. Cover the nail with colored gel polish, then spread liquid mica with a flat brush or dots. Carefully align all the pieces, dry for 30-40 seconds.
4. We cover the entire surface with a finish coat. You can admire the radiance and modulations on the nails!

The ease of implementation and the original result of a manicure with mica will be appreciated by any girl. His versatility and unpretentiousness continue to win an increasing number of fans. Perhaps the ideas below can inspire someone else for such a truly dazzling manicure.

Coatings with texture liquid mica” have become one of the most impressive new products of the outgoing 2017. sparkling like gems nails have long ceased to be associated only with festive and new year ideas nail design. And turned into one of the most simple and spectacular ways decorate any wardrobe modern fashionista both this year and 2018.

Until recently, manicure masters also had in their arsenal, including crushed foil and sparkles, but not giving 100% stylization as jewelry ground into dust or molten precious metals. With the advent of “mica” sparkling gel polishes, all the dreams of beauties about an irresistible, stunningly beautiful manicure, sometimes surpassing in entertainment even such popular decorative elements as crystal chips, have come true. What is the secret of the charm and success of new gel polishes? How to create a design with their participation and what images with liquid mica are currently at the peak of popularity? We will tell you about all this today.

Advantages and disadvantages of design with "liquid mica" gel polishes

The main condition is that the coating should not only be safe for the health of nails, but also with optimal texture density and density of decorative particles. Previously, masters “brought to mind” varnishes and gel polishes, adding to them, or the smallest, to get the desired saturation of radiance and density (hiding power). With the advent of specialized coatings, the work of a manicurist has become much simpler and the boundaries of creative experiments have expanded. However, gel polishes of this type have their own nuances that you need to be aware of when choosing them for your manicure. Consider the main pros and cons of "sparkling" nails.

The advantages of "liquid mica" coatings include such points as:

• No need to very carefully align the nails with special bases for and before applying the iridescent texture. Due to the brilliance of the smallest particles of mica, the nail becomes like a faceted stone, hiding possible aesthetic defects.
• Reducing design time. Depending on the shade you choose, the master can create a design by applying just one layer of gel polish. The nails will be completely hidden under a layer of decorative coating, and the final image will be lighter in weight. Which is especially true for nails that tend to break under gel polish due to their inherent fragility.
• Ease of working with the material itself. Gel polishes of this type are quite thick on their own and do not “run away” to the cuticle and side ridges. The density of their texture will allow both the novice master and the beginner to create images using the popular cuticle technique. And subtly correct application flaws, as often happens with more liquid gel polishes, is not required.

• Comfortable application and polymerization, wearing the design and removing the coating. By choosing this type of finger decor from any of the manufacturers, you can be sure of a problem-free polymerization (the coating does not bake hard on the nails, does not form bubbles and does not flow to the free edge). In application, "liquid mica" does not require any sophisticated preparation and is distributed over the nail as simply as regular shellac, - thin layer. A nice bonus - these gel polishes are perfectly self-leveling and do not streak. You don't have to worry about removing the manicure, as the "liquid mica" is removed as quickly and easily as regular gel polishes with a "cream" texture (soaking in s, or).
• Ability to create luxurious manicure with a minimum of effort on nails of any length and shape. "Mica" gel polishes look wonderful both on short natural ones and on extensions (or). In the sock, they do not fade and do not chip, the color component does not fade, and the dense flicker does not become cloudy even when in contact with household chemicals.

As for the not-so-probable cons, they can be considered as such:

• The need to apply a coating with a separate brush (relevant for Irisk Glossy Platinum gel polishes, a jar of shellac does not have a brush) for a more even thin application.
• Attention to storage and distribution in the design of these gel polishes. When using them in your work (especially decor in jars, not bottles), you need to carefully monitor that gel polish does not accidentally get exposed to UV rays from your lamp. And scooping with a brush from a jar, try to do it carefully so that air bubbles do not settle in the thickness of the material.
• Moderation in decor. Gel polishes "liquid mica" are so spectacular in themselves that the design with them should not be overloaded with additional sparkling decor. It is better to make the most of the beauty of the gel polish itself. For example, creating such popular images as sparkling drops.
• Limited color range. Unlike their no less popular counterparts (gel polishes, or), “liquid mica” coatings still have significant fewer options colors. However, with the advent of new trend colors (after the annual reports of the Pantone Color Institute), the range of shades of "liquid mica" is gradually expanding.
• Careful wearing design. As manicure masters like to emphasize, even the most durable gel polish is not hardened steel. Shimmering designs must be handled with particular care. Any chip or crack will be very noticeable and ruin the beauty of your nails.

How to tame “liquid mica” gel polishes and create enchantingly beautiful nails with their help? Let's look at the technology step by step creation image on the example of coatings Irisk Glossy Platinum and Grattol Vegas.

Technique for creating a manicure with micromica gel polishes

In order to decorate the nails with a bright precious outfit, it is necessary to perform preliminary basic preparation. It consists of the following steps:

• cuticle removal (using either a fraser, or performing a classic trimmed manicure );
• removing gloss from the surface of natural nails with a polishing (or);
• applying and drying nails in the air for 30 seconds, and then for reliable adhesion to the nail;
• coating the nails with a thin layer of the base and its polymerization in the lamp (in - 2 minutes, and in 60 seconds);

• applying the selected shade of gel polish in 1-2 layers. For coatings, you will need a separate brush for a thinner and more even distribution of the decorative layer. Whereas the collection can be easily and beautifully applied with a native brush. When creating an image, remember: Grattol Vegas gel polishes are denser and thicker than Irisk Glossy. "Vegas" is more opaque and as dense as possible, "Glossy" will require the application of 1-2 layers for perfect manicure. To polymerize coatings of this type, you will need a UV lamp with a power of at least 36 watts, or a hybrid (combined LED lamp) with a power of at least 12 watts. Important point: stir the gel polish thoroughly before applying, but do it very carefully so as not to accidentally saturate the coating with unnecessary air bubbles.
• Each layer of "liquid mica" must be dried in a uv lamp for 1-2 minutes (for a led device, the drying time will be 20-30 seconds) and and.
• At the end of creating a manicure, cover your nails with a top (or matte) and remove the dispersion layer (if you do not plan to complement the manicure with other decorative elements).
• Finishing touch - application to the cuticle and light massage skin adjacent to the nails. All! Precious nail-look is ready and will please its owner for 3-4 weeks.

What image to choose to reveal the beauty of liquid mica gel polishes? Practicing manicure masters highlight the 5 most spectacular options. Let's get acquainted with them and choose the image that suits you!

Popular nail art ideas with liquid foil coatings

Among the most spectacular manicure techniques involving sparkling gel polishes, we advise you to pay attention to:

• Millennium French or sparkling moon design.

Even a beginner can implement such a design perfectly and without errors. You will need (classic - either) or. Brilliant edging gracefully emphasizes and delicate design in nude colors, and saturated colors favorite gel polishes. Design in a calm range is quite acceptable for office manicure. A shining moon-french or millennium-french paired with bright colors will become excellent choice For festive image.

• Solo manicure.

Self-confident girls will pay tribute to the image when all the nails are covered with liquid foil. This way of decorating nails is the fastest and does not require the use of any accessories. Its charm is also in the fact that at any time you can complement the image by decorating your nails,), and combine it with volumetric elements (for example,). Multi-color images will look no less interesting, where shiny gel polishes are combined with or photo design. It is only important to choose the right theme, where the "mood" of the picture will be on the same wavelength with iridescent marigolds.

• An image with an accent or an accent stroke.

The most common and varied design. Geometric painting is carried out with Glossy and Vegas coatings, negative space is framed, variations of the “stained glass” design are created, and even rhinestones are replaced. A little imagination, a little training and images comparable to catwalk and salon designs will delight you week after week!

• Design "Sparkling Drops".

The technique of sparkling rain and molten droplets-jets does not lose its popularity. This nail-art looks especially interesting on pastel colors, beige and near-pink tones. A combination of diamond or golden rain with matte (velvet) nails will also be a win-win. Such images are reminiscent of precious necklaces and give your fingers special charm.

With the advent of new shades, the options for how you can stylishly and elegantly decorate natural and artificial nails these gorgeous gel polishes. Many brands, such as Bluesky, have already released their own palette of brilliant gel polishes, which you can soon see in the range of our online store.

Whatever image you and your clients prefer, "liquid mica" will meet all expectations and give a lot of positive emotions as long as it decorates the fingers.

Spectacular, Beautiful design nails do not always have a complex execution technology. Manicure with mica - bright to that example! And the abundance of materials different shapes and shades will allow you to realize the most interesting ideas!

Have you ever seen mica in nature? This mineral has a beautiful silvery mother-of-pearl luster, a relief layered surface. The structure of the mineral is lamellar. Mica exfoliates into thin sheets that have jagged edges.

Application area natural mineral very wide. For example, mica is successfully used in construction. Thanks to the beautiful appearance it was used in interior design, painting, stained-glass windows, even in jewelry.
Manicure mica - artificial material, which maximally repeats the features of natural: layering, mother-of-pearl luster. It is a thin film resembling foil with torn edges. In the rays of sunlight (or under artificial lighting), mica sparkles beautifully, creating a magnificent 3d effect.

How to make a manicure with mica?

Two types of mica are used in manicure: dry and liquid. Their properties are slightly different. Accordingly, the technique of performing a manicure will be different.

dry mica

Dry (loose) mica is small plates that look like foil or shiny chips, having a relatively dense structure. The material is packaged in small bags or jars. May have different colour so it can be easily matched to any design.

Loose mica is more often used when building, aquarium design. Requires a sufficiently thick layer top coat so that pieces of mica are not visible above the surface of the plate. Otherwise, the manicure will acquire unaesthetic tuberosity, sloppiness. Since the particles of dry mica are relatively large, they look better on long nails.

Read also: Manicure for a girl at the age of 12: we comprehend the basics

For design, you will additionally need:

• colored or transparent gel polish for the base;
• top coat (gel);
• food film;
• orange stick.

Loose mica manicure step by step

• Complete all appropriate preparatory procedures nail care: shape correction, cuticle treatment, deburring.

• Apply a layer of gel polish and dry it completely.

• Cover the base with a second layer, dry for 2 minutes, but do not remove the sticky layer. Then pick up the mica with an orange stick and spread the material on a certain part of the plate or over the entire surface. Do not go beyond the edges of the plate, onto the side rollers.

• After required amount mica is distributed, it is necessary to carefully wrap the nail cling film and firmly press all the particles with your finger so that they stick to the base as tightly as possible.

• Place the wrapped finger in the lamp again on a short time(20-30 sec).

• Then, just as carefully, remove the film and apply a fixative to the nail.

• After drying, make sure that there are no roughnesses on the plates, all pieces of foil are hidden under the finish. If necessary, you can walk along the tubercles with a buff. Shake off the resulting pollen.

• Cover the plates with another layer of fixative, remove the stickiness after drying.

How to use dry mica when building?

There are several ways to do a loose mica manicure, but we will talk about the most common and simple method.
The technology of building with acrylic and gel is slightly different. Let's hope that you already know the main stages of work.

Let's pay attention directly to the use of mica in nail extensions.

• Install special shapes for building up. Form a free edge with acrylic or gel.

• After the acrylic has dried or the gel has cured, apply color coating(according to your idea).

• Without waiting for the acrylic to dry completely, apply pieces of mica with an orange stick (or dots) and smooth them over the surface. When working with the gel, attach the mica to the sticky layer, after drying the coating. Some masters prefer to lay out mica on a layer of unpolymerized gel. Only then dry the composition in the lamp.

• We cover the nail with a transparent finish, dry it. If necessary, apply another layer of top.

Read also: Beige manicure with rhinestones: simple and luxurious!

Volumetric manicure with mica is a great sight! Shiny pieces of material behind a thick "glass" of gel create incredible beautiful composition. Check out the photo!

liquid mica

Small particles of the material are more like a sparkling powder, so liquid mica has received another name - wet shine or liquid foil. A manicure done with gel or acrylic, gel polish or even regular polish can be improved with mica. This material is more docile and easy to use. The surface of the nail will be perfectly smooth, not rough.

On natural nails do a manicure using gel polish.

Performing a manicure with liquid mica step by step

• We cover the plate with a thin layer of gel polish.

• With a flat brush we pick up particles of mica, transfer to the nails.

• We level them with a bone on the surface. Liquid mica adheres fairly evenly and tightly to the sticky layer.

• Dry the surface in the lamp for no more than 20 seconds.

• We apply a binder. In most cases, there is no need to re-coat with a finish, because the base of the plate becomes smooth after the first application of the top.

There is liquid mica on sale different shades packaged in small containers. If pieces of mica are already mixed into the varnish, then the technology for working with such material is even easier: it is enough to cover a colored or transparent base with mica 1-2 times, and original manicure ready! You can also facilitate the technology of manicure with mica on natural nails on your own by mixing sparkling particles with a gel.

French manicure with mica and creating brilliant designs

How to change the execution technique in the case when it is necessary to cover only a certain part of the nail with mica? How to make, for example, French with brilliant smile?

Mica nail design is a fashion trend in decor manicure. Women's hands are something amazing, kind and affectionate. Exactly at female hands all the comfort and warmth is preserved family hearth. beautiful half humanity knows like no one else that only hands can tell all their secrets. About age, including .. Therefore, caring for the condition of the hands is a common thing for all ladies. The tradition was founded in ancient times, when it was considered a sign of nobility.

A complementary factor in hand care is a manicure. Some say that it takes a lot of effort, time and money, and plus everything is very difficult. Not really: this “beast” is not so terrible as it seems. And it’s quite possible and not at all difficult to do a manicure at home, listening to pleasant favorite music and enjoying the taste of fragrant tea. If you have never had to do a manicure yourself, do not be discouraged. After all, it is known that the first pancake is always lumpy - but then everything will be like clockwork.

The main thing is to start with a simple one and gradually add “loads” and variety, use your imagination. To make the process not so difficult, the progress of the manicure industry always provides good support. Now there are a lot of devices and materials that allow you to save half an hour or an hour and at the same time create a true masterpiece on the nails, which will delight the eyes of others and raise the self-esteem of the hostess.

Mica for nail art

One such device is mica for nail design. The component itself, mica, is a common mineral, which is why it is inexpensive. And the mica nail design looks very impressive - brilliant in every sense of the word. It is known that mica has long been used in beauty salons - mainly for gel extension nails. This is a beautiful and simple material, which is small pieces of colored foil or shavings of various shapes. Since they are very thin, respectively, their weight is also small, which contributes to the convenience of creating a manicure with mica for nail design at home.

There are many options for decorating nails with this wonderful element. It can be noted the use of dry and liquid mica, gel polish and mica, a special jacket, as well as the creation of a manicure with foil and nail decor with casting.

Dry and liquid mica

Dry, or loose, mica for nail design is used quite simply. First you need to do a regular manicure using a transparent or any colored varnish - this will be the base. When it dries, all nails need to be trimmed to the same length. Next, another layer of base is applied. Without letting it dry, you need to quickly, but carefully lay out the necessary pattern with the help of mica. It is most convenient to lay out pieces of mica with a toothpick, while the elements must be pressed against the base (then it becomes smooth). So that the toothpick does not become electrified and easily “releases” the mica, its tip can be dipped into water.

And finally, a fixer is applied to fix the manicure. It can be a regular clear varnish.

If you apply a pattern of dry mica in several layers, you get an unusual voluminous manicure.

It is clear that liquid mica has the consistency of ordinary varnish and is applied to the nail with a brush. It is very easy to use: you just need to do a simple manicure using your favorite color (or one that matches the image) and apply mica in several layers. It will not only give originality to the manicure, but also keep it longer than usual.

Manicure with mica and gel polish

An equally pleasant lasting effect can be obtained if you use mica along with gel polish. But it is worth remembering that in this case only dry mica is suitable. So to do chic manicure using mica and gel polish, you must perform the following manipulations:

1. Treat the nail plate with a nail file and remove unnecessary residues from it.
2. Cover all nails with a primer and apply a base coat that needs to be dried under a lamp.
3. Apply the first layer (color). After drying it, cover the nails with a second layer and put mica in the right amount with a toothpick.
4. Dry your nails under a lamp.

After applying the final coat of varnish and final drying beautiful manicure with mica decoration is ready.

• black lacquer and blue mica;
• black and lilac / green;
• red and golden/yellow/orange;
• blue and crimson / red;
• transparent and light.

Creating a jacket with mica

French manicure also goes very well with mica. An example here is the "aquarium" manicure. In French technology, mica is localized only at the tip of the nail.

How to do it? To begin with, a transparent varnish is applied, but you do not need to wait until it dries, immediately proceed to the procedure for placing mica. The procedure is carried out in the same way as in the previous versions. Then apply clear varnish again. When it dries a little, it is necessary to press down the mica and cover colorless varnish only the tips of the nails. It is very important to let the manicure dry well.

Nail art with foil

Foil for manicure design is not simple kitchen utensil, but a special adhesive shiny film, neatly placed in a jar. It comes in several types:

• sheet roll (multi-colored, with patterns);
• embossed (combination of smooth and rough structure);
• thermal (changes color upon contact with warm air);
• adhesive stickers.

Of course, before creating a design, you need to think it over in advance. It is possible to cover with foil both the entire nail and part of it. In the second case, the well-known effect of cracking varnish can turn out.

What you need:

• foil, cut into pieces (so it is more convenient to use);
• base lacquer, clear lacquer or fixer;
• glue for foil;
• cotton buds;
• tweezers and nail scissors.

If it is difficult to determine which side is matte, you need to lightly scratch the foil. You need to apply the scratched side to the nail.

To begin with, a base is applied to the nail and left for a while until it dries. Then the nail plate is covered with glue. When it becomes transparent, a piece of foil is glued (matte side to the nail) and smoothed with a cotton swab.

Next, the foil is torn off from the nail plate. This must be done carefully, but sharply. A pattern should remain on the surface of the nail plate. The final moment is the application of the final layer of varnish, which will add even more shine to the manicure.

Nail decor with casting

Pretty new and interesting view decoration of a manicure in which metallized foil is used is called casting.

If you are following fashion trends, then you know that liquid stones are the most popular casting. This idea of ​​​​designing a manicure is very complicated, since in addition to special materials, the skill of using them is necessary, so you need to contact a beauty salon. However, even in this case, there is no 100% certainty that they will do it well there, because far from everyone has mastered this technology. Of course, fake jewelry is used here, but if the manicure does good master, then the difference will be insignificant, and the impression of others will confirm this. No, the stone will not be so massive that it is difficult to even raise your hand. This is just a visual resemblance. The special material that is used to create such a manicure is a polymer. It is he who is designed to imitate real gems.

If you add a little imagination and desire to willpower and patience, then your own masterpieces on nails will look no worse than salon ones. A design nail plates with mica will complement any image, adding a touch of unusualness to it. Good luck and inspiration!