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Gradient with a thin brush. Gradient gel polish using a brush

The gradient effect, or, as it is also called, ombre (from the French word ombré - “darkened”), means a smooth change of colors: from a light to a dark shade of the same color or between two contrasting colors. The main thing is that there are no sharp boundaries between them.

This interesting effect has gained immense popularity over the past few years. Ombre is being used more and more often in clothing, accessories, makeup and hair coloring. The gradient on the nails became a logical continuation of the trend. Are you afraid that it will be very difficult to repeat such a manicure at home? There are several different ways to create a gradient on nails that will suit craftswomen with different levels of professionalism.

First step

A beautiful manicure begins not with polish, but with nail preparation. Take the time to steam your skin in a bath and cut off excess, push back cuticles, and trim your nails. Do not use hand cream or any oils, otherwise the polish will adhere very poorly. Leave this element of hand care for later.

Don't ignore base coats. After all, they not only level the nail plate, allow the varnish to lie more evenly, but also protect it from stains after bright colors of varnish.

How to make a gradient on nails for beginners?

Are you afraid to even think about painting ombre yourself? In vain. There is one simple way - gradient nail polish with glitter and clear polish. The first one, as a rule, has a loose coating, which is what we will use:

First, coat your nails with clear polish and wait until it dries.
Then apply glitter on half of your nail. Wait for it to dry thoroughly.
Then apply glitter again to the tip of the nail so that it is thick and dense.
Finally, cover the dried manicure with top coat. The fashionable ombre effect is ready.

Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with darker colors as a base.

Making the task more difficult

Now we will show you how to create a gradient on your nails with two shades of polish. It's quite simple and will help you master this technique.

You will need:

2 varnishes of different colors;
fixing coating;
a piece of plastic, foil, or just a paper file;
sponge - an ordinary bath sponge is taken here;
toothpicks;
clean brush;
nail polish remover;
cotton buds.

Process step by step

Apply a light polish to your nail. Wait for it to dry.
Apply a generous amount of varnish of both colors onto the file, so that their borders slightly touch.
Now we make that same gradient strip. Take a toothpick and mix both colors: the further into each color you mix them, the longer the transition between them will be.
When you have achieved the desired result, apply the sponge with the even, flat side to the varnish on the file.
Then quickly and gently press it onto the nail several times, as if powdering it. Repeat on the remaining fingers.
You can reapply the varnish using a sponge, but only after the previous layer has dried. Otherwise everything will get blurry.
We apply a fixing coating. It may be necessary to repeat the procedure two or three times, since applying the varnish with a sponge results in a rough surface.
You need to work with the top quickly so that it does not have time to smear the beautiful stripes. You can move the brush not in the usual direction along the growth of the nail, but horizontally, from its edges.
Now let's eliminate minor flaws. We take nail polish remover and remove excess on the skin around the nail with a cotton swab, and it is better to remove excess polish around the cuticle with a thin brush. This will give you perfect, neat edges for your manicure.

Without sponge

There is another interesting technique for making a two-color gradient on your nails. A photo tutorial on how to do such a manicure will clearly show the work process:

So, get ready to act quickly:

Using a darker polish, draw rough outlines at the base of the nail.
After the first layer has dried, paint the remaining area with a light color. Varnish has the property of slightly dissolving previous layers, so quickly and carefully mix different shades with a brush.
When everything is dry, coat your nails with a base coat and remove any excess polish. As you can see, this manicure is quite simple to do.

Coral Tale

This gradient on nails has become almost classic - 3 shades in one color scheme, which change from the darkest at the tip of the nail to the lightest at its base. Making it just a little more difficult than previous options.

You will need the following arsenal of manicure products:

base coat;
white varnish;
3 polishes in colors from light to dark;
fixing coating;
cuticle oil (optional);
makeup sponge;
scissors;
Vaseline (optional).

DIY three-color ombre

Let's get started:

Apply the base coat and wait for it to dry.
Do the same with white varnish.
Cut your makeup sponge to fit the size of your nails.
Lubricate the cuticles with Vaseline - this will make excess polish easier to remove. After all, when you work with a sponge, the skin around the nail will inevitably be smeared.
Unscrew the cap on all three bottles of polish, but be careful not to tip them over.
Some craftswomen advise moistening the sponge or sponge before use. Try working on dry and wet surfaces to see which works best for you.
Now paint stripes on the sponge with varnish, starting with a light color and ending with a dark color. Apply the liquid generously to saturate the porous surface. This will have to be done quickly so that the varnish does not dry out.
Now gently press the sponge onto your nail to transfer the color onto it.
Repeat on the remaining fingers. Important: after each nail, renew the layer of varnish on the sponge.
When the manicure is dry, apply a protective coating so that your efforts are not in vain, and you will enjoy beautiful nails for a long time. Wipe off excess polish and apply cuticle oil if desired.

Unexpected turn

Of course, traditional ombre is done within one nail. But why not break the stereotype and extend the color to all fingers? This creates an interesting gradient on the nails.

And to create such an effect is quite simple; you don’t need to buy half a store of decorative cosmetics.

You will need:

two varnishes: colored and white;
a piece of foil;
brush;
toothpick.

How is the “wrong” ombre done?

Everything ingenious is simple:

Apply 4 thick drops of colored polish onto the foil. Next to them, add a little white varnish, gradually reducing its amount.
Mix both colors thoroughly. You will get four shades of different saturation, for each finger. And for large ones, just use undiluted colored varnish.
Using a clean brush, paint your nails as usual.
Remove excess varnish and the job is ready.

How to make a gradient on nails with gel polish?

A regular manicure is convenient because it does not require significant investment. It allows you to change your nail design every day. But the modern pace of life does not always leave time for playing around with drawings and patterns. Gel polish has come to the aid of fashionistas who are always in a hurry. Its undeniable convenience lies in the fact that the manicure remains in perfect condition for at least 2 weeks.

Making a gradient on nails with gel is no more difficult than with regular polish. The main thing is to strictly follow the order of applying layers and drying them.

For manicure you will need:

colored gel polishes (1-2), depending on how many color transitions you want to make.
gel polish of primary color;
base and top (fixing) coating for gel polish;
nail polish remover (necessarily without acetone), alcohol or alcohol-containing wipes;
a napkin that does not leave lint;
a small sponge from an eyeshadow applicator or a regular sponge and a piece of foil;
tweezers;
drying lamp - 36W UV or 12W LED.

Step by step

Now we’ll tell you in detail how to make a gradient with gel on your nails. The process can be divided into the following stages:

Once you've prepared your nails, degrease them using alcohol or nail polish remover. Here you will need a napkin that will not leave lint on your nails.
Now apply the base and dry it for 10 seconds (no more!) under the lamp. Here and further: the gel layers should be as thin as possible. This way the manicure looks neater and is less prone to chipping.
Now you can apply the main color. This layer, like all the others, should be dried for 2 minutes under an ultraviolet lamp or just a minute under an LED lamp.
It's time to create the gradient itself on the nails. This can be done in two ways.
First: Apply a small amount of polish to the tip of your nail, or in stripes if you have a three-color gradient. Using tweezers, take the eyeshadow applicator sponge and blend the colors. If necessary, add a little more varnish. When the transitions are completed, dry.
The second method is good for two-color ombre: first draw a smile on the nail, dry it for a minute in a UV lamp or 30 seconds in an LED lamp. Then drop the gel polish onto the foil and scoop it onto the sponge. Apply to the nail until you achieve the desired result. Dry as usual.
Now apply the top coat, and grab the end of the tip of the nail to further secure the gel polish. This way it will last longer. Masters call this technique “sealing”. Dry this layer.
To remove stickiness, wipe your nails with alcohol or alcohol-containing wipes.

Your fashionable and long-lasting manicure is ready. Do not expose it to liquids containing acetone. It is advisable to wear gloves when working around the house to prevent scratches on the varnish and reduce its glossy shine.

Beautiful combinations

Now that you are familiar with the technique of creating a gradient, admire some beautiful manicure options:

Sparkling purple shades are a great option for a party.

Ombre in soft pink colors, bright sand varnish and patterns create a luxurious manicure for special occasions.

Another variation in the colors of the sea:

But calm shades will give an equally beautiful gradient on the nails. The photo is a bit reminiscent of a French manicure - the same elegant femininity, but with a fashionable twist.

There are several ways you can diversify the gradient on your nails:

Don't know how to draw at all? Patterns using a stamping plate are an easy way to decorate any manicure with complex patterns.

The “special nail” rule also works with ombre. There are several ways to highlight your ring finger: paint it with one shade, make a design with a brush or rhinestones, or you can simply reverse the gradient.
It happens that the hand trembled, the varnish did not dry well, etc. As a result, the color transition border turned out to be rough. This flaw can be disguised with a glitter coating, which will cover all the roughness and add an attractive shine to the nails.

A manicure with a gradient effect on nails is a new product that emerged based on the ombre technique, which was popular in 2016-2017. This design looks very stylish and beautiful. The gradient allows you to combine many shades, creating complex combinations and color transitions. Performing such a manicure yourself at home is not so difficult. Just watch video tutorials for beginners and learn the basics of the technique.

A gradient on nails is a special decorative technique, and you can use both regular and gel polish. This design involves creating a smooth transition between several shades of the same color. Just look at the photo to understand that the gradient goes well with painting, stamping, and stencil manicure.

Recently, darker and richer shades have gained popularity. An interesting color scheme will visually lengthen your nails and make your hands graceful.

There are several types of design using the gradient technique:

A horizontal gradient is a very popular design with color stretching from the base of the nail to its edge. It is considered a classic.
A vertical gradient involves a gradual transition of colors from left to right.
Gradient separately on each finger. Nails are covered with different shades of the same color. An overall picture of a smooth transition from a darker tone to a lighter one is created. This type of design looks great on short nails.
French manicure involves stretching the color from light pink to white. It looks best on medium-length nails and would be appropriate in a formal setting.

It is up to the girl to decide which technique for applying a gradient on her nails. Almost all of them are easily reproduced at home.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make your own gradient

Many people are interested in how to make a gradient on their nails. You can do this in several ways:

using a sponge;
vertical and horizontal gradient with brush;
gradient on nails with gel polish.

When choosing the third method, you need to count on additional costs for purchasing the necessary materials and equipment. The first two methods using conventional varnishes can be easily done at home using improvised means.

The number of shades for the gradient is selected at your discretion. There should be from 2 to 4. It is not recommended to use a larger number of shades. Firstly, because there is not enough space on the nail plate for such a wide palette, and secondly, because of excessive diversity.

Manicure with a sponge

To create your own manicure using the gradient technique you will need:

A sponge with a pointed edge made of fine-grained foam rubber, which will be convenient for creating a gradient. The varnish is distributed evenly, and the coating turns out smooth and beautiful. Foam sponges are also suitable for this purpose.
Varnishes of two adjacent or contrasting shades.
Base and fixer.
Glass of water.
Foil.
Cotton buds.
Toothpicks.
Soft brush.
Nail polish remover.

According to the step-by-step instructions, the procedure for applying varnish with a sponge at home looks like this:

Nails are cleaned and degreased with nail polish remover.
Apply the base and let it dry.
Drops of varnish of selected shades are placed on a piece of foil so that they partially overlap each other.
Mix the varnishes in the overlap area, creating a smooth transition from one shade to another.
The prepared varnish is applied to the sponge. It turns out to be a sponge stencil. In order to understand what effect can be achieved, make an impression on the foil.
Press the sponge onto the nail, moving it slightly along the plate.
After the color layer has dried, a fixative is applied. It will not only extend the life of the coating, but also level it.
Using a brush dipped in nail polish remover, remove excess that gets on the skin.

Before you start doing household chores, make sure that the varnish has hardened so that it will not deteriorate.

Gradient pattern using a brush

For a gradient manicure with a brush, you need the same materials as for the method using a sponge. The peculiarity of this technique is that it can be performed by applying the varnish vertically or horizontally.

This step-by-step guide will help you create a vertical gradient at home:

First, suitable shades of varnish are selected to obtain a smooth transition from light to dark or from bright to muted.
The gradient on prepared nails lasts much better, so it’s worth doing a minimal manicure by carefully polishing the plate.
After the nail plate is prepared, a base is applied to it and allowed to dry.
It is useful to lubricate the area around the nail with cream, which will make it easier to remove excess polish after a manicure.
Carefully paint the nail with the chosen colored varnish, without touching the edges.
Then the polish of a different color is spread so that it covers only half of the nail plate from the cuticle to the tip.
Create a gradient while both layers are still wet. To do this, blot the varnish with a sponge at the border of the merger of two shades. Movements should be fast and sharp.
Let your nails dry.
And at the very end the fixer.

A similar manicure can be created using 3 or more shades of polish, but it will be more difficult to do. You should try to follow the instructions step by step, carefully applying the varnish in a thin layer. Instead of cream, you can use adhesive tape to protect the skin around the plate.

The horizontal gradient is done in a similar way. The only difference is the direction in which the color is stretched. Varnishes of selected shades are applied horizontally. The border between them is also blotted with a sponge. It is best to slightly moisten it so that the varnish does not absorb so quickly.

As for the design, which involves painting the nails separately, it is also created with a brush. Nail polishes of similar shades are simply applied to the nails so as to create a smooth transition from light to dark. Then, for example, the little finger will be painted the darkest color, and the thumb, accordingly, the lightest.

French gradient technique

One of the fashion trends is a gradient version of the classic French manicure. The design consists of white varnish at the ends of the nails, gradually turning into transparent shades closer to the cuticle.

It is quite difficult to carefully carry out such a manicure at home. You'll have to practice and do it exactly according to the instructions. The design is done as follows:

1. Apply a pink or beige base coat to the entire nail plate and dry it.

2. Paint the middle part of the nail with a lighter shade, carefully blending it with a sponge. This will allow you to achieve a smooth and imperceptible transition between shades.

3. Using fine-grained foam rubber or a sponge, apply white varnish to the edge of the nail.

4. After drying the layer, the varnish is secured with a topcoat.

This design will look perfect if the plate is almond-shaped. French is an excellent option for extended nails. It is suitable not only for an official office style, but is also suitable for everyday life.

geometric gradient

This year, geometric gradient coating is especially fashionable. There are many ideas for its implementation. You can easily find them online and watch training video tutorials. This manicure is decorated with various shapes and lines. They divide the nail into equal or asymmetrical segments and zigzags. The color scheme can be either classic or avant-garde, bright and catchy. Stencils and tapes are actively used. Fashionable nail art is complemented with velvet sand or acrylic powder. The effect depends on the skill of the performer.

The step-by-step guide says that to reproduce a geometric gradient in the form of diamonds you need:

Prepare your nails so that they are all the same length. They are given a beautiful shape.
Make a sketch on paper of the future drawing.
Apply base to nails and dry.
Nails are covered with white varnish.
Varnishes of two colors are laid out on the palette, one of which is necessarily white, and the other, for example, blue. This will need to be done every time before application. But at the same time, the proportion of blue color must be gradually increased.
The shades are mixed and the varnish is applied to the plate with a thin brush, drawing the outlines of diamonds. They are painted with the same color.
In a checkerboard pattern, diamonds are painted on the nails in a darker shade, which was obtained by mixing white varnish and blue. All the figures are painted over again.
The diamonds at the very end of the nail plate should turn out to be a rich blue color with almost no admixture of white.
Finally, the nails are covered with a matte top.

This technique is best learned using step-by-step photos.

Gradient gel polish

Gradient manicure with gel polish is no less a trendy new product for 2017 than the geometric technique. To recreate it, you need to prepare the following materials:

dehydrator;
acid-free primer;
color gel polish 2 shades;
top coating;
Ultraviolet lamp;
Thin brush from a set for painting on nails.

You can perform a step-by-step gradient with gel polish like this:

Nails are prepared by degreasing with a dehydrator.
Primer.
Then the base, which is baked in a UV lamp for a minute.
Apply light gel polish, extending the brush from the base of the nail to half the total length. It is necessary that this layer of varnish ends in a straight line in the middle of the plate. The length of the coating on all nails should be approximately the same.
A darker color of polish is applied to the rest of the nail. The brush movement is performed from the edge of the plate to the middle to the border of shades. There should be no gap between the two shades.
Using a thin paint brush, blend the borders of two colors with short strokes. Then the transition of shades will be more imperceptible and smooth.
After painting each nail, the brush must be wiped thoroughly. This will allow you not to disturb the shades on the next finger.
After mixing the shades on all nails, each hand is held under the lamp for 2 minutes.
Apply the finish and bake it in a lamp.
Remove the sticky layer with a special product.

A gradient using gel polish requires more time and skill, but it also looks much more advantageous. This manicure will please your eyes for 2 weeks.

The gradient on your nails will look original even with the classic design technique. A French manicure will allow you to acquire charm. Contrasting varnish colors will look interesting and fashionable in 2017. They are relevant for summer manicure. The design option for autumn can be made in rich and rich shades of warm colors, and cold tones are suitable for winter.

The gradient on nails is a new product that gained popularity in 2016−2017. It is based on a combination of several shades, which is achieved through color transitions, similar to the ombre technique. You can do this manicure with gel polish in a beauty salon or at home.

Gradient technique on nails with gel polish

A gradient on nails with gel polish can be done in several ways. There are the following types of manicure performed using this technique:

Each girl has the right to decide for herself which gradient to prefer. It all depends on your mood and personal preferences. As a rule, many people choose a horizontal gradient on their nails made with gel polish. For a formal setting, a French-designed manicure is more appropriate.

A gradient on nails with gel polish is quite easy to do at home. The use of two to four shades is allowed. If your nails are short, there is unlikely to be enough space for several color transitions. In this case, you can make a gradient with two or three shades of gel polish.

On a note! Before performing a manicure, you need to put your nails in order: get rid of the cuticles, give them the correct shape, and also polish the nail plate to better fix the base.

Method 1: Vertical Gradient with a Flat Brush

To create a vertical gradient using a flat brush, you will need to follow these steps:

First, a primer is applied to the nail plate to ensure a strong bond of the varnish to the surface. After this, the nail is covered with a base coat and dried in an LED or UV lamp. In the first case, it is enough to hold the nails for about 25 seconds, in the second it will take longer, up to three minutes.
Then the nail is covered with one of the selected shades of gel polish. It shouldn't be dark. Next, the nails are dried again in the lamp.
A stripe is made with the same color of gel polish, and another vertical line is made next to it, but using a different shade.
A flat brush is lightly dipped in clinser, and then the brush is brushed several times along the nail, along the line of contact of the gel polish shades. There is no need to press on the brush; it should be positioned parallel to the nail plate. The flat brush ensures smooth smoothing. After making a smooth transition, the nails with gel polish are dried in a lamp.
In the same way, use a brush to cover the nail with another layer of gel polish. In this case, it is necessary to make the color transition even smoother. To do this, dip the brush in degreaser and periodically clean it with a cloth. After this, the nail polish is dried again in a lamp.
To make the gradient brighter and more saturated, the nail is covered with a third layer of gel polish. As in previous cases, the nails are dried in a lamp.
The nail polish is coated with a fixative and kept in a lamp. The sticky layer of gradient manicure is removed using a special product.

We can say that it doesn’t take much time to create a gradient on your nails with gel polish. The procedure is lengthy due to periodic drying in a lamp.

Method 2: original gradient with mesh

This method of creating a manicure with a gradient will appeal to those who have already tried a lot and are hungry for something new. An unusual pattern obtained using a mesh gives this manicure freshness and originality. Moreover, you can create a pattern not only on gel polish, but also on the most ordinary one. If you cover it in cool colors, you will get a seaside summer look. While the choice of warm colors will be relevant in the fall.

The gradient in this technique is performed in several stages:

First, the nails are covered with a single tone.
A suitable mesh is selected. You can use old fishnet tights as a net. An interesting solution would also be to replace the mesh with lace.
You need to cover the nail with mesh (or lace). In this case, the mesh should be fixed with a plaster at the base of the nail so that the pattern does not move.
After this, the selected varnish is applied to the sponge. In our case, these are shades of “khaki” and “indigo”. Using a sponge, a gradient pattern is applied over the mesh.
Next, the mesh is removed and a fixing varnish is applied over the nail.

Method 3: gradient using pigments

Making a pigment gradient on your nails is quite simple. It is necessary to “stretch” the layer of pigments from the edge of the nail plate to the color transition line. With a little practice, you can quickly and efficiently do a gradient manicure with pigments.

Step-by-step instructions for performing a manicure using the ombre-pigment technique:

The nail is covered with a base layer, which is then dried in a lamp.
Using a petal brush, pigments are applied using a gel of a different color from the cuticle. It is important to stretch them to the border of the color transition. You don't need to press too hard on the brush, as you might accidentally pull off the sticky component and ruin your gradient manicure. It is necessary to achieve a density of color at the base and a matte shade in the central part of the nail plate.
The brush is cleaned and similar steps are performed to apply a second layer of a different color of pigment. Dry in a lamp. The work starts from the tip of the nail and gradually moves to the middle. The layer should be thick but thin.
At the end, a fixative is applied to the gradient manicure, which is dried in a lamp.

Method 4: gradient with a sponge or sponge

To create such a gradient on your nails, you need to use part of an ordinary sponge intended for washing dishes, or use a cosmetic sponge. First you need to do a manicure and polish the nail plate so that the base sticks better.

The algorithm of actions for performing a gradient manicure is as follows:

The base is applied in a thin layer to the nails and then dried in a lamp.
Gel polish of the selected shade is applied to the nail plate and dried again in the lamp.
Gel polish of the second shade is applied to the tip of the nail, and then blot the border between the two colors with a sponge or sponge. Next, you need to perform a similar action with a clean edge, but closer to the cuticle. Nails are dried in a lamp.
If the gradient is made using gel polishes of three shades, the last color is applied to the very tip of the nail. Each layer of varnish must be dried in a lamp.
At the end, a top coat is applied to the resulting gradient and dried again. Excess coating is removed using a cotton swab, after moistening it in nail polish remover.

You can make a gradient using a sponge or sponge in another way:

Apply base to the prepared nail plate and dry it in a lamp.
Apply two gel polishes of different shades end to end onto a palette or any other surface. At the border, mix them with a stick to get a third color. This will be a transition between shades.
Dip a sponge or sponge and apply to each nail. Dry in a lamp.
At the end, a fixative is applied to the resulting gradient and the nails are dried again in the lamp.

The ombre manicure in the photo of the beautiful design of 2018 takes pride of place. Nail designers of all stripes never tire of singing odes of praise to him. Almost any nail fantasy only becomes more beautiful if you skillfully design the color stretch. You will find exquisite examples of fashionable gradient nail designs and two popular master classes on how to do them in this article.

Fashion trends of ombre manicure 2018

Gradient, ombre, degradé, stretch... Whatever this nail design has been called over the past few seasons. All this means a smooth transition from one tone to another. At first the technique referred to the gradual darkening of a light shade, but then the concept expanded. Today, this is no longer enough for a trendy manicure, and the coolest gradient is obtained by combining contrasting tones like orange and blue, pink and green. In a word, combine the incongruous and you will be happy!

Fashion trends of 2018 identified neat horizontal stretching as their favorite. Vertical is no longer in trend, and the flow of tones from finger to finger is considered clumsy.

But in decor, art is not limited to the word “absolutely.” Drawings, rhinestones, monograms, appliques are only welcome, because the only thing to be wary of in 2018 ombre manicure is banality! So the craftswomen practice color combinations and their decoration.

How to do an ombre manicure: two master classes in 5 minutes

The main thing that attention is paid to in fashion technology is gradual stretching without flaws. Just last year, you could smear a couple of strips on a sponge and press it onto your nail. With a 99.9% probability, the result would not be accurate, and even with bubbles.

Today the maneuver is “and so it will do!” it won't work. One has only to look at the ombre manicure 2018 in the photo - the impeccability and purity of the fusion of shades catches the eye. The easiest way to achieve this beauty at home is in two ways. We will talk about them.

Lesson No. 1: gradient with gel polish (shading with a comb brush)

A special brush will allow you to create a gradient on your nails with gel polish faster than all other tools. Her hairs are of different lengths, and they are sparse towards the tip. You can cut the same shape from an ordinary flat brush, if, of course, your hands grow from the right place. Or you can buy ready-made.
Gel polishes for this technique are needed with clear pigmentation, but not very dense. They should not streak noticeably, otherwise the result will be untidy. In addition, you will not have the opportunity to apply 3-4 layers. It’s always easier to start practicing with light colors, and then start with rich contrasting ones.

So, you will need:

Base and finish for gel polish.
Blue and black gel polishes.
Comb brush.
LED lamp.
Liquid for removing stickiness.
Cotton pads.

File the edges of the nails, apply a buff, shake off the sawdust and degrease the nails.
Apply base and dry for 60 seconds.
Cover the nail with blue polish, along which you will stretch the gradient, and dry it.
Carefully fluff the comb.
Paint the area around the lunula black. Having retreated the symbolic border a couple of millimeters, cover the rest of the edge with blue varnish.
Now, using small strokes up and down, pull the black lake to the bottom. Make a couple of rows and wipe off the brush. Continue your strokes from where you left off.
When the strokes become almost transparent, wipe the brush and separate the bristles.
Start stretching the pigment again from the first row. By this time the transition will become noticeable. Having reached the end, polymerize the result.
Again apply black and blue to the same borders and drag down. After two or three rows, wipe the tool.
As a final touch, use a clean “comb” to stroke the entire stretch using patting movements. This is done to ensure that there are no bubbles left. Dry.
Cover your work with finish.

For inspiration, here are some striking examples of this technique. Once you get the hang of it, you can use not just two colors, but much more.

And this video tutorial clearly shows the whole process:

Lesson #2: Airbrush Gradient

An airbrush is a pen-shaped device with a nozzle on top. Pour special paint into a funnel and “blow” it onto your nails. The advantage of technology is time saving and high-quality results. The downside is that a good tool is quite expensive, it costs about two thousand rubles.

Tools:

Airbrush.
Paint for him.
A piece of paper (so as not to stain everything around).
Base, top and gel polish.
Defender.
Liquid for degreasing and removing stickiness.
Ultraviolet lamp.

Apply the base to the prepared and grease-free plates, dry and coat with gel polish.
After drying, remove the sticky layer and buff the surface a little. Shake off the sawdust.
Coat the skin around the plates with defender and wait until dry.
Pour paint into the nozzle and, holding the “handle” at an angle, spray on the tips of the nails from a distance of 15-20 centimeters.
Pull off the defender film.
When everything is dry, cover your work with finish and send it for polymerization.

The design turns out to be more original if you use various stencils for airbrushing. This is exactly what the second video lesson is about:

Rainbow nail art ideas in today's trends

Learning to blend colors perfectly is an achievement in itself. But look at the amazing possibilities the combination of gradient with decor and imagination opens up.

On short nails

It’s easier to practice at a short length, especially if you want to learn how to use a brush. The palette is any, pastel or, on the contrary, very rich, even neon. The rounded square loves kamifubuki, rhinestones and rubbing on the fusion of tones.

On long nails

Dark colors will look magnificent and predatory. Combine black with red, purple, emerald, dark blue... Draw, draw geometry, add sparkles.

And now about each nail art in more detail!

Matte

It's simple. Cover your work with a matte finish for sophisticated, muted art. For autumn and winter manicure, this is a win-win option.

Geometry

A geometric gradient is best displayed on a pastel base. Mix pink with white, blue, mint green and black or white gel paint and draw subtle patterns. The fence gradient is still in trend.

The schematic depiction of animal silhouettes is gaining popularity. Of course, it’s difficult to draw a fox’s head on your own, so use stencils.

"Broken glass"

Glass claws and ombre complement each other perfectly. Create a vertical stretch so that the color flows from one finger to the next one. Glue foil in darkened areas.

Monograms

You can decorate all fingers with a gradient, but place curls on only one, preferably the ring one. The purple-pink base and graceful curls with gel paint sprinkled with powder look luxurious.

Lunar

A hole designed in negative space and a colored weave below will be immensely aesthetic. Give preference to juicy colors. Black can be mixed with dark pink, lilac, blue...

Watch this master class and learn unusual art:

French

The most common solution is to duplicate the color of the smile with one of the tones used in the base. For example, did you design a red and black ombre? Extend a black smile below. This jacket flaunts mainly on short square nails and looks completely non-trivial and very catchy.

Gradient strip

The new product is just gaining popularity and one glance at this art is enough to fall in love once and for all. The stripes are quite easy to draw by hand, just follow the algorithm as in the video:

You can also use an airbrush. Stencil tapes are useful for this.

Cover the plates with gel polish, top coat, remove the stickiness and stick the strips near the side rollers so that they fit very tightly.
Spray paint, remove stencil.
Finish line. If desired, you can sprinkle the strip with glitter or powder.

Kamifubuki

Select sequins to match the palette from which the ombre will be drawn, so that the design is not tacky. Stretching can be done on all nails or only on one, but let the kamifubuki be in minimal quantities. A good example in the photo is two nails with a blood-black gradient, and one has confetti perched on it.

With an image

Thin stems look great on a colored field. Choose dusty shades for combination, and then the art will be very delicate. Pastoral pictures are also difficult to imagine without ombre. Of course, floral images hold the palm. You can even draw a whole bouquet on your fingers if the petals are in harmony with the base palette.

By the way, the ability to stretch colors will be useful to you in your drawing. Gradient buds or butterfly wings will become much more realistic than in mono color. Choose a clear palette - yellow, a huge range of blue, green in combination with milk.

With rhinestones

Feel free to indulge your imagination! Pebbles perform superbly in color fusion. Make a blue-black gradient and draw a fragile line of rhinestones near the hole. The more shades there are in the ombre, the more elegant the rhinestones will look. Don’t be afraid to mix warm and cold tones; art with a yellow and blue transition will be very catchy. You can build a whole “starfall” on the matte indigo sky - from large stones to small ones.

The gradient stretching method is very popular now. It is used to create stylish clothing and accessories, hair coloring, and eye and lip makeup. The fashionable phenomenon has also affected manicure: the smooth flow of colors allows you to create a bright and unusual nail design, which, depending on the selection of shades, looks appropriate both at a youth party and at a business meeting. Working with polishes is more difficult than working with lipstick or eye shadow, but now there are quite a few ways to create ombre nails yourself.

What is a gradient in manicure

The ombre technique is also known as degradé, stretch or gradient manicure. Its essence is to paint nails with varnishes of several shades so that there is a smooth transition between them, and not a clear boundary. In this case, the colored stripes can be located vertically, horizontally, diagonally - the scope of imagination is not limited in any way.

A special type of gradient manicure is a stretch across the entire hand, when the thumb nail is painted in one color, the little finger in another, and the rest in intermediate shades. This ombre is not difficult to do, but it looks very impressive.

Degrade can be painted on artificial and natural nails of any length and shape, so no additional manipulations such as extensions or trimming are required. In addition, after gradient coloring, the nail plate looks longer and narrower, which is successfully used by girls who want to give their fingertips a more elegant look.

In a manicure, you can mix varnishes of different colors, arrange them as you please, decorate them with patterns or rhinestones. It’s enough to learn one or more ways to do stretching, and then you’ll have enough exclusive ideas for a lifetime.

Important! Ombre manicure does not combine varnishes of different textures, so pearlescent ones should be mixed only with pearlescent ones, cream ones with cream ones, and jelly ones with jelly ones.

What you need for an ombre manicure at home

The correct selection of tools and materials is already half the success, so first you will have to acquire everything you need. You probably already have a lot of things in your home cosmetic bins, and missing items can easily be bought in a store or ordered online. Some things can even be made from available materials.

Gradient stretching is performed with both regular and gel polishes, so every fashionista can work with those materials that are more familiar and convenient to her.

If you plan to paint your manicure with regular polishes, you will need the following:

for pre-treatment of nails: scissors, file, cuticle softener, orange stick or manicure hoof, protective coating for varnish;
for painting: colored varnishes and transparent glossy top;
to perform stretching: pieces of sponge, palette (piece of plastic, cardboard, foil, saucer, plastic lid or any other item), toothpicks;
Auxiliary products: cotton swabs, nail polish remover, correction pencil, cuticle protective liquid, tweezers.

Those who prefer shellac or gel polishes will need the following set of tools:

for preparing nails: the same things as in the previous list, plus a polishing buffer, degreasing solution or dehydrator;
for coloring: base gel, several colors and finishing coat;
for stretching: palette, sponges, toothpicks, manicure brushes;
for drying: UV or LED lamp;
auxiliary products: cuticle protection, lint-free wipes, cleanser to remove the sticky dispersion layer.

Reference! Gel polish and shellac are different things, but similar in many ways. Shellac is the first hybrid product that combines the properties of gel and varnish. It was created and patented by the American company CND. Other cosmetic brands began to copy the idea, trying to surpass the original, so their versions of gel polishes may differ in composition, price, wear time, methods of application and removal, color palette and other properties. On nails, however, all these products look about the same, so any one is suitable for a gradient manicure.

How to choose a sponge

The main tool when creating a gradient manicure is a sponge. Most often, an ordinary kitchen utensil is used, because such equipment is always present in the household and is at hand at the right time.

Colored pieces of foam rubber have another advantage - they are very cheap, and since after all the manipulations the sponge is usually not washed but thrown away, the economic benefit of using them is obvious.

Unfortunately, a kitchen sponge also has disadvantages. Foam rubber is a coarse material, so the shade transition line turns out grainy and uneven. To smooth it out, you need to press the sponge against the nail several times, which causes small air bubbles to appear in the varnish layer.

This can be avoided by controlling the intensity and number of prints, but skill comes with experience. Those who have just started mastering ombre manicure will have to practice in order to create a beautiful stretch with a piece of foam rubber.

There is another option: buy a latex sponge, which is usually used to apply foundation. It is just as elastic, but its pores are smaller, so the varnishes are mixed more evenly, there are almost no bubbles, and the gradient is smooth and natural.

The only downside of the tool is the price. A set of high-quality cosmetic sponges costs several times more than a package of foam rubber sponges for washing dishes. There are also cheaper latex sponges, but it is better not to use them. They are too soft, so it will be awkward to print the gradient. In addition, they absorb a lot of varnish and begin to crumble during the process, leaving small torn pieces on the nail.

In addition to sponges, fashionistas have mastered foam applicators for eye shadow. You can’t draw a complex multi-color gradient with them, but you can make, for example, a neat blurry jacket using the ombre technique.

The cosmetics industry could not ignore the growing need for tools for gradient manicure, so two types of specialized sponges appeared on sale. The first is an elongated triangle made of foam latex. It is comfortable to hold in your hand and can be gradually shortened by cutting off the edge painted with varnish. The second type is a round sponge that is attached to a plastic base that looks like a stamping stamp. The sponge is made of fine-pored foam rubber, so it copes well with the task of blurring the gradient.

Important! Both latex and foam sponges can be washed off after use. Regular polish is removed with remover or acetone, and gel polish is removed with a special cleanser solution or alcohol. Solvents hardly damage sponges, so you can calculate the costs of both and choose the most profitable option.

Ombre manicure at home: step-by-step instructions

Once the shades have been selected and everything necessary is prepared, you can begin to work. The sequence of actions is determined by what cosmetic product is used to create a manicure: regular polish, gel polish or shellac.

Manicure with regular polishes

Simple varnishes require speed, since they set in the air, but their advantage is that an unsuccessful gradient can be quickly erased and a new one can be applied immediately.

The creative process begins with nail preparation. You need to remove the old manicure from them, adjust the shape, and, if necessary, get rid of excess length. If time permits, you can make a hand bath. Then you should take care of the cuticle: treat it with a remover or carefully push it away with an orange stick.
After this, wipe the nails with nail polish remover to degrease, remove sawdust and residual cuticle softening liquid.
The next step is applying a special base. There are many varieties of such funds. They protect the nail from harmful substances in the color coating, and also smooth the surface and facilitate the application of varnish. This step, of course, can be skipped if you wish, but in nail salons it has long become mandatory.
The fourth stage is drawing a gradient. This is the most difficult part of the whole process. There are several ways to create a smooth color transition with regular varnishes, but they will be discussed in detail below.
The finishing touch is the application of a glossy transparent topcoat. It will even out the rough surface of the painted nail, and will also slightly dissolve the dried layer of varnish and thereby blur the boundary between shades.

Ways to create a gradient

There are three ways to create an ombre manicure, all of which require a sponge.

The simplest option: first, in the traditional way, paint the nail with varnish of the color that will be near the cuticle. When the product has dried, take a sponge, make one or two strokes of the second shade of varnish along its edge and press it to the tip of the nail. Distribute the paint with a few patting movements, reaching the gradient to the desired level. This method is most convenient for drawing an ombre of two colors, for example, a blurry French coat. However, if desired, you can add a third one.
For the second method you will need a palette. Apply short strips of the selected varnishes onto it so that they touch each other, and mix the borders of contact with a toothpick. Do not skimp on paint, otherwise it will dry out quickly. There can be two, three or even four colors, if the length of the nails allows. By the way, in this way it is convenient to combine contrasting varnishes, creating the necessary intermediate shade between them. When the gradient on the palette is ready, press the sponge onto it so that it absorbs the paint, and then stamp it on the nail with a few patting movements. In this case, the sponge can be slightly shifted perpendicular to the colored stripes for better blur, for example, up and down if the pattern is horizontal.
The third method differs from the previous one in the absence of a palette: stripes of paint are applied directly to the sponge and immediately imprinted on the nails. This makes it faster, which is especially important for quick-drying varnishes. As necessary, the strips are renewed without allowing them to harden, and the nails on both hands are painted in the same way. There can be two, three or more shades, but it is better not to use contrasting colors or make the first two or three prints on paper. This way the paints can mix in the pores of the sponge and the stretch on the nail will be more uniform.

Advice! It is often recommended to use a white varnish as a base for the gradient. The colors do look brighter on it, but you have to try very hard to completely hide the white background. Places near the cuticle and side ridges are usually poorly painted with a sponge, so they will have to be additionally treated with a brush or tweezers with a small piece of sponge.

Video: how to make a gradient manicure using a sponge

Manicure with gel polishes

Gel varnishes seem to be created for the embodiment of complex artistic ideas: they do not dry in the air, so stretch marks can be corrected until you are satisfied with the result. The process of creating a manicure is more complicated than in the previous case, but the gradient is smoother and more accurate.

The first step is similar to that described earlier and consists of preparing the nails, shaping them and removing the cuticles.
The next stage is polishing the nail plate with a buff. You don’t need to be particularly zealous, just remove the top glossy layer. This will help level the surface and allow the gel to adhere better.
Prepared nails are wiped with a degreaser or dehydrator. Both solutions perform similar functions, and the choice is determined by the physiological characteristics of the body. Those who often have sweaty hands should prefer a dehydrator, because it not only removes oil, moisture and dust from the nail plate, but also dries it deeply. For everyone else, degreaser is enough. After this treatment, you can no longer touch your nails with your fingers.
Next, the nails are covered with a layer of primer, which provides better adhesion to the gel and also has antibacterial properties. For gel polishes, acid-free products are preferable, as they are less aggressive. The primer is not dried in the lamp: as soon as the nail turns white, you can continue the process.
The fifth step is to apply a base transparent gel to the entire surface of the nail and its ends. The product is distributed in a thin layer and dried in a lamp for the time specified in the instructions. It may differ from one manufacturer to another, but the requirements must be followed to avoid peeling of the color coating. After drying, the sticky layer is removed with a lint-free cloth.
Now your nails are ready to paint the gradient. In the case of gel polishes, there are even more ways to create an ombre, and they will be discussed in detail below.
The final stage of the process is applying the top. When the design on the nails is ready, all that remains is to cover it with a layer of finishing gel, polymerize it in a lamp and wipe off the sticky dispersion. An important nuance: the ends of the nails must be sealed with varnish to prevent delamination and extend the life of the manicure.

Reference! In the case of shellac, the sequence of actions is almost the same. You can only skip the stage of polishing the nail plate and treating with a primer, since the base gel can be immediately applied to a natural, oil-free nail.

Options for creating a gradient

The methods described above to paint an ombre manicure using a sponge are also relevant for gel polishes. There is only one additional condition: in order to get a rich color and a neat, smooth stretch, you will have to make several imprints on the nail with a sponge. Each print must be dried in a lamp and the dispersion wiped off. In this case, the layers must be thin, otherwise the varnish will lie unevenly and waves, bubbles, and bald spots will appear on it.

Ombre on nails can be painted not only with a sponge, but also with a brush. This tool is a little more difficult to use, as it requires jewelry precision, but the gradient will be very smooth and natural. There are three ways to create a trendy manicure using a brush.

Gradient with a flat brush. To work, you will need a flat brush with elastic short bristles and a lint-free cloth soaked in cleanser. The creative process is as follows: apply a thin layer of all selected varnishes to the nail, placing the color stripes as close as possible. They may even touch or float on top of each other. Lightly moisten a clean brush in clinser and run it along the junction of shades, blurring the border. Make several such movements to make the transition smoother, and dry the first layer in the lamp. Then wipe the brush on a napkin, removing excess paint, and repeat the operation. While working, the tool must be held almost parallel to the nail and pressed very carefully so that the gradient turns out blurry and not striped. Dry the second layer too and, if necessary, apply a third in the same way. Usually three times is enough to get bright colors and a soft transition between them.
Gradient with fan brush. It is best to use this tool to create a stretch of three shades, when the middle one is intermediate between the other two. To begin, completely paint the nail plate with the first varnish, which will be near the cuticle, then dry the coating and remove the sticky layer. Then, separately on the palette, mix both colors equally to create an intermediate one, and apply it to the middle of the nail. Paint the tip with a second varnish, and then take a slightly damp fan brush and, holding it flat and moving from side to side parallel to the border of shades, blur the transition zone. Dry the first layer and repeat the manipulations until the desired result is achieved.
Ombre with acrylic powder. First, you need to paint your nails a base color. This could be, for example, white, on which any other shades look brighter. Beige tones or the lightest of those present in the gradient are also suitable. Dry the painted nail in a lamp, and then apply acrylic powder directly onto the sticky layer. Any dry and clean brush will be suitable for this purpose. Use it to shade the boundaries between colors, adding a little pigment if necessary. Shake off excess powder with another clean brush, cover the gradient with topcoat and dry in a lamp.

These were the most famous ways to paint an ombre manicure using brushes. In reality there are more options, but they are all based on the three listed. For example, you can stretch it with glitter, make stripes of different widths, place them diagonally, or completely abandon the stripes and paint the nail with colored highlights.

Video: how to make a gradient manicure with gel polishes

Gradient manicure “Five fingers”

This is a very simple but effective type of ombre manicure. It can be painted with regular and gel polishes, and the only additional equipment you need is a palette, a clean brush and a napkin soaked in a cleaner or remover.

Sequencing:

apply the first color to the thumbnail;
mix a drop of the first varnish and a drop of the second with a brush on the palette, and cover the nail of the index finger with the resulting shade;
mix a drop of the first and two drops of the second varnish, paint the nail of the middle finger;
mix a drop of the first and three drops of the second varnish, apply to the ring nail;
Paint the nail on the little finger with a second polish.

Additional Tricks

A beautiful and neat ombre manicure is a difficult task, but doable. If you know some tricks, you will be able to achieve your desired goal almost the first time.

How to get rid of bubbles

This problem occurs to everyone who paints a manicure with a sponge. To avoid the appearance of bubbles, you must adhere to the following rules:

do not press the sponge too hard so that only paint is squeezed out of its pores, and not air, which causes trouble;
The sponge can be slightly moistened with water. Moisture does not interact in any way with either the varnish or the gel, but it occupies part of the pores in the sponge, displacing air from there;
the first two or three prints need to be stamped on paper. This way the paint will be absorbed deeper, and with subsequent presses less air will come out.

How to protect your fingers from staining

This is another trouble typical for ombre manicure. If you can still paint it carefully with a brush, then with a sponge you paint over both the nail itself and the skin around it. The following means are used to protect fingers:

PVA glue. It is affordable, safe, easy to apply and quick to remove. When drawing a manicure, spread it in a generous layer over the skin around the nail, and when it dries, start working with colored varnishes. At the end of the procedure, the adhesive film is removed with tweezers along with the hardened paint;
face masks. The operating principle is the same;
special products to protect the cuticle and skin around the nail. They are a liquid that hardens into a film in air. Like the previous two products, they are distinguished by convenient packaging (a bottle with a brush), the presence of useful substances in the composition and, of course, price;
scotch. This is the least convenient protection, because it is difficult to cut a piece of suitable shape and size from adhesive tape. In addition, the varnish still flows under it, so the skin will have to be scrubbed off anyway.

Important! There are often tips on the Internet to apply a layer of rich cream to the cuticles and side ridges, but this should not be done. This is especially true for those who use gel polishes and carefully degrease their nails to prevent peeling. Ordinary varnishes are not so capricious in this regard, but the manicure will also be short-lived if a portion of the cream from the fingers is absorbed into the sponge with paint.

How to choose shades

For a beautiful ombre manicure, it is very important to choose the right varnishes, since if you make a mistake, the gradient will turn out dirty and sloppy, even with perfect blurring of the boundaries. A win-win option is a combination of different shades of the same color, for example, beige and coffee. Tones that are located next to each other on the color wheel also look good: yellow with orange, blue with blue. If you don’t have such a circle at hand, then you can focus on alternating stripes of the rainbow.

It is also possible to combine contrasting shades in a manicure, but it is better to do this using an intermediate color, otherwise the transition zone will turn out uneven. For example, if you want to make a gradient from blue to red, then you need to add a purple stripe in the middle.

Online services, of which there are quite a lot now, will help you accurately select manicure polishes. Another reliable tool is the Itten color wheel. This device is sold in art shops, but the easiest way to find it is on the Internet.

Ombre manicure is good because it has no restrictions in terms of working with color. Using this technique, you can create combinations for any occasion: to the office, on a date, and even to a carnival. At the same time, the most strict and restrained pattern will not look boring and banal, since the gradient gives the color depth and expressiveness. It’s worth mastering the technique, if only because just two shades of varnish allow you to come up with at least a dozen ideas for manicure, and the creative possibilities of owners of more extensive varnish collections are truly limitless.

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