Manicure with gel pens at home. How to make miniature masterpieces on your nails with a gel pen

The ability to beautifully design your nails will allow you to change their design as often as you want, based on color range, on occasion, or just according to the mood. Before you start designing, regardless of the method, you need to do good manicure– only treated nails can convey all the beauty of the design.

Design options

To learn design, you will need multi-colored gel pens, several colors of varnish, a clear varnish or a fixing varnish.

You will also need a long needle, a pair of toothpicks, designer brushes with long bristles, glitter of different colors, stickers and stencils that you can prepare yourself.

  • 1. Patterns using a stencil: you need to paint your nails with a base polish of any color, let it dry, and when applying the stencils, first apply one color of polish to all nails, and then another, depending on your design idea. After the drawings have dried, it is necessary to secure the design with a fixing varnish or clear varnish.
  • 2. The stripe pattern is also very in a simple way Effectively and quickly design your nails. You need to apply a base polish to your nails, and choosing contrasting colors or glitter polish, draw several stripes on the nail: they can be multi-colored, come from one center, cross or run parallel - all at your discretion. Where the lines intersect, you can glue a rhinestone or sticker, and after the strips have dried, cover your nails with clear varnish.
  • 3. The “marble” effect is a more complicated method. Pour water into a small flat container, such as a jar lid. Paint all your nails in the right color, dry this layer. Then choose the colors of varnish that suit you: to begin with, no more than two, for example, it will be black and gold. Drop some gold into the water first, then just a little bit of black, and “conjure” it a little with a toothpick, giving the pattern a shape. Dip your nail into the varnish film formed by the water and quickly remove all excess varnish from the nail using ear stick soaked in nail polish remover. Do this for all your nails. The main thing in this case is to act quickly and carefully. The effect will be very beautiful! Don't forget to apply a clear coat or sealer.
  • 4. Painting with a needle allows you to create beautiful drawings, both abstract and completely recognizable - for this you need to arm yourself with a long needle and several multi-colored varnishes. The varnishes must be contrasting, otherwise a beautiful design will not work. The sequence of actions is as follows: paint one nail with the base varnish and, until it is completely dry, drip drops of multi-colored varnishes in a random order, but next to each other. Very quickly use a needle to mix the droplets, giving them the desired shape: petal, zigzag, star and you get a beautiful pattern. Repeat this for all nails or limit yourself to the middle finger and little finger.
  • 5. Even a beginner can draw designs on nails with gel pens - the desired design is applied to the dried base layer with a black, gold, silver or any other pen. If unsuccessful, the design you don’t like can be easily washed off with water, while the base varnish remains in place. You can combine designs with gel pens with glitter, rhinestones, varnish patterns or other types of designs. When working with gel pens, remember that before covering with clear varnish, the gel must dry thoroughly, otherwise it will smear.



I spent a long time shopping around Sally Hensen nail design pencils. They are probably wonderful, but the price of 450-500 per piece confused me, and besides, the choice of colors is very small, I wanted at least white and black, but 1000 rubles for two pencils...

Quite by accident I came across nail pencils on the eBay website, which were sold separately for 100-120 rubles each, but, unfortunately, the white and black colors were sold out. I decided to look on Aliexpress. Found it! You can choose by color, but when you buy as a set, it turns out much cheaper, because... $32 for 16 pieces is quite reasonable. The reviews were different - I decided to take a chance. There was such a review that not a single pencil works, the seller said that you need to shake each one well.

Delivery took about 3 weeks.

The pencils were very carefully packed - there was no common box, they were tied with an elastic band, but each was packed in protective film, i.e. I was sure that no one had opened them.

In the photo, the films are not on every pencil because I didn’t have enough patience, I wanted to open them quickly and try

You need to shake them very well - much like a thermometer. BUT, ATTENTION - WITH A CLOSED CAP. For some reason I didn’t guess - I shook everything at once, and then I noticed that there were multi-colored dots everywhere - on the wallpaper, on the windowsill, on the radiator and on the floor!!! It's quicker to wipe everything off with nail polish remover. It’s good that the wallpaper is washable and there was no upholstered furniture otherwise my husband would have killed me

They draw very well, but some (blue 11, neon yellow 15 and neon red 8 - not according to the picture, but according to the markings), of course, are somewhat liquid, so, for example, I paint flowers in 2 layers.

I would also really like there to be a gold color, but it is not, but silver, by the way, is.

Dries quickly.

I painted on a palette, didn’t cover it with anything on top, I coat it on my nails - it sticks perfectly, much like acrylic paints.

I drew what I had enough imagination for now, so I apologize for the quality.





Yes, yes, you heard right, using a gel pen. What role does she play here and how to do it all - all this can be found under the cut.

Long ago, at the dawn of my delicacy, I tried to draw on my nails several times gel pen. What was attractive was that you can paint anything this way, unlike using manicure brushes or dots.
Then here I saw several posts with manicure on film, which is completely transferred to the nail, but the girl’s drawing was stamped. And I thought, why not combine both ideas, i.e. film + gel pen. And I started experimenting.

Important steps + some points and tips

1. Finished dried manicure with plain varnish. In my case, China Glaze White On White, I imitated paper)

! Important: The base varnish must be completely dry, otherwise you will get a smudge under the film; it will not be able to stretch or move without affecting the varnish.

2. Next we need film. Regular food grade or polyethylene.


! Important: I’ll say right away that with cling film much more difficult to work with, I messed up several options until I more or less understood how to handle it. It is very thin and mobile. Polyethylene from regular bags is better. But everything also depends on the quality, thickness and other parameters, so see for yourself, try it.

3. Use a regular gel pen (you can also use a colored one) to apply the pattern. Here absolute freedom actions, but I recommend abandoning complex artistic compositions, because there is always a chance of blurring the pattern, and if the lines are close to each other, the probability is accordingly even higher.

! Important: I still don’t know if the gel pen dries on such a surface, but still don’t start sticking right away. Let dry for 5-10 minutes.

I drew a simple geometric pattern:


4. Next, I have several options for how to glue the film to the nail. At first I tried it on undried varnish, but I realized that this was not an option. Then I tried it on a not-dried top, in principle it would work. And then I tried this: I drew a pattern, and on top of it, after letting it dry, I applied the top coat directly onto the film with pairs of brush strokes. So it becomes less subtle and uncontrollable. And it sticks well.

4. Apply the film to the nail, first leveling the central part and moving towards the edges.


5. Use a stick to level the edges of the nail. Here I experimented with a different pattern. There were just a lot of attempts, so I show what I managed to capture.


We cut off the excess with scissors. At this point you will regret using cling film. It clings to the scissors and gathers into folds.


If you tried hard, and in the end there are no or almost no folds, dents, and everything is smooth, then you are great! If there are small creases, a good layer of topcoat can hide them. Well, of course, large folds and film collections will have to be removed and done again. Manicure is not easy, of course, and I myself am not sure that I will repeat it. Although I want to achieve best result. To do this, I think you need to experiment with the material, something that is not as thin as a bag, but also not thick and rigid, such as tape.


Or there is a second option with a gel pen. What to do and what you will need:

1. Ready manicure with white (or colored) with matte varnish. This is our canvas, so matte - required condition. Or you can take any varnish and cover it with a matte top coat.

2. Take a pen and simply draw any pattern on the desired finger or on all of them. Right on the nail, right with the pen.


Either leave it like this or draw on all fingers. Let it dry a little and apply topcoat. The top needs to be chosen correctly, one that does not pull off the varnishes, otherwise the entire pen will be erased.


Yes, I understand that on the opposite working hand It will be difficult to draw. Therefore, I advise working with simple linear patterns.




These are my options.
What do you think?

The technology of painting nails has long been transformed into an art. IN nail design are used different materials: acrylic, gel, colored sand, foil and much more. Nail artists paint with acrylic paints and varnishes, and their tools are needles, brushes of different thicknesses and sticks.

But you don't have to be an artist to create masterpieces. If desired, you can create wonderful design using a regular gel pen.

Paint your nails with a gel pen very simple, because it is not required additional materials. Almost all fashionistas have nail fixer and polish, and gel pens can be purchased at any stationery store.

Before starting the process, nails must be coated with two layers of varnish and dried thoroughly. Only after complete drying is the design applied to the nails. Now it all depends on your imagination. Painting nails with gel pens is very simple, therefore, it is impossible to spoil the design with incorrect lines. If it doesn't turn out what you wanted, you can always fix it wet wipe and draw again.

When the design is completed and you are satisfied with everything in the drawing, allow the gel to dry. After a few seconds, you can fix the entire drawing completely. For this we need a nail fixer or a colorless varnish.

With the help of gel pens you can bring to life any creative ideas. Gel pens have a wide palette of colors, which allows you to different ornaments, miniature designs and openwork patterns. Drawings made with silver and gold pens, as well as multi-colored pens with sparkles, look very elegant.

Thanks to the thin tip of the gel pen paste, you can create jewelry details of the design. In spring and summer, you can make your nails to match the design of sundresses and dresses, and in autumn and winter, multi-colored leaves, openwork snowflakes, Christmas tree or New Year's characters. Try yourself as a creator of beauty.

Examples of nail designs with gel pen

Master class in nail design with gel pen from Svetlana Kirichenko

View all 573 photos "Drawings on nails"

Drawings on nails: some girls believe that the skill of drawing is subject exclusively to professional manicurists. Is such an opinion justified? Perhaps only partly. After all, if you have the desire, perseverance and willingness to overcome minor difficulties at the beginning of the journey, any young lady will be able to master the basics of nail painting without leaving home. Of course, first you have to hone your skills in creating the most simple drawings on the nails. And even if the “first pancakes” are, according to the law of the genre, lumpy, don’t despair. After some time, your hand will become much more confident, and the design will become more intricate - you just have to believe in own strength. If you still underestimate your capabilities, we suggest you make sure that painting on your nails is not only fun, but also affordable. In this article we will try to “sort out” various techniques nail painting, including a discussion of the necessary equipment and materials for its implementation. In addition, we will present to your attention a photo selection of ideas beautiful drawings on the nails. Following the presented step by step diagrams, you will diversify the boring monochromatic coating of your nails with interesting, bright accents. And create beautiful images Well-proven varnishes and accessories will help you.


Tools and materials for creating designs on nails: the necessary “combat arsenal”

To perform artistic and, one might say, “jewelry work” on your nails, you, like any artist, will need a certain set of tools and materials. Let's try to understand their diversity in order. Let's start with the necessary equipment:

1. Household sewing needle or a toothpick are the simplest and most inexpensive tools for painting on nails. Their use allows you to create miniature flowers, patterns and ornaments. When drawing with a needle, try not to press it sharp end on the nail plates. This way you will avoid visible scratches on their surface.

2. Stationery tape - used to create patterns in a geometric style.

3. A sponge is the most suitable tool for shading pigments, especially pearlescent ones. Often, it is used to perform a gradient manicure.

4. Orange stick – pointed wooden stick with a beveled cut at the other end. In addition to its direct purpose, cuticle removal, it is widely used in nail design. With such a stick you can easily place a pebble or rhinestone on the nail plate (after moistening the tip in water), and adjust the position of foil, lace, a piece of fabric or decal.

5. Dots - a double-sided tool with metal balls of various diameters at the ends. Convenient for drawing dots, patterns, floral motifs, curls, and also for mixing shades. Very often dots are sold in sets.

6. Brushes:


  • Spot brush. Designed for drawing the most small parts and accents. Consists of a bunch of short villi, tapering towards the end.
  • Brush liner. A very thin brush with long bristles, allowing you to paint graceful, straight lines literally in one stroke. Ideal for recreating animal print.
  • Flat brush. A wide brush with which you can create large, voluminous designs, wide patterns, shadow transitions, color mixes, as well as apply decor in the form of sparkles, colored powder and sand for nails.
  • Fan brush. A flat, wide, fluffy brush. Responsible for creating backgrounds, various textures, combining shades without mixing them. In the latter case, the necessary paints are placed next to each other on the palette, after which they are carefully picked up with a brush and transferred to nail plate. The result is a very effective transition that no other brush can handle. The fan brush is suitable for painting nails in landscape and abstract styles.
  • Petal brush. It has a visual resemblance to a flat brush, but one of its corners is beveled. This brush is widely used in the Chinese painting technique.
  • Dagger-shaped brush. Another variation of a flat brush with an angle in the form of a sharp cut. This brush is multifunctional. It paints well the spaces on the nails and allows you to carefully draw individual elements.


Of all the above tools, brush painting is considered one of the most difficult. At the same time, this particular tool makes it possible to create the most impressive compositions on your nails. We have only mentioned basic manicure brushes. However, believe me, for a beginner taking his first steps in the art of nail art, this set will be more than enough. Let's say more - at first you can completely limit yourself to old makeup brushes. The only thing you need for training is to wash them in warm water with shampoo and dry thoroughly. When purchasing brushes for painting on nails, give preference to natural squirrel or rabbit hair. The performance and lifespan of your tools will depend on how well you take proper care of them. After each use, thoroughly clean your brushes, dry them, and only then put them in their cases. As for all devices in general, they must also be of high quality. Otherwise, they will not make the creative process easier, but rather complicate it.

To design your nails, you will need not only tools, but also special materials:

1. Acrylic paints

Modern assortment acrylic paints for nail design is limitless. Besides this material has many advantages - it dries quickly, has excellent durability, affordable price, has a rich palette rich colors and textures. When starting to work with acrylic paints, do not try to acquire the entire range of shades at once. For the first time, a few tubes will be more than enough for you. At the same time, it is desirable that they be from the same manufacturer - to some extent this guarantees the quality of the manicure and its durability. If we talk about gouache, then it is better not to use such paint for painting on nails. In principle, it will be possible to draw small pictures, but only on nail plates coated with transparent varnish. After application, the paint is allowed to dry completely and covered with a layer of fixative. If it does not dry enough, the gouache smears and mixes with the varnish, which cannot be said about acrylic.


2. Lucky

If we compare varnishes with acrylic paints, they are, of course, significantly inferior to the latter. Firstly, when using varnishes, you will have to limit yourself to the most basic designs, and secondly, the thick and viscous texture is not entirely suitable for painting with brushes. Therefore, we advise you to use this material only at the stage of getting acquainted with nail painting.

Creating beautiful pictures on their nails, quite often girls complement them with all sorts of decorative elements. Thanks to them, the design becomes even more unusual and attractive. The range of nail accessories presented on the modern market is capable of realizing even the most complex creative task– rhinestones, sparkles, sequins, manicure beads, bouillons, glitter powder, liquid mica, decorative sand, colored foil, all kinds of stickers and decals, velvet, mesh, dried flowers, fimo, earrings for nail piercing and others.

Nail painting techniques for beginners: step-by-step instructions

Needle drawings



This technique is considered basic, so every beginner can master it. To make drawings, use a regular sewing needle and varnishes of 2-3 contrasting shades.

1. Cover the nail plates with a base in the form of a colorless varnish and wait until it dries completely. This layer is necessary to protect the nails from possible scratches and needle damage.

2. Start creating backgrounds for future illustrations. For this purpose, use a single-color pearlescent, glossy or matte varnish.

3. Without waiting for the background layer to dry, apply to the nail plate required amount drops of varnish.

4. Without hesitation, take the needle and begin to connect drops with it according to the intended composition.

5. Let the image dry, then seal the result with another layer of clear varnish.

To help you, we will provide some diagrams of the possible arrangement of designs on the nails.


To ensure that your needle drawings turn out neat and beautiful, try to adhere to the following recommendations:

  • If you have long nails, apply images with the eye of a needle.
  • The varnishes you use should be of medium thickness. It will be extremely inconvenient to draw if it is too thin or thick.
  • Avoid quick-drying varnishes.
  • To create a picture, use rich varnish colors that contrast with the main background.
  • After drawing each individual element Clean the needle using a cloth and nail polish remover.
  • Uncork all varnishes before applying the design. Unnecessary actions while drawing will take up your time, during which the nail polish may dry out.
  • Start creative experiments with the simplest illustrations.

Drawings on nails with tape


Is it any wonder that resourceful young ladies have found equally successful uses for ordinary stationery tape in nail design. Universal adhesive tape is available in almost every home. Let's look at how to use it to create original designs on nails right now:

1. Paint your nails with a base colored polish. It is very important that it dries well, otherwise the pictures will turn out blurry and sloppy.

2. Cut out stencils from tape desired shape and pressing tightly, stick them on the surface of the nail plates.

3. Proceed to cover your nails with a different color of polish.

4. Only after the second coat of polish has completely dried, begin to carefully remove the tape from your nails.

5. To give your nails a smooth surface and shine, use clear varnish. One layer will be enough.

Scotch tape is ideal for creating geometric designs on your nails. In addition, it is often used when performing French in all its variations.

Paintings with varnishes


Nail painting with varnishes is somewhat easier than with acrylic paints. Using this method you can draw flowers, hearts, drops, stripes and other simple designs. The technology is extremely simple and involves the use of the following materials:

  • base - applied to the nails first;
  • standard varnishes of various shades;
  • painting varnishes – for convenience, they are equipped with thin brushes;
  • fixative – used as a finishing coat.
In this technique, drying each layer one by one is also mandatory.

Gel pen images


Another original and simple technique is painting on nails with regular gel pens. The advantage of this method is obvious - everyone without exception can confidently hold such an instrument in their hands. We will not repeat ourselves and describe the procedure for performing a manicure using gel pens - it is no different from painting with paints.


When you are ready to use acrylic paints in nail design, try drawing a few pictures with them on a regular piece of paper, artificial nails or a special simulator (plastic palette with recesses that follow the shape of the nails). Having slightly “stuffed your hand”, feel free to start decorating your nails:

1. Degrease the nail plate and level its surface with 1-2 layers of base coat.

2. Squeeze the paint from the tube onto a previously prepared palette (a piece of glass or plastic), then immediately close it. If
you chose to draw watercolor technique, dilute the paint with a small amount of water.

3. Proceed to alternately drawing each element on all nails at the same time. If you want to achieve a smooth pattern, apply different colors one after another, without waiting for them to dry.

4. Fix the resulting pattern clear varnish or a special fixative.

Using decor


A manicure in which designs on the nails are made using decorative accessories - rhinestones, sparkles, sequins, beads, etc. looks very festive. Spectacular decor brings a special gloss to nail design, thanks to which ladies' hands become objects close attention those around you. Decorating your nails in a similar way, follow the standard steps:

  • application of base and background coating;
  • laying out the image from the fittings onto slightly dried colored varnish;
  • top coat of nail polish.
As promised, to complete the topic - a photo selection with ideas for nail designs. Choose and implement!




























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