Aquarium nail design of Kolomyaga. Aquarium design for nails with video and photos

How convenient it is when all the decor in nail art does not interfere with everyday activities, does not stick out and does not fall off ahead of time! All these conveniences of nail design are provided by a unique technique - aquarium manicure. You can place anything under a layer of transparent gel: rhinestones, acrylic modeling, foil, etc. elements that are necessary to create nail art.

Stages of creating aqua design on natural nails

Looking at your nail as if looking into the glass of an aquarium is a sign of high-quality aquarium design. To create a beautiful “aquarium”, you can go in two ways: grow your nails and decorate them with aqua design, or simply do nail art on your natural nail plate. But you shouldn’t expect that ordinary transparent varnish will save the situation; you can’t do without gel polish.


So, before starting work, you should prepare everything you need:

  • colorless gel polish;
  • gel polish with pigments (you can do without it if you use a transparent coating at all stages);
  • primer or base;
  • decor.

To decorate short nails, you should not choose voluminous decorations and modeling, as they will eventually have to be covered with gel and can result in a very thick layer.


To complete an aquarium design, just take a few steps that will bring you closer to the ideal manicure:

Step 1. Prepare the nail thoroughly (shape the nail, treat the cuticle, polish the surface);

Step 2. Apply a layer of primer or base coat and let dry;

Step 3. Apply a thin layer of colored gel polish (or transparent) and dry under a lamp;

Step 4. Without removing the sticky layer, you can start designing: place the desired elements on the nail or add everything with painting;

Step 5. Apply a good coat of clear gel polish. If it is not possible to cover the entire decor at one time, then this can be done in two stages. Then the gel will dry better than one thick layer;

Step 6. Remove the stickiness and apply a top coat, which ultimately needs to be dried under a lamp.

A fashionable design can also be made by applying drawings and patterns that, under a layer of gel, will have a 3D-type three-dimensional image effect. It is better to remove such a design with a router, since the remover may not be able to cope with such a thickness of coating.

Technique for extended nails

Artificially extended nails give more room for imagination and allow you to create more complex, original nail art. In essence, the aqua design technique on nail extensions is practically no different from that used for natural nails. The whole difficulty lies only in the procedure itself and the extension technology, which looks like this step by step.


After the sculpting gel has been applied, dried and the nail has been shaped, you can begin decorating, which is no different in process from the step-by-step actions on natural nails. The only thing that distinguishes this design is the possibility of placing three-dimensional elements for the composition (acrylic modeling, beads, shells, chains, etc.).

The entire placed design is covered with a layer of transparent coating - a special gel that will make the nail more durable and wear-resistant. To make a three-dimensional image in a manicure with an aquarium effect, you can apply a drawing or pattern in several stages: first at the “very bottom” (on the sculptural gel), and then after covering the decor with a transparent gel, adding elements on top of the coating.


It is worth considering that the aquarium design style is difficult to correct and makes this procedure longer. If so, then the “aquarium” decor is no different, the only difference is in the materials.

How to make an aquarium nail design step by step using transparent tips?

You can get the ideal shape and length of your nails without extensions if you use tips. On transparent plates, the “aquarium” looks especially impressive, but even here you can’t do without a transparent one. A fashionable manicure with tips requires some preparation and special materials:

  • quality tips;
  • good glue for attaching them to the natural nail plate;
  • degreaser or its analogues (alcohol, nail polish remover, etc.);
  • cutter (for cutting tips);
  • files;
  • decor;
  • clear gel polish and top coat.

Step 1. Prepare your nails (make them the same length - preferably up to 2 mm, you can even cut them off at the root, file them down, trim or push back the cuticle);

Step 2. Degrease the nail.

Step 3. Prepare the tips by cutting them to the approximate desired length;

Step 4. Glue the tips, let the glue dry well;

Step 5. File the tips to the desired shape (to get an oval, square or pointed nail);

Step 6. Remove the shine from the plate and from your nail and apply primer without touching the artificial material;

Step 7 Cover with clear gel or acrylic in one thin layer. Dry;

Step 8 Decorate the nail (any interpretation is allowed);

Step 9“Fill” with transparent gel polish (several layers are possible).

Step 10 Apply top coat.

If you have at least some skills in gluing tips, then creating such an original manicure will not be difficult. The main thing is to choose your unique decor and combine it correctly.



Decor for an aquarium effect

Harmoniously complementing some decorative elements with others is a real talent that borders on a sense of taste. To create unusual volumetric effects, you can use the most unusual materials: from gears to chains. Traditional decorative elements are more feminine and do not have such a brutal look as chains, for example.

Beads and voluminous jewelry

Special beads, similar in size to beads or neat half-beads, are a trend in aquarium manicure. They can be successfully combined with other round decorations: kamifubuki, sequins, bouillons, etc. This design is complemented with scattered sparkles; you can choose foil, any colored varnish, mica, etc. as a background.

Such decoration requires a large layer of gel, so it is important to use such decorations on extended nails or based on tips.

Acrylic modeling and powder

Among acrylic decorations you can find different themes: slices of fruit, flowers, vegetables, shells, accessories, etc. It is also worth using such decor thematically and not mixing them with each other. For color, paint the tip of the nail in a color that matches the theme. For example, you can play up a seaside manicure with shells by painting the tip of the nail turquoise or blue.


Decorating a nail for an aquarium with acrylic powder is a bold and original idea. This decor goes well with other, more voluminous elements. You should not use sculpting for natural nails, as a lot of gel will be spent on filling and the manicure will not look aesthetically pleasing. Powder can be used for any type of base: natural nails, tips or extensions.

Pictures or photos for aquarium style

You can make all the images realistic with a 3D effect using this technique; all that remains is to choose a picture for the design. The theme can be different, you can even choose images of fish. You can complement this manicure with other decorative elements and place pictures in different parts of the nail.

Depending on the material on which the image of something is applied, filling with gel of different thicknesses will be required. For example, a paper or vinyl base gives a decent thickness and is best used on artificial nails; plastic film with a pattern can easily be used on any nails, since it cannot make the nail thicker.

Foil for gel polish

Manicure foil has different densities and purposes. One type (transfer) leaves a shiny mark on the sticky layer, the second type must first be formed and placed on the nail as an applique. Depending on the desired effect, choose one or the second type of foil.

This decorative technique is acceptable for natural and artificial nails, since it does not make the nail plate much thicker, but still gives a magnificent shine.

Rhinestones, sparkles and feathers

The most popular decorations for aquarium manicure are rhinestones and glitter. Different sizes of these elements may look different on nails of different lengths. For short natural nails, it is better to choose small rhinestones; on artificial coatings, more daring experiments with the size of rhinestones are possible.



Sequins can be used as independent or additional decorative elements. Their different sizes, colors, shapes can create the desired effect and do not require a large thickness of gel polish applied on top.



Manicure with feathers is not so popular, but it looks very impressive. It is convenient to use feathers in design on artificial nails. Their color and size can be different; they are complemented with similar designs, rhinestones, etc.



In the world of nail art, a manicure with an unusual aquarium design is highly recognized and loved by many women. In this design, the nail plate looks like a cute decorated piece of glass, and the designs themselves are characterized by light volume. With such a manicure, a woman always feels at her best, since in most cases it is universal. Suitable for almost all wardrobe styles and clothing colors, any makeup. This type of nail design can be safely used in everyday life, just for a walk in the park or going on a date, for modest events or a bright party. They also perfectly complement a wedding look. Especially lovely ladies prefer aquarium nail designs for a business work environment, because simplicity with taste is welcome here.

The aquarium design is great only on long nail plates; therefore, before performing it, many girls have their nails artificially extended. Thanks to a special technique for implementing such a manicure, after completion of the procedure, the nails remain perfectly smooth, regardless of the design, decorations and other additional elements. Thus, only pleasant sensations await you, no irritability and no fear that some detail will fall away. Everything you want to place on your nail will be perfectly protected with a special product.

The service life of aquadesign is long-lasting. It is only necessary to correct the overgrown areas of the nail. If the drawing becomes boring and boring for you, then you can easily paint it with regular varnish, and if you wish, wash it off with liquid and admire your voluminous patterns again.

Try the aquarium on your nails and you will definitely like it, it will not leave you indifferent, you will be enchanted by its sophistication and originality. Especially if you are already tired of the standard French manicure schemes or another gel polish coating.

Aquarium nail design step by step

Learning how to create aquadesign yourself is not easy; it requires a huge amount of patience and experience. However, it is quite possible to achieve the desired results, the main thing is effort, attentiveness, and accuracy.

Many girls and women want to learn how to do aquarium nail design, because such a service is expensive in salons, and it’s not always possible to find time. To begin with, it is recommended to become thoroughly familiar with nail extensions; it can be gel or acrylic, or you can use aquatips (artificial nail plates). And, of course, get better at it with the help of practices.

Options for creating an aquarium design:

First way– creating an artificial nail yourself using gel or acrylic.

Second way– use of special aquatips. The main advantage of this method is that the manicure can be created with real water or oil. The design on the nail turns out to be alive, like a real tiny aquarium.

Place the tip on the nail, and use acrylic or gel to seal the cracks on all sides, except for the side at the base of the nail. Leaving one free slot, you can fill the tips with various decorations. In addition, you can fill the tip with water or oil. A syringe is needed for this. And after filling, cover the remaining area in the same way so that all the decor remains in place.

Polish, file, and now decorate the nail with varnish yourself or use it for nails, add other decorations. Then secure well with a transparent product.

Your own aquarium on your nails will impress many with its beauty and interesting unusual design. These are the nails you will want to look at, be inspired by and admire.

Manicure ideas. Aquarium nail design photo


Some of them allow you to turn the nail plate into a real canvas for an artist and sculptor. Aquarium nail design, which is performed using acrylic gel, is gradually gaining popularity, despite all its impracticality and high cost. And this material tells you everything a fashionista needs to know about aquarium nail design.

Over the past few years, manicure has undergone significant changes. Currently, there are a huge number of different techniques and techniques that not only tidy up our nails, but can also turn them into a real work of art.

Nowadays, such a direction of nail design as aquarium design is in great demand. Despite the novelty of this technique, it has already become very popular. This is not surprising, because with its help you can decorate your nails, making them look stylish and original.

This technique got its name because when it is performed, the image on the nail looks as if it is under glass.

When creating an aquarium design, various elements are used, for example acrylic modeling, which we already mentioned earlier. True, the essence of this method is that various design elements are applied to the nail, and on top they are covered with a transparent modeling material, thanks to which the decorative elements do not protrude beyond the nail, but seem to remain inside it. If in a volumetric design there is a relief on the nail, then in an aquarium the nail remains smooth, although the design turns out to be voluminous.

A special feature of aquarium design is that it is performed exclusively on extended nails, while their material and length do not matter at all. In addition, aquarium design can be carried out both on the entire nail plate and only on the free end of the nail.

How to make aquarium design and nail extensions (with photos and videos)

Before you make an aquarium nail design, you need to think about whether to do it yourself or contact a specialist. The technology of nail extension and aquarium design includes several stages.

1. First, prepare the nail for the extension procedure: degrease and grind down the nail plate so that the extension material fits better on the nail. We wrote more about this in the corresponding section.

2. When the nail is ready, choose a substrate for the aquarium design. The substrate can be tips or special templates (forms). The master designer himself chooses the type of substrate.

3. Then they begin to apply a pattern to the platform, which completely depends on the imagination of the master. It is performed using a variety of materials: glitter, paints, threads, rhinestones, acrylic powder, dried flowers, etc. Polymer clay or acrylic paints are also used for nail design.

4. After completing the pattern, a layer of transparent modeling material is applied to the nail, which is then sanded and polished.

As a result, the pattern appears to be inside the nail, while the nail itself remains smooth. You can see what nail extensions and aquarium design look like in the photo:

To create a picture, you can use any one material or several at once. So, for example, you can use acrylic paints to depict a voluminous flower, complement it with bouillons, rhinestones, lace, and then add the finishing touch in the form of sparkles.

Very often, acrylic modeling is used to create a pattern, but even without it you can get an interesting and effective design based on, for example, rhinestones, sparkles, and foil.

The finished three-dimensional image is covered with a transparent material, which seems to “pack” it. The nail is then polished and given its final shape.

Aquarium nails and acrylic designs

Aquarium nails look very impressive and mesmerizing, but the technique is very complex, so only a master can do it in a salon. Several technologies are combined here, including. In addition, the master has to apply the image not only in the plane of the nail, but as if in a three-dimensional space inside it, thinking in advance about how the design will look after applying the fixing material, so additional experience and dexterity are required from him.

When creating an aquarium nail design with acrylic, you must also take into account the length and thickness of the nail and select volumetric elements so that the nail does not turn out too thick. It's very easy to check. After applying the design to the nail, you need to apply a simple plain varnish and make sure that it looks completely natural and is not very different from ordinary extended nails and is not thick. In other words, an aquarium design should not create additional volume on the nail.

When creating an aquarium design, you can lay out a multi-layered pattern, which will not only create the appearance of volume, but will look like a living image. To create this effect, an image is applied to the platform, then it is covered with a layer of modeling material and another image is applied, which is again covered with transparent extension material. You can make several such layers to achieve the desired effect. Of course, the nail will be thicker, but the design on it will move and play as if alive.

The main set of elements for creating an aquarium design includes glitter (spangles), mica, feathers, threads, rhinestones, dried flowers, colored gels or acrylics, foil, acrylic modeling, acrylic paints, etc.

1. Rhinestones in aquarium design are used as internal and external elements.

2. Broths are most often used as an additional decorative element.

3. Fimo are small ready-made elements created from polymer clay, which are widely used in both aquarium and volumetric design.

4. Dried flowers can be used either completely or in parts, as a main design element or as an addition to another composition.

5. Ready-made applications for aquarium design are used as main motifs or to complete the work.

As we have already mentioned, the length of the nail in this case is not important, so even on short extended nails you can put original designs: three-dimensional images of fish, algae, pebbles, castles, ships, flowers, shells, birds and animals, decorated with rhinestones, sparkles, sand , lace. Covered with aquarium glass, acrylic or gel, they simply cannot be damaged, unlike a three-dimensional design.

Aquarium design is perfect for those who want to look original, unusual, attractive and bold. This is a long-lasting and sustainable procedure, so you won’t have to worry about the beauty of your nails for a long time. True, such a manicure needs proper care and sometimes it is necessary to correct it, then it will last for three months. Over time, it does not fade or burst; its decorative elements and coating look as fresh as immediately after application.

If you get tired of the chosen design or you need to attend a strict event, you can get rid of the design for a while. To do this, it is enough to cover the surface of the nail, which will not harm your manicure at all. Then you can simply remove the varnish using a liquid without acetone.

If you decide to make an aquarium design for yourself, approach the choice of a master with all responsibility. This technique is a very painstaking task that requires great concentration, perseverance, professionalism and calm. It is better to contact a good salon with positive reviews, which has long established itself in the nail design industry.

Aquarium design allows you to experiment and look for your own unique and original style. Not only will it make your nails look flawless, but it will also help you stand out and attract attention.

Look at the aquarium nail design in the photo examples of its implementation and choose the appropriate design option:

The desire of girls to be bright, extraordinary, to stand out from the rest pushes them to beauty experiments with their appearance. A great way to add some “zest” to your look is to create an aquarium nail design.

An aquarium on the nails creates the feeling of a three-dimensional image, as if hidden under a layer of water. This nail art looks very impressive and is great for both festive events and everyday manicure. In addition, aquarium nails, due to the transparent textures used in extensions, allow you to maintain a neat and effective manicure for three months. What makes aquarium design for nail extensions the optimal solution for those who want to save their time and money.

Getting your hands ready for aquarium design

Aqua nail design assumes that the technology of performing nail art is carried out on prepared hands. Therefore, the preliminary stage will be a classic manicure. And to save on an expensive salon procedure, we perform it ourselves at home. For this we will need: a bath with warm water, aromatic and nutritional mixtures, a manicure set, and moisturizer.

The instructions for a classic manicure involve step-by-step implementation of the following steps:

  1. Steam your hands in warm water. For a relaxing and tonic effect, we recommend adding a few drops of rose, jasmine essential oil and a pinch of sea salt to the water.
  2. Gently treat the cuticle area with an emollient. We remove the excess with nail scissors or tongs.
  3. Give the nails the desired shape using a nail file. For those whose nail plates are fragile, we recommend using a glass file. It creates less oscillating movements, which makes the procedure more comfortable.
  4. Apply moisturizer to your hands. Let it soak thoroughly.

This is how we independently prepared our hands for further manipulations. Now you can perform aquarium nail extensions.

We create a fashionable aquarium design on extended nails

Before you paint an aquarium on your nails, you need to carefully prepare the nail plates for further work. To do this, you will need to treat them with an antiseptic solution or nail polish remover. This technique helps to degrease the surface of the nail bed to ensure maximum adhesion of the acrylic coating to the nail plate. Further, the technology of aquarium design involves following a step-by-step scheme of simple actions.

  1. Apply primer to your nails to smooth the nail plate and prepare for the application of gel.
  2. Securely secure the paper extension forms under the regrown tips of the nail. Make sure that the tips are positioned firmly and evenly, otherwise the aqua nail design will be sloppy and lose all its chic.
  3. Apply acrylic to the nail, giving it the desired shape and length. For a shimmering shine effect, you can pre-mix acrylic liquid with fine glitter powder. This technique will allow your manicure to effectively “play” on your nails depending on the nature of the lighting. Dry your nails in a UV lamp.
  4. Next, you can safely show your creativity: make a shiny background with contrasting powder, use white and pink paint to depict flowers, patterns, and ornaments. In a more complex design, the aquarium design for extended nails involves voluminous modeling, which is not very practical in everyday life, but looks very impressive with a festive outfit. Don't be afraid to experiment: add gold sparkles, glitter, metallic foil, contrasting accents, beads and bows. The main thing is not to overdo it with the decor. The more elegant your lines and the more confident your strokes are, the more spectacular your aqua nail design will be.
  5. Dry the decorative layer in a UV lamp.
  6. After decorating the nail plates, you need to cover the manicure with a layer of transparent gel, which will create the desired effect - aquarium nails. It turns out that the design is sealed between two tips, which gives it a convexity and, of course, protects it from deformation by external factors. Dry your nails in a UV lamp.
  7. Give your nails a neat look by filing and buffing the extensions.
  8. To give your manicure a “wet”, shiny effect, cover your nails with a UV sealer. The top coat will protect your nail art from chips, cracks, fading and damage to the design.

Fashion trends in aquarium design

  • Modern beauty trends are increasingly gravitating toward natural makeup, manicure, and the entire image as a whole. Therefore, if you still prefer to extend your nails in an aquarium, then choose a short and neat shape of the nail plate for your nail design. Avoid such phenomena that were fashionable in the past, such as or long.
  • Don’t forget that the aquarium nail design will remain on your nails for a long time, so you should choose designs that would fit seamlessly into your everyday wardrobe.
  • If aquatic nail design is intended to emphasize the solemnity of the upcoming event, then its elements should correspond to the festive backgammon. This manicure looks very impressive with shiny decor - beads, rhinestones, glitter. Separate convex, sculptural details created on the ring fingers are encouraged.

So experiment, look for a non-trivial design so that your well-groomed hands and extraordinary nail art will become the envy of others.

Video: master class on aquarium nail design

Nail design masters continue to delight fashionistas with their creations, and this year they offered to create an incredible manicure in the form of a “wet aquarium”. It's quite hard to imagine, but it's real! Let's take a closer look at what kind of manicure this is.

Aquarium manicure with water or shepart

Remember the popular heart-shaped keychains that had liquid and holographic designs inside? Now you can create such an “aquarium” on your nails! This is what it looks like. We look at the video of a manicure with water inside.

In order to make such a manicure, the master needs to glue two tips together so that a small cavity is formed between them. Various decorative elements are poured into this cavity - rhinestones, sparkles, bouillons, holographic figures, etc. To create an aquarium effect, the master uses a syringe with a thin needle to inject a small amount of distilled water or glycerin into the cavity (without filling the cavity completely). The edge of the tip through which the cavity was filled is sealed with gel or acrylic. Only then does the master carry out manipulations, as during the usual extension procedure.

Of course, this type of manicure is quite difficult to perform at home, and it will take 2-3 times more time than with regular extensions, but the result is worth the effort. It’s impossible to take your eyes off this manicure with the effect of a wet aquarium.

This manicure can be done without the use of distilled water or glycerin; this type of design is called “shepart”.

Now that aquarium nail design has become more popular, many online stores selling tools and materials for manicure offer masters blanks for a “wet aquarium”, i.e. tips with a cavity, “aquarium” tips. So this will significantly reduce the time it takes to create a manicure.

How to do an aquarium manicure with water inside

As you can see, aquarium manicure and shepart have gained more popularity than manicure, which looks too bulky and sometimes even ridiculous.

Below you can watch another short master class on how to make an aquarium nail design.


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