Caleb Foster
Opal nail gel is a unique and beautiful way to add some sparkle to your nails. There are many ways to achieve this look, from using cracked ice foil to applying a sheer nude polish to tone down the vibrancy of the colours. You can also add some Essence Galaxy Flakes or use a flakie topcoat with a grey base to achieve the opal effect. For a more professional finish, you can try using Kimagure Cat Liquid Metal Gold gel and curing it, before applying a glossy top gel. If you're feeling creative, you can even add metal triangle charms to your nails for some extra bling!
Opal Nail Gel Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | N/A |
| Step 2 | N/A |
| Step 3 | N/A |
| Step 4 | Use a sheer (French) nude to make the colors less vibrant and help blend the colors together |
| Step 5 | N/A |
| Step 6 | N/A |
| Step 7 | Add a little bit of the Essence Galaxy Flakes 23 Rock My World or any flakie topcoat with a slightly grey base |
| Step 8 | Add a cuff around the top of the nail using Kimagure Cat Liquid Metal Gold gel and then cure for a full 60 seconds |
| Step 9 | Apply Kokoist Ultra Glossy Non-Wipe Top Gel and cure |
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What You'll Learn
Using sheer nude polish as a base
Using a sheer nude polish as a base is a great way to create a subtle and soft opal nail gel look. This method is perfect for those who want a more natural and understated manicure, without the vibrant colours and bold designs that typically come with opal nail art.
Start by applying a sheer, nude-coloured polish to your nails. This will serve as the base for the rest of the design and help to tone down the vibrancy of the opal colours. You can choose a shade that best matches your skin tone or go for a more universal shade, such as a light beige or peach.
Once the sheer nude polish is dry, it's time to add the opal effect. You can do this by applying a small amount of opal nail gel to the centre of each nail and gently spreading it outwards, blending it with the nude base. This will create a soft and ethereal opal hue. If you want a more subtle opal effect, you can dilute the opal gel with a clear nail polish before applying it to your nails.
To add depth and dimension to the design, you can use a slightly darker nude shade or a grey-toned polish to create a subtle gradient effect. Apply this colour to the tips of your nails, blending it upwards towards the centre. This will give the illusion of length and create a more interesting and dynamic manicure.
Finally, seal in the design with a top coat. You can use a high-gloss top coat for a shiny finish or a matte top coat for a more subtle and elegant look. This will protect your nail art and ensure that it lasts longer.
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Applying Essence Galaxy Flakes
To apply Essence Galaxy Flakes and create an opal nail gel effect, you will need to follow these steps:
Firstly, start with a clean gel set. Apply one coat to all ten nails and cure. It is recommended to use a sheer white with a touch of blue as the base colour. This is because the colour inspires the opal look—it has an "opal-y blue" tint. When layering, start thin.
After curing, use a loose glitter brush to add sporadic touches of orange glass powder to the nails. You can also add iridescent flakes, placing them in a similar sporadic manner as the powder. The goal is to capture the iridescence and fire of an opal with orange glitter or powder. You can also add small spots of white colour by the flakes and then apply a super-thin layer to the entire nail and cure. Repeat this process for all ten nails.
Now, you will begin to overlay. This is a Japanese technique called 'Nuance', which creates sporadic marbling. Take your time with this step, adding little by little and blending as you go. Repeat the previous step of adding touches of orange powder and flakes to the nail's sticky layer. Be careful not to overdo it, especially with the flakes.
Finally, seal everything with a non-wipe top gel to finish your design. Apply a thin coat of base gel, followed by a non-wipe top coat to ensure everything is perfectly sealed. Once fully cured, wipe everything clean with alcohol, and rehydrate your nails with cuticle oil.
You can also add 3D nail rings to your design. Use a gel like Kokoist Accessory Bond to attach the rings and hold charms, crystals, and other decorations.
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Using a metal gel cuff
To use a metal gel cuff, you will need to follow these steps:
Firstly, ensure you have the right supplies. As well as your chosen gel nail polish, you will need a nail buffer, rubbing alcohol, a PH bond, base and top coat, and a nail drier or lamp.
Next, you should prepare your nails. Clip them to your desired length, use a nail file to shape them, and then buff the tops of your nails to remove a bit of the top layer. This will help the gel polish to adhere better. Then, rinse your hands with water (no soap) and remove any dead skin, making sure your nails are completely clean.
Now you can apply the PH bond to help your nails dry out. Then, apply an extremely thin layer of the base coat gel polish and cure under a lamp or nail drier for 120 seconds. Remember to keep this layer as thin as possible to avoid a mess.
After this, you can apply one coat of gel polish, again keeping it as thin as possible. If you get any polish on your skin, use some acetone to wipe it away before curing again.
Now your nails are ready for the metal gel cuff. Apply a thin coat of gel polish and place the cuff around the top of the nail. Cure under the lamp or nail drier.
Finish with a top coat and cure again.
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Adding a glossy top gel
To add a glossy top gel to your opal nails, follow these steps:
Firstly, apply a thin coat of the glossy top gel of your choice. This will protect your nail art and give it a shiny finish. Be sure to use a non-wipe top gel, as this will ensure that your nail art stays in place and doesn't smudge.
Next, cure your nails under a UV or LED lamp according to the gel's instructions. Typically, this will take around 30-60 seconds under a UV lamp and 10-30 seconds under an LED lamp. This step is crucial, as it will harden the gel and give your nail art long-lasting protection.
If you want an even more durable finish, consider applying a second coat of the glossy top gel. This is especially useful if you plan to wear your nail art for an extended period or if you tend to be hard on your hands. Just be sure to cure each layer properly to ensure the best results.
Finally, once your nails are cured, you may want to consider applying cuticle oil or a similar product to moisturize your nails and cuticles. This will help to nourish your nails and keep them healthy, especially after the application of gel polish, which can sometimes be drying.
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Using 'cracked ice foil'
To use cracked ice foil for opal nail gel, you will need to follow a few simple steps. Firstly, apply a thin layer of builder gel to the entire nail and do not cure it yet. Take some mylar flakes or pre-cut, non-opaque aurora foil and apply it to the uncured builder gel. Cure this combination.
Next, take a milky white nail polish and paint a layer over the flakes, ensuring you do not apply too much so that the flakes can still shine through. Again, do not cure this layer yet. Choose a pastel colour polish of your liking and mix it with the milky white gel polish. Paint this mixture onto the bottom and top corners of the nail and cure.
At this point, you can add some extra sparkle by tapping on some chunky glitter flakes. Encapsulate the nail with clear builder gel and cure. To finish, wipe off the inhibition layer of the builder gel with alcohol, and paint on a layer of black gel polish as a trim. Cure this layer fully, and consider adding some extra cure time. Finally, smudge your favourite chrome powder onto the trim and brush off any excess. Finish with a top coat and cure.
The cracked ice foil effect can also be achieved without the use of foil by using a top coat, cling film, and a rubber base. Apply a top coat to the nail and place a piece of cling film over the nail, scrunching it with tweezers to create a cracked effect. Cure this layer and then apply a rubber base with a sticky consistency to enhance the cracked look.
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