Ava Monroe
Jelly nails are a fun and easy nail trend to try at home. The look is inspired by the '90s jelly shoe craze, characterised by a clear, jelly-like texture and bright colours. Jelly nails are created through a sheer wash of colour that acts like a shiny lip gloss for your nails. To achieve the look, you can either buy a set of jelly polishes or create your own by mixing clear and coloured polishes. The key to jelly nails is a semi-translucent and see-through finish, allowing your natural nail line to be visible through the polish. This trend is versatile and can be achieved with natural or fake nails, using regular or gel polish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of nail polish | Regular or gel polish |
| Type of nails | Natural or fake nails |
| Preparation | Trim, shape, and gently push back cuticles |
| Base coat | Clear or semi-clear |
| Polish | Mix clear top coat with coloured polish to create jelly polish |
| Polish consistency | Thin layers |
| Top coat | High shine |
| Curing | Use a nail lamp |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare your nails by trimming, shaping, and removing old polish
To prepare your nails for a jelly manicure, start by removing any old nail polish. Use a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover to wipe away any existing polish. If you have gel nails, wrap each fingernail in aluminium foil with an acetone-soaked cotton ball pressed against the nail. Let the nails soak for about 10 minutes before removing the foil and wiping away the softened gel polish.
Next, trim and shape your nails. Using a nail clipper, trim your nails to your desired length. Then, use a nail file to shape your nails and smooth any rough edges. It is recommended to file your nails in one direction only to avoid damaging them. The shape of your nails can vary depending on your preference, but for the best results, make each nail the same length and shape. Common nail shapes include square, round, oval, and almond.
After trimming and shaping, gently push back your cuticles. You can use a cuticle pusher or orange stick for this step. Pushing back the cuticles will help create a neat and tidy nail bed, ensuring that your jelly manicure looks its best. Remember that jelly nails are translucent, so the shape of your natural nails will be visible. Once your nails are trimmed, shaped, and free of any old polish, you can move on to the next steps of creating your jelly nails.
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Mix a clear top coat with coloured polish to create jelly polish
To create a jelly nail look, you can mix a clear top coat with coloured polish to make your own jelly polish. This is a great way to create a unique shade and achieve the desired level of translucency.
Firstly, prepare your nails by trimming, shaping, and gently pushing back your cuticles. It's important to note that the shape of your natural nails may be visible through the jelly polish, so you may want to give them some extra care.
Next, gather your materials. You will need a clear top coat and a coloured polish of your choice. It is recommended to use a highly pigmented colour for a vibrant jelly nail look. You will also need a small dish for mixing and a brush for application.
Now, it's time to mix your polishes. Pour double the amount of clear top coat as coloured polish into your small dish. For example, if you use one drop of colour, use two drops of the top coat. Stir the mixture gently to avoid creating bubbles, until it is smooth and well-combined. Adjust the mixture by adding more top coat to increase sheerness or more colour to deepen the shade.
Once you are happy with your custom jelly polish colour, it's time to apply it to your nails. Use a thin brush to apply a thin layer of the mixture to your nails. Allow it to dry completely before deciding if you want to apply another layer for a more opaque finish. Remember, jelly polish is sheer, so thin layers are important to avoid streaks and bubbles. Finish with a high-shine top coat to seal in your colour and add extra shine.
And that's it! You've created your own jelly nail polish and manicured your nails with a unique shade. Enjoy your fun and colourful jelly nails!
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Apply thin layers of jelly polish to your nails
To achieve the jelly nails look, you can either buy a set of jelly polishes or create your own custom shade by mixing clear and coloured polishes. When creating your own jelly polish, the key is to have a higher ratio of clear to pigment than regular polish. This will give your nails that signature translucent jelly look.
Once you have your jelly polish, it's time to apply it to your nails. Start by prepping your nails. Trim, shape, and gently push back your cuticles. If you plan to use fake nails, now is the time to apply them. It's important to note that clear or semi-clear fake nails are best for achieving the jelly nail look since the whole point is to have a semi-translucent and see-through colour.
Now, you're ready to apply your jelly polish. It's important to apply thin layers of polish to avoid streaks and bubbles. The number of layers you apply will depend on the proportions of your mix, but typically, you'll want to apply at least two coats for a fabulous look. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
Finally, seal in your polish and add shine with a high-shine top coat. If you're using gel polish, you'll need to cure it with a nail lamp. And that's it! You now have gorgeous jelly nails that are perfect for any occasion.
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Seal your jelly nails with a high-shine top coat
To seal your jelly nails with a high-shine top coat, start by ensuring your nails are polish-free. Use a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover to wipe away any existing polish. If you have gel nails, wrap each fingernail in aluminium foil with an acetone-soaked cotton ball pressed against the nail and let it soak for about 10 minutes before removing the foil.
Next, trim and file your nails to the desired length and shape. If you're using fake nails, apply clear or semi-clear nails, ensuring they fit well against your natural nail edge. You can file them down if they're too large.
Now, it's time to create your jelly polish. In a small dish, mix your chosen coloured polish with a clear top coat. The ratio should be about two parts clear top coat to one part coloured polish. Stir well until the mixture is smooth and even, adding more top coat or colour as needed to achieve your desired level of translucency.
Apply a thin layer of your jelly polish mixture to your nails. Let it dry completely before applying another layer. Repeat this process until you achieve the desired opacity, usually requiring around 2-3 coats.
Finally, seal in your jelly nails with a high-shine top coat. Apply a thin layer of the top coat, being careful not to disrupt the underlying layers. Allow it to air dry, and then admire your shiny new jelly nails!
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Combine jelly nails with other designs, such as French tips or glitter
There are many ways to combine jelly nails with other designs, such as French tips or glitter. Here are some ideas:
French Tips:
- For a classic look, try a jelly nail with a white French tip.
- Create a modern twist on the French tip design with abstract squiggles and neon shades of yellow, orange, green, pink, and coral.
- Opt for a pastel, milky blue base with a sheer blue jelly tip on one of the nails.
- For a bold statement, try a blue jelly base with lighter opaque tips and add metallic foil for extra shine.
- If you prefer longer nails, a sheer pastel pink base with bubblegum tips is a fun and flirty combination.
- Add a unique touch by doing French tips on just a few nails, while the others feature a jelly and gold foil combo.
Glitter:
- Enhance your jelly nails with a glossy gel top coat for a gorgeous shimmery finish.
- Try the GAOY Glitter Jelly Gel Nail Polish Set, which offers six gel polish colours, including pink, green, blue, and purple, for a sparkling DIY manicure at home.
- Heat the polish in the winter to reduce thickness and cure it under a UV LED nail lamp for 60 seconds to ensure a complete dry.
You can also experiment with other designs, such as combining jelly nails with fruit-inspired motifs or adding rhinestone appliqués for extra glamour. The possibilities are endless when it comes to combining jelly nails with other nail art techniques and designs!
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Frequently asked questions
Jelly nails are a nail trend inspired by the '90s fashion craze of jelly shoes. They have a clear, jelly-like texture and come in bright, vibrant, and colourful shades.
You can buy a set of jelly nails or create your own. To make your own, you will need a clear top coat and a coloured polish of your choice. You can use either gel or nail lacquer.
Mix the clear top coat and coloured polish in a small dish. The mixture should be double the amount of clear top coat to coloured polish. Stir well until the mixture is smooth and even.
Apply a thin layer of the mixture to your nails. Let it dry completely before applying another layer. Repeat until you get the desired opacity and finish with another layer of the top coat.
Jelly nails work best on long nails. You can also add glitter, stickers, decals, or rhinestones for extra sparkle and fun.
