Nail Art "Micaela Schaefer"

How To Use Nail Art Accessories to Create Unique Designs

Many people may think of beauty accessories as being makeup and hair styles; however nail art accessories can be added to this list as well for complementing your whole look with some added sparkle and style to your hands.

And it doesn't matter how long or short your nails are, adding a touch of sparkle or style to plain nail polish may just draw attention to your other accessories like rings and bangle bracelets.

Having a variety of nail art accessories on hand has become a hit trend among many women to update their everyday French manicure with some French manicure designs, for example, using nail wraps only on the tips of the nails.

All over the country nail studios are opening their doors offering beautiful and unique manicures. And fashion blogs have been touting celebrities with some of their outrageous nail designs too, like Lady Gaga's lace nails in her videos.

But you don't have to be a professional technician or even have a natural talent at doing salon manicures to have beautiful nails. You can actually create salon perfect nails in your own home with a few inexpensive nail art accessories that mirror the quality of the professional freehand designs at the salons, but at a mere fraction of the cost.

A perfect manicure will definitely make your hands look and feel great but if you add even the simplest designs to your nails, you'll stand out from the basic and boring as someone who really knows and loves style. The right accessories can even add an amazingly stylish touch and complement the colors of the outfits you wear also.

And even if you don't leave the house often, for instance if you work from home, sometimes just watching a tutorial and trying out some different designs with some really inexpensive nail art accessories can make you feel better about your hands, although you may be the only one looking at them.

There are too many design accessories available today to even begin to make a complete list. But some of the more popular and trendy are things like Fimo art, designer nail wraps like foils, 3D nail stickers with fake gems, and designer nail tips. In fact, you can even buy molded designs specifically made just for creating 3D nail art or you can pierce your nails and add dangling jewelry.

Any of these accents will provide you with virtually unlimited choices for create stunning designs yourself or for salon professionals who are looking to offer new ideas to their clients. And since a lot of these techniques are relatively simple, even the do-it-yourself beginner nail artist can have fun creating new designs like a pro.

For example, 3D nail stickers can add sparkle and shine to a classic French manicure. In fact, design stickers come in so many varieties you can mix and match the designs, and create an accent nail on each hand that's subtly different from the others. So you could apply lace 3D stickers to all but the ring finger on each hand and place gemstones on those accent nails.

Stickers are fun and convenient since you can apply them quickly, add a fast-drying top coat and you're out the door with a fresh-looking manicure that's coordinated in color and design to the outfit you're wearing that day. Remove them later and change up the design for an evening out on the town, removing only the top coat and sticker.

Another fun and creative technique in the nail art accessories arena is Fimo art, available in just about every shape you can imagine, from simple abstract designs through complex looking fruits and animals.

But using Fimo art is so simple, just anyone who's into beginners nail art can use Fimo art and give themselves a very unique and interesting manicure that everyone will want to see and talk about.

Nail gems in the way of faux gemstones that adhere to the nail with polish or dangles that require the tip of the nail to be pierced, are also a great options for adding some pizzazz to your manicure. Piercings are becoming popular for nails today too, especially with younger people who want more than just their ears pierced.

If you're not careful in doing your own nail piercing, however, you may split your nail, while although not dangerous at all, it just means you'll either have to cut your nail and allow it to regrow or replace it with an artificial tip until your natural nail grows out again.

Nail techs can also offer their clients time-saving colorful French manicures by using pre-polished, pre-designed artificial nail tips. Artificial nails today are so natural looking that even the do-it-yourself artist can apply them from home and walk out with gorgeous, natural looking nails. The best faux nails and nail tips are applied with a special formulation of "super glue" and when applied correctly, can last for weeks.

If you're looking for designs for beginners, try out a few of these fun and easy to use nail art accessories during your spare time. Check out YouTube and subscribe to the popular nail artists to keep up with trendy designs and the hottest fashion manicure colors and you'll always have great looking nails anytime for any occasion.

About the Author: Karen Musselman blogs about nail art accessories and designs on her site Beginner's Nail Art - All Nail Art, All In One Place, offering tips, tutorials and nail art videos for the beginner nail artist. Stop by for the latest nail art tutorials and how to give your nails a salon perfect manicure without going to a salon.

UV Gel Nails for Nail Enhancement

UV gel nails are becoming more common and are getting more popular currently. These are fake nails that resemble and can look a lot like natural nails. UV gel nails are a type of artificial nails that are also great for nail art. Women may have them put onto their fingernails as an alternative to acrylic extensions if they want their nails to appear stronger and longer. Gels are also durable. The UV gel is made of a special odorless gel that is cured under UV light for few minutes. This is why they are called UV gel nails. Some other types of gels are cured with the use of chemicals instead of UV light.

Gels are very popular in Europe especially. Almost 90% of nail salons are using them. It is one of the hottest items there for nail technician. UV gel has advantages over their acrylic counterparts. It is lightweight, flexible, clear, odorless and most especially, it has a much more natural-look. Acrylics can yellow over time, but gels will maintain their color because they are not as reactive to other chemicals in the environment. Gel can be applied whether a full overlay or just tip overlays are desired. They can also be formed and shaped to make extensions. Similarly, they can be used to protect the damaged and broken edges of a nail as it grows out.

Having gel enhancements can make nails beautiful and attractive. Yet, it is not an easy thing to do. However, proper knowledge and practice can make the application much easier. Applying gel enhancements or extensions can be learned easily when the proper techniques are used.

First, prepare the nails, and apply tips if you desire to do so. Then, apply a thin coat of gel over the nails, and then cure it. Apply another or second coat of gel, but this time, add the arches this will help to give the nail a natural curve; cure it once more under the UV light. Apply the third coat of gel, adding more arches, then cure again under the light. Now, clean, and shape them accordingly to your preferences, then rub them until they are smooth enough. You can add polish to them or you can apply a gloss coat over them. Achieving a perfect set of nails can be difficult to achieve and maintain, but with gel nails, one can have attractive, beautiful, natural-looking nails in any way they want.

To have find out more about how to apply and maintain UV gel nails you probably better check out this UV gel nails and nail technician blog to get some more information and learn about classes.

Long Nails - Back in Vogue

Long nails are back in vogue. Nails are like fashion accessories they change in length along with hem lines.

Styles

At times throughout fashion history fingernail length has varied. There are some favorite lengths to include athletic (short), natural (shorter), long nails and every size in between.

Fingernails are often used to make a statement by painting them unusual colors and allowing them to grow extremely long. A favorite style that never goes out of style is the short red fingernails. These types have been popular with celebrities for a long time.

Trends

A trend that has been popular since the nineteen eighties is to lengthen the natural nails by applying artificial ones. Initially this trend was started by applying artificial nails that covered the entirety from the bed to the tip. Over time the methods improved and today just a tip is added to the natural fingernail and then covered with acrylic to keep it from breaking off. These acrylic nails are adorned with rhinestones and other trim, even piercing has enjoyed its share in the spotlight.

Perfectly manicured nails have also been a huge trend since the nineteen forties. The trend has changed over time as to what is the "in" color which has varied over the ages. The color range runs the gamut of the rainbow from the palest pinks to midnight black.

Nail shape also seems to follow a trend. In some generations the way to go is with long nails that are filed to almost a point, than the next generation it may be short square fingernails. Rounded ones have also seen their time.

Currently the trend is to have long nails either naturally or artificially and to wear the popular French manicure with either a tan or a pink base and white tips.

Airbrushed nails are also very popular and wearing different designs that are air brushed on are also very popular. The tech uses an air brush machine to create designs which are than covered with a top coat of clear polish.

Of all the styles and trends they have gone through it seems that the most popular everlasting style has been long nails that are well groomed on a woman's hand. It just seems to convey a message of well cared for to the world and really puts her best hand forward. There is no better way to pamper yourself.

Long nails blogs [http://naildesigniwik.blogspot.com/] are a great way to find out about fashion styles. Long nails [http://naildesigniwik.blogspot.com/] are making a comeback.

Press on Nails For Young Fashionistas

One of the newest trends that I have seen advertised a lot on TV lately for teen girls is false nails with various styles and designs. These nails are meant to mimic gel or acrylic nails with nail art. The designs are actually less tacky than one would expect, and are quite a good ideas for younger girls as well. These nails can simply be popped on before a party or school event when its time to get dressed up.

One idea that I have for anyone who has proper nail training or is registered and licensed as a nail technician is to buy a couple sets to offer as a products to any of your clients that may have younger daughters. You may find that a mother gives her daughter some fake false nails and the daughter likes having her nails done so much she wants to come back for more. In a matter of weeks you may have a new UV gel client and know exactly what style she is looking for. These pop on nails are nice for a weekend or a party, but they are not custom made to your nails the way a gel manicure can be.

It would also be great for anyone taking online nail technician courses for nail art to see if they can find pictures of these nails to practice the designs. If these nails grow in popularity with the younger crowds, you can find your self with styles that are ahead of the curve when it comes to your nail art.

A few brands that I have seen advertisements for and that are growing in popularity are:

Revlon Runway Press Ons
Nailene Press Ons
Kiss
Broadway

I have seen kiss and Broadway nails advertised a lot recently and i think they have a few lines directed specifically to teens. You should do a little search yourself and see what designs you like and can replicate.

What do you think about the growing trend of pop on or press-ons for young women? Don't let this trend pass you by.

Calin Chase is an author and nail technician. Calin runs a blog that has loads of information on nails, nail technician courses, even false nails tips for those of you interested in tips on how to apply or work with false nails.

Calin has been very interested in the growing trend of false nails for young women, and has been working with nailene false nails for years. For more information on any of these topics, you should check out the blog!