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I was perplexed when I saw the subject line “glass nails are trending” in my email. Seaglass nail art is something I’ve heard of, wherein a greenish-turquoise lacquer is thinned out and topped with a matte finish to evoke the effect of beached sea glass. Glass, however…I couldn’t quite picture it in my head. The idea is to create microscopic fractures in your nail polish to give the impression that your nails are made of broken glass or stained glass. Nails like shattered glass are maybe more appropriate.
It has been hypothesized that Koreans were the first to use this method. Artist Park Eunkyung’s recent Instagram photo of a highly experimental glass manicure has sparked interest in exploring new iterations of the style. Pinterest analytics show that interest in terms like “glass manicure” has increased by over 170%. My curiosity in this led me to Pinterest, where I quickly decided I needed to give a glass manicure a try. Visit the Maby blog to discover the most trending nail art today.
What exactly is a glass manicure?
To create the impression of shattered glass on the nails, random bits of foil are adhered to the surface of the nails in a haphazard fashion. Gel nail polish is required for a glass manicure because conventional nail lacquer does not adhere to foil. Gel polish is available at the majority of businesses that sell beauty supplies. In order to achieve the look of a glass manicure, a base coat that is either clear or neutral is applied first, and then chrome foils are applied on top of that. Chrome, or what Zoey, a nail technician at the Vanity Projects salon in New York City, refers to as “aurora” foils because they reflect the light in a way that is reminiscent of the Northern Lights and allow a rainbow of hues to appear when illuminated. Chrome foils may be purchased at Vanity Projects.
How do you give yourself a glass manicure?
The method is analogous to that of a regular gel manicure. First, the nail is shaped and filed, and any leftover polish is wiped away. My nails are shaped like the one in my Pinterest board since we lopped off some length and opted for a small, rounded tip. We followed that up with a neutral pink gel base. Vanity Projects employs Japanese gel, which is applied to the nails with a little paintbrush and comes in a pot rather than a bottle. The initial gel then hardens.
The foils create the appearance of glass. Vanity Projects sells Clou Professional Nail Film, which the salon’s nail technicians use to create intricate designs on clients’ nails by slicing into tiny triangles. After priming the nail with clear gel so the foils would stick, Zoey applied them with a tweezer. It resembles a mosaic in that way. The next step is curing the gel once again and applying a top coat to permanently embed the foil.
How much does it cost to get a glass manicure?
The cost of getting a glass manicure can range from reasonable to expensive, depending on both the nail salon in which you acquire the service and the artist who executes it. That will probably cost you the same amount as a gel manicure with extra art on top of it. Due to the fact that manicures with foils are classified “Middle Tier” art, Vanity Projects charges an additional $100 on top of the regular 15% tip for customers who get them. Be warned, however, that this manicure will take substantially more time than your typical session for gel polish because the foil particles need to be put to each nail separately. It only took a little bit more than an hour for Zoey to finish our consultation, so clearly she is quite efficient.
Can I give myself a glass manicure at home?
If you want to give the impression that your nails are made of glass or shattered glass without having to schedule an appointment at a nail salon, you might want to consider using a press-on alternative. Customers who purchase the Broken Glass manicure strip from Dashing Diva are able to apply it themselves in the comfort of their own homes. These nail strips are more glittery, creating the impression of a glass disco ball when viewed from a distance. Because the artwork is mostly monochrome, the choice that most appeals to me is the colorless foundation with the enclosed foils. My nail paint isn’t very chromed or glittery, but it does have a reflective shine to it. That said, I’ve already had quite a few compliments on my manicure despite the fact that I’ve only had it for a few days. My close friends are the ones who, the vast majority of the time, are the ones who approach me in order to get a better look at my hand while it is being illuminated. In addition, you can refer to: Why Should You Use A Glass Nail File?.