Nail Art

Nail art is a great way to make your nails stand out from regular ones. It is an excellent combination of art, beauty and trend which has no boundaries. Read about the basic steps in this process. 

Nail art involves decorating your nails. While nail art has gained prominence only in recent years, it is actually an old practice. Decorating nails was a popular practice in the ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Indian civilizations. Today, nail art has been given a fresh coat of paint, so to speak, with the introduction of new trends like adding glitter and jewellery. Here are the basics of creating nail art.

Keep your nails healthy 

Good, healthy nails are a prerequisite for nail art. You might wonder what difference it makes since you are anyway painting over your nails. If your nails are pitted or uneven, you will not have a clear surface to paint over, and the painted surface will look ugly. A manicure is not essential for nail art but it does have the benefit of keeping your nails clean and their shape even.

Choose good quality products 

There are a variety of nail art products available in the market, and you can choose the ones you are comfortable working with. While nail polish is the most obvious art product you would use, a better option is paints. Acrylic paints are the preferred choice for professional nail art designers. These are available in many colors and different brands and cost a few hundred rupees. 

As you experiment with different products, you will learn what works for you and which ones suit your budget. Ensure that the paints you use are non-toxic and safe for your skin and your nails. 

You will also need implements to create the designs on your nails. You can purchase a nail art kit that contains all the required brushes, stripers, etc. Alternatively, you can just buy a few different-sized brushes and improvise designing tools using toothpicks, Q-tips, etc. The latter option is good if you are just starting out and do not want to invest in an expensive art kit for the time being.

Learn different techniques 

If you are new to the world of nail art, you may need a little help starting out. Consider attending a beginner's course in nail art at a local beauty parlour. The course will teach you whatever you need to know about nail art in terms of choosing materials, proper techniques of application, etc. 

A nail art course can help you immensely but it is not necessary. You can also invest in a few books on the subject. For ideas, you need not look further than your own imagination. If you cannot still think of what to draw on your nails, there are plenty of websites with design ideas and tutorials on how to go about them. There are designs for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Do not forget the base coat 

Nail art is similar to painting on canvas. In this case though, the easel is your nail and the base coat is your canvas. Before you begin painting on your nail, apply a coat of clear nail polish. The base coat strengthens the nail art and holds the different colors together. Depending on the type of design you wish to create, the base coat may also be of one or more colors. For added strength, two coats of the base color are preferred.

Take care of your nail art 

After drawing your designs and making sure the paint is dry, apply a coat of clear acrylic paint over it. This acts as a seal and protects the design while you go about your daily work. Reapply the top coat every three or four days to keep your nails looking shiny. In addition, apply cuticle oil on a daily basis to moisturize the nails. Whenever possible, wear gloves while doing work such as gardening, washing dishes, clothes, etc.