Nail Art Design

Every kind of art has its day in the sun. From Andy Warhol's pop art phenomenon to tattoos and body art, there always seems to be a new art form emerging that allows people to express their individuality and creativity.

Tattoos are still a very popular art form, yet a new kind of body art, often referred to as manicure nail art, has taken the stage. Manicurists who perform nail art on their clients must rely on their artistic skills, combining together creativity, precision, and an eye for detail. Nail decorations can be applied to natural nails, as well as on gel and acrylic nails.

History of Nail Art

The practice of nail decoration has existed for the last 5000 years and can be traced to the people of India who embellished their nails with henna. Now fast forward to 1932, when the French company Revlon released its first nail polish. It was available in a wide variety of shades and used pigments instead of dyes.

Since the 1930s, nail art as come a long way. The technique of airbrushing nails is still relatively new. It includes an airbrushing machine designed to perform manicure nail art, which works with a compressor to create innovative and elegant patterns and designs on the nails.

Popular Designs

Typically, a manicure involves the application of nail polish, but there are several nail art techniques that can be added to the vibrant coat of paint. Many nail salon technicians are adept in applying decals, stickers, gems, glitter and flowers onto the nails. Some individuals go so far as to have their nails pierced in order to insert small hoops and studs. Many nail enthusiasts choose to have acrylic or gel nails put on before having any nail art done. The shiny acrylic enhances the designs. Some nail art trends include affixing motifs for specific holidays, such as pumpkins for Halloween, hearts for Valentine's Day, and snowflakes or holly for the Christmas holidays.

In Japan, 3D manicure nail art has really taken the world by storm. In this technique, actual charms are fastened to the nail and sculpture powder is used to produce a unique 3D look. From opaque polish, to pearls, funky geometric shapes and comic book art, anything goes in this art form.

Manicure Nail Art Goes Digital

While many nail technicians can create sophisticated masterpieces with a free-hand technique using sharp brushes, or by employing a stencil, a new digitized method in nail art application has been introduced. The nails are cleaned and trimmed, just as they would be for a normal manicure, and a base coat is laid on and left to dry. Thereafter, a special polish is applied to allow the nail design to adhere properly. While it sets, a design can be selected by the client. Next, the client's hand is placed in a cradle under a machine that sprays the design from the printer onto the nails. The printer is set to stop the process should the client accidentally move their hand. Although most machines have a wide selection of nail art designs to choose from, it is also possible for the client to create their own motif and have it scanned into the machine.

Permanent Nail Art

Although manicure nail art is available at most nail salon nowadays, some individuals prefer to stop by the tattoo parlour instead. They forgo coats of polish and glittery decals and opt to get their nails tattooed. The design is etched into the nail via a single-needle tattoo machine. The surface of the nail is penetrated thousands of times per minute to embed micro-pigmentation. The tattoo will only last until it is clipped off, so there is no need to worry about loving that particular design for the rest of your days.

Tips for Maintenance

If there ever was an ephemeral art form, manicure nail art is it. Once your nail grows out, or the acrylic or gel nail needs to be removed, the artistry is lost. Many women get their nails done on a regular basis, but there are ways to make your masterfully manicured nails last a little longer. Applying a top coat after they are done, and every couple of days afterwards, will keep them looking like new. Moreover, use cuticle oil every other day to maintain nail health. When doing chores and tasks that can damage your hands, protect your nails from chips, dents or cracks by wearing gloves.

Nail Art

Well manicured and well groomed nails are always a strong indication of a person's personality and also reflect their style. Today the nail fashion trend is greatly inclined towards nail arts that is not only unique in every aspect but also gives a stunning look to the otherwise dull looking nails.

A lot of young and fashion conscious women are taking on to nails art as the best way to get rid of dull looking plain nails. From just wearing a color on your nails, nail art enhances the beauty of nails with its innovation in the form of small motifs, danglers, stones, glitters, ceramic flowers, etc which will make your nails stand out for any occasion.

Creating decorative designs on nails is not always easy and requires a lot of professionalism and creativity especially if you are planning on some intricate designs. A well done art can brighten up your overall appearance and complement your outfit to a great extent. Nail arts designing can vary from subtle and delicate designs to bold and funky designs.

Nails art requires certain basic steps to be followed to get the application perfectly. Before you start with nail designing, make sure you clean and shape up your nails properly. Trimming your nails and filing them is necessary to get the best result. Even the best of the artists cannot create beautiful designs on your nails if they are in a bad shape and not well kept. You can also consider using acrylic nails if your nails are in a real bad shape and beyond repair. The nail art design can then be painted over these artificial acrylics.

Once your nails are painted with a base coat, you can create your designs using the nail arts brushes that are available in different sizes based on the design you want to draw. Intricate designs will require more thin tipped and finer nail brushes to get the design right and visible. The use of toothpicks is also not uncommon especially if you are a beginner and want to improve your designs. For any nail polish application mistakes, you can use cotton swabs to remove the excess color. Make sure you do it quick as nail polish dries very fast. It is also good to use a different brush for each nail polish color so that you can save time.

Nails art designs can be created using different methods. Novices mostly prefer to create their designs by copying them from nail art books or seeing them on the Internet. One can also learn nail arts through courses offered by some professional nail salons. However, even if you possess minimal artistic capability, you can create simple easy floral designs or geometric shapes which do not require high end training.

While much of the nail art designs use a combination of nail polish colors, one can also add some glitter into the nail polish before painting to jazz up your nails. The use of other nails art accessories like rhinestones, acrylic stones, 3D nail stickers, ceramic flowers, fimo art pieces, crushed shells, etc to name a few are also being widely used to highlight the nails and give them a more sophisticated look.

Once you have completed your nail designing, it is important to maintain your nails properly to prevent your nail arts from chipping and to last long. The best would be to apply a clear nail polish coat over your nails every 2 to 3 days and try wearing gloves while working to prevent any nail damage. Most important, avoid biting your nails to keep your nails in good condition and also your nail art intact.