Do you ever have a nail art concept that you just can’t wrap your head around? Welp, that was me with chrome accents. Thankfully, when chatting with Marissa (one of the artists at Vacation Nail Collective) and she gave me the tip of a lifetime (I’ll share below). Instead of a matte top coat, you need to buff the surface of the nail. MIND BLOWN. All these months I was trying to use matte top coat to try to sequester the chrome zone and it was driving me full bonkers.
Here are the essentials for creating this look:
Thin No-Wipe Art Gel: Earlier this year Nail Labo repackaged and launched a TON of clear gels and while I was shopping a particular one caught my eye: Pre Art Gel. It’s a no-wipe gel with just a hint of an inhibition layer, so it’s stellar for chromes, but I’ve also been loving it to create a nice smooth surface when I really need to precision paint. Since it’s not a top coat, it’s easy to layer between other products.
Thick No-Wipe Art Gel: I snagged the TOY’S x INITY No Wipe Art Clear High gel from Nail Formula (a Canadian based Japanese nail product import shop). It’s thick and get for creating really raised looks like this one. They also make No Wipe Art Clear Low that I really really love as well.
Sponge Buffer: This is the trickier one, but I really love the 180 grit side of the Kokoist Sponge Buffer Moon, it’s not excessively abrasive so it’s easy to gently buff away the shine without removing color.
Step 1: Two coats of a soft milky pink- cure between coats. I’m using Haven by Luxio.
Step 2: Apply a coat of clear gel- cure.
Step 3: Gently buff the surface of the cured clear gel using a 180-grit or finer sponge buffer.
Step 4: Add an elevated swoop of thick clear no-wipe gel where you’d like the chrome detail, cure.
Step 5: Add your chrome on top of the clear art gel. I’m using @kokoistusaChrome Pen in Silver.
Step 6: Add Charm gel and place your shell.
Step 7: Seal it all in with a thin No-Wipe Art Gel or Top Gel, cure.
Step 8: Complete the look by encapsulating everything with a glossy top gel.