Gradient on nails: design photo, technique, lessons for beginners

2024 Author: Leonars Benson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 11:41

Gradient on nails is a versatile nail design that combines style, originality, as well as simplicity and rigor. The ombre style, also known as the gradient, has become popular relatively recently. The combination of two colors and the smooth flow of one into the other creates a beautiful design that looks great on both long and short nails.

How to make a gradient on nails at home? What tools will be needed for this and what is the sequence of actions?

What is so special about the gradient design?

The technique of performing a gradient on nails is based on the use of several shades of the same color, smoothly turning into one another. You can use a complicated principle - a smooth flow of one color into another.

This design looks good on its own, as well as in combination with painting, stencil, glitter, etc.

Properly selected colors and shades will visually lengthen short and wide nails.

So, based onof the above, you can define several features of the gradient on the nails:

• visual nail lengthening;
• natural nails must be prepared before performing the technique;
• ideal gradient is to use a color wheel;
• for a beautiful result, you need to select colors that can smoothly flow from one another;
• for a gradient, it is better to choose more "dense" colors that do not require re-applying to the nail (painted in one layer), this choice is convenient for self-design;
• if the final result disappointed in the combination of colors, then you can use a little trick: apply a similar color of sparkles to the shade transition line, or a painting, a small slider, that is, use an unsuccessful ombre as a background.

Varieties

There are several techniques for how to make a gradient on the nails. But there are also several varieties of the design itself, each of which requires a certain execution technique.

So, there are several types of ombre:

1. A horizontal or classic gradient that looks like a transition of colors from the base of the nail to its edge.
2. Vertical gradient - colors flow from left to right.
3. Ombre from thumb to little finger. That is, a dark tone of the selected color is applied to the thumb, and then varnish is applied to each finger a tone or two lighter than the original. This kind of design is suitable for shortnails.
4. French gradient - transition from pink to white.

Whatever technique is chosen, any of them can be easily performed at home.

Can I design my own?

Make a gradient on the nails for a novice master is not difficult, no matter how difficult it may seem. You can execute it yourself in several ways:

• through sponge;
• using gel polish;
• use a special gradient brush.

An analogue of a sponge can be a piece of an ordinary sponge for washing dishes. You can use both regular nail polishes and gel polishes. But, choosing the latter option, you will need to purchase additional accessories.

As for the choice of the number of colors, they should be from 2 to 4. Using fewer colors does not make sense, and if more, it will add excessive tackiness and complicate the work.

How to make a gradient on the nails with a sponge?

With the help of a sponge, you can quickly create an ombre on your nails. You can even use non-professional gel polish. You will need a few additional materials:

• sponge or sponge pointed (rectangular or square) shape with little or no holes;
• varnishes in two or more shades;
• base and fixer;
• water container;
• cotton buds;
• toothpicks;
• foil;
• a small brush with softbristles;
• nail polish remover.

How to make a gradient on the nails with a sponge?

1. First, the nails are degreased with nail polish remover. For a better result, you should use this tool twice.
2. After, a base is applied to the surface of each nail plate.
3. When it dries, a small piece is cut out of the foil and two drops of each varnish are applied to it so that they do not mix, but only slightly touch.
4. At the point of contact of the varnishes, they are carefully connected so that a smooth transition from one shade to another is obtained.
5. After they take the sponge and dip it into the varnishes on the foil. Get a sponge stencil. Apply it on the nail, gently pressing and rolling from the base to the edge.
6. The same actions are carried out until the ombre is obtained on all nails.
7. Let the design on the nails dry, and then apply a fixer.
8. Use toothpicks, cotton swabs and nail polish remover to wipe off excess and residue from fingers.

For the fastest drying of the varnish, it would be nice to use a special UV lamp. The sponge nail gradient lesson ends at this point.

Brush design

Designing a gradient on nails with a brush is as simple as with a sponge, but, of course, the execution technique will be different. With a brush, you can apply a pattern both vertically and horizontally. Additional tools will be the same as for the sponge application technique.

The method of applying a gradient with a brush(vertically) consists of several steps:

1. Nails are degreased, polished and covered with a base coat.
2. Choose matching shades of varnishes.
3. To make it easier to remove the remains of varnish from the fingers at the end of the procedure, the area around the nails is smeared with a small amount of baby or other greasy cream.
4. Further, the varnish of the lightest of the selected shades paints all the nails completely. Waiting to dry. After that, only half of the nail is covered with another shade: from the middle to the edge. While the varnishes are not completely dry, a smooth transition is created at their border with the help of a sponge. Everything must be done quickly.
5. Dry nail polishes with a lamp or naturally. At the end, a fixative is applied.

According to the proposed scheme, you can create an ombre from 3-4 varnishes, however, this will require great accuracy and accuracy.

A horizontal gradient with a brush on the nails is done in a similar way, only the stretching of the color goes from left to right, and not from top to bottom.

Horizontal ombre on each nail is also done with a brush. Only the scheme of its creation is much simpler. Each nail plate is painted a shade darker or lighter than the color of the previous nail.

Using an ombre fan brush on nails

The fan brush is a handy tool for creating a manicure ombre. It is thin in shape, but wide, like a fan. When using it, a sharper transition from one color to another is obtained.

Using this brush, you can make a gradient on your nails with gel polish or regular polish. And the techniquedesigning with a fan brush will not cause difficulties:

1. First, the nails are degreased, polished and a base product is applied to them.
2. After that, all nails are painted with varnish, the color of which is chosen as the main one, for example, white. The gradient on the nails will be more distinct.
3. On a piece of foil next to each other, apply two varnishes of different shades (one of which is the main one) and gently mix them together with a needle, creating a smooth transition. Dip a fan brush into the resulting shade and apply it to the nail plate to the middle.
4. The third color is applied to the second half of the nail plate and the remaining part of the nail is painted over with a fan brush.
5. Dry the finished design.
6. For the remaining fingers, repeat steps 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Many people call this ombre "aggressive", because, as mentioned earlier, it has a sharper transition.

Geometric gradient

Geometric gradient is one of the hottest designs this year. It combines both ombre and pattern. Therefore, we can say that the design is universal.

A feature of this design is the use of geometric shapes and lines that add up to a gradient. Each color transition consists of curly segments or zigzags, stripes, etc. You can draw such patterns manually with a brush, stencils, ribbons. The final result will depend on the skill of the master.

Let's consider one of the examples of creating a geometric ombre, namely a colordiamond transition.

1. First of all, the length and shape of the nails are formed, polished and degreased.
2. Paint the nail plates with a base coat that will set the background. The main color used is white. The gradient on the nails in this case will be more pronounced.
3. Next, they take a palette on which they will mix white varnish with varnish of a different color, for example, red. Moreover, each time the amount of red color will need to be added when mixing.
4. Next, diamonds are drawn. Varnishes are mixed (2:1) and, stepping back a little from the base of the nail, draw a "fence" with the resulting color. Diamonds are made from this "fence".
5. After start drawing the second layer of rhombuses. Mix white and red varnishes so that the new shade is slightly darker than the previous one. To do this, reduce the amount of white varnish and add red. Draw a new layer of diamonds with the new color.
6. The last layer should be deep red.
7. The nails are dried and covered with a glossy or matte top.

Acrylic Powder

Acrylic powder will create an interesting effect on a simple gradient. In addition, you can use it in the conditions of home manicure.

The steps for creating an ombre using powder are as follows:

1. After preliminary preparation of the nails, the selected color of varnish is applied to them.
2. After it dries, a top coat is applied, but it is not necessary to dry it.
3. Immediately after applying the top, pick up acrylic powder with a brush and distribute it over the base of each nail plate, moving smoothly towardsmiddle.
4. When approaching the center of the nail, the powder brush is slightly lifted to reduce the intensity of the acrylic powder.
5. The same technique is carried out with the second color, distributing acrylic powder already from the middle to the outer edge of the nail.
6. The resulting design is dried. The rest of the powder is shaken off.

Ombre French

The classic french gradient is a transition from white on the outer edge of the nail to another color distributed at the base of the nail. Recently, it has become fashionable to use other colors.

Such a gradient on the nails for beginners will be difficult to perform.

To make a French ombre at home, you will need to follow the following technique:

1. A pink or beige base coat is applied to prepared nails.
2. Apply a shade lighter than the base color to the middle of the nail and blend it gently with a sponge to achieve a transition from one color to another.
3. White varnish is applied to the outer edge of the nail with a sponge or sponge.
4. Dry the finished design, and then cover it with a top.

Gel polish design

To create an ombre with gel polish, you will need to stock up on additional materials:

• dehydrator;
• primer;
• 2 shades of gel polish;
• top;
• UV lamp;
• thin brush for design.

The technique of performing a gradient on nails with gel polish consists of several stages:

1. The dehydrator removes the fat layer from the nails.
2. Apply primer.
3. After, a base is applied to each nail and dried in a lamp.
4. Next, the lightest of the selected gel polishes is applied to the nail plates from the base to the middle.
5. Nails are painted with a different color from the edge of the plate to the middle, so that there are no gaps between the two shades.
6. Before the polishes are dry on the nails, they are mixed with a thin brush, creating a smooth transition.
7. Dry nails, apply top coat, remove sticky layer.

Ombre glitter nails

An interesting version of the gradient is obtained using sparkles. The technique of execution is within the power of even a novice master. To do this, you need to choose the main color and a tone darker or the same color of the sparkle.

Paint the nails with the chosen color, dry. After dipping the brush in sparkles, draw it from the base to the edge of the plate. Moreover, there should be a little sparkle at the base, and their layer should be dense at the edges.

Conclusion

Gradient on nails is a great solution for both evening and everyday manicure. By choosing the right shades, you can achieve a classic, romantic, and fatal style. And the gradient looks flawless on short and long nails.