How To Slice Nail Art Canes

If you haven't yet heard of “Nail Art Canes,” allow me to ask you: “Where have you been hiding?” Nail Art Canes, also known as Fimo Nail Art Canes are one of the most interesting developments to hit the nail art industry in several years. By cutting these coloured nail art canes into slender slices, you can create instant nail art designs that are sure to impress your clients.

Not only are our nail art canes hand crafted from ceramic, but each one is put through a tough quality control process in order to insure that the product that you receive is flawless and ready for use in your nail art practice.

In order to use these nail art canes you will need a speciality knife designed to cut through ceramic. Be careful however when using this knife, as it is very sharp! Nail Art Canes come in segments of about five or six centimetres in length and five millimetres in diameter. If you plan to use Nail Art Canes with artificial nails, you may cut them to a thickness of about 0.2 mm - 0.5 mm each. If you plan to use them with natural nails, we recommend cutting each piece to a thickness of less than 0.2 mm.

If used and stored correctly, each cane should last you for quite some time.

You can however also purchase precut nail art cane slices from us at a reasonable price. This is a viable option, but in my opinion not the best choice. Professional nail art technicians prefer to use whole nail art canes for several reasons:

• With uncut nail art canes, you—as the nail artist—can decide how thick you would like your pieces to be. This makes them applicable for use in just about any nail art technique.

• Ultimately you will save money by purchasing whole canes, since you can get about 100 pieces from each cane.

• By using slices cut by yourself, you will lessen the likelihood of over-filing your designs.

• When you cut your slices yourself, you will be able to use them even with very curvy or unusually shaped nails.

Now, while there is certainly more than one way to cut a nail art cane, I would like to present you with what I feel is the most effective of them all. Don't worry if at first you need to take your time at the cutting process. This is fine. With practice, you will be able to turn yourself into a veritable cutting machine.

By the way, you can save time by doing this process ahead of time, before your shop opens or during slow hours during the day. This way you will always have your nail art slices ready when a client comes in.

Okay now, with no further ado, here is my easy-breezy method for cutting nail art cane slices using the “Viva La Nails” slicing knife.

Step 1 – Start by holding the cane tightly in your palm, facing in a vertical position.

Step 2 – The positioning of your hands should look approximately like in this picture. Make sure to rest you hands firmly upon your work surface or some other stable fixture.

Step 3 – Now, just begin to make a small incision in the nail art cane at the desired thickness. However, instead of continuing to slice through with the blade, hold the blade firmly in place and slowly rotate the cane with your fingers moving it forward into the blade to cut through your slice. Remember, it should be the cane and not the blade which is moving.

RESULT – Now take a look at the difference between these two pictures. The picture to the left shows a precut nail art piece, whereas the picture to the right shows a nail art cane slice cut manual. See how much thinner the manually cut slice is!

NOTE!!! When using this technique, you should ALWAYS use plaster tape in order to protect your fingers from getting cut by this industrial strength blade.

Crushing Twice is Twice as Nice!

Are you tired of using those same three boring colours over and over again? I'll bet you are. Well, never fear, because today, I'm going to introduce you to a new technique that is going to completely change the way you do nail art.

Let's talk about what you can do with a single product that is known as “Crushed Shell.” Crushed Shell is the perfect medium for creating impressive backgrounds for your nail art. By mixing it with gel or acrylic you will have an unlimited number of colours to choose from.

Crushed shells are created through an innovated process in which natural shells are ground into minute asymmetric fragments which are then imbued with striking colours for use in nail art. Crushed shells can be used on nail extensions using gel or acrylic; however, they should not be used directly on natural nails.

At “Viva La Nails” we have more than twenty-five colours that you can choose from, each of which carries its own delicate blend of aesthetic implications. And, you can create even more possibilities by mixing colours. Why not try green and red for Christmas or blue and purple for Easter?

But my favourite thing, by far, to do with crushed shell is to CRUSH IT! That's right, you didn't hear me wrong. It's been crushed once already, but it doesn't hurt to crush those shells again!. Once crushed into powder, crushed shells are one of the easiest nail art tools to work with. Just try to imagine what you could do with dozens of different colours of shell-based powder dust!

But before you start going wild with the colours, I'd better show you how to complete the re-crushing process. Here are some step by step instructions:

Step 1 – Take a small empty container, such as a mortar or a small nail pot, and fill it with a small portion of crushed shell. In order to keep things simple, start with a very small batch.

Step 2 – Find a strong metal or stone blunt object with which to grind the crushed shell into powder. Apply pressure with this tool repeatedly for a few minutes.

Voila! That's really all that you have to do!

You've just more than doubled your nail art arsenal. And it only took two easy steps! I've used this type of technique in several of my tutorials so make sure to check them out for ideas regarding how to use double-crushed shell in your day to day nail art activities!

Japanese Nail Art Festival Takes the Industry by Storm!

It is well known that Japan is a few steps ahead of the rest when it comes to nail art. But earlier this month, this was made clearer than ever at the Japanese Nail Art Festival in Osaka, Japan.

A total of 800 contestants and the same number of models gathered there to impress the world with their most innovative nail art designs.

This festival has become a tradition which has now been going on for fourteen consecutive years and displays no signs of slowing down.

The festival was dominated by the most advanced techniques in the industry, with artists pulling out all of the stops in order to create the most original and impressive designs possible.

At the same time as the contest, representatives from the top nail art technology companies made presentations demonstrating the newest advances in the industry. I wish I could have been there!

The most popular designs were three dimensional ones, especially gel patterned flowers. Surely, what is now popular in Japan is sure to be just as big in Europe and the UK before you know it.

For any of you who have been in nail art for long enough, you know that Tokyo is the Paris of nail art; it is the origin from which all new developments flow. What is big in Japan today, is going to be HUGE tomorrow in Europe, the U.K., the U.S. and everywhere else! This is why I like to keep an eye on all of the newest developments in Japan. This makes it so much easier to stay ahead of the curve. It's like being able to see into the future.

I also subscribe to many of the top Japanese nail art magazines. No, I can't read Japanese. But it doesn't really matter since the only really important thing to notice is the designs!

By the way, if you want to also keep yourself on the cutting edge, it's a good idea to pick up a few nail art magazines from Japan and other parts of Asia to have around your salon. You can even order these from “Viva La Nails” if you want. This will help give you new ideas and will also help your clients visualize what they want.

Vibrant Dancing Stripes Pattern

Today, I'd like to show you a soft, feminine nail art design that you can create using a free hand painting technique. I like to call this design “Dancing Stripes.” It uses a delicate  interweaving of lissom lines to create a design which creates the illusion of motion. The lines are applied in a motley pattern that turns out differently every time.

Now it's time for you to learn how to apply this design to your own clients in a way that looks pleasing and natural.

This is a great pattern for people who are just beginning to learn how to use the free hand technique. Just follow the steps in this guide and you'll do fine! I like to use liner and nail polish with this technique but you can also use acrylic colours if you'd like.

What you’ll need: crushed shell (pink), ceramic cane (pink – round), dotting tool, top coat, nail polishes or liners.
Technique: Free Hand Painting
Skill Level: Intermediate

Now, without any further ado, let's get started with this technique!

Step 1 – First, take some ground and crushed nail art shell and mix with it with some gel to create a coloured background over the surface of the nail tip. If you'd prefer, you can also use glitter dust, super glitter dust or just about any other product that will create a pleasant looking background for your work.

Step 2 – Now it's time to apply our first accent for this pattern. I like to use a slice from a nail art ceramic cane, but really any round nail art piece can work. Just make sure that you use something that will work well with your colour scheme. My favourite type of piece to use is a nail art cane slice from our “Sweets” series.

Step 3 – Now that this is done, we can begin creating the curved lines which will make up the main part of our pattern. Gently draw the first line in a muted “S” shape as shown in the picture above.

Step 4 – Now, draw the next line using a white colour, directly flush against the first line. This second line should be slightly thinner than the first.

Step 5 – Draw another line, this time in black, against the other edge of the pink line. This line should be the same size as the white one.

Step 6 – At this point, we'll mix the design up a bit by painting a red line intersecting under the others that we've already painted.

Step 7 – Now, draw another line—this time in pink—along side the red one.

Step 8 – To further increase the complexity of the design, paint a small red line on one or both sides of the nail surface as shown above.

Step 9 – Using your dotting tool, place a few black dots around the ceramic nail art cane piece that we applied during step two.

Step 10 – Continue using your dotting tool to place another set of dots near the nail tip. Try using a red colour this time.

Step 11 – You can finish the design by adding a layer of top coat. Be very gentle in your application so that you do not smudge or disturb your design.

Alright, you're done! You've created an awesome nail art design using nothing but products that you already have in stock. And the best part is that each time you create this design, it will come out a little different. Each client will leave you with a unique and original design.

If you decide to use an alternate colour scheme, make sure that you give it some thought before proceeding. Whenever you come up with a new scheme practice it on a nail tip first before trying it on one of your clients. Once you have a few different schemes that work, you can offer your clients several options to choose from.

Checked Golfer’s Jumper Design

Today, let's celebrate the world of sports with this checked jumper design, inspired by the quirky fabric worn by golfers as they take shots on the driving range.

This design is fairly simple and can be done without the help of any prefabricated pattern. All we need are a few common tools and we can get started!

What you’ll need: liners (pink, hot pink, silver), scissors, striping tape, top coat

Technique: Free Hand Painting

Skill Level: Beginner

So without further ado, let’s get started!

Step 1 – Get out your striping tape and attach one end to a polish bottle (or any other object that you have lying around, really) and pull the tape taught so that you can easily cut your first piece of tape.

Step 2 – Now start creating diagonal lines across the nail surface with the striping tape. Make sure that you apply each stripe at an equal distance from its neighbours so that your diamonds will be of a uniform size. Place the stripes further apart or closer together depending on how large or small you want your diamonds to be.

Step 3 – By applying additional striping tape in the opposite direction, you will create the basis for our diamond pattern, just as you see in the photograph above.

Step 4 – As you are laying down your striping tape, make sure to leave a little slack hanging over the sides of the nail surface just as you see here. This will make it easier to remove the stencil that we've just created once the design is finished.

Step 5 – Using pink liner, paint every other diamond in a chessboard pattern. You will need to use a very thin nail art brush for this step in order to fill in each square completely. Make sure not to miss those corners!

                                             
Step 6 – The finished pattern should look just like what you see here, a perfect chessboard alternation between filled and empty squares.

Step 7 – Use a second colour to fill in the blank squares. In our example, I've used a hot pink colour, but you can use anything that suits your fancy! Make sure to stay within the lines as you do this.

Step 8 – After you have finished step 7, allow the nail to dry for a couple of minutes. Its okay to start on the next nail while you're waiting.

Step 9 – Now, gently remove each piece of striping tape, but not all at once! Trust me, if you try to do this you could wreck your design. Just remove each piece, one by one.

Step 10 – The natural nail surface will now show through where the tape used to be.

Step 11 – Using a silver coloured liner, carefully paint the lines in between the diamonds. For a really startling effect, you can mix your silver liner with glitter as I've done here. Doubtless, this will add an extra sparkle to your design.

Step 12 – Okay, now it's time to seal the deal by placing a layer of top coat over your design for protection. You're done!

True, this design might be a little more time consuming than more automated techniques such as Konad. But, honestly, the end result is worth it.

Your customers will really appreciate the time and effort that you put into this attractive design.

And, if you want to really liven up your customer's day, try adding some Swarovski Rhinestones or ceramic flowers to this design!

Of course, you don't need to restrict yourself to just two colours! You can really spice this design up by mixing together three or more colours in an abstract pattern. You can even vary the pattern between nails.

Well, that's all for now for our nail art tutorial. Until next time!

Pimp Those Pumpkins!

Today, we're going to go over a very special nail art tutorial that will be just perfect for Halloween! So that you won't get lost, I've kept the design nice and simple. We'll be using mostly staple items that you should always be stocked up on anyway. You shouldn't have to buy any special tools to make this design come out great, so it's perfect for both beginners and seasoned veterans.

It's holiday time, so let's pull out all of the stops and give your clients the bright colours and stylized patterns that they crave!

What you’ll need: glitter tips (purple), rhinestones (purple and orange), stickers, fabric grid, striping tape, glue.
Skill Level: Beginner

So without any further ado, let’s get started!

Step 1 – Using your nail scissors, cut a small section out from your fabric grid. Don't worry about making it come out perfect, we'll re-cut this piece later on.

Step 2 – Now, gently attach this piece of fabric grid to one corner of the nail. You can use any adhesive technique that you so choose: nail glue, gel, acrylic, etc. Just don't use super glue!

Step 3 – At this point, it is safe to gingerly cut away the excess fabric.

Step 4 – Now, simply repeat this process on the opposite corner of the nail.

Step 5 – Allow this configuration to dry for one or two minutes. Once this is done, use your scissors to make sure that there aren't any more excess patches of grid hanging off of the sides.

Step 6 – At this point, we can create a border using some striping tape. Attach your tape as shown using a little bit of nail glue. But be careful; do not attach the tape directly to the fabric grid. Rather, it should lie comfortably adjacent to it.

Step 7 – Go ahead and repeat this process adjacent to the other section of fabric grid. If any of your striping tape is hanging off of the edges, gently remove it using your nail scissors.

Step 8 – Now, to really bring our Halloween theme into focus, let's add a cute little orange pumpkin sticker. For the best results, use your orange stick or dotting tool to attach the sticker. Also, I recommend using a little bit of nail glue to make sure the sticker stays in place.

Step 9 – Now you can apply a second sticker if you'd like. Generally speaking, it is good to use two stickers which are at least a little bit different from each other, so as to keep the design from becoming monotonous.

Step 10 – Before moving forward, apply a top coat solution to the areas of the nail which are covered with our fabric grid.

Step 11 – Now we can really bring this design to life by adding a few rhinestones to the cells of the fabric grid. I like to use more than one colour when doing this. In our example, I've used orange and purple, to match both the pumpkin stickers and the purple nail tape. Use a rhinestone picker, orange stick, or a dotting tool to attach the rhinestones.

Step 12 – Alright, now let's apply a healthy layer of top coat to finish off our design and keep those rhinestones fixed in place.
You're done! You've created an attractive Halloween themed nail art design without even breaking a sweat!

One word of caution: although I've always found the process of applying fabric grid to be fairly simple, some people do have a little trouble with it. But trust me, all it takes is a little practice and you'll be working like a pro. Alternatively, you could use special grid pattern stickers or even a Konad solution if you'd like; however, you won't get the  distinctive three dimensional look that you've seen here.

Happy Haunting!