What colors are needed for French gel polish. Special tools will also be required. How to do a French manicure with shellac at home

Being a classic, French manicure is considered one of the most popular and sought-after design options today. But not every woman can afford to get a professional French haircut in a beauty salon. But the main advantage of this design is that it can be done at home. You just need to choose the technology that is most suitable for your case.

French on natural nails without gel

For girls who are not familiar with gel or acrylic extensions, a neat classic design on natural nails will be most suitable. You just need to know how to make an even jacket using additional accessories.

Conventionally, the technique of performing French design can be divided into two categories: with and without stripes. If this is your first experience in drawing a smile line, then, of course, you won’t be able to do without stencils.

Technique for performing a jacket using stripes:

We prepare the nail plate according to the standard scheme.
Apply the base coat and wait until it dries completely.
We glue pre-prepared stencils onto the nail. You should try to ensure that the stencil line coincides with the natural smile line. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that there are no voids or gaps between the nail and the strip through which white varnish can flow.
Cover the tip of the nail with white polish and wait for the material to dry. Don't rush, removing the stencils ahead of time. Wait until the white coating dries completely, otherwise the design will be greatly damaged.
Finally, apply a layer of pastel-colored varnish or clear coat.

If this is not the first time you have worked with a similar design, then perhaps the use of stripes is no longer relevant for you. After all, over time, you need to begin to improve your skills, and the necessary accessories are not always at hand. So it's time to learn how to make a French look without stripes, using a brush.

We start with the standard procedure.
After applying the base, we begin drawing the stripes. To do this, carefully draw a line along the tip of the nail with a brush with white varnish. You can act at your own discretion, choosing the most practical option for you: from the tips of the nail to the middle or from one tip of the nail plate to the other. And, perhaps, it will be more convenient for someone to move the finger itself rather than the hand.
After the white varnish has dried, we finish making an even jacket with a transparent or translucent coating.

It is difficult to say which of these options is correct to use from the point of view of nail aesthetics. Each of the girls acts at her own discretion, choosing the most convenient way to create a beautiful design.

With the use of more professional materials, you need to take design creation more seriously. After all, the durability of your manicure depends on how correctly your French manicure is done.

Smooth jacket using gel polishes

Recently, gel polishes have become increasingly popular among women. This material is gradually replacing conventional gels, which laid the foundation for nail extensions and opened up new opportunities for creating first-class designs. Professionals claim that they are much easier to work with: they are easier to apply, dry faster in a lamp, and can be used on natural nails.

In fact, French polish using gel polishes is done in the same way as with regular polishes. The only difference is the need to polymerize the material in a UV lamp for a certain time. But at the same time, the result lasts much longer than usual if everything is done correctly.

We give the nail a shape and degrease the surface.
We apply camouflage (gel polish of a pastel or any other shade that will serve as a base) in two layers. The polymerization time of each layer is 20 seconds.
Then, using a brush, carefully draw a smile line, again in two layers. Dry each layer in a UV lamp for 20 seconds.
Apply a finishing coat to secure the result.

It is important that when performing a design, make sure that during the work you touch the nail plate after degreasing. Also, remember to seal the tip of the nail at each subsequent step.

French manicure with gel

If you are familiar with the basics of gel nail extensions, then it won’t be difficult for you to make an even French nail extension correctly.

Prepare the nail plate, after degreasing, apply camouflage gel and dry it in a lamp for three minutes (most gels harden during this time).
We remove the sticky layer, polish the surface, give the nail a shape, simultaneously creating a neat smile line.
We place the form for extensions, after which we lay out white gel butt to the free edge. Dry in a lamp, remove the sticky layer.
Level the surface of the nail and polish it.
We finish the work by applying the finishing coat.

It is important to remember that if you decide to make a French jacket using the method described above, then special attention should be paid to the choice of material. In particular, the white gel should have a dense texture, otherwise the free edge will turn out translucent, which will ruin the overall impression of the manicure.

French manicure was originally created for the catwalk. Its author wanted to save models, who often change outfits during a show, from endlessly repainting their nails. The goal was achieved, and the successful idea was subsequently appreciated by women all over the world, because it fits with different clothes, looks great on nails of any length, and harmonizes with all skin colors. And another advantage that has led to the popularity of French is that you can do it yourself, even with a standard set of tools at hand.

Tools and materials for DIY French manicure

No exclusive or prohibitively expensive means are required, with the exception, perhaps, of stencils - this is the only device that is intended exclusively for creating a neat French jacket. Everything else is probably in your home cosmetics bag, and if not, you can easily find it in a specialized store. There are even separate sets for French manicure, which already include several shades of varnish and stencils. The price range for them is very different, so you can choose any one to suit your taste and budget.

Before work you need to prepare the following:

for a caring bath: warm water with the addition of sea salt, lemon juice, essential oils or herbal decoction. Any manicure draws attention to the hands, so the skin on them cannot be dry and rough. The procedure will give your palms a more well-groomed appearance and also soften the cuticle. However, if your hands are in good condition, you can do without a bath, but girls for whom creating a manicure is akin to a spa ritual do not refuse the extra opportunity to take care of themselves;
to soften and remove the cuticle: remover, wax or special oil, orange stick or manicure hoof. You can use wire cutters, a trimmer and a pusher, but these tools require appropriate experience, and if handled improperly they can be traumatic;
for nail treatment: manicure scissors, a file (preferably glass), polishing buff;
tools for more convenient painting of the tip of the nail: a thin brush, stencil strips or a special felt-tip pen;
coloring agents: base varnish and color. The main one is applied to the entire nail. It can be completely transparent or translucent in a pastel shade. Colored varnish is usually white or milky. With white manicure it turns out bright and contrasting, and with milky it turns out muted and more natural. If desired, you can add a protective base for nails to the varnishes, as well as a topcoat;
auxiliary tools: cotton swabs, thin brush with short bristles, toothpick, nail polish remover.

Reference! In the classic version of the French manicure, the nail is painted with clear varnish and its tip is white. This gives the manicure elegance and naturalness, thanks to which it is considered universal. However, modern fashion has expanded the range of colors, so the base polish can be translucent pink, beige, peach, or lavender. The choice depends on the color of your hands: in winter, cool shades are preferable, and in summer, when the skin tans, warm shades look better.

French manicure can also be done with gel polishes. This will take a little more time, but it will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of gel coating: durability, safety and color that does not lose intensity.

Those who prefer gel polishes will need a special lamp, a primer, a base product, colored coatings for the nail and its tip, a finishing gel and a liquid that removes the sticky layer. The rest of the tools are the same as in the list above.

How to do a French manicure at home: step-by-step instructions

First you need to remove the old manicure, if any, make your favorite hand bath or simply wash them with soap. Then you should treat the nails: remove excess length and flaking tips, give the intended shape, carefully cut off the burrs, push back the cuticle, sand with a soft buff. Gel polish will require more thorough sanding to remove the top glossy layer. After this, wipe the nail plate with nail polish remover to degrease it and remove sawdust. Then the creative process begins.

Apply a protective base. This step is not mandatory, but desirable, since such products strengthen the nails, smooth their surface, and make it easier to apply varnish. In addition, they protect against harmful substances that are found even in expensive products from luxury brands.
Cover the nail with two layers of base polish and wait for them to dry.
The most difficult stage of the entire process is to draw the so-called smile line, that is, paint over the tip of the nail. He must be extremely careful, since he plays a key role in the entire manicure. By the way, the smile line allows you to visually correct the shape of your fingertips: if the pattern is moved a little higher and made more rounded, then the nail bed will acquire exquisite oval shapes. Some girls find it easy to draw a straight line using a regular brush from a bottle of nail polish, but most still cannot do without additional devices, which will be discussed below.
Decorate the manicure with a pattern, if it was planned.
Apply a topcoat that will add gloss, speed up drying and increase the durability of the manicure.

Important! The topcoat should be clear or translucent, but may have a pastel tint. In this case, it slightly tints the smile line, dimming the brightness of the white color.

When using gel polishes, the procedure looks similar:

Treat prepared nails with primer and let it dry.
Apply a thin layer of base gel and cure it in a lamp. The drying time should be specified in the instructions, since it may differ from company to company, and failure to follow these rules can lead to nail breakage or peeling of the gel.
Paint each nail in the main color and also dry it in a lamp. If necessary, add another layer of base varnish.
Draw a smile and dry again. If a stencil is used for this purpose, then first remove the sticky dispersion film using a special tool - a clinser. At this stage, gel polishes have an undeniable advantage over regular ones: they retain their consistency and do not set in the air, so you can correct blemishes at any time with a toothpick or other suitable tool.
Apply top, trying to level the surface and smooth out the thickening above the smile line. This may require two layers, each of which must be polymerized in turn in a lamp.
Remove the sticky dispersion, then moisten the skin around the nails.

Various options for drawing a straight smile line

There are many ways to make this job easier for yourself, but each of them will still require skill, patience and special tools. The most reliable and popular way to make French is to use stripes.

French using stripes

Ready-made stencils are included with French manicure kits and are also sold separately. They are thin (about 5 mm) strips of self-adhesive paper. They come in different shapes, but more often they are arched, since it is this that allows you to get everyone’s favorite original version of the famous French jacket.

It is very convenient to use such stencils: they are separated from the base and pressed with the adhesive side to the nail so that the tip remains free. Then you can safely draw a smile without worrying about accuracy.

Important! Many white varnishes are capricious, so it is recommended to apply them in several thin layers. The first one will have bald spots, but you need to let it dry a little and add a second one, which will hide the shortcomings of the previous one.

When the varnish has hardened, the stencil can be removed by simply pulling it by the free edge. If the lower layers of the coating have not dried and have shifted slightly when removing the strip, then carefully adjust the plastic mass with the tip of a toothpick.

This method allows you to quickly get an even smile line and is equally suitable for both regular and gel polishes. Ready-made strips are affordable and sold in almost any cosmetic store, so they are considered the leaders among all auxiliary products for French manicure.

They have, perhaps, only one drawback: you cannot control the degree of curvature, and everyone’s nails are different! In addition, some people want to draw a smile that is more convex than the one obtained using a stencil. There is a way out - make the strips yourself.

DIY French manicure strips

The ideal option for making stencils with your own hands is regular self-adhesive paper from an office supply store. It has a backing so that the strips will not stick to your fingers and scissors, making the cutting process difficult.

Self-adhesive is sold in the form of A4 sheets, which are suitable for a regular office printer, so the easiest way is to find a ready-made layout on the Internet and print it out. The products will turn out like store-bought ones, but you will have to cut them yourself.

For those who know how to work in graphic editors, you can create stencils according to individual parameters, focusing on the width of the nails and the required radius of curvature.

There is a third way to make French stripes from self-adhesive tape with your own hands. To do this, you will first have to make a pattern from thick cardboard, as in the diagram below, and then attach it to a sheet of paper, trace it with a pencil and cut it out. This option is simple, although not very convenient, so to save time it is better to buy ready-made stencils.

Other means suitable for home creativity:

narrow tape;
insulating tape;
masking tape;
adhesive plaster.

Similar materials are available in any household, but it’s inconvenient to draw patterns on them, so you’ll have to cut out the strips by eye. It is best to make them from adhesive tape: it bends at any angle, fixes well, peels off easily, and the thin film does not pull the varnish along with it when removed.

French without stripes

An impeccable French manicure can be created without stencils. If your hand is full, then a regular brush made from a bottle of varnish will do, but nail design masters prefer other tools, many of which are suitable for home experiments.

How to use tips

Tips are artificial tips that are used for gel nail extensions. They come in different shapes, colors and sizes, but for a French jacket it is advisable to choose simple, unpainted ones. Manicure is done as follows:

prepare nails for gel extensions: remove the cuticle, treat with a buff, file, degrease;
choose the appropriate size for each tip;
glue the false ends with special glue, mark the desired length on them with a marker or gel pen and carefully remove them with wire cutters or a special tip cutter;
give each nail the desired shape, sand it with a file for better adhesion to the gel. Carefully treat the junction of the real nail and the tip so that it becomes invisible;
once again degrease the entire structure, and additionally wipe the natural nail with a primer;
spread a thin layer of base gel over the entire length, dry in a lamp;
fill the middle of the nail with transparent or camouflage (flesh-colored) gel, reducing the thickness of the layer at the edges, polymerize in a lamp;
remove the adhesive dispersion and give the nail its final shape, removing all irregularities and excess thickness with a file;
Apply white gel to the free tip, drawing a smile line. Dry each nail in a lamp;
add a finishing layer, polymerize, wipe off the dispersion and apply moisturizing oil to the cuticle.

Advice! The extension procedure looks simple, but its implementation requires certain skills and knowledge of important nuances, for example, when and what files to use, how to process nails, etc. To better understand the process, it is advisable to go to the salon at least once and look at the work of the master and ask questions.

Tips for French express manicure

Not long ago, special tips appeared for quick French nails on short and medium nails. The new product is a design made of a plastic holder and a ready-made white or colored tip.

Express tips can significantly save time. Firstly, there is no need to draw the smile line, since it is already ready. Secondly, you don’t have to cut off the excess length and file the remaining length until the desired shape is achieved. In addition, since false nails are short, when creating a French manicure, you can do without gel and limit yourself to gel polishes, which are easier to work with.

The technology is simple: prepare your hands in the same way as for regular gel polish, select the tips according to size, apply glue to the white strip and press it to the nail. Break the transparent holder so that it is removed entirely, leaving only its contents in place. File the edge of the false smile that protrudes above the nail plate, then degrease everything and treat the keratin area with a primer.

How to use a brush

There are quite a few brushes that can be used to paint a French manicure, since girls find it convenient to work with different tools. The following are most often used for French:

A flat brush with short bristles and a thin, rounded tip. Suitable for both drawing a smile and correcting it, just moisten the brush in nail polish remover;
a flat, elastic brush with short bristles and a beveled edge;
a flat brush with a notch in the form of a semicircle in the middle. Very convenient for beginners, as it allows you to paint the tip of the nail with just one stroke;
hair brush. This brush has a long, thin and soft tip, allowing you to draw the finest smile line on very short nails, however, to successfully use this truly jewelry tool, a certain level of skill is required.

Working with brushes is carried out as follows. A drop of white varnish (or gel polish) is applied to an improvised palette, which can be anything: a piece of cardboard, a board, a saucer. From here, a portion of the product is applied to the tool and the tip of the nail is painted. When working with gel polishes, correction can be done with the same brush, simply wiping it on a napkin.

When a manicure is performed with regular varnish, you need to prepare a small bowl with remover in advance. The brush is washed in it so that it does not dry out, and also moistened if the smile line is uneven and needs to be corrected.

To clean brushes use:

from gel - special products that remove acrylic, gel and gel polish;
for gel polish - alcohol or cleanser;
from regular nail polish - remover.

Reference! To correct French manicure, you can use not only brushes, but also a special tool. It looks like a felt-tip pen filled with nail polish remover. It is refillable and some even have a set of removable tips.

How to use a whitening pencil

This cosmetic product is a pencil with a snow-white lead. It is used to paint over the regrown tip of the nail on the reverse side to make it appear whiter. Of course, this effect is short-lived and lasts until the first hand washing, although pencils with a more stable formula have now appeared. However, such a tool still cannot be considered a full-fledged tool for French manicure. You won’t be able to draw a smile line with it, and applying it under a finished French coat with varnish is pointless, since no one will see it anyway.

Some girls do manicures only with a pencil. The nails don't turn out as smooth and white as with polish, but they like the look. Unfortunately, the paint fades during the day and may partially get onto your fingers, making your hands look untidy. The problem can be easily solved if you have wet wipes and a pencil for touching up, but is it worth monitoring the condition of the French coat all day if it is much easier to draw a smile line with a thin layer of milky varnish?

A whitening pencil should be in your makeup bag for only one reason: it will disguise the overgrown tip of the nail and help to urgently “refresh” a manicure that is already several days old.

Reference! The idea of a whitening pencil has been developed. Nowadays you can find special markers on sale that are convenient for painting over a smile from the outside. They are not durable even under a top coat, but they can mask chips on a finished manicure.

How to do a reverse French manicure

This type of nail design is also known as anti-french. It gets its name because the smile is positioned along the cuticle, a mirror image of the traditional version. Thanks to this feature, a manicure can be done even on very short nails without resorting to extensions.

Reverse French is performed both in the classic version (the nail is flesh-colored and the design is white) and with any combination of shades. For this work, it is better to use special stickers, since there is no natural stencil in the form of a growing nail and without experience it will not be possible to draw an ideal line.

Templates for anti-french, having an arched shape, can also be purchased at a cosmetic store or printed on self-adhesive tape. The stencil is fixed on the nail, 2-3 mm away from the cuticle, and the sequence of actions is similar to those given earlier: preparation, application of the base varnish, drawing a smile and fixing with a top coat.

A popular type of anti-french manicure is the so-called moon manicure. The smile line in this case looks like a semicircle hiding the nail hole. To create this pattern, a special donut-shaped stencil is used, but otherwise the technology is the same.

Design ideas

An elegant and laconic French manicure is good in itself, but thanks to lovers of variety, the idea has received comprehensive development. Based on the classic version, fashionistas create new designs, experimenting with color, shape, texture, and decorations. Of course, it was not without criticism, but many girls like the idea. Even Hollywood actresses do not deny themselves the pleasure of decorating their nails with an unusual pattern.

Art French is not distinguished by the versatility of the original and does not suit all outfits, but it allows you to choose a harmonious manicure for each specific look. There are so many variations that it is impossible to list them all, but they can be conditionally divided into several groups.

Colored French

This idea turned out to be the easiest to implement; you just need to draw a smile line using any other varnish, not white. The central part of the nail can also be coated with a contrasting color. The result will be an unusual manicure, which, depending on the chosen range, can complement both a strict business image and a bright youth look.

Twist

You can paint the tip of your nail with several colored varnishes. They are used to draw parallel stripes, waves, zigzags and swirls.

Millennium

You can decorate the smile line with sparkles: paint over the entire tip of the nail, draw a thin strip along its edge, or create a sparkling gradient. The French jacket turns out to be very bright and festive, so it’s great for parties.

Fan French

The tip of the nail can be decorated not only with colored or shiny varnishes. Granules for caviar manicure, velor fibers for velvet, mica, foil, rhinestones, beads, lace and even fragments of dried plants are used. The variety of materials will allow you to fully enjoy the creative process and create a unique design for any event.

French with a non-standard smile line

The smile can be of any shape: beveled, triangular, wavy, V-shaped, double. Additionally, it is decorated with dots, thin lines, and patterns. It’s not difficult to make such a manicure, but the result of your efforts will not go unnoticed.

Wedding jacket

To create this variety, traditional colors are usually used, but the nails are additionally decorated so that the manicure matches the dress and hairstyle.

Video: moon manicure, colored French manicure and version with rhinestones

French is simple and complex at the same time. Its flawlessness and naturalness are the result of painstaking work. To master the technique, you will have to try, but the game is worth the candle, because the famous manicure will always help out, including situations when it is difficult to decide on an “outfit” for your nails. Even those who prefer variety in everything will be able to find dozens of original ideas for themselves or come up with an individual one, taking as a basis a classic design that is unlikely to go out of fashion.

Now there is a huge variety of types of manicure and nail decoration. However, French manicure does not lose its popularity (although it also comes in completely different types). And in order for the jacket to please you longer and shine brighter, you should apply it with gel polish.

Kinds

First, you should decide on the look, because French manicure has a lot of them, and the right option can be chosen for any occasion. The most used types of French manicure include:

Classical. A very popular option due to its versatility, simplicity and at the same time elegance. It uses soft, natural colors: the nail plate is covered in pink or clear, and the tip of the nail is highlighted in white. This option is perfect for both everyday wear and celebrations.
Lunar. An inverted version of the classic version, it is also called inverse. There are two options for this manicure: not the tip of the nail, but the hole is highlighted with white, making it look like a crescent, or the cuticle area is repeated. The color scheme can also be completely varied; this manicure looks very original, which is why it gained its popularity.
Hollywood. One of the brightest options for this manicure. It is achieved through the use of contrasting colors and painting the tip of the nail with various ornaments and designs.
Art. This option can without a doubt be called the brightest among all. The colors can be any, the main rule is that they contrast with each other. In addition to contrast, various bright and shiny decorations are often used here: beads, rhinestones, figurines, etc. This manicure is ideal for bright girls who like to attract attention.
On foot. The classic French manicure looks great not only as a manicure, but also as a pedicure, giving your feet a neat, well-groomed look. If desired, any type of jacket can be done both on the arms and legs, it all depends only on how comfortable it will be for the girl.

Advantages and disadvantages

Manicure with gel polish has a number of undeniable advantages, which more than sufficiently compensate for some of the disadvantages. Among these advantages are:

Therapeutic effect. Often girls cannot boast of their own strong and beautiful nails; many have them very soft and flaky. Gel polish will help strengthen your nails and help them grow longer. Plus, the gel polish itself is completely safe; it does not contain allergic substances or impurities that harm the nails.
Strength. This manicure itself is very strong and durable. With high-quality application, it will last 2-3 weeks, even if its owner often does household chores.
Application at home. To get such a manicure, you don’t have to go to a professional; you can do everything yourself, the main thing is to purchase the necessary materials.
Diversity. The range of colors for such a manicure is simply huge, and most importantly, you don’t have to limit yourself to one color, you can combine several options and decorate your nails in every possible way.

The disadvantages of this type of manicure include:

Price. A manicure with gel polish at a salon will be quite expensive due to the high price of gel polish. However, you can compensate for this by doing a manicure at home.
Special lamp. If you do a manicure yourself, you will have to purchase quite a lot of materials, including an ultraviolet lamp, since such a manicure will not dry on its own. The cost of the entire set will also be quite high, however, it will still be more profitable than constantly going to the salon.
Thinning. With frequent use, gel polish can thin your nails, but this depends on the individual characteristics of each girl.
Fake. Very often, fakes are sold under the guise of high-quality and expensive gel polish. It is unlikely that you will be able to determine this on your own, so if you have a familiar master, it is better to consult with him first.

Design ideas

There are a lot of ideas for designing a French coat with gel polish. Since the fashion for French manicure does not fade away, various new products are constantly appearing. More and more master classes on the use of various techniques are appearing. Therefore, we can say that the number of combinations is limited only by imagination. Among the brightest and most popular are:

Manicure with acrylic powder. It is very popular among girls with brittle nails because, among other positive characteristics, it strengthens nails well. This is a huge field for creativity; with the help of this powder you can create a neon manicure, with metallic glitter, matte and many other beautiful and original options.

Ombre. Another fashion trend for today. Moreover, it is present not only in manicure, but also in hair coloring, clothing, etc. This type of manicure is a smooth transition from one color to another, while you can make a double color spectrum or even use more colors, add drawings, stickers, stones or any other decorative elements.

You can use different shades of the same color or combine soft and bright colors, or you can try to combine completely different colors, for example, blue and red and see what happens.

Multicolored. A multi-colored manicure will look original when each nail has its own special color or design. The main thing is to choose colors and shades so that they combine with each other, forming a single composition. For example, when the long-awaited spring comes, you always want something bright. In this regard, why not make one nail a soft pink shade, another orange with sparkles, a third purple, a fourth blue, and your thumb yellow. The result is a very stylish spring design.

Dark. Dark manicure is always stylish and elegant. And it’s not just black, as many people think; manicures in dark colors can also be varied. For example, matte dark green, decorated with some kind of pattern, looks very beautiful. The same black can be diversified by adding red flowers to it. A deep burgundy color will always look trendy and universal.
Translucent. One of the types of manicure that is at the peak of fashion. It can be either plain or colored; most often it is used not for all nails at once, but for individual ones and imitates the texture of lace fabric.

It looks very stylish and will look especially good with a matching evening dress.

Necessary accessories

In order to create the perfect French manicure at home, first of all you need to buy the entire necessary set of tools for it. It includes:

UV lamp. It is better to buy a more powerful lamp, because if it is not powerful enough, it will take much longer to dry.
Orange stick.
File.
Nail degreasing agent.
Cuticle softener.
Base.
Directly gel polish. Several colors, depending on wishes. A good alternative to white varnish can be a white or bleaching pencil. It is very easy to use, you don’t even need a stencil and after it your nails look very natural.
Stencil to draw a smile line.
Top.
Gel polish remover.
Brush. If you want to make a manicure with a pattern, you will need an additional thin brush.

Preparatory stage

So, when the entire manicure set is prepared, you can start preparing your nails. Do not underestimate the importance of the preparatory stage; proper preparation will allow you to enjoy a beautiful manicure for a long time. The preparatory stage includes the following steps:

If there is any coating on the nails, it must be removed, then wash your hands thoroughly so that no nail polish remover remains.
The cuticle is coated with a softening agent for 5-10 minutes, and then removed with an orange stick.
If there are burrs, they must be removed. It is also necessary to remove the pterygium; how long the varnish will stay on the nail depends on its quality removal.
Next, using a file, you can give your nails the desired shape and length. After filing, it is important to remove all dust.
After all these procedures, you don’t need to do anything else with your nails. except to leave them alone for a while and let them dry.

Step-by-step instruction

After all the preparatory procedures, you can begin to apply gel polish. The application technique includes the following instructions:

First a thin layer applied base and dries under a lamp.
If a girl cannot boast of perfect nails, you can use camouflage gel polish. This is a gel that is applied to the nail (except for the regrown area) to make it smooth. Camouflage gel creates an artificial nail on top of a natural one, but does it as naturally as possible. Camouflage gels have a natural leather tone: beige, pink. After application, dry the nails under the lamp for several minutes.
Next, a colored coating is applied to the regrown area., you can choose any shade, it all depends on your desire. Then the nails are dried again under the lamp for several minutes. If you are using a bright or dark varnish, it is best to cover the nail in several layers, this will give the color richness.
After everything has dried You can apply the top coat and dry your nails again.
If necessary, you can take a napkin and wipe the nail with a special product to remove the sticky layer, but now many varnish manufacturers make them so that no sticky layer is formed.
After all procedures you can apply moisturizing oil, if it is not there, then you can use regular olive oil.

You can watch a detailed master class on creating the perfect French manicure in the following video.

French, made with gel polish, perfectly emphasizes the beauty of natural nails, but many girls are faced with the fact that there is no time or money to go to the salon. That’s why it’s now so popular to do your own manicure at home. It’s not difficult to learn the secrets of a perfect manicure and learn how to do it at home, the main thing is to practice and over time you will get better and better. Here are a few tricks for those who are just starting their journey in the field of home manicure:

When purchasing the necessary set of products, it is better to buy professional equipment and varnishes. Of course, it’s not cheap, but it will last a long time and keep your nails healthy and beautiful.
When choosing a gel polish, you should pay attention to the consistency and which one is more convenient to work with. It’s all individual, some people prefer thinner options, others prefer thicker ones.
Many people, before getting a manicure, purchase only what is necessary to create it, and they forget about what may be needed for removal. This, of course, cannot be called a serious problem, but it is better to buy the entire necessary kit at once.
If you really want to make a drawing, but there is no experience, then for starters you can simply draw dots in a contrasting color. It will look stylish, but does not require any special skills.
All layers must be applied carefully, carefully ensuring that the varnish covers the entire nail, but does not spread.

Using dots

If a brush is not enough to accurately create beautiful dots, you can use a dots.

Dots are a special stick made of wood or plastic with a metal ball-shaped tip.

It’s easy and convenient to use; if at first you draw only neat dots, then over time you can learn to draw entire masterpieces using dots. The technology for using dots is as follows:

Some varnish applied to the palette.
The tip of the dots is strictly perpendicular drops into the varnish.
Drawing is done by applying dots. You can leave them in the form of dots, or you can continue to fantasize.

Reverse French - instructions

Without a doubt, moon manicure is especially popular now, so It would be relevant to consider the instructions on how to do it at home:

Manicure. First you need to prepare the nail surface for work, namely remove the pterygium and cuticle.
Degreasing. After this, you need to degrease your nails, because if this is not done, the coating will last less time.
Base. Next, apply the base varnish. It can be either transparent or have a tint, it depends solely on your wishes. It is best to apply the base in several layers, thanks to this the base color will be brighter and the manicure more durable. After application, the base is dried under a lamp.
Light varnish. After the base has dried, a light varnish is applied to the entire surface of the nail; the color can vary depending on your wishes. The main attention should be paid to the area around the cuticle and paint it as evenly as possible. After application, the bottom layer is also dried under a lamp.
Colored varnish. After this, you need to attach a stencil to the base, or simply carefully paint the nail with colored varnish, without touching the light area. It also dries under a lamp.
Top. When everything is ready, all that remains is to cover the manicure with topcoat and dry it again in the lamp.

Watch the video below for a master class on how to create such a manicure.

Beautifully groomed female hands will never go out of style. Soft, moisturized skin and polished nails make a girl even more attractive. Fashionable bright shades of coating are not always appropriate. In such cases, applying French gel polish to your nails will save the situation and last for at least 15-20 days.

How to apply French gel polish correctly

Whatever technique is used to perform a French manicure with gel polish, it must be neat and all lines must be smooth. The attractiveness of the French coat is that with proper application of the coating, you can visually make the nail plate longer and your fingers thinner. When working independently you need to:

the protruding painted part was not longer in length than the main light coating;
the smile line was drawn symmetrically to the central axis;
the side edges of the smile ended at the point of the free edge of the nail;
The varnish with the gel component is dried using a special UV lamp.

Classic French manicure with gel

A French classic is considered to be painting the free edge in white using a thin brush. This type of design is suitable for both medium-length and short nails. It will be difficult for a beginner to paint everything neatly at home; it will take time to feel confident. In detail, how to paint French gel polish step by step yourself:

Purchase and prepare the necessary tools - UV lamp, varnishes, base, topcoat, brush, nail polish remover.
Remove the old coating from the nail plate, if it was there.
File the nail, leveling the surface, giving shape to the free edge.
Gently push the cuticle along the growth line.
Degrease the nail with primer, without getting it on the cuticle.
Apply a thin layer of base for better adhesion of the varnish to the surface of the nail.
Apply two layers of colored varnish, dry each of them under a UV lamp. It is preferable to choose a color close to natural or transparent.
Using a lint-free cloth and a cleaner, remove the sticky layer.
Using a thin brush, carefully draw a smile pattern along the edge of the nail. White is considered a classic color. You can learn how to draw a French coat by watching the video below. Dry under a lamp.
Cover the surface of the nail plate with top coat.
Remove stickiness with a cleanser using a lint-free cloth.
The final step should be rubbing the oil into the cuticle.

How to make a French jacket with a stencil

It will be difficult for a beginner to make a neat, high-quality French jacket at home. To simplify the task, you can use stencils that are sold in specialized stores. This is done like this:

The procedure for performing the main part of the work, up to the two-layer application of the base light varnish with gel, does not differ from the step-by-step classic French coat.
After removing the sticky layer from the free edge of the nail, a strip of stencil is attached with the adhesive side.
The drawing will turn out with a straight line, since when applying gel varnish of a contrasting color, the errors of the uneven edge will remain on the surface of the stencil.
Dry under a lamp.
Apply top coat.
Remove the sticky layer with a cleaner.
Lubricate the cuticle and side rollers with oil.

How to make a French jacket for a wedding

A wedding jacket should not have bright colors. It will be correct if the French manicure is designed in white and pink tones. It’s better if a specialist does the design for a special event, but after practicing in advance, you can do it yourself at home. All the first stages of a French manicure are identical. Decorations will give your nails a festive look.

Additionally, it is possible to make a drawing in white along the smile line. A pattern in the form of small branches or curls will look beautiful. Use the same brand gel paint that was used for the base coat to prevent bleeding.
A manicure looks elegant when it is decorated with several small Swarovski stones or drops of sparkles. They will hold securely if secured with a top coat.

How to choose gel polish for a French manicure

When choosing a varnish with a gel base for home use, you should initially pay attention to the following factors:

the manufacturer of the brand must have a good reputation and reviews from specialists;
the consistency of the varnish must be of medium thickness and viscosity, without lumps and lint;
the brush fixed in the cap is soft, the width is convenient for application;
one-, two- or three-phase using a top and base, differing in application technique;
suitable color palette.

Today, French manicure with gel polish at home is a reality for every nail art lover. It is not difficult to purchase everything you need. The main difficulty lies in applying gel polish. French manicure is a classic nail art. It emphasizes the elegance and sophistication of the image, so it must be executed flawlessly. Making the lines perfectly straight requires skill. Few people manage to perform French gel polish flawlessly the first time. To make your task as easy as possible, you need to adhere to certain rules.

Before you decide to apply French gel polish, you need to buy products and tools, as well as prepare a place to work. For a French manicure you will need 2 types of polish. The classic combination involves the use of white and flesh (beige) shades. However, French can be done in any other color scheme. For a business lady, moderate color compositions are more suitable: white and pink, beige and black, transparent and lilac, beige and gold. In everyday life, on vacation and at a holiday party, any combination of colors will be appropriate.

In addition to colored gel polish, you will need a base and top coat, 1-2 brushes, a UV lamp and a special degreasing liquid. It is advisable to additionally buy 1 thin brush for painting nails. To process nail plates, you need to prepare 2 files: with an abrasiveness of 180-240 grit (for filing) and 240-500 grit (for grinding).

To do a French manicure, you need to choose a workplace with good lighting. All items are placed within reach. You need to stock up on cotton pads or lint-free napkins for manicure, a pusher or orange sticks.

Before you paint your French manicure with gel polish, you need to prepare the nail plate. The final result directly depends on the quality of its processing. The free edge of the nail must be trimmed and filed, giving it the desired shape. Then the surface of the nail plate is processed. In order for the manicure to lie perfectly flat and look flawless, you need to remove the top keratin layer. The surface of the nail should become slightly rough and matte, this will provide better adhesion to the coating.

Then the cuticle is pushed back so that voids do not form under the base layer. Remains of cuticle that have grown to the nail must be removed with a cuticle remover. The treated nail is wiped with a liquid to degrease the surface. Before creating nail art, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for decorating a French manicure with gel polish step by step, which we will tell you about below.

First of all, apply a base layer to the prepared nail plate. The base is applied to the central part of the nail, then gradually distributed over the entire surface, after which it is polymerized under a UV lamp for 30 seconds. Excess product is removed with a toothpick or orange stick. There is no need to remove the sticky layer. Apply 2 thin layers of gel polish of the desired shade to it, painting the end of the nail. Each of them is polymerized for 2 minutes.

Smile line design:

Before doing a French manicure, you need to find the longitudinal center line of the nail. If the nail has a square shape, its extreme point will be located strictly in the middle of the nail cut. If the cut shape is round or oval, the extreme point of the axis will be at the apex.
From the extreme point of the center line, they retreat downward to a distance that will be the width of the smile (white tips). Here they make a point with a brush for painting. In order not to spoil the manicure, you can make a mark with transparent gel polish.
From the mark to the right and left, draw lines parallel to the cut. In this case, their end points should be on the same straight line, perpendicular to the center line of the nail. It is advisable that the end points be located near the place where the nail grows into the skin of the finger.
If the free edge of the nail is large, there is no need to paint it completely white. The white stripe is made thin (2-3 mm). It is carried out strictly along the cut.
It is important to make the lines perfectly even and maintain the proportions of a French manicure. The width of the white stripe should always be several times smaller than the beige part.
Before applying gel polish, you need to check that the selected smile width is suitable for all nails. Sometimes girls start applying polish from large nail plates. When it comes to the little finger, it turns out that the white stripe is very large for it. Its width on all fingers should be the same.
When the smile line is marked, it is painted over with white gel polish. You need to act extremely carefully so that during stage-by-stage painting you do not cross the marked boundaries. It is advisable to apply a thin layer of varnish so that it does not flow beyond the area to be painted. Experienced manicurists recommend correcting the design using a clean brush. The applied layer is dried under a UV lamp for 2 minutes.
Then the final top coat of clear gel polish is applied. The top coat is polymerized in a UV lamp for 1-2 minutes. If a topcoat with a sticky layer is used, it is removed using a dispersion layer remover.

If you don’t know how to correctly draw a smile line so that it turns out perfectly straight, use stencils for a French manicure. Stencils are strips of paper on a sticky base, 5-6 mm wide. They have different shapes, allowing you to create a smile line not only in the form of a classic semicircle, but also in the form of a wave, zigzag, triangle, heart or straight beveled line. Using stencils is very easy. They are glued onto a beige layer only after it has completely dried. Draw a smile line when the stencil fits tightly to the nail.

After applying the gel polish to the smile line, the stencil is carefully removed. An awkward movement can lead to smearing of the varnish and disruption of a perfectly straight line. After removing the strips, the white layer is dried in a UV lamp for 2 minutes.

You can make a stencil yourself from regular tape. You need to cut a piece 3 cm long. It is cut into strips 0.5 cm wide. The side line of the strips is given the desired shape (semicircle, wave or triangle). Before gluing the adhesive tape to the surface of the nail, you need to glue it to any other surface 1-2 times. This will help reduce its stickiness, and then maintain the integrity of the gel coating.

In the summer, when open shoes are used, a beautifully designed French pedicure is especially appreciated. Gel polish is ideal for coloring toenails. It does not wear off and does not lose its shine from friction against the surface of the shoe, does not turn yellow or peel off from sea water and hot sand. Gel polish allows you to maintain a flawless pedicure for a long time.

Before you draw a French jacket on your legs, you need to think through the design and choose colors. You should not make an elongated oval smile shape on your toes. It is suitable for very large and elongated nail beds, which are extremely rare. The width of the white stripe should not be more than 1-3 mm, otherwise the French coat will look rough and unaesthetic.

It is not recommended to use clear gel polish for pedicures, as it does not correct the natural shade of the nail. The combination of natural color with white can aggravate the blue and yellow of the natural color.

Before applying gel polish, perform a trim pedicure. The cuticle can be removed with a special product and an orange stick. The nails are given the desired shape and filed. Use a file to remove the glossy shine from their surface. After removing dust, the plates are degreased with a preparatory agent.
Treated nails are covered with a base, evenly distributing it over the entire surface. The base layer is dried in a UV lamp for 30 seconds. After this, a colored coating is applied, painting the cut of the nail. It is polymerized for 2 minutes. Then apply another 1-2 layers of colored gel polish. The gel layers are dried for 2 minutes.
When the surface is dry, draw a white stripe. It can be applied according to the same pattern that is used for manicure. But it’s easier to paint the strip with the same type of strokes, moving from one edge of the nail to the other. To paint the nails of small fingers, it is more convenient to use a very thin brush. The white layer is dried in a UV lamp for 2 minutes. After applying the top layer, the gel polish is polymerized for 2 minutes. Then the nails are treated with a sticky layer remover and cuticle oil is applied.