Mirror nails are the latest trend in the nail art world. They are shimmery, they are sparkly, and they are just about everything a nail-polish fanatic could ask for. Typically, mirror powder is applied over UV gel nail polish, but it is still possible to apply it over non-UV gel nail polish, or even regular nail polish. All it take is a little bit of time and effort, and a love for all things sparkly.
1.Apply your base coat and two coats of nail polish. Be sure to extend the polish over the tips of your nails to make your manicure last longer. You can use any color you want, but mirror power will show up the best against black.
- UV-gel polish is easier to work with, but it is still possible to get a nice finish on non-UV gel polish and regular nail polish. It will take more work, however.
- Consider covering the skin around your nails with some white school glue or liquid latex to make clean-up easier.
2Apply some top coat, then wait until it is dry to the touch. Don't let the top coat dry all the way, however. You want it to feel rubbery, but not sticky or tacky. This is important, especially with regular, non-gel top coat; if you apply it too soon, the powder will make a mess, and if you wait too long, the powder won't stick.[1]
- Use regular, non-water-based top coat for this. A quick-dry top coat is recommended.
- Remember to extend the top coat down past the tip.
3Tap on the mirror powder using a foam eyeshadow brush. Start from the cuticle area and work your way towards the tip. You can use a special applicator meant for applying mirror powder, or you can use a foam, eyeshadow brush. Gently flick the brush down as you tap the powder on.
4Buff the powder into the polish. Once you have your nail coated with powder, gently buff the surface with the foam eyeshadow brush. Do not apply too much pressure, or you may create dents. As you continue to buff, the surface will get smoother and smoother.
5Wipe off any excess powder. You can do this using a soft brush, such as an eyeshadow brush or a kabuki brush, or a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. If you applied glue or liquid latex earlier, simply peel it off.
6Apply a water-based top coat, making sure to coat the tip of your nail. Many people find that regular top coat cracks or mars the mirror powder's finish. Luckily, water-based top coat does not do that.[2][3]
7Finish off with a regular top coat. Once you have applied a water-based top coat, you can safely use any type of top coat. This will make your manicure last even longer; unfortunately, water-based top coat alone does not last very long.[4][5]
8Wait for your top coat to finish drying. Once it is dry, you can show off your new nails to all of your friends.