How to glue rhinestones onto gel polish, fix them correctly, what to glue them on, what to apply them with, how to remove them

Rhinestones should be glued onto gel polish using a thick base or top coat, extension gel, base product with acrylic powder, or special glue. In all cases except the last one, the layer must be polymerized. In the process of inlaying, tweezers or a wax pencil, dots, an orange stick, and toothpicks are used.

For a manicure, you can glue plastic decor for 5-8 days, but for long-term wear - glass pebbles or Swarovski. They are laid in a pyramid, stripes, “shirt”, “chain mail”, the free edge or holes are highlighted, and the pattern on the nails is shaded. When making corrections, the decor is removed by soaking, with nippers or a scraper, but sometimes you first have to work with a hardware cutter.

General algorithm for gluing rhinestones onto gel polish

Glue rhinestones onto gel polish as follows:

Choose decor and design. There are a lot of options, they depend on the color of the coating, the shape and length of the nails.
Get a manicure. You need to shape your nails, remove excess cuticles, clean out the sinuses, and wipe with a degreaser.
Coat the surfaces of the plates with primer. It is also used on ends.
Apply a thin layer of base and dry it. The product is used for all nails.
Paint them with gel polish. For color density, this is done 2 times, after each time the hand is sent into the lamp.
Apply the compound on which the pebbles will be attached. There is no need to dry it yet.
Read also: French new items 2022: trends and ideas for fashionable manicure, photos
Place the rhinestones on your nail and press them tightly. This is followed by another drying (in air or in a lamp - depending on the type of fixative).
Use a thin brush to coat the spaces between the stones and around them, using the top coat. And polymerize again.

It doesn’t matter whether you glue rhinestones onto the base or the top; craftsmen use both means. The main thing here is the quality of liquids and the size of the decor. The products must have a thick consistency and have good adhesion. If you take a top and small rhinestones, it is better that it is without a sticky layer.

It doesn’t hurt to follow a few recommendations from nail experts:

moderation in the use of large stones, which can not only make the design vulgar, but also cause physical discomfort;
selection of rhinestones in accordance with the size and shape of the nails, the color of the coating;
choosing decor according to age - young girls prefer light transparent stones, while older women can pay attention to bright shades.

How to choose stones

Rhinestones come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and are made from acrylic, glass of various qualities, and artificial crystals. They all have their pros and cons:

Plastic ones are cheap, the elements are easier to glue, since they are light. There are many colors and shapes of this material. But they quickly lose their “sales appearance” and can fall off long before the manicure needs to be corrected. Therefore, acrylic decor should be chosen by beginning craftsmen or in cases where it is needed for a short time.
Glass ones are more expensive, they are also varied, they shine brightly, and do not fade with time and household chemicals. If you lack experience, it can be difficult to attach them, but the decor holds up well. Sometimes it is difficult to remove.
Swarovski. These rhinestones are artificial crystals. They shine brighter than glass ones in any light, and are firmly fixed due to the features of the reverse side. The only downside is the price.

Decor sizes vary from 1 mm to 2 cm. They are round, square, oval, and teardrop-shaped. For a beginner, the first ones are the easiest to use. There are also charms - figured rhinestones. Many types of decor have a flat second surface for reliable gluing, but “broths” do not have this. They are small round beads.

The outer surface of rhinestones can be edged or smooth, like pearls. Another important characteristic is transparency or translucency; there are also stones completely devoid of these qualities. All of them can be shiny or matte.

What kind of glue is needed for rhinestones?

There is a special glue for rhinestones that can be bought in cosmetics stores. There are water-based and epoxy-based products, the latter are more reliable. Famous brands:

Fabric glue,
Irisk,
"B-6000"
"Monolith",
Rio Profi,
UNO,
Domix,
Ice Nova,
Patrisa Nail,
Klio Professional,
NailGlue

You can also use an adhesive that is not intended for nail art; it is only important that it is transparent and remains so after drying. Use, for example, “Moment”. Fixing agents will not cause harm to the nail plates, since they do not contact the surface, but the polymerized coating.

Characteristics of Shellac manicure with rhinestones

Rules for manicure with rhinestones

There are a huge variety of nail designs covered with Shellac, but a special place among them is occupied by decorating nails with rhinestones due to the large number of different nail art ideas.

A bulky manicure with rhinestones must be appropriate

Rhinestones on nails are suitable for ladies of any age, but adult women should not overuse the number and size of crystals. A bulky and provocative design must be justified by the event and be in harmony with the image of its owner.

For modest everyday life, a strict and laconic nail design, not overloaded with an abundance of rhinestones, is more suitable. As for short nails, small rhinestones should be applied to them, which will visually lengthen your nails.

Transparent and small rhinestones on nails look perfect in the cold season, personifying the sparkling snow cover. For spring and summer, it is better to choose colored and large rhinestones, laying out entire pictures of stones on Shellac.

Rhinestones look no less beautiful in pedicures

It is also worth noting that it is with pistachio, red, black and pink that transparent rhinestones will look best. Although this rule is very conditional: there are no restrictions on the combination of colored varnish and transparent rhinestones.

If you want to conquer everyone with your beauty, then you can get a pedicure in a similar design. Crystals adhere equally well to fingernails and toenails.

Types of rhinestones for nails

Based on the method of fastening, crystals are divided into regular and self-adhesive, which are sold on a special backing and have a sticky base. Ordinary ones must be purchased in conjunction with professional glue.

You should not use glue to secure large rhinestones, as improper handling can ruin your manicure.

Manicure with rhinestones of different sizes

Their size can vary: from small crystals (from 0.8-2 mm) to the largest (up to 20 mm). Their shapes are also varied: rhombuses, squares, triangles, but the most popular are round rhinestones. Based on the material used, crystals can be made of plastic or glass.

Glass rhinestones are heavier and more expensive than plastic ones, but they look more elegant and have an unparalleled shine. Swarovski crystals are considered the most luxurious rhinestones. They have a special cut, thanks to which the light shimmers across the entire surface of the stones. Swarovski rhinestones are most often sold individually, unlike all other rhinestones.

How to attach rhinestones to gel polish and with what

You can attach rhinestones to gel polish using:

thick top or base;
base product mixed with transparent acrylic powder;
special glue or means for extensions onto tips;
transparent gel to strengthen nails and create length.

What to attach rhinestones to on gel polish depends on their type and size. For round and small broths, the first 2 options are preferable. Large and medium ones are best placed on glue and extension gel or a base with powder. Additional fixation with a top coating is required, but not on the stones, but next to them.

Watch the video on how to attach rhinestones to gel polish:

You can glue rhinestones onto gel polish using tweezers with sharp tips or pick them up with a thin brush. A moistened orange stick and toothpicks can be helpful. They also move the decor already transferred to the nail to the desired place. But the most convenient way to work is with a rhinestone stick in manicure, which is called a wax pencil.

To pick up a bead, you simply need to touch the tip of the tool to its surface. And when the rhinestone is on the glue or wet base or top, it will easily detach from the pencil. There are also dots of different sizes, that is, rods with metal balls at the end. But they can only move the decor on the nail.

How to secure

To attach rhinestones to gel polish, you need to:

Prepare your nails. They are filed down, the keratinized part of the cuticle is removed, wiped with a degreaser and treated with a primer.
Use the base. It is applied to all nails, including those with rhinestones, and polymerized.
Use gel polish in 2 layers, which are dried sequentially. If the color is dense, you can apply it once.
Mix the base and acrylic powder to create a thick transparent composition. It is applied to the surface where the pebbles will be and is not dried yet.
The rhinestones are transferred to the nail plate and embedded in the material with a stick. They will be fixed after polymerization.
Then the finishing coat is applied. It is necessary to avoid getting it on the rhinestones, but the space next to them is especially carefully coated with a thin brush. All that remains is to dry your nails.

You can also fix rhinestones on gel polish for a long time using glue:

First, a manicure and preliminary nail preparation are performed.
Cover them with base and dry.
They apply a flower bed and also polymerize it.
The nails are covered with a finish.
After drying it, glue is applied.
Rhinestones are placed on it.
The glue should be allowed to air dry for the time specified in the instructions.
Top coat is applied around the rhinestone with a thin brush; the product is also used on the entire surface where there are no stones.
The hand must be placed in the lamp.

The glue thickens quite quickly, so it should be used with sufficient experience. If the rhinestones are large and have a flat bottom surface, the fixing agent can be applied to it, and not to the nail. But this method is not suitable for broths.

How to properly glue onto a matte top

You can correctly glue the decor onto the matte top using any of the above methods. A thick base, including one mixed with acrylic, a topcoat, and glue are also suitable as a fixing agent. But after drying the flower bed, you can immediately coat your nails with a matte finish in 1 layer and polymerize. Then any of the fixing agents are applied pointwise, rhinestones are placed in these places and pressed down.

If you used a base or top coat, you need to place your hand in the lamp. The glue is air dried for the required time. Then a matte finishing agent is once again applied to stone-free areas and polymerized.

How to make with iron-on stickers

You can make rhinestones on your nails using thermal stickers, on which the decor has already been applied in the form of a finished pattern:

The first step is to perform a hygienic manicure.
Then the nails should be degreased.
You need to apply a base coat with a sticky layer on them and dry it.
A thermal sticker is applied to the nail and smoothed with a heat press from the middle of the plate to the edges.
You should wait until the material cools down and sets well.

Sometimes the decor does not correspond to the full size of the nail plate, but is only a narrow strip. Then they first apply gel polish, then topcoat, dry, and only then use thermal adhesive.

How to apply step by step: diagrams

Step-by-step instructions for applying rhinestones depend on the method of their arrangement:

A pyramid. First, the bottom row of the figure is placed on the fixing agent if it “grows” from the base of the nail. Then the next lines of pebbles are glued in turn, gradually reducing their number.
Wave. The decor is located in 2 vertical rows parallel to each other. Next to each rhinestone from one path there should be a gap between the stones of the other. And if you connect them with an imaginary line, you get a wave.
French. The free edge is highlighted with rhinestones, forming a smile line. If your nails are long, you can lay them tightly in several rows (double French) or scatter them over the entire area, but without violating the main principle of this design.
Lunar manicure. Pebbles outline the holes. But you can also fill this entire space with them.
A shirt. Rhinestones are placed like buttons on clothes. That is, along the center of the nail and at some distance from each other.
Geometry. Intersecting lines and figures are laid out from rhinestones on any part of the nail.
Chain mail. The nail is covered with rhinestones in several intersecting rows so that the entire nail is decorated. There should be equal spaces between the stones.

These are the simplest schemes. In fact, any complex designs can be made from rhinestones, combining different sizes and colors. They do it as their imagination dictates and the length of their nails allows. But first the largest stones are attached, then the small ones. Another important point is that they must be applied sequentially. If you try to squeeze another pebble between the others already glued, there may not be enough space for it.

Manicure ideas with rhinestones

Rhinestone strip

The most common rhinestone nail design is the idea of applying one crystal on the nail and a vertical strip of rhinestones. These are some of the easiest ways to decorate your nails, but at the same time the manicure immediately comes to life and looks very beautiful.

Rhinestones along the cuticle line

Rhinestones located along the cuticle line also add shine and a festive mood to a plain manicure. The largest crystal is located in the center of the line, smaller rhinestones are glued to the sides of it, and even smaller ones are glued to the edges.

Rhinestones located asymmetrically along the cuticle line look very impressive; for this it is better to use several small rhinestones.

Rhinestones for the entire nail

You can also cover the entire nail with rhinestones at once, but this type of design is very capricious, because so many crystals on the nail can turn out to be a luxury, or maybe even bad taste. In this way, you can highlight only the ring finger or decorate all your nails with rhinestones.

French manicure

French manicure with rhinestones looks very elegant on nails; this design is especially relevant for a wedding celebration. Rhinestones, as a rule, emphasize the line of a French manicure or combine a French manicure with patterns decorated with rhinestones.

Lunar manicure

A lunar manicure looks no less beautiful and gentle, and rhinestones laid along the line of the hole only emphasize its beauty.

Patterns on nails

But the most beautiful manicure is obtained when rhinestones complement the design. You can use rhinestones to emphasize the line of the pattern or place accents with individual crystals.

Decorating a Shellac manicure with bright rhinestones is not at all difficult. The main thing is to have all the necessary tools and materials for this. Feel free to practice, create and enjoy beautiful rhinestone manicure ideas.

How to apply rhinestones to gel polish with a pattern

Rhinestones should be applied to gel polish with an image on top of a dried top coat, that is:

Complete the drawing.
Dry it entirely, if small, or each new part.
Cover the nail with top coat.
Polymerize the layer.
Apply the selected fixative.
Place rhinestones on it and press them.
Place your hand in the lamp or let the glue air dry.
Apply another layer of finishing agent, avoiding the surface of the rhinestones.
Dry the coating in a lamp.

Rhinestones should be applied so that the design underneath does not disappear; the stones should emphasize it. You can outline the image with small bouillons or pixies, glue the decor as the eye of an animal, dew on a flower, decorate the wings of a butterfly, etc.

Types of rhinestones for nails

Rhinestones for nails are a decorative element that imitates precious stones. The cosmetics industry today offers nail art masters and their clients many types of products made from different materials, different configurations, colors, and textures.

Based on the material from which the pebbles are made, they are classified as follows:

plastic. Inexpensive, easy to use. Disadvantages: unpresentable appearance, fragility to wear;
glass. They shimmer better than those described above, but cost a little more;
zirconium. Decor made from cubic zirconium (not to be confused with natural stone - zircon). Expensive, they look as impressive as possible due to their reflective properties: many facets of the stone allow the manicure to shine;
faceted artificial crystal. The most famous jewelry made using this technique are Swarovski Kristal Pixie crystals. Crystal chips will decorate a monochromatic, colorless design and will become an effective addition to the gradient;
natural rock crystal. The most expensive material, used for inlaying marigolds in elite salons, decorates the manicures of show business stars and high-ranking persons.

Comment! Choosing the most expensive product is not always clearly beneficial.

In the case of artificial and natural crystal chips, no one will distinguish a natural creation on the nails from a well-cut synthetic analogue.

Nail pebbles are heterogeneous in shape, which affects the ease of working with decorative elements and the practicality of wearing. The decor is available in the following configurations:

round form. Classic broths are a component of Kristal Pixie crystal chips from Swarovski;
flat-round. Visually they resemble half of a small ball: the convex side shines with small edges, the flat side allows you to firmly attach the pebble to the nail plate;
fully faceted. Small elements, tightly seated by the master on the adhesive material.

In addition to the types described above, there are marigold stones that have the outline of a rhombus, square, circle, polygon, etc. in a planar projection. Many craftsmen consider cone-shaped stones that repeat the shape of a peak with a pointed tip to be the most effective.

Comment! A beautiful arrangement of rhinestones on nails is determined by the artistic abilities and taste of the artist, the shape, size, and material used to make the decor.

How to remove rhinestones from gel polish

There are several ways to remove rhinestones from gel polish:

Soaking. They use special gel polish products that are effective in softening the top and base. You need to soak a cotton pad in the liquid, apply it to the surface of the nail and put a silicone cap on top or wrap it in foil. After 10-15 minutes of exposure, the rhinestones are removed with an orange stick. Then you can start removing the rest of the coating, since the first portion of remover will not reach it.
Liquid for dissolving glue. It works in the same way as in the previous case. But the method is used when fixing rhinestones with glue.
Nail clippers, pusher, scraper. The method is good for large and medium-sized stones. They are separated from the surface mechanically. You need to be especially careful with the scraper so as not to damage the nail.
Using a hard file with 100 grit abrasiveness. And after removing the stones, the remaining coating is soaked using the first method.

How to take rhinestones for nails

Coating nails with gel polish with rhinestones and inlaying natural nails requires the presence of a manicure tool capable of carefully picking up one or more crystals:

thin tweezers;
orange stick;
toothpick;
moderately sharpened wax pencil;
thin brush.

Comment! When performing an inlay manicure, wooden utensils and a brush must be wetted - dipped in water for a few seconds.

How to remove rhinestones from gel polish with a machine

You can also remove rhinestones from gel polish with a manicure machine:

First, wear safety glasses to prevent debris from getting into your eyes.
Use a cutter that looks like a nail head and use it to remove the coating around the rhinestones.
Remove stones with a scraper or nippers.
Remove the remaining coating using the nozzle provided for this purpose.

This method is optimal for rhinestones deeply “recessed” into the material, which cannot be immediately picked up with a hand tool. But you should work very carefully so as not to cut the nail with the sharp edge of the cutter.

Glue for rhinestones on nails: how to use so that it lasts for a long time

You can successfully use glue for rhinestones on nails throughout the entire shelf life if you follow certain rules:

Don't apply too much. Otherwise, the product will end up on the surface of the stones and they will become cloudy.
To shake off excess liquid from the brush, use a lint-free cloth slightly moistened with a cleanser. If you need little glue, you should use an orange stick.
Do not wipe the brush or applicator on the neck of the container. In this case, the glue will dry there, making it difficult to close tightly and then open the bottle.
To preserve the properties of the product, it should be stored at a temperature of no more than 20 degrees, far from sources of fire. You must also ensure that the bottle is not exposed to direct sunlight.

Watch the video on how to glue rhinestones on nails:

Additional Tips

To make your manicure beautiful and the crystals not to fall off, you should follow the recommendations:

an abundance of sparkles is appropriate only for young women;
any patterns can be drawn only before gluing;
transparent crystals can be combined with a base of any color, and colored ones should be selected either in tone or in contrast;
do not cover large glitters with finish, but glue them to the last layer and dry them like that; if they are additionally coated with varnish, they will look rough.

To really get a manicure at home, you should also watch the video instructions on how to glue rhinestones to shellac.

The most common mistakes

Not everyone likes the design with rhinestones, but the reason for this is often mistakes when performing a manicure:

in style, when the decor itself is chosen incorrectly;
during the gluing process, if due to errors the result does not correspond to the desired one;
with the wrong choice of stones and base for their fixation;
wearing a manicure, which leads to the rhinestones quickly peeling off.

In style

Rhinestones lose their attractiveness and make a manicure look ridiculous if:

Use several large stones at once. The design looks bulky and visually weighs down your hands. If you are laying out a composition of rhinestones, you should take only 1 large one and a scattering of medium and small ones.
When choosing decor, do not take into account the color of the gel polish. Only white, silver or golden stones can be called universal for any shade. Colors must match the tone of the coating.
Use large rhinestones on short nails or create complex designs with them. This visually makes the plates massive and shortens the fingers.
In addition to a manicure with rhinestones, wear a lot of rings and bracelets on your hands, especially with inserts. This makes the whole look vulgar.
Glue rhinestones onto stained glass gel or cat's eye. These types of coatings are very bright; the addition of rhinestones will also make the image provocative, with an excess of shine.
A mature woman should stick cheap plastic pebbles. It looks inappropriate, like “from someone else’s shoulder.”

In progress

Mistakes in the process of gluing rhinestones will lead to the fragility of the decor and can immediately ruin the appearance of your hands:

Fixation of stones literally at the end of the nail. This area is too mobile, the rhinestones will cling to everything and may become damaged or crack, so you should make an indent of 1-1.5 mm from the edge.
Gluing the decor close to the cuticle. Over time, you will have to move it away with an orange stick; pebbles can interfere with this, they are easy to scratch.
An attempt to glue additional decor between the already attached rhinestones. This will disrupt their fixation and may ruin the entire composition.
An attempt to press on the pebbles transferred to the nail with a finger, and not with auxiliary tools. Sebum and sweat will prevent the decor from adhering well to the coating.
Applying finishing agent to the surface of stones. This will attach them more firmly, but the decor will fade.
Incorrect application of top at the end of the job. It is correct to first coat the areas between and around the rhinestones, and lastly, at the cuticle. Otherwise, the product will flow under the skin and the nail architecture will be damaged.

When choosing a material

In order for the manicure to last longer and maintain a presentable appearance, it is important to choose the right rhinestones and the compositions involved in the design:

For wearing for 3 weeks, it is better to take glass stones or Swarovski. Plastic ones will fly off faster and may fade.
Large and medium rhinestones need to be inspected to make sure there are no defects. If there are cracks or chips, this does not contribute to long-term wearing of the design.
The top and base used as a base for decoration should be thick. Liquid formulations can cause elements on the nails to float.
The quality of the gel polish also matters. If it does not dry well, curls or cracks during polymerization, coating defects will lead to peeling of the inlay elements.
If you cannot work quickly with rhinestones, it is better to choose a top coat, a base with acrylic powder, or a strengthening gel over glue. The first product may dry out while the pebbles are being placed on it, and then their fixation will be unreliable.

In care

Manicure care also affects its quality and durability; the following mistakes are possible:

the use of large rhinestones when working intensively with your hands;
trying to pick something with your nails;
performing household chores that involve using water and household chemicals without wearing gloves;
self-careful filing of nails.

To prevent the decor from separating from the coating, while wearing it, you should coat the areas next to the rhinestones with topcoat 1-2 times and polymerize it.

Rhinestones can make your nail design even more attractive and stylish. But they can easily ruin a brilliant manicure or the most beautiful color of nail polish. Measurement is very important here, as well as the sequence of actions when fixing the decor. If it is correct, it will hold out until correction.