- February 20, 2021
- Nail care
- Valentina Kravchenko
Beautiful and spectacular nail designs do not always have complex execution technology. For example, a manicure made with mica is a clear confirmation of this. In addition, such decor is ideal for both business and ordinary, everyday outfits. And he always looks elegant and festive.
What is mica
Mica is a natural material with a layered texture. Mica can create fun holographic effects. The cost of such material is low.
Currently, mica is often used in the manufacture of:
- Accessories for clothing.
- Semi-precious jewelry.
- Nail design.
- Bags, stand-up collars, straps.
- Some cosmetics.
- Architectural objects.
What are the advantages of this material
The main advantages of mica include the following:
- Radiant shades, subtle shine.
- Great layering. Thanks to this quality, you can create the effect of voluminous nail art.
- The ability to create a unique and original design, the “broken glass” effect.
- This material is absolutely harmless, that is, it cannot harm the nail plate at all.
- A manicure with mica is suitable for both an evening and a business look.
It is worth noting that manufacturers create this artificial material from super-thin, pliable plastic particles. In this regard, both the designs and the material itself are accessible even to beginners. It is worth noting that the article contains quite a lot of photos of nail designs with mica.
How to use broken glass foil?
Foil
“
Broken glass
” is cut into pieces with nail scissors of the required size and laid out along the French line (hole) or simply randomly distributed on a sticky layer or on a base (a base is more convenient), then dried in a lamp, and covered with a top coat, also dried in a lamp.
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Varieties of this material
Many girls are already tired of the flirtatious lunar material, the aristocratic jacket. Thanks to the use of mica in manicure, it is possible to go beyond the classics.
There are currently two main types of this synthetic material known in the beauty industry. These include the following:
- Dry mica.
- Wet, or, in other words, liquid mica for nails.
In addition, among the entire assortment it is possible to choose the following varieties of this material:
- Round mica.
- Small caliber.
- Large-caliber.
- Diamond-shaped.
- Mirror mica.
What are the reasons for choosing this decor
There are also many reasons why girls choose holographic decor. For example, these include the following:
- The material is able to reflect sunlight.
- Numerous different variations of combination with other shades of varnish.
- It is possible to avoid flashy and vulgar manicure. For example, with rhinestones and modeling this happens quite often.
- If you follow the correct application technology, the durability of this material on the plate will be excellent.
The most important and, perhaps, the only drawback of this material will be the wrong choice of manufacturer. If the material is of poor quality, this will entail a number of disappointments and troubles. Incorrectly made material can crumble or simply stain clothes. And if you apply too much of it to the nail plate, then the nail design as a whole will look tacky.
Creating a French jacket using mica
French manicure also goes very well with mica.
An example would be an “aquarium” manicure. According to French technology, mica is localized only at the tip of the nail. How do you do it? To begin with, apply a transparent varnish, but there is no need to wait for it to dry; immediately begin the mica installation procedure. The procedure is the same as in previous versions. Then reapply clear coat. When it dries a little, you need to press on the mica and cover only the tips of the nails with colorless varnish. It is very important that your manicure dries well.
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Liquid and dry version of mica
Many nail artists very often use the liquid version of mica for nails. It is the most common gel polish. The consistency of the substance is viscous and thick. And thanks to its excellent adhesiveness, it can be easily and simply distributed evenly over the nail.
To properly apply liquid mica for nails, it is recommended to use a special thin brush with a flat tip. And thanks to the “hair” you can create various lines and monograms.
This material is also sold in a bottle in the form of dry mica. The material consists of shiny fragments, which are presented in powder form. They can be obtained by processing the structure of the mineral itself.
To get this decor yourself at home, it is recommended to use nail scissors. That is, to do this, the foil needs to be cut into very small shimmering pieces.
Thanks to dry mica, you can achieve an “aquarium design” or, for example, a voluminous nail effect.
Nail art with foil
Foil for manicure design is not just a kitchen utensil, but a special glossy self-adhesive film neatly placed in a jar. It comes in different types:
- roll of sheet (multi-colored, with patterns);
- embossed (a combination of smooth and rough texture);
- thermal (changes color upon contact with hot air);
- adhesive stickers.
Of course, before creating a design, you need to think about this in advance. You can cover the entire nail or part of it with foil. In the second case, the well-known effect of cracked paint is obtained.
What you need:
- sheet cut into pieces (this makes it easier to use);
- base varnish, clear varnish or sealer;
- film glue;
- cotton swab;
- tweezers and nail scissors.
If it is difficult to determine which side is matte, you need to scratch the film a little. It must be applied to the nail with the spiky side.
We recommend:
Instructions on how to properly apply shellac stickers
First, apply a base to the nail and leave it to dry for a while. Then the nail plate is covered with glue. When it becomes transparent, a piece of film is glued (the opaque side to the nails) and smoothed with a cotton swab.
Subsequently, the foil comes off the nail plate. This must be done carefully, but sharply. A pattern should remain on the surface of the nail plate. The final step is to apply the last layer of varnish, which will give the manicure even more shine.
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Features of the technique for performing such a manicure
Quite often, novice nail artists wonder how to use mica for nails? To make your manicure creative, beauty experts recommend using the “broken glass” option. To do this, it is best to use dry mica for nails.
The technique of performing manicure with this material involves performing the following actions:
- First, it is recommended to get rid of the cuticle, then give the nail the desired shape.
- After this, you need to polish and level the nail plate. This can be done using a buff.
- Then use special wipes to degrease your nails. At home, you can use regular micellar water for these purposes.
- Next comes the application of primer. Thanks to him, it will be possible to extend the life of the manicure.
- Then you need to apply the base and dry it under an ultraviolet lamp.
- After these manipulations, you should cover your nails with gel polish.
- Using tweezers or a toothpick, apply shimmering particles to your nails, then you need to distribute them over the entire surface of the nail, creating a decorative pattern.
- The resulting result can be fixed using a glossy or matte topcoat.
- Then you need to remove the sticky layer.
More experienced craftsmen recommend that beginners first moisten the dots or stick in a glass of water before applying the shimmering substance. This is necessary in order to get rid of electrification.
And most importantly, under no circumstances should you remove the sticky layer until the primer has dried. And in the case of liquid mica, for greater effect, it is best to apply it in two layers at once. Compared to dry shimmery material, a manicure with liquid mica will last much longer. In other words, nails will be able to cope well with various scratches and will also be able to withstand any load.
Dry coating instructions:
- Carry out all the preparatory measures: adjust the shape of the nails, sand the surface and degrease. Cover your nails with base coat and dry in a lamp.
- Apply a layer of transparent gel paint (gel polish) and dry.
- Cover the nail with a base layer - do not dry it.
- Grabbing pieces of mica with an orange stick (or brush), spread them over the surface of the nail. The number of pieces and the location of application depend on the chosen design, but in any case, you should try to ensure that the material does not cross the edges of the plate. We send nails with mica to the lamp.
- Apply another layer of base - this way we will drown the protruding corners of the mica. Dry it in a lamp.
- If not all pieces of decor are hidden under the finish, then it is recommended to remove all roughness using a buff, having first removed the stickiness with a cleaner. Use a brush to brush off any dust that has formed.
- Apply sealer (top) and dry.
- Remove the sticky layer (if there is one).
VIDEO INSTRUCTION
Features of liquid mica:
Wet glitter, or as this type of mica is also called, liquid foil, is obedient and easy to use. This is exactly what beginners or those girls who want to master the application technique on their own should start working with.
This option is ideal when working with gels.
- It has the appearance of a fine shiny powder with a soft structure, there are very small particles - like sparkles and medium in size;
- Packaged in jars;
- It fits easier and does not require additional tricks when fastening.
Instructions for applying liquid coating:
- Sand your nails, apply primer and base. Dry in a lamp.
- Cover the plate with a thin layer of the selected gel polish and dry.
- Apply liquid mica with a dry brush, leveling it over the surface so that nothing sticks out anywhere. Place in a lamp to dry for 20 seconds.
- Apply the finishing coat and dry again. Remove stickiness.
The peculiarity of this material is that it can be mixed with the selected gel polish, significantly simplifying and speeding up the work. You will get a completely new design with halftones and shine.
Using mica, you can create a variety of designs, highlighting only a certain area of the plate or the protruding edge of the nail, as when performing a French manicure. In this case, mica is applied to a ready-made design, from which the sticky layer has not been removed.
As a result, the particles will remain only in those areas where they are needed and it will be possible to complete the decor by, if desired, further decorating the surface and covering it with a topcoat. In this way, you can create a bright, festive manicure that matches the mood and image of the girl.
Many modern nail designers use a wide variety of materials and nail design methods.
Mica for nails is one of the most important and interesting substances in beauty salons. What is it and how to work with this substance?
Interesting combinations
When applying liquid mica, it is recommended to use stickers or stencils. For example, in the form of a moon jacket, equal angles and much more.
The most interesting combinations:
- Deep blue glitter and black gel polish.
- Black gel polish and purple liquid mica.
- Black gel polish and gold glitter.
- Black gel polish and lime mica.
- Blue, crimson and turquoise gel polish with silver sparkling splashes.
Thanks to the right color palette, you can create a truly exclusive manicure. In addition, it is worth noting that this design will be ideal for any season of the year and any style of clothing.
Win-win manicure options
Such interesting options for nail designs with mica include the following:
- Broken glass effect. This design will look great for the warmer seasons, for example, spring and summer. Quite often, representatives of the fair sex use the rainbow effect for mica nail designs. The photo posted in this article confirms this.
- French. The application technique is similar to a classic French jacket, but, unlike it, it will look much more impressive. A girl with such a manicure will definitely be the center of attention. For a more contrasting shade, you can use either liquid or dry mica.
- Honeycomb effect. This year this design is very relevant and in demand. The only thing that is required for its high-quality execution is the use of high-quality materials and the experience of the craftsman.
- Glitter. This effect is mainly used in wedding manicure.
- "New Year's manicure." Mica is very often used in this manicure; according to statistics, it is 90%. In this version of manicure, even the most incredible ideas can be realized. Combinations of such shades as:
- dark blue and silver;
- fiery red and elven green;
- lilac and mustard;
- golden and burgundy.
6. “Abstract” design. This manicure can add aristocracy and nobility to any image.
Matte manicure with mica
The combination of glossy and matte textures, contrasting colors in manicure, and various types of designs is always a spectacular and sophisticated version of nail design. Matte manicure with glitter mica is a beautiful manicure design where everyone wins. You should pay attention to the compatibility of the shining shades of mica and the shade of the selected base varnish. It will make an ideal pair with gold, black, red, burgundy, brown, green, and purple mica. For silver mica, matte varnish in black, gray, red, white, blue, pink is ideal.
