Transparent manicure with glitter: ideas, trendy options

Nail art with “negative space”, or, as they say in common parlance, transparent manicure, is not a new concept at all, but this does not mean that it is not relevant. The presented trend was noticed at Fashion Week, which was held in 2015 in New York, and since then it has been wandering from season to season, transforming and enriching itself with designs. Nowadays, transparent manicure with glitter is such a popular phenomenon that it can safely be called a trend.

Why is it so in demand?

Today there are a huge number of different manicure ideas. Some people believe that the brighter the nails, the more beautiful they are, and if you add rhinestones, they will even become a work of art. Others prefer laconicism and simplicity, so they choose something discreet but beautiful, for example, a transparent manicure with glitter. This is a tribute to fashion; many girls adore glossy magazines, follow trends, which means they cannot miss fashion trends in manicure.

Wedding manicure with glitter

Of course, glitter is used more often in wedding manicures than in any other. If the celebration is just around the corner, carefully study our photo gallery: perhaps one of these images will suit you.

Advantages

The main advantages that you should pay attention to when choosing a manicure with clear varnish and glitter:

The transparent base is an excellent opportunity for flight of fancy. You can choose any decoration, not just sparkles. True, sparkles on transparent nails look neat, cute and not provocative.
The effect of well-groomed and clean nails is created.
A transparent manicure with glitter is suitable for short nails, as well as for long ones. Its versatility is its main advantage.
This manicure can be done quickly and easily; this is especially true for business girls who find it difficult to fit trips to salons into their busy schedule.
The coating can be kept on the nails for a long time and will not be noticeable if they grow back.
It's natural, which means it's fashionable.
Any craftsman has a clear varnish in his arsenal.

Dark gray nail art with glitter

The main feature of a gray manicure using dark tones is expressiveness. This, of course, is not comparable to the brightness of blue or red nail art, but for a harmonious image you still have to take care of softening the shades, especially if they are as close to black as possible. As in the previous example, the coating can be monochromatic, with shiny accents on one or more fingers. The matte texture in this case looks especially chic. Among the attractive ideas are manicure design “different hands” using several colors of varnish, manicure with clearly drawn geometric shapes, nails with glitter and rubbing, “knitted” patterns on a shiny base, as well as all sorts of combined variations, for example, a French twist with glitter or design with gel web.

Choosing a clear varnish

Choosing quality material is not so easy if you don’t know anything about its features. Before doing a transparent manicure with glitter, you should learn a little more about this type of varnish and what nuances to pay attention to when choosing it:

Transparent varnish differs from colored varnish in terms of drying time and consistency. This is immediately obvious, so take this fact into account.
The product must contain an ingredient called a film former. This component eliminates the possibility of chipping after the varnish has hardened.
The photoinitiator is also an important component of the product. It is responsible for protecting the gel from ultraviolet radiation.

Interesting decorating ideas

Making a transparent manicure with glitter is not difficult, but you can diversify the design a little with interesting solutions. This is a fairly common design option for nails, because such a design is in no way tied to a specific event, image, or even time of year. Now there are a variety of transparent manicure ideas with glitter that are worth talking about:

Decoration with glitter. These are shimmering sparkles of different sizes that look spectacular on short nails.
Rhinestones. You can not only apply a little sparkle, but also complement the design with rhinestones in a scattered or ordered form, it all depends on your imagination. This is the perfect manicure for the New Year.
Confetti. Sequins can emphasize individuality and add brightness to ordinary workdays. A beautiful option and very popular among young students.
Pixie. This is an option for brave girls. These manicure glitters look a little like confetti. However, they are more pliable and have a unique geometric shape.

As you can see, there are a lot of creation options, and these are not all the ideas for transparent manicure with glitter, the main thing is to choose something that suits your style.

Multi-colored manicure with sparkles

The color of the base polish should not conflict with the color of the glitter. What combinations are the best? Find the answer in the photo galleries below.

Pink

The soft pink shade is neutral, so it goes perfectly with any other colors. But pink manicure looks especially attractive in combination with silver or golden glitter. If we are talking about brighter shades of pink (for example, fuchsia), it is better to avoid clashes with contrasting bright colors.

White

Like pink, white manicure is difficult to ruin with glitter. Don’t limit yourself to the classic “white bottom, silver top” option; try different combinations – and don’t deny yourself even the most daring ones.

Red

Red nail polish is always a bright accent, so only the bravest ones add sparkles to it. Be one of them! And look for inspiration in the pictures below.

Gold

A manicure with gold glitter is practically synonymous with a festive mood. Use this property of golden polish without a special occasion, just to diversify your everyday look.

Blue

From soft blue to cobalt, blue glitter manicures can be completely different, but equally beautiful. We've collected photographic evidence in the gallery below!

Black

“Caviar” coating, a luxurious combination of black and gold, or a delicate coal-black stripe at the very edge of the nail? Or maybe a black manicure with delicate silver rhinestones? All of these manicure options can be very attractive.

Beige

Nail designs in beige, nude or milky gray transform from everyday to festive in one step: just add a little sparkle to the look. In this case, a lunar manicure looks especially impressive - just fill the nail holes with silver or colored sparkles. At the same time, it is not necessary to be careful; you can apply glitter using a gradient technique. Or create unusual “smudges” from them, as in one of the photo examples in our gallery.

What sparkly manicure are you going to get soon? Tell us in the comments!

How to make an interesting manicure yourself?

There are a few simple shortcuts worth mentioning. Here's how to add variety to your marigolds:

The easiest way is a transparent manicure with glitter on the tips. Just apply the polish to the nail, and then use a brush to spread dry glitter on the edges of the nail. Secure everything with a second coat of varnish.
Another application option. Dip a brush already moistened with varnish into glitter and transfer this entire mass to the nail.
The third method is a little different. Paint your nails with clear polish and apply large and medium-sized glitter with a toothpick or thin stick.
Apply clear polish to the desired part of the nail, and then dip your finger in a jar of glitter, they will stick to the part of the nail you need.

Now it’s worth talking about the detailed creation of a manicure with glitter on transparent gel polish. The simplest option is to apply not a dry material, but a liquid colorless base with glitter or dust. Such varnishes are often sold, it is not difficult to buy them. Here's how you can use them:

Get a manicure and give your nails the shape you want. First apply primer to your nails, then cover them with a transparent base, then dry them in a lamp for a certain time.
Choose the color of the nail polish base with glitter, apply it in one or several layers, it all depends on the quality of the material. Do not forget to dry each layer under the lamp for the prescribed time.
The last stage is applying the top so that the surface of the nail is glossy or matte (it all depends on your personal preferences or mood). The top also needs to be dried under a lamp.

This is the simplest manicure that anyone can do, even if they have no experience with gel polishes.

Manicure with glitter 2021-2022: fashion trends

Sparkles around the nails, pearls instead of rhinestones and a “half” manicure – look for the latest ideas for manicure that will be relevant in 2022 in our photo collections.

Jewelry box

Nail decorations in the form of diamonds and sapphires, gold chains and pendants are one of the main trends of this year. Look for similar accessories in craft stores and specialty stores for manicurists.

Pearl earring

The fashion for elements of nail art that resemble precious jewelry has moved on. Another current technique is to use beads that imitate pearls. Decorate the holes or tips of your nails with them, and as a base polish choose beige, soft pink, transparent or any bright one, but always with a matte texture to create the most fashionable nail art.

Side view

Lunar and French manicures, as well as circling the nails, no longer surprise anyone, and beauty bloggers have come up with a new way to capture the imagination of their fans. One of the hottest Instagram trends is to fill only half of the nail plate with polish. Use polish with shimmer or glitter to make this shiny manicure even more eye-catching.

Two in one

Support the idea of a shiny manicure with makeup as well. Of course, you don't have to cover yourself in glitter from head to toe, but adding some loose glitter or a high-shine highlighter to your cheekbones or lips is a great idea.

Going beyond

Add a few glitters not to the nail plate itself, but to the skin around it. Or even “scatter” a few sparkles all over your finger. This technique could be seen at many shows of the autumn-winter season. If you've been looking for a simple way to demonstrate your knowledge of beauty trends to others, this is it!

Glitter plus shimmer

How about a double dose of glitter for your manicure? First, coat your nails with shimmer varnish, and apply a layer of glitter on top (read about the difference between these two products in the same article below). Combine different shades and textures, and if such a manicure still seems excessive to you, create an image in negative space format, leaving the edges of the nails unpainted.

We recommend reading:

Manicure in beige tones 2022
Red French: the brightest manicure trend in 2022
New ideas for manicure

How to make a manicure with shiny stripes?

This is a very unusual and stylish manicure option that will suit every girl, no matter whether her nails are short or long. First, you will need to do a simple manicure, apply a transparent coating to your nails, and then move on to creating shiny stripes:

You should have a special adhesive shiny tape in your arsenal. It should lie flat on the nail, not peel off, or rise.
Simply cut off the excess tape, but do it carefully, because scissors can lift the edge of the strip.
Glue the decor so that you stretch the tape a little. First, you should apply it to the center on a convex point, and then distribute it as convenient for you, pulling it lightly along the edges.
Carefully cut the tape as needed and complete the manicure by applying a top coat.

This is how you get a beautiful manicure with a clear finish and shiny stripes.

How to properly apply dry glitter to gel polish?

If you have small, dry glitter, then the simplest option is the following: first do a manicure, apply a colorless coating and a modeling layer, and then dip your nail in a jar of glitter. Excess can be easily removed by tapping the nail on a hard surface, and then you will need to immediately apply a top coat. This method is ideal if you need to cover the entire surface of the nail.

There is another way to apply dry glitter:

After the manicure is done and the nail plate is covered with a base and modeling layer, you will need to dry the nails in a lamp.
Apply the main pigment in several layers, dry everything under the lamp.
Now apply a thick layer of fancy-shaped gel polish, do not dry it, but carefully sprinkle it with glitter, and only then send your nails to the lamp.
Excess glitter is simply tapped, then top coat is applied.

As you can see, if you spend a little time and effort, you can create a beautiful and unique design with different patterns and sparkles.

Interesting ideas for the holiday

If you are thinking about what kind of manicure to do for the New Year, then here are some original ideas with a transparent coating and glitter:

An original idea now is to decorate one or more nails with sparkles; on the remaining nails you can draw snowflakes.
French manicure in the form of a shiny iridescent line on a transparent base.
Highlighting the iridescent decor with shiny varnish.
Drawing different designs, lines and patterns with glitter.
Ombre. This is a gradual reduction in the application of glitter dust.

What to do with short nails?

If you have short nails, this does not mean that manicure is contraindicated for you. On the contrary, well-groomed hands are always held in high esteem! In addition, excessive length of nails is not in fashion now, and short nails can be easily decorated with taste if you put in a little effort. An excellent solution is a manicure on a transparent background, complemented with rhinestones, sparkles or various decorative elements.

Delicate designs made with sparkles look great on short nails. Flowers, branches, leaves, and cobwebs stand out especially clearly. Sequined lace trim looks interesting and elegant.

Transparent manicure with kamifubiks - a new trend

Sparkles can be completely different components. Kamifubuki is now actively used in manicure. These glittery confetti create a great mood and look great in the evening lighting. Attaching kamifubuki is not difficult, so you can do this nail art yourself. Kamifubuki themselves are made from the thinnest foil or plastic films. The most popular shape is a circle, but confetti in the form of thin stripes, stars or hearts are popular.

How to make your own glitter polish?

If desired, every girl can create glitter polish at home. To do this, you will need to take transparent varnish and loose glitter of various sizes: take more large ones, smaller ones - medium ones, and very few - small ones. Mix everything thoroughly. That's all, the varnish is ready. In this simple way, you can create your own designs by mixing all kinds of glitter colors with each other, however, you should be able to combine shades so that your nails look elegant and not flashy.

This option is available to every girl, while it is also budget-friendly and gives free rein to fantasy and imagination.

Silver sparkles on a nude base: photo 2022

Nude pink shades combine chicly with silver sparkles, both small and large. In the photo below, the basis is a light pink polish, which was made in a matte top. The glitter is quite rich, on the middle finger, they are applied in the middle, and on the ring finger on the sides. At the base of the nail, the glitter is applied more intensely, and at the tips it is less, almost transparent.

Recommendations from professionals

If you have done a transparent manicure with a matte top, then do not forget to wash dishes only with gloves. In addition, with such nails you should be extremely careful: you should not get face or body cream on your nails, because the matte varnish will quickly deteriorate and will not be expressive.

Don’t forget that now not only matte nail art is in fashion, but also glossy. It can be presented in different ways in the form of minimalistic patterns or in a complex way in the form of a “broken glass” manicure, rubbing powder, and so on.

Fashionable ideas for gray nail designs with glitter

As usual, any of our publications begins with a short overview of fashion trends for one or another type of manicure, and gray nail design was no exception. So, let's begin. First of all, what we would like to draw attention to is the fact that any shade of the palette can be used as a base for such a manicure, from dark to the lightest. It can be graphite or granite gray, the color of wet asphalt, steel, monsoon, French gray, ash, smoky, light gray and many other tones with no less original names. At the same time, gray varnishes combine wonderfully with other colors and get along with each other.

As for glitter, silvery particles are considered the constant leader. However, you can always experiment a little and decorate your nails, for example, with golden or black sparkling fragments. Among the current techniques are the unchanging classics of a single-color coating, original variations of the French manicure, lunar design, manicure with patterns, rhinestones and many other proposals. Next, let's talk about everything in order.