Aquarium nail design 2022: how to do it correctly (with photos), technique, tips

Well-groomed hands and nails are one of the most important components of a woman’s image. Therefore, nail designers are constantly improving previously known manicure techniques and creating unique new designs that allow fashionistas to always stay on top, emphasize their uniqueness and look attractive. Aquarium nail design, as a way of self-expression, can be done independently. This is a relatively new technique in nail design, which has thoroughly taken a leading position on the Olympus of fashion. The popularity of this trend is growing exponentially. What is the secret of his popularity? This is what we have to find out today.

Features of aquarium nail design

The cost of such a design in showrooms is catastrophically high. But that doesn't stop the fashion lionesses. Why?

Everything can be explained by the advantageous features it has:

Versatility and volume. The design “under glass” looks very unusual and extremely beautiful. The inner layer can be created from a variety of decorative elements, including volumetric ones.
Versatility. When the situation changes dramatically, for example, you are an office worker and the organization’s dress code does not accept such a design, you can cover your nails with any solid color that does not contradict it. Then feel free to delete it without damaging the original image.
Deadlines. If your manicure is properly cared for, it will last you about 3 months. Neither the top layer nor the picture inside undergoes wear and does not fade. True, there is one condition, since the nail grows, then as it grows, it is necessary to make a correction - to complement or modify the picture.
Practicality. Visually the volume seems quite large. However, the entire internal decor is securely fixed, the surface of the plate remains flat. Therefore, you can do any homework. The quality and appearance of the manicure does not suffer.
Self-sufficiency. This manicure is so unusual and original that it attracts outside glances many times more often than expensive jewelry on the hand. You can refuse them, remaining constantly in the spotlight.

In this video you will see why aquarium design has gained such total popularity.

Benefits of aqua nail design

If you maintain an aquarium manicure, it will last at least 3 months. Over time, the nail design of the aquarium can be corrected and painted on.
Since the decorative motifs and patterns are deep in the thickness of the gel polish, they do not wear off over time like a regular manicure.
Some people are confused by the not always appropriate brightness of aqua design. But if necessary, you can cover transparent nails with a layer of discreet regular varnish, and then wash it off.
Despite its impressive appearance, aqua manicure is very practical. The surface of the nail is even and smooth, which allows you to calmly go about your daily activities without fear of getting caught on something, breaking something, etc.

If you know how to do a manicure using gel polish, doing aquarium nail extensions yourself will not be difficult for you. We offer step-by-step instructions to help beginners.

You can perform an aqua manicure in two ways: using transparent tips or gel nail extensions. First, perform a classic manicure, and then prepare the nail plates. They need to be treated with an antiseptic, sanded, the cuticle pushed back and the edge trimmed. Then apply a primer to level the surface.

What kind of design is there?

There are many ways to perform aqua manicure. You can highlight either a few accent nails or all five on each hand. For those who are truly bored by everyday life, you can make an unusual jacket in the form of imitation animal fur or something else - it all depends on your imagination and taste preferences.

Techniques that are at the peak of popularity:

painting;
modeling;
acrylic drawings;
glitter compositions;
combinations of stones, pearls and broths, dried flowers.

Luxurious lace design

Luxurious and elegant lace, made using sophisticated aquarium technique, looks simply stunning. Pieces of this material can be used both on each nail and on individual fingers. At the same time, this decor can be safely complemented with sparkles, rhinestones and other decorations. When performing such a design on natural nude nails, it is best to choose a very thin material or patterns using the stamping technique.

For which marigolds is aquarium design suitable?

Aquamanicure is convenient for long and short nails. Most often performed simultaneously with extensions. The design only seems convex, but in fact it is uniform and does not cling to any third-party surfaces. The interior design is covered with a layer of acrylic, which is why it creates the impression of being under glass.

Extensions

On such nails it is very convenient to create designs in the form of sculpting and drawing. The longer they are, the more space there is for the realization of artistic imagination.

Alternatively, you can use tips if you make it yourself. On a removable plate, abstract motifs will be more neat and well-drawn.

Short

For short periods, aquamanicure will act somewhat differently. An already short nail will appear smaller, and the visual volume will hide the length. Therefore, the build-up still needs to be done, at least small.

When choosing an aquarium design, you need to approach the style very carefully. Carnival or too pretentious will be judged by outsiders as a sign of bad taste. Besides, you yourself will soon get tired of it.

Length and shape of nails for aquarium manicure

The shape of the extended nail can be any: stiletto, oval or square , you should focus on personal taste, and also take into account what best suits the shape of the hands, the desired image and a specific design.

Spectacular aquarium manicure on sharp nails

When choosing the length, you should take into account how long you plan to wear these nails. With regular correction, an aquarium manicure can last up to three months, and the average growth rate of nails is about 1 millimeter per week, so if you plan to wear it for that long, you shouldn’t immediately make it the maximum length. But the longer the nails, the more interesting the pattern you can create.

Step-by-step algorithm for nail art at home

You can implement the idea yourself only if you have all the necessary materials and tools:

Ultraviolet lamp;
gel base;
gel for foundation;
primer;
color gel;
top gel;
colored paints;
brushes, dots;
decorative material.

It is necessary to strictly follow the sequence of actions and the required time in the drying lamp. Only in this situation will the result please you. Your hands will look very stylish and young.

Aqua manicure design with gel

The tools you need to prepare

colorless gel;
household UV lamp;
primer;
materials for work: sparkles, rhinestones, dried flowers and whatever your heart desires;
nail polish remover;
lint-free wipes;
files for filing.

Sequencing

Step 1. Give the nails the desired shape.
Step 2. Degrease the surfaces of the plates.
Step 3. Apply the first layer (primer), dry for 2 minutes.
Step 3. Apply the 2nd layer, but now with gel (not thick).
Step 4. Before it freezes, quickly lay out the planned composition. For the inexperienced, you can limit yourself to simple sparkles. As your skill level increases, your motives can become more complex.
Step 5. Place the nails in the lamp and dry for the same 2 minutes.
Step 6. Apply another layer of gel. It should completely cover the decorative elements. To check this, look at the surface from the side by raising your hand. We also dry everything for 2 minutes.
Step 7. All that remains is to remove the sticky layer with a lint-free cloth moistened in liquid.
Step 8. Cover everything with colorless varnish. We moisturize the cuticle with oil or nourishing cream.

It is recommended to use this method for those who have at least the slightest idea how to work with gel. Or those who constantly go to salons and know by heart what the master does, why and how.

Stages of creating aqua design on natural nails

To create the effect of an aquarium, you need to have on hand a colorless gel polish or acrylic, a primer (base), and decorative elements. Steps to create an aquarium effect on your nails:

first do a classic manicure (treat the cuticle area, form a shape, degrease the surface for better adhesion of materials);
apply primer or base, dry under an ultraviolet lamp;
cover with a thin layer of gel or varnish (colored, colorless), dry;
form a composition, harmoniously distribute the elements on the surface, cover with a thick layer of gel or acrylic;
remove the stickiness, cover with top, hold your hands under an ultraviolet lamp until completely dry.

The same aquamanicure, only with varnish

The tools are the same as in the previous description, only instead of gel we take varnish. The algorithm of actions is the same. You cannot dry the varnish in a lamp, so we wait until it dries naturally.

There is no difference between these two methods, except time. The first one is done much faster, drying is carried out better. After the latter, the coating is very durable and difficult to damage.

In the second, drying the varnish takes a lot of time. After completing the last step, the finish cannot be said to be strong. It takes several hours for it to dry completely.

Combined with French

You can decorate your nails using the aquarium technique in any way you like, and in each individual case you can get pretty gorgeous results. Including French style.

For clarity, let’s look at a few successful projects:

An original idea for summer, made using fimo on a fruit theme.
The nude background with rhinestones and sparkles looks laconic. This design can be a worthy addition to any bow.
A voluminous motif using dried flowers with glitter will not leave romantic natures indifferent.
Look how beautiful and elegant a floral-themed jacket looks, decorated with almond-shaped bouillons.
Translucent with printed printing can liven up the most boring image.
Another variation of the French coat using colored sand looks very original and feminine.
Small shells and sparkles, neatly drawn with a brush - an ideal marine theme, appropriate for a summer holiday.
An original traditional jacket, decorated with a floral accent, will completely complete your evening outfit.
Sequins and helium detailing in a delicate color palette will add femininity and sophistication to the image.

The video will tell you how it all looks with your own eyes.

Ideas for aquarium manicure

For girls who watch their figure and love to treat themselves to healthy delicacies, a fruit manicure made in the form of a French manicure is suitable.

French with fruit using aqua design technique

For romantic people, an image of the starry sky will come in handy if you add gold foil and sparkles to a dark background.

Starry sky in aquarium manicure

Ideas for designing an aquarium manicure can come from interests and preferences, hobbies, and natural phenomena. You can use almost any picture, transform any image or artistic motif.

See another bright idea of aquadesign and its implementation in the video.

Ideas for Perfect Nail Art

A few simple, fresh ideas for stylish aqua decor.

Flowers

One of the trending trends is floral themes. The motifs turn out to be truly dazzlingly beautiful, voluminous, and delicate. This decor seems to breathe femininity.

But this is how they look on nails of medium length and elongated. This effect cannot be achieved on short nails.

Sequins and glitter

Sparkling decor is always a win-win option for an evening outfit. They can be used to decorate any length of plates. Glitter can be mixed with different shades.

This technique is especially relevant when performing the ombre smooth stretch technique. You can mix different tones, but the most universal choice is the pastel group.

Foil

An ideal material for creating an amber jacket. Manicure foil is freely sold in stores and is inexpensive. Together with it, acrylic powder can often be used in decoration; it forms the surface of the newly extended nail plate along with the base coat.

Foil, if it is in the form of a sheet, is cut into small pieces and laid out in the desired shape, motif, design.

Fimo

This is a polymer based clay. The most popular component in aqua manicure design. Most often, summer versions of ideas are made from it, which is why clay has such a multi-colored, rich and bright range.

Compositions are formed by thinly sliced elements. To ensure that the particles are securely fixed, not one, but several layers of transparent gel are applied on top of them. And due to the fact that fimo is a very fine material, it can be used to play with reverse French manicure and French manicure in any way you like.

Broths with sequins

When choosing them for decoration, it is very important to take into account color, shape, especially size. Sequins are good for decorating with a marine theme.

The broths are fixed with several finishing layers of gel, since they are very voluminous. They can be easily combined with glitter.

A few recommendations from reputable experts

It takes a lot of time to create the technology we are considering. And everyone who sets this goal wants the result to last as long as possible.

Before you start learning and working, try to remember the following:

It is highly undesirable to use hand cream before the procedure. This will negatively affect the coupling.
When degreasing, use exclusively lint-free wipes. Lint is more likely than any other reason to lead to peeling or cracking.
If the paint is poorly pigmented, it will look dull and unnoticeable. Too rich and bright will negate tenderness and sophistication.
It is better to select the color of the material for work that is similar or contrasting to the palette of the evening dress. It is not recommended to choose the tone-on-tone option.
The number of crystals, stones and voluminous sparkles must be chosen carefully. Sometimes it happens that they are completely out of place in the overall picture. Under a transparent layer, kamifubuki will look more advantageous.
In order for the manicure and bow to merge into a single harmony (for a very important event in life), it is better to choose the design to match a specific outfit, jewelry or handbag. This way it won’t look too flashy in the overall picture of the bow.
To prevent the length of short nails from seeming even shorter, choose discreet and not too voluminous motifs. And then, you don’t need to design all the short plates the same way. Accentuate just a few fingers.
To make your manicure last longer, protect it from too aggressive environments and frequent temperature changes.

If you want to make a voluminous aqua decor, remember a few important nuances. Anything you plan to glue to the top gel layer will touch third-party surfaces.

To level this out, you will need to apply several layers. This will significantly thicken the nail plate. Too thick nails do not look very neat, to put it mildly.

Before “hanging” something on your nail, think (or better yet, imagine in your mind) how it will look later and whether these elements are appropriate. Be beautiful!

Decor for an aquarium effect

For aquarium design, any small detail, element of something, fragment or piece of an object is suitable as decor. To create a composition you can use:

silver, gold, multi-colored mica;
the foil is smooth or wrinkled. Creates an interesting textured surface;
powder, sand, glitter, marble chips;
beads, bouillons, beads, rhinestones;
live and dry plants;
lace material;
pieces of photographs, newspapers.

Using decor, a stained glass canvas is formed. Plain or multi-colored sand is used as the basis of the composition on which the rest of the decor is laid out.

Broths and sequins

Decorative elements of a flat shape are easier to seal with gel. The broths have a spherical shape, the sequins are flat. Therefore, it is better to place beads in the depths of the composition, sequins on top.

Foil design

Smooth or embossed pieces of foil change the textured space of the composition. The result is an unusual, universal, aesthetic design. A manicure using foil is appropriate for any dress code, and at the same time it looks elegant and seductive. Fragments of foil create a whimsical, unusual stained glass window under a transparent layer of gel or acrylic. Foil goes perfectly with colored sand, sparkles, and mini rhinestones. Suitable for nails of any length.

French

The aquarium jacket can be done in any version. For romantic people, it’s great to combine dried flowers and sparkles; for active, expressive people, their smile is highlighted with bright sparkles; for ladies of Balzac’s age, an elegant jacket with flowers and multi-colored sand is suitable.

Gradient technique

The gradient technique is characterized by harmonious transitions from one color to another. Use sequins and sparkles of different shades as decoration.

Acrylic powder and modeling

You can make any decorations from acrylic mass. The combination of stucco molding and acrylic powder looks elegant and harmonious. Large details look better on long nails.

Fimo aquarium design

Aquarium design manicure with fimo is preferable to do on long nails. From thinly sliced polymer clay you can sculpt any objects that require reliable fixation with gel. The fruit theme is in demand in aquarium design.

Aquarium design with water

The idea is that water is sealed inside the composition. A minimum of decorations in the design, the main accent is water bubbles.

Rhinestones, sparkles and feathers

The use of glitter gives the manicure brightness and freshness. Sequins and rhinestones sparkle effectively, shimmer in the rays of light, and look elegant and luxurious. A manicure with sparkles and rhinestones goes perfectly with feathers.

3D effect with dried flowers

Dried flowers sealed in gel (acrylic) look incredible. Dry plants and flowers harmonize well with colored sand and fine sparkles. Perfect for women with a romantic soul.

Lace design

A beautiful lace fabric on the nails adds tenderness, romance, sophistication, and lightness to the image. Pieces of lace can be placed on each nail or on one or two, add sparkles and mini beads. It is advisable to use thin lace fragments or ready-made stencils in the stamping style.

Design with shells

To create an aquarium from shells, you can take pieces (crumbs) from natural shells, artificial shells from acrylic, or ready-made shell decor from other materials. The volume and richness of the composition requires long nails for full placement of all decorative elements on the surface.