It’s hard to ignore statement gems and crystals and we all know why people are sticking them to bags, shoes, and yes, nails. Today’s guide will teach you how to apply Swarovski crystals on your nails so they will stick longer and look nice longer.
Table of Contents
Types of Swarovski Crystals
There are hundreds of variations of Swarovski crystals
at any one time, and they differ based on color and form. We can’t possibly discuss them all, but we can give you a good idea of the major categories so you can select the ones that you think will work the best with your artistic visions.
Flat Backs No Hotfix
Flat Backs No Hotfixs are crystals with extra brilliance. These are loose crystal elements that have been affixed with platinum foiling. The platinum foiling provides additional protection and also helps boost the brilliance of the crystals.
Crystalpixie
Crystalpixie for Nails is amazing nail embellishments. Crytalpixies are smaller than your usual Swarovski crystals and they are used extensively for intricate nail art to create sparkling designs on nails. These are sold in boxes of individual colors, so if you have a design in mind, it’s best to have a general idea of what colors you will need so you can buy all of them in one go.
Round stones can be frosted or partly frosted and they look the part of the classical diamond simulant that Swarovski crystals are known for. They’re round and beautiful, and you can use them if you want a more classical look on your nails.
Crystal pearls
Crystal pearls are unique and silky, just like real pearls, and they are resistant to scratches and common abrasions that take place when you apply nail art.
Crystal pearls are also resistant to common chemicals found in perfumes and even perspiration. You can expect crystal pearls to last longer. These come in a multitude of colors and textures, and they can either be knotted or threaded, too.
Fancy Stones
Fancy stones feature the most diversity when it comes to forming (shapes, mainly) and colors. If you are experimental and would like to push the limits with what you can do with nail art, we highly recommend Fancy Stones. There is a round, oval, baroque mirror, and other designs available from Swarovski Crystals.
What Tools Should Be Used?
There are a couple of tools that will always be useful for creating nail art, and here they are:
- Tweezers – Try to get manicure tweezers as these are easier to grip and they can properly grip even the smallest crystals. Aside from a solid wrist while applying Swarovski crystals, you need a pair of manicure tweezers that will not constantly slip and drop the small crystals.
If you are using regular flatbacks, you’re going to be fine with regular tweezers, but if you are going to use fancy stones and smoother crystal pearls, there is bound to be a lot of frustration along the way.
- Nail art tape – Nail art tape secures spaces on the nails while you are painting. This may also be useful if you want to paint small motifs onto the nails after applying the crystals.
- Dotting tool – These are used to create small dots on the nails with precision. With nail art, details are everything, to the ability to create the smallest changes to the design works in the favor of the designer, always.
- Swarovski crystals
– We’ve listed down the major categories of modern crystals being produced today, so feel free to pick from them. Crystals come in a variety of sizes and colors, and it is your design that will determine what combinations you should purchase for your upcoming nail art. - Adhesives – A variety of adhesives are used for nail art: nail polish, glues, resins, and gels. The best adhesion comes from gel adhesives as these are waterproof and chemical-proof as well. You can use gels and resins, too, but these don’t have the same durability as gels.
Nail polish is the least reliable adhesive, and you should only use nail polish if you are only after short-term adhesion. Take note that the crystals will eventually snag and fall off after a short period if you don’t use the right type of adhesive for your nail art.
Steps to Apply Swarovski Crystals on Nails
Apply the top coat to your nail before anything else. When the topcoat on your nails has dried, proceed with applying a thick layer of the adhesive throughout the nail. If you can use a UV gel adhesive that has thicker viscosity, do so. Do not cure the UV gel adhesive before applying the crystals.
Next, depending on what kind of crystals you have, you either have to apply the stones one by one to the nails or pour the smaller crystals over the nails over a tray lined with cotton. The cotton will catch the excess. Smaller crystals that are used for glitter designs should be poured straight from the bottle, as these are too small even for the best manicure tweezers.
After applying the stones, crystals or glitters, press down on your creation gently with a clean and dry brush to push out any excess adhesives and to create sufficient pressure to maintain the bond between the platinum foiling and the top coat of your nails. Any excess glue or glue that is pushed out should be removed as these can easily ruin the design. Use a thinner and finer brush to seal the edges of the nails, taking care not to touch the skin. There is no need to cure.
Tips to Keep Crystal Longer
It is not recommend to apply UV gel over crystals as it will affect the shiny of crystal. So, to keep crystals stay on nails longer, it is recommended to repeat the last step that using a thinner brush dips some top coat to seal the edge of crystal for better adhesion.
