At the peak of popularity, there was a nail design that mimics a sweater. To get such an original effect, you don't have to go to the salon, do it yourself. One of the most popular nail design options is a knitted manicure or a sweater effect on nails, such a manicure looks stylish, original and unusual. Of course, you can visit a beauty salon and use the services of an experienced master, but knowing some of the subtleties of this process, a beautiful and stylish manicure is quickly done on your own.
You don't have to be a professional artist to create simple lines that mimic the pattern of a warm sweater, but you should familiarize yourself with the rules for working with gel polish.
Creating a knitted manicure at home
The main feature of a knitted manicure is that it looks gorgeous anyway, even if it was not done very carefully. Small design flaws give a certain identity and originality.
To make a stylish and fashionable manicure with a sweater effect on your own, you need to know a few simple rules that will help simplify your work:
- It is important that the shade of the base varnish and the varnish used to create the pattern exactly match. It is this varnish that will give the nails a 3D effect, making them really look like a warm sweater. To make the ornament brighter and more original, you can use other shades of varnish, but they must be combined.
- You can not cover untreated nails with gel polish. First you need to do a classic manicure, the cuticle must be removed, the nails are given the desired shape. It is important that the surface of the nail plate is perfectly smooth. The surface of the nail is degreased, due to which the base layer of the gel polish adheres to its surface more tightly, and the manicure will remain in perfect condition for longer.
- Knitted manicure can be performed in different techniques - patterns are drawn with gel polish, after which acrylic powder or velvet sand is added. Depending on the experience in nail design, the technique will also be selected. If you have not previously encountered this area, it is best to use only gel polish. If you have experience and the appropriate skills, you can use acrylic powder or velvet sand. It is these materials that make it possible to play with the texture, and the patterns are more complex, the manicure looks perfect and is almost indistinguishable from the work of a professional master.
What materials are needed to create a knitted manicure?
To create a stylish and trendy manicure with a warm sweater effect, you need to use the following materials:
- Gel polish - the most popular brand is shellac. This material is of high quality and does not have a high cost, therefore, it is ideal for creating a stylish manicure at home. A base coat and a top must be used under the gel polish.
- Velvet sand - helps to give the manicure a soft and slightly rough texture that resembles real fabric. After the velvet sand is applied to the gel polish, it adheres as tightly as possible, thanks to which the manicure will remain in perfect condition longer.
- Lamp for drying varnish - sold in specialized stores, it can also be ordered online.
- Thin brush - any artistic brush can be used, while the choice of diameter directly depends on the desired pattern.
- Pusher - allows you to remove excess residues of velvet sand or acrylic powder from nails after the manicure is completely finished.
- Acrylic Powder is a versatile tool that is ideal for creating voluminous patterns on the nails. A drawing can also be created using gel polish, but for this you need to apply several layers and the result will be a beautiful and stylish knitted pattern. It is much easier to make everything with acrylic powder, and the lines are more convex, allowing you to get a 3D effect. Acrylic powder will become an indispensable tool for drawing fine lines and small details. You can use clear or colored acrylic powder. When choosing a colored acrylic powder, it must be borne in mind that its shade must match the varnish. If you are having difficulty finding the perfect tone, it is best to use a transparent one.
Knitted manicure design
Knitted manicure is relevant not only in winter, but also in the warm season, especially if you use additional ornaments.
Straight lines
Quite often, when creating a knitted manicure, a straight vertical line is used. As a rule, two straight lines are made on the sides, which frame the pigtail or other main pattern.
Straight lines may seem very simple at first, but creating them requires not only precision, but also accuracy. First, it's best to practice a little on paper so that you don't have to redo the entire manicure. Don't rush or break the line, or it will look messy.
It is important that all lines drawn are approximately the same width. There should always be a pusher at hand, which quickly removes all mistakes and shortcomings, the line is adjusted until the pattern has dried.
Pigtails
This is one of the most popular patterns for a sweater-effect manicure. Pigtails are created simply and quickly, but this ornament also requires clarity and accuracy - all elements must have the same width, length and angle of inclination.
To depict a pigtail, you can simply draw oblique curls, if you make them thicker, minor defects will remain invisible. There is another way to draw a pigtail - to depict two lines that intertwine with each other. This option is more complex, while it must be applied with a very thin brush, trying to get the smallest possible elements of the picture. You can use acrylic powder.
It is better to refuse such a pattern for owners of short nails, since in this case the pigtail will not look good.
Herringbone
This pattern is most popular during the cold season, but it can also be done in bright colors. Since the lines are straight and short, this pattern is very easy to make. Most importantly, you need to constantly monitor the angle of inclination of the lines. As a rule, the street pattern is performed in the direction from the base of the nail plate to its end, but you can also choose the opposite direction.
Rhombuses
Another version of the popular print for nail design, which looks like a knitted sweater pattern. Rhombuses look most advantageous on long nails. In order for the drawing to turn out not only beautiful, but also understandable, three rhombuses must fit on the nail plate.
Points
As a rule, dots are placed on the sides of the nail plate, making the drawing complete and harmonious. To apply dots, it is best to use acrylic powder, because if you make them with gel polish, they can turn out to be slightly smeared and not very neat. Particular attention should be paid to the overall impression of the finished pattern so that the combination of the pattern is harmonious. The dots are small elements of a large pattern, therefore, if placed on the sides, the lines of the pattern itself should not be very wide.
How to make a knitted manicure with gel polish?
If you plan to do a knitted manicure yourself, it is best to stop choosing a gel polish. Using a simple varnish, the finished drawing will turn out to be too flat, and gel polish helps to achieve a 3D effect, the braids will be voluminous, resembling a knitted pattern.
To make a knitted manicure with gel polish yourself, you must adhere to the following step-by-step instructions:
- a base coat for gel polish is applied to the nails, dried for one minute under an ultraviolet lamp;
- one layer of gel polish is applied and placed under the lamp for two minutes, after which the second is applied and dried for the same time;
- using a thin brush, the selected pattern is applied to the nail - for example, stripes, rhombuses, ovals or pigtails;
- to create the effect of a knitted sweater, it must be remembered that the pattern should be the same color as the base varnish;
- sequentially, patterns are applied three to four times until the desired volume is obtained, while each layer must be dried with a lamp;
- the nails are covered with a top and dried again.
Knitted Velvet Sand Manicure
To create this version of a knitted manicure, you need a pusher (a special spatula for manicure) and velvet sand. The work is carried out according to the following instructions:
- first, the shade of the gel polish is selected, which must necessarily match the color of the velvet sand used;
- a base coat is applied to the nail plate, after which it is dried under an ultraviolet lamp;
- two layers of gel polish are applied alternately, each of which is dried for several minutes under a lamp;
- nails are covered with a top, then the top sticky layer is necessarily removed;
- with a thin brush on the nails with gel polish, a pattern is applied in several layers (it was described in the first version of creating a knitted manicure);
- the drawing is sprinkled with velvet sand (the layer should be as thin as possible), using a pusher, the sand is evenly distributed over the pattern;
- for three minutes, the nails are dried under a lamp;
- the remains of velvet sand that are outside the pattern are removed with a cotton pad or brush.
There is no need to reapply the top, as the pattern will be less distinct and the beautiful velvet texture will be smoothed out.
Knitted manicure with acrylic powder
The main difference between acrylic powder and velvet sand is that it is finer, so you can draw the thinnest lines in the pattern:
- a base layer is applied and dried;
- alternately two layers of the selected shade of gel polish are applied and each must be dried under a lamp;
- a top is applied to the nails, after which the top sticky layer is removed;
- a drawing is applied with gel polish in several layers and each must be dried;
- as a rule, transparent acrylic powder is used, but you can also choose a color one that should match the tone of the nails;
- sprinkle nails with a layer of acrylic powder;
- nails are dried under a lamp, and the remnants of powder are removed;
- no top covering required.
Knitted manicure is the latest fashion trend, and to create it, it is not necessary to visit beauty salons and use the expensive services of a master. By adhering to the recommendations above, you can do everything yourself at home.
How to make a knitted manicure with your own hands at home, see below:
