White manicure with rubbing: ideas that you will want to repeat

What is a nail rub?

By rubbing we mean a finely dispersed powdery pigment that gives a shiny effect.
Its texture resembles weightless powder or finely ground sand. The size of the glitter varies. It is recommended to use smaller ones for the first layer, and larger ones for the second and subsequent layers. If desired, you can use pigment not only of different sizes, but also of different shades. A brilliant gradient with a smooth flow from one tone to another always looks non-trivial.

The finer the rub, the more densely it is applied and the more uniform the effect.

The rub is sold in miniature jars, just like glitter. The kit often includes a special foam applicator for easy removal of the contents and application to the nails.

The pigment owes its name to the method of application. It is literally rubbed into the surface of the nails. Thanks to its fine dispersion, the pigment adheres perfectly to the base coat. His role is played by:

regular varnish;
gel;
shellac;
acrylic.

Rubbing in requires the mandatory application of a top coat. Otherwise, the pigment will only last until the first hand washing.

Benefits of rubbing

The rub quickly gained success, which is well deserved. Its main advantages include:

a more spectacular result in contrast to gel polishes with a metallic effect and foil;
ease of use - the desired manicure can be done at home;
resistance to water, solvents and sun;
easy removal from nails;
wide variety of designs;
wide selection of colors;
low cost;
economical consumption;
harmless to nails, since it is applied to the base coat.

The rub is used on both long and short nails. In the first case, it looks more impressive due to the larger area of the nail plate. Long nails allow you to see the play of light in all its glory. When using the rub on short nails, it is important to avoid flashy shades. The ideal option is pastel colors. In any case, rubbing draws attention to the manicure, so it must be flawless.

Let's talk about the benefits

Unlike the usual gel polishes with a metallic or foil effect, the rub-in is well resistant to moisture, sunlight and solvents. If you learn how to apply it without the help of professional artists, you can change your look every day without damaging your wallet.

Multi-colored nails with mirror polish

Advantages of rubbing in “mirror shine”:

Easy to apply, no need to purchase special tools, can be used at home;
It can be easily removed from nails without damaging them;
Using rubbing, you can create not only a metallic, but also a sparkling effect;
Suitable for French manicure, in this case the rub is applied only to the “smile” area;
If you apply pigment to gel polish, the effect will last for three weeks;
Securely attaches to nails;
The “mirror shine” nail rub is applied to the varnish coating, so the nail plate is not injured;
Perfectly matches any outfit;
Low cost, consumables are affordable.

Rubbing powder

There are powders on sale in a variety of color options; the most popular are gold, silver, blue and purple colors. The absolute hit of 2021 is the color chameleon.

It is important! When purchasing a “mirror shine” rub, pay attention to the manufacturer and price of the cosmetics. A low-cost product may be of low quality and will not highlight your original manicure, but will only ruin it by forming unsightly stains on the surface of the nail.

Variety of nail polish colors

How to choose a rub

The rub is available in a wide variety of colors. The choice depends on personal preference. Popular shades of the rub are: pearl, red, blue, mother-of-pearl, rainbow, chameleon, gold, pink silver.

It is recommended to match the color of the rub to the base varnish. They must harmonize or complement each other. The rubbing manifests itself differently on each color.

To create a bright and rich manicure, use a base polish in dark shades. In this case, the applied rubbing will give greater depth. And, conversely, for a delicate design, give preference to calm colors, or do not use a substrate at all.

Popular and well-established brands that produce nail rubs are:

Masura;
Zoo Nail Art;
Nika Nagel.

The range of each brand is quite diverse, and prices vary.

Before purchasing, pay attention to the quality of the pigment. Cheap rubs can ruin your manicure by creating unsightly stains of unclear color.

How to use rubbing: important rules

Applying the rub is usually not difficult. The procedure does not require special skills, but has nuances that are important to know. Even a small deviation from the rules can lead to unexpected results.

Nail preparation

Thanks to its shiny effect, the rub accentuates the manicure, so it must be flawless. You cannot steam your hands in water or do a trim manicure. The optimal solution is to use a special product to remove dead skin particles and remove cuticles only with an orange stick.

The nail plate should be perfectly flat. Otherwise, the pigment will rub in poorly, and roughness and unevenness of the nail will be noticeable. Polish your nails thoroughly, remove dust and apply a good base coat to avoid bald spots. If there are any unevenness or kinks or kinks from the extension, do not apply the rub yourself. Contact a specialist who will do micromodeling. Otherwise, the pigment will simply slide into the creases of the nail plate.

It is also important to monitor the condition of the skin of your hands. It should be smooth and moisturized. On unkempt hands, a manicure with rubbing loses its attractiveness.

How to apply the rub

There are no strict rules here. It is allowed to rub the pigment in either with your fingertips or with a special manicure rubber hoof. You can use eye sponges or a brush. The latter should be loose, but soft. This allows the pigment to immediately adhere to the nail in one go.

The choice of application tool depends solely on personal convenience. It is important to distribute the rub evenly over the entire nail plate, including areas near the cuticle and side ridges. It is often difficult to do this with your fingers, so it is still advisable to use a special tool.

How to choose a varnish for rubbing

It is necessary to check the expiration date of the product and its consistency. It should not be thick and viscous.

The color of the polish does not matter when it comes to mirror manicure. It will be completely blocked by rubbing.

How to apply the rub

An important condition is that the rubbing is applied to sticky drying varnish or shellac that has not undergone polymerization. To create a mirror manicure, the top layer, on the contrary, should not be sticky, otherwise there will be no shiny effect.

It is important to apply the base coat as thinly as possible and do not forget to “seal” the nail. To do this, just walk the brush along the cut of the nail plate. Gel polish also needs to be applied thinly. Even gaps and stripes in the coating are acceptable, since the pigment will cover them anyway.

The rubbing must be coated only with a glossy topcoat. Matte finish is on trend today, but in combination with rubbing, it makes nails unattractive.

It is important not to dry out your nails in the periods between applying the base polish, top coat and rubbing. In case of overexposure in the lamp, the pigment simply will not rub in. The mirror rub is applied immediately after drying in the lamp, otherwise it will not fit well on the nails.

How to rub glitter onto gel polish

You will need:

colored gel-based varnish;
glossy top coat;
fan brush;
file;
polishing buff;
sponge;
fine grinding;
Ultraviolet lamp.

Execution technique

Remove cuticles, file and polish your nails.
Degrease the plate and remove nail dust.
Apply a base layer of gel polish and cure in a lamp.
Apply a second coat to your nails and dry again.
Apply some rub to a brush and sprinkle it generously over each nail.
Rub the glitter in with a sponge and dry your nails.
Shake off excess pigment and apply top coat.

Bringing beauty: what you need to rub into gel polish

In order to finally understand what nail rub is, it makes sense to find out exactly how this material is used to create unusual, rich and original nail art. If everything is clear with ordinary acetone coatings, then it’s better to talk in more detail about gel polish.

Remember

To make all types of nail rubs look bright and catchy like in the picture, you should choose a darker and more saturated shade of gel polish as a base. Then the material will have greater depth. If the image chosen is romantic and gentle, for example, like the bride’s, then it is better to choose a light tone of the substrate or abandon it completely.

Secrets and subtleties

In order for the handles to look well-groomed and neat, and the design to be fashionable and beautiful, you should find out a few key points that professional craftsmen share.

Before rubbing the material into the nail plate, it is best to cover the pigmented layer with a non-stick topcoat or wipe off the dispersion layer. Otherwise, it will not be possible to achieve a mirror shine.
The outer surface of the nail must be perfectly smooth and even, otherwise the desired effect from rubbing will not be achieved. Pay special attention to extended nails, which must be done very carefully and filed carefully.
It is very important to properly maintain the polymerization time of gel coatings in the lamp (base, pigment, top). If you overexpose them, the rubbing may not stick to the surface.
You should rub in the powder immediately after you have dried the preparatory layer in a UV or LED lamp.
The procedure for applying pigment can be repeated, but to do this you will have to start all over again, apply the top first, rub in the material and finish with a transparent top.

Professionals know how to use both glossy and matte topcoats to complete the work, which gives a rather entertaining effect. However, if you decide to make a mirror surface, then you need to use only gloss.

What do you need

Just starting to understand what a rub-in manicure is, many people think that they won’t be able to do it themselves at home. In fact, everything is very simple and with some skill and a basic level of training, you can do something similar at home.

Steam your handles, do a cut or machine manicure that you are used to. This is where any process of creating original nail art begins, so this step cannot be skipped. In this case, you need to polish your nails well, otherwise the mirror surface may turn out to be ridged and unsightly.
Degrease and prepare the nail plate with a primer and cover with bonder.
Apply the base coat, making sure to spread it in an even, thin layer. Dry it in a lamp.
Cover your nails with pigmented gel polish and dry thoroughly again for the required time.
Apply topcoat without topcoat and dry again.
Using a brush, fingertips or a special applicator, apply the powder to your nails and gently rub into the surface.
Brush off excess powder with a clean brush or sponge.
Apply a finishing gloss or matte topcoat and dry it well under the lamp again.

If necessary, the procedure can be repeated, but you should ensure that the thickness of the coating is not excessive.

Features of rubbing-prism

The finest powder for rubbing into nails is called a prism, which provides a unique 3D effect on the nails of its owner. This material is often confused with holographic, but this is not true, since the powder is much finer and looks like glitter, even with a rather sparse application. The prism looks like mother-of-pearl from a sea shell sparkling in the sun.

Depending on your needs, taste and immediate preferences, you can choose any shade of substrate for this type of material. On dark varnishes it will look deeper and more saturated, but delicate light colors also look very original and festive. If we talk about classics, then ideally you need to take white or black varnish as a base.

Chafer

Another unusual nail rub is the cockchafer (chameleon or northern lights), which looks unusual and stylish on nails. Most often, such powder is produced in golden, greenish and bluish tones, sometimes turning into purple.

Depending on the color of the substrate, the saturation of the hue or its muting may change, so there is a lot of room for experimentation. If the powder in the jar looks orange, beige, or even golden yellow, don't be alarmed. After application, it will become as stated by the manufacturer.

Fashionable design

The final version and appearance of the manicure will directly depend on the quality of the materials you choose, so you shouldn’t save money and it’s better to give preference to products from well-known companies and brands. You should choose a brush or sponge that is loose and soft so that the powder is held securely on it and does not scatter all over the table while working. When it comes to fashion trends, there is a lot to think about.

One-color manicure with rubbing on all nails of one or both hands.
Isolation of one nail or several plates on both or one hand.
Decorating manicure with kamifubuki, rhinestones, stones, broths and other decorative elements.
French manicure or reverse (moon) French.
Drawings highlighted with powder on the nail plate.
The combination of powder rub and matte top coat is also extremely popular and will suit almost any look.

Marigolds with a gradient rub look good. True, only a well-trained master can do such a manicure, because creating a smooth transition from one shade to another will not be easy.

How to properly rub in “mirror shine”

You will need:

fan brush;
file;
polishing buff;
colored gel polish;
glossy top coat without a sticky layer;
black varnish base;
mirror rubbing;
drying lamp.

Execution technique

Perform a hygienic manicure: remove the cuticles, give the nails the desired shape and polish. The last procedure directly determines how well the rub will be distributed.
Degrease your nails, apply a thin layer of base varnish and dry under a lamp.
Cover your nails with gel polish and dry again.
Apply top coat and dry your nails.
Take a little rubbing onto a brush and spread over the entire plate. It is important not to leave any gaps.
Brush off any remaining pigment and coat your nails with two coats of a glossy finish, allowing time to dry in between.

To enhance the mirror shine after the first coat of finish, repeat the rubbing procedure. After this, apply another layer of finish. Mirror rubbing can be done even with a top coat, but masters still recommend following the technology to obtain a long-lasting, high-quality manicure.

Master class “Manicure with mirror rubbing”

There are several ways to decorate your nails with mirrors, but none of them can compare with rubbing in terms of effectiveness and quality of wear!

The tools remain the same, add to them:

Base and top for gel polish.
Black base varnish.
Mirror powder.

Work algorithm:

Once you have polished the plate, apply the base, sealing the end well. Dry.
Next come two layers of black gel polish, each needs to be dried.
Dip your finger into the mirror pigment and rub it into the sticky layer. Polish the surface thoroughly until you notice your enthusiastic reflection in it.
It's time to apply the glossy topcoat and dry it.

And here is a video tutorial showing the whole process in practice:

How to do a manicure with prism rubbing

“Prism” is one of the varieties of mirror rubbing. It is distinguished by a finer grind, which allows you to get a 3D effect on your nails. Quite often, a prism is confused with a holographic pigment. The difference lies in the size of the grains of sand. “Prism” has a texture reminiscent of homogeneous dust and looks like sparkling mother-of-pearl. Individual sparkles are clearly visible in the holographic rub.

The choice of substrate depends on personal taste. Its color affects the shade of the “prism”. The classic application option involves using black or white rubbing.

You will need:

file;
polishing buff;
base and top coat;
colored gel polish;
sticky layer remover;
rubbing;
fan brush;
drying lamp.

Application technique

Remove cuticles, file and polish nail plates.
Apply the first base coat and let dry.
Cover with colored gel polish and dry again.
Remove the sticky layer with a special product.
Take the required amount of pigment onto the brush and apply it to the nail with light massage movements, distributing evenly.
Shake off excess glitter.
Cover your nails with a glossy topcoat in two layers and dry.

Rubbing “prism” gives nails a stylish and expensive look.

Types of metallized pigments

As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of rubs sold on the market. It is difficult for a beginner to navigate them. When you want to achieve a mirror effect, they will definitely sell you a rub with a chrome effect, and if you ask for “northern lights,” they will slip you a “chafer bug,” etc. But in fact, understanding the variety of pigments is not difficult if you know the characteristics of each of them.

Firstly, the rubs vary in color. There are silver, gold and colored metallic pigments. Secondly, the rubs differ in the effect they create. Let's look at the most popular ones.

Manicure with pearl rub

This type of pigment creates a pleasant shimmer on the nails, which is ideal for every day manicure, for example, a French manicure or a moon design. A light wedding manicure or nautical manicure also looks great with pearl rub. This pigment is also often called pearlescent. It is in the collection of NailTes, Irisk, Ingarden, Patrisa Nail, etc. If you want to make a beautiful white manicure with rubbing, then feel free to choose these brands. Price and quality are about the same. Surprisingly, even among Chinese rubs from aliexpress (aliexpress) you can find good options.

Manicure with mirror rub

The second most popular manicure with rubbing is a mirror shine. Almost all mirror rubs are applied to black gel polish to achieve maximum effect. If you are looking for a pigment to create a mirror surface, then pay attention to Patrisa Nail, Irisk, Blixz, NAOMI, etc.

Manicure with gel polish and chrome rubbing

Chrome effect powder is very similar to mirror pigments, only, unlike the latter, it creates a more matte surface. “Chromatics” are in the collections of TNL, Masura, Patrisa Nail, LiaNail and many others. The effect may vary depending on the substrate. On light shellacs it is softer and more unobtrusive, but on dark colors it is more saturated and noticeable.

Manicure with nail rub “Chameleon” or chameleon

Its name most accurately describes the effect that is achieved after application. It is often used for colored coatings. On the surface of the nail, iridescent colors are created with a chameleon effect reminiscent of the coloring of the wings of a cockchafer. The most popular pigment from this series is the TNL rub of the same name. You can also find many positive reviews on the Internet about E.Mi pigments. But if you want to save money, then order the pigment on Aliexpress from the Chinese brand Bornprattystore.

Pigment “Northern Lights”

Another product from the range of shimmering powders is the “Northern Lights” rub. It creates a pronounced shimmering effect on the surface. Suitable for application on colored gel polishes. The pigments themselves are silver, golden and colored. You will find this type of rub in well-known brands TNL and Bluesky.

Holographic rubbing “Prism”

This is the most effective and expensive pigment option. Looks charming on nails. As a rule, it is used for simple manicure in the Feng Shui style, because... It would be too much to apply it to all your nails. Pairs perfectly with rhinestones and geometric patterns. The NAILTES brand has powder with a prism effect from the economy category, and TNL and NelTes rubbing is also inexpensive. A discreet two-color manicure for short nails with “Prism” rub is ideal for every day.

Liquid Diamond

An interesting shimmer and volume effect can be achieved using a pigment called “liquid diamond” from the UNO brand. With this pigment you can make an evening textured design with rhinestones or sparkles. This fashionable novelty looks better on a black background. Manicure with silver rub “liquid diamond” can be done using both the gradient technique and the marble technique.

Nail design options with rubbing

It is not necessary to cover all the nails with the rub. This manicure looks quite bright, so it may not always be appropriate. The optimal solution is to use the rub on one or two fingers. Shiny accents will make your manicure interesting and appropriate in many situations.

Another fashionable option is to apply patterns on your nails, leaving one or two for rubbing. A homemade option is to use stickers instead of drawings. This manicure looks interesting and stylish.

A kamifubuki manicure in a duet with rubbing looks original. This is a type of Japanese nail art that resembles confetti. You can make one of the nails using the kamifubuki technique, and cover the rest with a mirror rub.