Stickers on nails: how to apply them beautifully and independently

Types of nail stickers

The modern nail art industry offers fashionistas and professional nail artists a wide selection of products for artistic manicure decoration. Nail stickers hold differently, differ in shape, size, application or manicure design. The image styles, colors and ease of application of art materials are amazing. Types of stickers:

Water-based products - stick after contact with water.
Self-adhesive materials - fixed with shellac, gel, varnish on a sticky layer.
Materials for photo design – miniature films of photographic precision.
Foil products - with their use, the beauty of the manicure is guaranteed.
Volumetric 3D materials for accent design with a three-dimensional effect.

For decoration, stickers of different colors are used depending on the mood, character, and event. They glue silicone stickers, film stickers, sliders, patterns that imitate French manicure or delicate lace.

Combined nail design with rhinestones, sparkles, voluminous decorations and stickers

What types of nail stickers are there?

Stickers are polymer films with an image. They can be glued completely to the entire nail or to a small part of it. Such products are attached in different ways. Depending on this, the following types are distinguished:

water (decal);
adhesive based;
requiring the use of special glue.

Water decals need to be wet before use. So they lag behind the plate. Next they are glued to the nail and secured. All this requires certain skills, because the work is quite careful.

Adhesive-based products are the easiest to use. Everyone can handle them. But those that need to be applied with a special glue are somewhat capricious. It is important to use only those materials that came with them in the kit. This is the only way to achieve an accurate result.

It is worth noting that voluminous stickers with a large number of decorative elements are usually “set” on special glue. They are heavy, so they require good grip.

Nail preparation

The initial stage of any manicure design technique is preparation - filing, cuticle processing, hygiene procedures. To make sliders and stickers on your nails last longer, you need to carefully prepare them. It is recommended to use professional manicure kits. Pre-treatment will keep your hands looking well-groomed and help firmly fix the design. How to prepare marigolds at home:

Remove the old varnish coating using a liquid without acetone, file the edges, and give them the required shape.
Make a bath with salt or soap foam with a small addition of essential oil, then apply a nourishing cream to soften the cuticle.
Wash your hands well and disinfect the surface of the nail plates with an antiseptic.
Remove the cuticle and side skin using nail scissors or a gentle chemical composition with fruit acids.
Polish your nails with a buff – using a special nail file will ensure better fixation of the base and art design.
If the nails are extended with acrylic, you need to treat the surface with a pusher, brush off the dust, degrease and treat with an antiseptic.
Apply a base - a base layer for shellac, gel polish or regular polish. The background should not “dispute” with the color of the pasted fragment.

After preparation (the procedure is performed before applying any stickers), you can begin coating with nail art materials. It’s not difficult to do a manicure yourself, but you should follow the recommendations of the experts on gluing stickers. The manicure must be covered with a transparent fixing layer to secure it from the base to the edges of the nail.

Variety of decorations used in nail art

What are water stickers

Film materials with a smooth texture, patterns, images, designs - water-based nail stickers, which are also called transfers. The main advantage of the products is that using water-based stickers increases the durability and stability of the manicure. The beautiful appearance of marigolds lasts for about a week.

How to properly apply transfer stickers to your nails:

Water-based stickers are used to decorate simple varnish, gel, and acrylic.
Products are cut according to contour, shape and size.
To use water-based nail stickers correctly, you need to immerse them in water for a few seconds, separate the transfer part from the paper backing using tweezers, fix them on the plates, level them and secure them.

How to transfer water materials:

ordinary varnish - they don’t let it dry completely, they start gluing a sticker;
gel polish or shellac - transfer the design to a sticky base layer after drying under a UV lamp for 60 seconds;
acrylic - the fragment is fixed immediately so that the water film does not dissolve.

Using water stickers is quite simple, the stickers last a long time and do not peel off, but in water the stickers soften quickly - you should not soak them for more than ten seconds.

Water-based stickers can be used to cover the entire surface of the nail

On a transparent basis

When choosing stickers on a transparent basis, you need to keep in mind that their use is limited. Fragments are not suitable for application on bright regular varnish - they look impressive on a light or white background. But decorative films are beneficial to use for artistic applications and original compositions; the transparent backing makes the manicure noticeable. How to apply clear backed stickers:

Remove the protective backing and clearly place the fragments.
Flatten the pattern with a stick, removing air bubbles.
Secure the nail decor with a light layer of clear varnish.
There is no need to additionally apply moldings, rhinestones, bouillons, or glitter to the nail. The manicure turns out bright and expressive.

A sticker on a transparent base harmonizes perfectly with a French manicure.

Step-by-step instruction

It is quite simple to apply water-based stickers under gel polish, so anyone can use this method, even at home.

The whole procedure does not take much time and the video goes through the following stages:

Apply varnish of the desired color and let it dry.

Cutting water stickers is the most convenient option. It is best to do this in the shape of a rectangle or oval.

Remove the transparent protective film. It detaches quite simply, so you just need to pry off any corner with two fingers.

Take a container of water and place the stickers in it for about 20-30 seconds. You can hold them with your finger or small tweezers.

Remove the sticker from the wet backing (to avoid transferring the material, it is also recommended to use tweezers).

Stick it on the nail (while it is wet it can be easily moved over the entire surface).

Dry your finger with a napkin.

Apply protective coating.

Thus, any woman can apply water stickers to gel polish, even while at home. The easy technique allows you to keep your nails in well-groomed condition, and the attractive appearance of this manicure will not go unnoticed.

How to glue sliders on nails

Among the range of nail art materials, sliders occupy a separate category. They come with a dense pattern, a transparent base, and cover the entire nail. Such stickers can be glued to regular varnish, shellac and acrylic extensions. How stickers are applied to nails:

Gel polish (shellac). Before performing a slider design, the cuticle is processed, the glossy layer is removed with a nail file, the nails are trimmed, degreased and disinfected. Apply the base and dry under a UV lamp for about a minute. The sliders are freed from the backing, fixed on the nails, covered with a transparent finishing layer and dried again under the lamp.
Regular varnish. After preparing the manicure, the varnish is applied in two layers to obtain a good visual effect. Before applying the sticker, the slider is separated from the paper or cardboard backing and the adhesive side is placed against the nail plate. Use a cotton swab to expel air bubbles, and apply a thin layer of fixative on top of the slider.
Acrylic (extension). After performing a manicure and modeling the shape of the nails, you need to go over the surface of the plates with a pusher and brush off the dust. The next step is to accurately apply the design from the slider; you cannot move it along the acrylic coating. To securely fasten the slider, use a topcoat or clear varnish.

To prevent sliders from peeling or falling off, you need to align the fragments well, use high-quality material, and follow technology. The drawings will be “in their place” if, when transferring the sliders, you retreat 1.5 mm from the cuticle and the edge of the nail.

Types of sliders

Sliders are usually called small pictures printed on a special film that is easily and quickly attached to nails as a decoration. This bright film is stored on a paper base, which is removed with water.

There are three main types of sliders:

completely covering the nail plate;
having a transparent base;
with a dense patterned base.

Each type will be discussed in detail below.

Sliders for nails

Sliders covering the entire nail plate

This type is considered the easiest to apply to nails. The picture covers the nail completely and is then fixed with a fixative. This can be clear nail polish or a top coat of gel polish.

Original design

Transparent base

This slider nail design on gel polish is attached just as easily as the above option. At the same time, it looks much more impressive in light or transparent colors. A manicure covered with a matte, velvet or velvet top will look stylish. Such drawings are distinguished by the presence of well-drawn small details.

Floral drawing

Dense slider pattern

This type of design will significantly transform any girl’s manicure. The base can be absolutely any color. The choice depends only on the wishes and imagination of the owner of the marigolds. The top design can be decorated with sparkles, rhinestones, and ribbons.

Materials for work

Photo design

An interesting option for manicure is photo design. The material is art stickers in the form of a thin film with a rough texture. The adhesive on the back of the sticker helps you apply stickers to your nails.

Photo printing allows you to create a unique design with a volume effect

The difference from the slider design is clearer and higher quality images on film. Art stickers are used for a complete manicure, as they provide complete coverage of the nail plates. How to glue stickers:

Cut out pieces of stickers according to the shape of your nails.
Apply a base layer - simple varnish, gel, acrylic.
Release the sticker from the paper backing with tweezers.
Carefully transfer the photo fragment to the entire nail.

To ensure that the coating adheres well and tightly, you can make small cuts along the edges of the sticker.

The manicure is smoothed with a wooden stick and fixed by applying top coat, gel or varnish. The part of the sticker that protrudes beyond the nail is folded over the edge of the plate and filed off - the file should not be held at an angle, but perpendicular to the edge. Photo design has impeccable image quality, but lasts on average three days.

Types of sliders

Before gluing sliders on your nails, you need to know the existing types, their pros and cons, as well as the rules of use. Let's look at a few different types:

adhesive based stickers;
water based;
broken glass;
metal foil with adhesive backing.

Types of sliders for nails (click to enlarge)

The advantages of this design method are many. The main one is the ability to decorate your nails yourself without a large investment of money, time or effort. Even a novice manicurist can stick them on his nails and remove them. Also, adhesive-based stickers make the nail plate stronger. It is worth learning not only how best to use a nail sticker, but also the general rules of manicure. There are practically no downsides to stickers.

However, the design may blur if you use unsuitable materials; try to use only high-quality components.

Adhesive-based stickers last only 3 to 5 days, then they begin to come off the nails - this is also a small drawback.

Self-adhesive designs

Using pictures made from self-adhesive material is the easiest way to create a designer manicure. It is convenient to apply the sticker to your nails thanks to the special layer with which the material is treated. Drawings can be made in the form of floral motifs, geometric shapes, ornate patterns, or in the form of lace. Application technique:

Standard manicure preparation.
“Adjusting” the design to the shape of the nail.
Removing the backing from the sticker.
Placing a fragment on a manicure.
Smoothing the picture with a stick.
Filing nails and applying varnish.

The adhesive texture of the material allows you to re-glue the fragment several times if its position is unsatisfactory or if there are air bubbles under the film. Self-adhesive designs can be made in the form of decorative tape or individual stickers. You can choose a classic or extravagant option.

Lace is a thin and delicate decoration for nails

The most popular sticker motifs today are:

floral ornaments and flowers,
portraits, including famous people,
hearts,
animals (kittens, puppies, birds),
cartoon characters,
abstract patterns, circles, arrows, geometric shapes.

How to stick a slider design on gel polish
There are a lot of options for sliders and you can choose a design for any occasion or for every day.

Technology of applying slider design to gel polish - varieties

Slider design comes in several varieties:

dense image: universal, can be applied to any base - transparent varnish, color coating, but most often used to create a French manicure;
stickers for a transparent coating: used for application on a light or transparent base, the designs have clear boundaries, therefore they are optimal for complementing a ready-made manicure;
stickers for application to a plate without prior coating; it is recommended to secure it with a layer of varnish on top (they are considered the most convenient, since there is no need to pre-treat your hands, you just need to cut the sticker to the shape of the nail and stick it on).

Techniques for fixing designs on nails

Varnish. They first cover the surface of the nail, then the sticker is dipped into water, after which it is applied to the nail plate, pressing first in the middle and then along the edges with a toothpick. It is important to remove any air bubbles that get under the sticker. The top of the slider is coated with transparent varnish.
Gel. A transparent base is applied to the nail, dried, a sticker is glued, the water slider design on gel polish by applying a topcoat and dried under a lamp.
Acrylic. Applying a slider to this material is the most difficult method. First, acrylic is applied, then the drawing is immediately applied. After the nails are completely dry, you need to carefully apply the acrylic ball, but so as not to move the design.

Foil products

Metallized fragments are a new feature in nail art. For production, foil is used, the matte part of which is coated with an adhesive composition. Metallized material options: solid foil and holographic nail stickers, patterned, lace, mirror elements, fragments of gold, silver, embossed, crinkled, sheet, striped foil.

How to apply foil stickers:

Carry out hygienic treatment, give nails shape.
Polish with a buff for better adhesion.
If the foil has patterns and designs, apply a base coat of varnish.
Activate the adhesive by heating it under a lamp, not in water.
Glue the matte side of the foil onto your nails, from the cuticle to the edge.

Before applying the decor, the foil is precisely cut to the shape of the nail. Do not allow debris or air bubbles to get under the film. The metallized surface is carefully leveled, slightly pulling the material towards the edge. The decor is suitable for a base made of regular varnish or shellac. It is allowed to decorate the entire nail with foil without additional coating, but after preliminary polishing.

Metallic nail stickers are the most popular design

Rules and procedure for working with stickers

Each type of sticker is suitable for its own type of coating. There are also universal options. But for high quality and long service life, basic recommendations must be followed. For example, water-based stickers cannot be attached to gel or varnish. They don't hold on, they slip. And if the master manages to fix them, they look untidy and make a repulsive impression. But they hold up and look perfect on a varnish manicure.

Before applying the sticker, it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures:

cuticle removal,
polishing the surface of the nail plate,
degreasing.

Working with nail stickers

Then you need to select the desired type of sticker. The type of fastening will depend on this.

Water-based decals are secured between two layers of varnish, a base and a top coat. The design, placed on a thin film, is immersed in water for 8, 10 seconds, then excess moisture is removed, the backing is separated and attached to the selected area of the nail with tweezers. After drying, fix it with a layer of colorless varnish. Such patterns are difficult to distinguish from painting and are easy to apply. But they require a precise eye and accuracy.
An adhesive film with a pattern is also applied to the base layer of varnish. The difficulty lies in completely removing air from under the film, otherwise the pattern will bubble and peel off.
Photo stickers do not tolerate moisture, so stickers should be glued to gel polish only after the surface has completely dried. Then a fixing coating is applied.

For a classic French jacket with a pastel-colored base, stickers are also suitable: water-based, adhesive or 3D.

Applying a sticker

3D stickers

Volumetric decor always looks impressive on nails, but an important condition for the three-dimensional nail art technique is the balance of decorations. The design must be done in moderation, appropriate for the occasion (holiday, special event).

One or two fingers in the form of 3D fragments are decorated with a three-dimensional image. Small decorations (beads, bouillons, sparkles) can occupy the entire surface of the nail.

How to glue 3D stickers:

The illusion of volume is created by the arrangement of the drawing or pattern.
Prepare your nails for decoration by applying a base coat of polish.
Peel stickers with a three-dimensional pattern from the backing.
Apply to your nails with tweezers and carefully align.

The use of beads, sand, beads are not 3D stickers, but elements of three-dimensional decor. They are used to create artistic accents. Gluing 3D stickers onto your nails adds volume to your manicure due to the visual perception of the designs.

Another option for 3D manicure is using fimo

Shellac stickers

Natural resin lasts on nails for several weeks. The base is ideal for applying stickers. It is recommended to use nail stickers made with photo designs. The film has a denser structure than water fragments and occupies the entire surface of the nail. How to apply stickers on nails under gel polish:

After preparing the nails, apply the base.
The layer is dried under the lamp for 1 minute.
Apply a colored background contrasting with the sticker.
The sticker must be attached to a sticky base.
The sticker is separated from the paper backing.
Fix the film on the nail plate.
Carefully smooth the sticker with a stick.
The free edge of the sticker is folded under the nail.
Processed with a 100/120 grit file.
The top-fixer is applied in a dense layer.
Dry the manicure under the lamp for up to 2 minutes.

It is important to properly seal the photo design so that the stickers do not peel off or peel off when in contact with water. You can use water-based and transfer stickers adhesive under shellac as decorative fragments. The application technology remains the same, but before fixing the film, the material is “heated” with water.

A type of nail art with foil stickers - “broken glass” design

Advantages

Despite the huge competition, water stickers for gel polish successfully hold a leading position among all possible manicure options. And this is not surprising, because compared to other design solutions, you can apply water-based stickers under gel polish without using special equipment and even without experience or training. In addition, the use of this method has a number of other advantages;

The ability to complement the existing design - due to the fact that the gel polish is applied before the moment when it is necessary to apply water-based stickers, a woman can choose the most optimal one and stick the option she likes.
An easy technique to implement – absolutely anyone can stick this decoration on, which is why it is widely used. This also eliminates the possibility of transferring consumables, which significantly reduces material costs.
Durability – properly selected gel polish allows you to reliably glue any material, so that your nails are in well-groomed condition for the longest possible time.

How to glue stickers on gel polish

Making a slider design on gel polish is practically no different from gluing decorative stickers on shellac. Manicure requires a UV lamp to dry the applied layers of products. Gel polish is used by women with thin, fragile and brittle nails; it contains more gel in concentration, while shellac has more varnish. How to glue sliders:

Prepare and apply the gel polish base.
Dry under a UV lamp.
After drying, apply the background.
Lightly dry the acrylic.
Glue the slider onto the sticky layer.
Treat with a finishing layer of gel.
Finally dry under a lamp.

Before fixing the nails, you can modestly decorate them with rhinestones, broths, and add dot painting with acrylic paints. If the sticker is applied to the entire plate, a colored background is not used, but is worked in the sequence: base, sticky acrylic layer, slider, fixer (finish coating).

Small bouillons are used instead of 3D stickers

Water-based sticker technology

Creating a slider design is a little more complicated. To understand the procedure, you need to learn how to make a slider design on gel polish step by step.

How to glue water stickers to the entire size of the nail?

Cut the picture to fit your nail. To make it fit more tightly, you can make side cuts.
Pull back the cuticle and side ridges as much as possible.
Use a soft file to file away the top layer of varnish to make the surface rough.
Immerse the slider in water at room temperature for the time specified in the instructions.
Choose a decoration and place it on the nail, moving a little away from the edges. Make sure that the image is evenly distributed over the nail, do not forget about the side cuts. It is imperative to get rid of uneven spots and bubbles using an orange stick or spatula.
Fold the excess length under the edge of the nail and file it off.
Gently apply the top coat so that it comes into contact with the clean part of the nail that does not have a sticker on it. Dry the created manicure under a UV lamp.

How to glue sliders on nails?

First of all, you need to cut out the desired illustration along the contour so that it turns out to be the right size and looks good with the chosen varnish.
Dip the piece into water following the instructions so that the sticky part separates from the base.
In order to glue this element carefully, use lint-free napkins; you can use them to smooth out the pattern.
Apply top coat and dry your manicure under a lamp.

Some tips

Recommendations from masters and experienced nail design authors will help women create a beautiful manicure with stickers. Water-based and adhesive films adhere to the substrate in different ways. Some useful tips on how to properly apply nail art decorations:

The base is varnish - complete drying is not required.
Pure gel, shellac - fix the sticker on a sticky base.
Acrylic – the sticker must be applied accurately the first time.
Nail materials are spaced with an indentation of 1.5 mm.
The material should not extend beyond the nail or touch the skin.
If the sticker extends beyond the edge, it is folded over and sealed.
On shellac it is better to glue thick stickers all over the nail.

Broths, beads, and rhinestones are used on nails to create voluminous accents. Sometimes such elements are unnecessary in the design, because stickers and sliders are quite impressive on their own.

Why sliders can peel or peel quickly

Some women note that the glued fragments do not last long, and the manicure loses its attractiveness after a couple of days. This mainly happens when design techniques are not followed. The features and nuances of attaching stickers lie in the combination of the base with the surface of the material. Water-based stickers are suitable for any base, photo designs are best attached under shellac, fragments with a transparent base fit well on gel polish, three-dimensional designs last a long time after drying with a UV lamp.

Stickers can be attached to all nails or used to decorate several nail plates.

Why do stickers quickly “fly off” and peel off:

getting a foreign fragment or air bubbles under the sticker;
non-compliance with the rules of gluing and fixing;
use of low-quality material;
Insufficient sealing of nails.

To avoid unpleasant “blunders” when performing a manicure, you need to adhere to a sense of proportion. Creative ladies can implement creative nail design ideas, experiment with color and texture. A few independent projects will help you quickly master the technique of applying stickers.

Nuances of performing the procedure

Before gluing water-based stickers onto gel polish, you need to familiarize yourself with the points that must be taken into account. Neglecting these nuances will result in failure to apply the desired coating. These include:

It is necessary to prepare the nail plate - to achieve a good result, you need to remove the previous gel polish (if any), push back the cuticle, trim off excess skin, giving the free edge of the nail a beautiful shape.
Degrease surfaces - if you use gel polish, it is better to use linen napkins for manicure.
Using a dehydrant and primer allows you to better adhere the gel polish to the nail plate. Using such products allows you not to waste your efforts and get the most beautiful nails.

It is important to understand that each person’s skin has its own characteristics, therefore, in order to avoid any allergic reaction, it is necessary to use only high-quality materials and apply only proven stickers.