Acrylic modeling - stylish manicure decor

What is volumetric modeling and who is it suitable for?

So, nail sculpting is the creation of three-dimensional patterns using modeling acrylic powder or a special gel composition. With the help of these materials, the volumetric ornament you choose is literally molded as if from plasticine and gives the manicure a unique 3D and even 4D effect. Many girls choose flowers, fruits and even insects (butterflies, bugs, etc.) as patterns. This manicure is suitable for almost everyone, regardless of the shape and length of the nails, and can also be used on both your own and extended nails. Volumetric sculpting on nails is especially popular among brides, as well as among young girls as a summer manicure.

Which brushes are the most comfortable?

When you already have acrylic powder and monomer, choose your sculpting brush. A round brush with a sharp end made of red sable bristle or a kolin and an oval brush called “cat’s tongue” are considered universal. It is better to purchase several different brushes and give yourself the opportunity to make ornaments of different sizes. It is important to know: the more you moisten the brush with monomer before dipping it into acrylic powder, the larger the acrylic ball you will get, from which a masterpiece or part of it will be created in the future.

If you are going to decorate your nails with flowers, then you should learn how to draw small veins on the petals, which makes the design lively and natural. To do this, you will need a thin “hair” brush and water-based acrylic paints.

Now that you know how to make acrylic nail sculpting yourself, go to a specialized nail modeling store, buy materials and save on beauty salons. Let your manicure be the brightest, most elegant and high quality. Good luck!

Materials necessary for volumetric modeling, their types, differences, advantages and disadvantages

Today, professionals use only two existing types of volumetric sculpting in manicure:

• modeling with modeling acrylic powder;
• modeling using a special gel composition.

Modeling with acrylic powder

Acrylic modeling is very popular. Powder can be transparent or translucent, in various colors and shades; some manufacturers add glitter to it. Such a wide palette allows you to create beautiful three-dimensional patterns on your nails.

Acrylic extension and sculpting is done by combining two materials: acrylic powder and liquid (monomer - a transparent liquid necessary for hardening of acrylic powder). The connection of these materials is carried out directly at the moment of building up or creating a three-dimensional pattern.

Acrylic modeling comes in 2 types:

Aquarium sculpting - when creating such a design, a finished three-dimensional acrylic element is placed on the nail, then the entire nail along with the design is filled with transparent gel. As a result, the pattern ends up inside the artificial nail. The advantage of aquarium sculpting is that the volumetric elements do not cling to clothing, which significantly increases the wear time of such a manicure. However, the thickness of the nail is very large, which for some may be a disadvantage.

Volumetric modeling - with this type of modeling, acrylic elements are not filled with gel, and therefore the clearest volume of the pattern is visible. A significant disadvantage is the inconvenience of manicure in everyday life, since protruding patterns very often cling to clothes and other household items. Nevertheless, this type of modeling is very popular.

Advantages of sculpting with acrylic powder

• Modern acrylic contains the substance ethyl methacrylate. This substance does not harm the nail plate, but on the contrary, gives the nails a healthy appearance, making them stronger and more elastic.
• Acrylic is practically unaffected by temperatures. Acrylic also does not disrupt the shape and natural appearance of the nail. The nail plate does not bend under acrylic.
• Acrylic is easy to remove from the nail. You just need to dip your nail in a special liquid and it will easily dissolve. In this case, your own nail will not be damaged in any way.
• Using acrylic you can create beautiful manicure designs.

Disadvantages of acrylic sculpting

• Acrylic should absolutely not be used by people with various types of fungal diseases, since it creates a greenhouse effect on the nails and the disease will develop even faster from this;
• It is not recommended to use acrylic for people with gastrointestinal diseases, as well as those suffering from diabetes and problems with the hormonal system;
• People using medications and girls during menstruation should not use acrylic either.

Modeling using gel

Gel sculpting is a newer phenomenon than acrylic sculpting. Previously, gels were liquid, and with their help it was impossible to create three-dimensional patterns, because they spread. Now they have begun to produce thick gels that are specially designed for creating voluminous decorative designs.

Working with gel is much more difficult than working with acrylic. Each new layer of colored gel requires separate drying under a UV lamp, which makes the process longer and more expensive. This is the main feature and distinctive feature of sculpting using gel compositions.

There are 2 types of gel:

1. 3D gel – has a dense and plastic consistency. With its help it is easy to create three-dimensional drawings. Often used in baguette modeling, as a frame for a pattern or picture.
2. 4D gel - this gel has a very dense consistency, which is similar to hard sculptural plasticine or clay. Before starting work, such “plasticine” for nails is divided into small parts in the form of balls, and then the required pattern is cut out of it with a special metal tool. This gel sticks very strongly to your hands and tools, so when working with it you need to use a cleanser - a means to remove the sticky layer.

Advantages of gel sculpting

• The gel does not contain harmful substances, therefore it is not contraindicated for use even by women during pregnancy;
• The material is very elastic, which allows you to “sculpt” all kinds of decorative elements from it without much difficulty;
• The gel has no unpleasant odor;
• Does not harm nails at all and does not worsen their condition.

Disadvantages of gel sculpting

• The gel is very difficult to remove. Doing this on your own at home is incredibly difficult. There are no special products or liquids to remove the gel;
• The gel needs to be filed off. When cutting it down, a large amount of dust is formed, which can cause the development of allergies. It is necessary to remove the gel using special medical masks and in a well-ventilated area;
• Decorative products made from gel do not have great strength, therefore they are very sensitive to impacts, as a result of which decorative patterns can be destroyed.

Using nail gel is quite difficult, so for the first time it is better to entrust the procedure to a professional, and after gaining a little visual experience, you can try to make simple compositions yourself, at home.

Features of sculpting acrylic nails for beginners

Acrylic sculpting got its name due to the fact that the process of performing nail design is more reminiscent of creating a sculpture than painting. To perform it, a special acrylic system is used, thanks to which the manicurist turns his creative ideas into reality.

Our editor's solo project

When did Kurt Russell's heroes stop being heroes? www.bunnycup.ru

Acrylic nail designs are usually done using special tips that are attached to the nails. However, recently, masters are increasingly combining techniques, combining gel extensions with elements of acrylic modeling.

The modern acrylic system includes two components - acrylic powder and a special liquid (liquid) . After mixing these materials, a thick mass is formed that is easy to sculpt. Acrylic has a very high degree of polymerization. In other words, after mixing powder and liquid, the material very quickly becomes hard and durable.

Nail artists use acrylic not only to sculpt three-dimensional elements on nails, but also to create a French manicure smile and to strengthen the nail plate.

When choosing acrylic powder, it is worth considering some nuances:

• High-quality powder should not spread or crystallize. The material should fit tightly onto the artificial or natural nail plate and be easy to further process.
• The porous structure of acrylic powder indicates that enough oxygen reaches the nails. In addition, this is the key to the strength and durability of the manicure.
• Acrylic powder is white. But if you add special dyes to the powder, you can get any shade.
• When purchasing an acrylic system, you need to purchase powder and liquid from the same manufacturer.

Step-by-step technique for performing a manicure using the power of volumetric acrylic sculpting

In order to create a three-dimensional pattern on your nails using acrylic sculpting, you will need the following tools:

• Acrylic powder in the desired colors;
• Liquid (monomer);
• Thin brush and flat brushes for pattern modeling;
• Napkins;
• Decorative elements (rhinestones, sparkles);
• Glue

Acrylic modeling is used on extended nails or on gel polish coating

1. First you need to prepare the nail, process it properly, and give it the desired shape.
2. Next, extend the nail or cover it with gel polish;
3. Soak a thin brush in liquid, then dip it in acrylic powder, roll the brush until a small lump forms at the tip;

4. Then place the resulting lump on the nail plate in place of the planned design, and use a brush to straighten the lump to create the required three-dimensional pattern. If the lump dries out, moisten the brush in the liquid and continue working.

5. Repeat the procedure to create other pattern elements;

6. If necessary, add additional decorative elements (rhinestones, sparkles, etc.);
7. If desired, you can carefully coat the result with a topcoat to give it a glossy shine. However, this is not necessary if you do not use aquarium equipment.

What is volumetric acrylic modeling?

Acrylic sculpting involves creating three-dimensional figures on the surface of the nail plates. This service is quite common among professional beauty salons, which provide their visitors with a whole range of procedures to improve the health and beauty of nails. Acrylic is an excellent nail decoration that nail technicians simply cannot ignore. However, acrylic is so versatile that it is increasingly being used to decorate not only nails, but even mobile phones, pens, lighters and various other accessories. If you want to decorate not only nail plates with acrylic, but also some other object, you can contact an acrylic nail design specialist with this request, he will be happy to fulfill your request.

Step-by-step technique for performing volumetric manicure with the power of gel

To create volumetric sculpting using modeling gel, you will need the following tools:

• Brushes;
• Pusher;
• Dots;
• Gel (3D/4D);
• Means for removing the sticky layer (cleaner);
• UV or LED lamp

Gel sculpting is usually used on extended nails, but it can also be used on nails coated with gel polish/shellac or acrylic.

Important! It is not recommended to use this technique on regular nail polish. Since coating with ordinary varnish is very short-lived, performing volumetric modeling on it is not advisable.

At the end of the extension or after applying gel/varnish, the sticky layer must be removed from the surface of the coating.

1. Perform nail extensions or cover them with gel polish. Dry under a UV lamp and remove the sticky layer from the surface;
2. Using a pusher, take a little gel and use your fingers to form a base for the design;
3. Place the gel on the surface of the base and use a dot or brush to form the desired pattern; you can smooth out sharp corners with a brush dipped in a cleanser;
4. Dry the result under a UV lamp;
5. Repeat the same procedure to create the remaining elements of the three-dimensional pattern;
6. If desired, add other decorative elements (rhinestones, beads);
7. At the end of the work, apply a top coat to the design without touching the rhinestones or beads. Dry in a UV lamp.

3D flowers on gel polish using gel plasticine

Not long ago I talked about and showed a nail design option with one of the recently popular materials for nail design on gel polish - gel plasticine, which is used to create three-dimensional elements. Last time I introduced you to the technique of creating lace using this material, and now I want to show how simply and beautifully you can make three-dimensional 3D flowers using gel polish.

In this case, I decided to make the flowers classic - they are just five petals arranged in a circle. I decorated the entire nail on my ring finger with them and planted three slightly larger flowers, two of which are half-hidden for the integrity of the composition, on the adjacent middle one. This is the design I ended up with:

As a background color I use a beautiful and delicate gel polish Patrisa Nail from the Avangard collection number 352. It is a rich peachy beige color with fine golden shimmer, which plays beautifully on the nails in the light of the sun and looks very original on the nails even solo:

I used white gel plasticine from the Vogue Nails brand, as before. But here I will additionally demonstrate that it can also be painted in different colors, which is very beneficial and practical. The voluminous design is made on gel polish, covered with a top coat, so you can make a regular colored coating, which you can wear for a couple of days, and then diversify it with this design.

You can watch the technique for creating 3D flowers in my short video clip or read in the description under the video:

1. So, you have covered your nails with colored gel polish and applied a top coat, removing the sticky layer from it if there is any. Next, we start working with gel plasticine: we take a very small drop of it using a dot, and then in our hands (ideally you need to use gloves) we roll it into a ball. We transfer this ball to the required place on the nail and press it slightly to the surface, making it flat. We do the same with the remaining four petals of the flower, placing the balls in a circle.
2. Now take a brush (preferably thin, but hard and with artificial bristles) and moisten it in liquid to remove the sticky layer. With its help, we open our flat balls into petals, pressing with a brush from the middle of the flower to the edge of the petal, as shown in the video. The brush must be kept in the same position all the time, directing its bristles from the center of the flower, so that the thinnest place is created there, almost showing through the background color of the gel polish. Having opened the flower in this way, we send the gel plasticine to dry in a lamp for 2 minutes (30 seconds is enough for LED lamps).
3. All the flowers are done in a similar way and a complete composition is created. This is not too fast, but not as slow as it might seem at first glance - after the first flower the work will go easier and faster.
4. Next, I wanted to decorate the flowers, giving them a tint color. For this I used the same color of gel polish as for the background so that the colors would complement the design nicely and not stand out too much from it. Colored gel polish is not applied completely to the petals with a thin design brush, but only closer to the core of the flower, shaded as it opens. After applying to all flowers, it must be dried in a lamp.
5. You need to apply a top coat to the gel polish on the flowers (this is also convenient to do with a design brush, not from a bottle), at the same time placing bouillons or rhinestones in the center of the flower. We polymerize the finish in a lamp. To fix the broths, it is better to apply another layer of top coat on top of them, and in the case of rhinestones, around them, this will securely fix them on the nails.
6. Finally, I added some decorative stitches in the form of petals, swirls and dots with white gel paint, which made the design composition more complete.

That's all - a very simple technique and high-quality materials give an incredibly beautiful result! Did you like this design? I will be glad to hear your opinion in the comments, thank you for your attention:-*

Gel polish provided by the online store patrisa-nail.ru

Gel plasticine can be ordered at krasotkapro.ru

Interesting design ideas with modeling

3D and 4D nail sculpting, although a new phenomenon, is already actively used by a large number of girls and women. This is not surprising, because three-dimensional drawings, when done correctly, look very beautiful and unusual! Let's look at the most popular and spectacular types of volumetric nail designs:

1. Sculpting your nails with 3D gel in the form of lace looks very impressive. Very gentle and “airy” design for romantic natures!

2. Using sculpting using 4D gel, you can create mini flower beds on your nails. Plasticine flowers on nails look very chic. For example, a design with roses sculpted on nails will help emphasize femininity and add zest to any look.

3. As you already know, voluminous manicures are most popular among brides. And here are some wedding manicure ideas!

4. Young and active girls can experiment with bright and rich designs of volumetric modeling. Make fruits, berries, cakes, butterflies, whatever you like!

5. A manicure using volumetric sculpting can be worn even in everyday life, to work or school. Just for this purpose, choose more restrained varnish colors, and use voluminous elements as a small accent.

Dear girls, beautiful and well-groomed hands are your calling card! If you are going to a celebration or just want to look stunning, then the 3D effect on your nails is what you need. And if you put in a little effort and be patient, over time you will be able to create similar beauty on your nails yourself. We hope that our article will help you with this! Go for it!

We recommend visiting our Manicurist Forum , where you can ask questions or chat about interesting topics!

How does the acrylic sculpting process work?

To create voluminous masterpieces on the surface of the nail plates, you need to perform the following steps:

• Prepare your nail plates for sculpting. Process the cuticles, sand the nails, glue the tips and apply an acrylic backing, which will also serve as the basis for acrylic sculpting. If you can boast of smooth and long nails, then you can sculpt your natural nails.
• Decide on the theme of the drawing. In most cases, a floral design is used, as well as modeling various floral patterns on the nails. We also advise you to focus on floral motifs, since they will be much easier for you to implement. First, shave a simple flower, such as a daisy, which has five petals. The most common design that makes women go crazy are voluminous roses.
• Perforate. Perforation is a process in which a not yet hardened acrylic droplet is pressed onto the nail with a special acrylic brush. Perforation will help give the droplet the necessary relief and bend.
• Use a brush to work on the details of the design. The contours should be visible where necessary, the flower should have the desired stroke, reflect the shadow, etc. The contours of the drawing should be clear.
• Treat your cuticles with oil.
• Cover your nails with a thin layer of acrylic or gel to protect the design from damage.
• Correct the shape of your nails.

Tips for nail design with acrylic sculpting elements

Knowing some of the subtleties of modeling, you will very quickly achieve good results, mastering first simple patterns, and then more complex compositions made of acrylic material.

1. Flawless acrylic nail sculpting is only possible if it is done with high-quality material . Therefore, when choosing acrylic powder, give preference to products from a well-known manufacturer. Nail sculpting, made with high-quality plastic and obedient acrylic, does not crystallize or turn yellow, and is also easy to file.
2. Creating voluminous floral patterns on nails is a very painstaking and lengthy process. The master must pay special attention to all the smallest elements of the drawing so that they have clear and neat contours. You can independently master the art of acrylic modeling by studying the photo and video instructions that you will find on the pages of our website.
3. The sculpting looks great on long transparent nails, but the design should not occupy the entire surface of the plate. A manicure will be spectacular and very elegant only when the volumetric composition decorates one or two nails. Highlighting your big and ring fingers with a colorful design will add a touch of sophistication to your look.
4. An important and fundamental step when working with modeling material is perforation. Acrylic petals are created by pressing a drop of powder softened in a special liquid onto an uncured drop. An obedient acrylic ball is given the desired shape and relief using a brush.
5. It is important to think about the location of the design on the nails, because acrylic modeling, located at the highest point of the extended nail plate, will last longer. Therefore, the main element of the composition must be placed taking into account these requirements. As you look through the wonderful collection of photos at the end of our article, you will see that most of the most beautiful designs are designed this way.
6. For some, acrylic modeling is too complicated a version of nail art. In this case, you can purchase ready-made elements of three-dimensional designs that are attached to the nails using special glue. By saving time and effort, you will very quickly create a magnificent manicure, bypassing all kinds of master classes based on video lessons.

Nail sculpting with gel

More recently, 3D gels have been released, with the help of which masters create incredible three-dimensional designs on nails. Gel modeling has one advantage over acrylic – it is odorless.

This gel is convenient to use to create incredible and complex designs, since it does not spread over the surface of the nail. Gel nail sculpting is increasingly in demand among the fair sex, as designs made by a professional stick very well to the surface of the nail and also perfectly complement women’s outfits.

There are a few key points to consider when using 3D gels:

1. Each design element must be dried in an ultraviolet lamp so that the design is clear.
2. You need to pay special attention to the nail design elements until the gel hardens completely, as otherwise this will lead to the pattern merging.

Nail sculpting is used in two types of designs: aquarium and volumetric

The site Beauty-Hands.ru recommends:

1. If you have never sculpted your nails before, it is best to first try applying a design on only one nail to get used to it, because wearing such a pattern is also a real art.
2. It is most important to apply sculpting to extended and long nails.
3. The pattern should not be placed too close to the cuticle skin, as this may subsequently cause inflammation or allergies.

Nail sculpting will give a woman a unique and fresh look and will perfectly complement any outfit, with the exception of a tracksuit (there is a sporty nail design for this). It is best to select a pattern to match certain clothes so that everything is in harmony with each other. That is why nail sculpting is used by ladies only if they are going to go out into society. But no one forbids you from looking beautiful every day! Therefore, experiment and always be beautiful: both at home and at work!

Elena Elizarova for the site Beauty—Hands.ru