Remove finger and tap off excess powder. Repeat for other fingers.
g) Use a rubber band to create Smile Line or Horizontal Lines: Stretch a rubber band around your nail having the band form a Smile Line or Horizontal Line. Apply Base Coat to the portion next to the rubber band. Carefully remove the rubber band and immediately dip. The secret to a professional look is making sure you get a similar tip length on all nails. For the second coat, simply paint over the tip you’ve created and use it as a guideline. No need for the rubber band on the 2nd coat.
h) Free Hand Designs: This is the most difficult method and takes a steady head! However, this method is preferred for more modern looking French designs like the Angled French or Almond French – especially if you are doing these in different colors than a Classic French. You’ll also choose this to create abstract or unique free-hand forms. Place your hand firmly on a non- moving surface. Apply Base Coast to the portion of your nail for your design in the collor of your choice. Apply Base Coat to add more design features/areas. Dip Immediately. Tap off excess. Let dry for a few seconds and brush off any loose powder. Repeat the dipping process for every nail adding colors and elements until you get the look you want.
i) Follow a template: You can draw your design with Nail Polish or Nail Polish pens and cover with Crystal Clear or Clearly Sparktacular to add Shimmer. Or you can draw with a pen (like a sharpie), then use that pen or polish line as a guide to paint your Base Coat to form your design. Remember to cover the line so that the tip color will cover it. This process is fabulous for any designs that are abstract or when you are great at painting but not so great at getting the Smile Line right. For the second coat, simply paint over the design element you’ve created and use it as a guideline.
j) Use Scotch Tape or Moleskin Padding: You can use tape or moleskin padding to form any lines or designs, and this can provide great results. Make sure you press the tape firmly onto the nail to avoid bleeding. Cut small lengths/pieces of the scotch tape to make your design. Have these ready for all nails. The tape will be used to keep expose the little part (tip or design element) where you want Base Coat and Powder applied. Remember… You need to remove the tape or moleskin padding IMMEDIATELY after applying the Base Coat and before dipping. This will keep results at their optimum for this method. If you don’t do this, the tape will get stuck and be bonded onto the nail when the Base Coat dries. For the second coat, simply paint over the tip you’ve created and use it as a guideline. No need for tape on the 2nd coat.
k) Moleskin Pad Reverse Designs: Because it’s a bit thicker than Scotch Tape, you can use Moleskin Pads for reverse designs. How? You cut out a moleskin element/shape (heart, star, circle, triangle, etc.) and place it firmly onto the nail. Apply Base Coat so everything except the moleskin element, remove the element, and dip. This will make your Canvas Color be ‘covered’ except for what was under the moleskin element. The results: Your Canvas Color is the exact shape of element, much like a cutout.
l) You’ll notice that after you’ve added design elements, these are now ‘higher’ than the rest of the nail’s surface. The rest of your nail, especially between design areas, needs to be filled to level the surface of the nail. Now you are going to finish by building the remaining portion of your nail by adding adequate Base Coat and Ellie Nail Dipping Powder to level this out. Luckily, the formulations level out beautifully. You can choose to use Crystal Clear – Build It powder so that your design elements are crisp through the clear coating. Or you can do a look where the elements are muted by adding Nature’s Pink. Or choose Clearly Sparktacular to add a bit of shimmer and pizzazz.
m) Artistic manicures are beautiful when your nails are long or short. If you are going to keep the nails long, you have to make sure to build adequate structure using the Crystal Clear – Build It powder or by building up your base with your Canvas Color prior to adding design elements.
