I’ve been wanting to try transfer foils for a while, and I saw some cool nail art recently that inspired me to try this. I used the foils with gel polish, so I didn’t follow the typical instructions (no foil glue). I started with a coat of Gelish Foundation, two coats of Gelish Deep Sea, and then I used the foundation gel as the “glue” since it’s nice and sticky after it cures. I applied a thin coat of the foundation on top of the color coats, cured it and then stuck the foils right onto it. I was going for a graffiti look, so I just randomly applied three different colored holographic nail art foils (pink, blue and silver). Once I was happy with the foil placement, I topped each nail off with a coat of Gelish Top It Off. It worked a lot better than I anticipated and they turned out pretty cool!
Here’s what Deep Sea looked like before I applied the foils. It’s a deep, dark blue with some purple shimmer. The photo at the bottom shows off the shimmer a little better.
And the top layer didn’t dull the foil?
I’ve ordered some foils, and i’ve been wondering if it was possible to use them with gel polishes, and now i know!
Thank’s!
Good to know! I’ve seen that people has had a hard time finding a regular top coat to use over foils. Some makes the top coat crack, and others dull them. I’ve been playing around lately with gel polishes. A scandinavian brand has released a line, with a lamp that makes it affordable for us too. Just made my own glitter top coat today by mixing craft glitter and the topcoat. Opens up a whole new glitter world….lol
I must tell you, that i really enjoy your blog! It’s so nice to be able to see gel swatches, (because let’s face it, ebay is not a good source for those ;) ) and pick up some trips and tricks for newbies!
Did you leave the tacky inhibition layer in tact? And did you use the right side of the foil? You can also use foil glue instead if it doesn’t work on your gel polish.
yes i use the good side of the foil
what do you mean with leaving the tacky layer intact?
i first put my 2 layers of gelish color and then i put a layer of base above and put in the lamp
I was asking if you wiped off the tackiness after curing. Try sticking the foil to the color layer instead of the top coat. I just used foils again last night and they stuck to the color but not the top coat.
i did not wiped off after curing the tacky layer off my base coat
i tried already on the color and it does not go well also
is it because i use gelish?
Try to wait a couple of minutes after curing the colour and before applying a foil.
If I wait the foil sticks to a tacky layer without a problem, but if I try to do it straight after curing the foil doesn’t stick at all.
I have this same design on right now and I love it! It is so shiny and these colors are amazing together! The first pink foil I pulled did not stick at all so I tried a different pink and it worked fine. I guess some foils need a tackier surface maybe.
Love this nail art design! Could you show us a tutorial? (:
Sure! I was thinking of making a quick video tutorial.
And the top layer didn’t dull the foil?
I’ve ordered some foils, and i’ve been wondering if it was possible to use them with gel polishes, and now i know!
Thank’s!
Hugs from Jane in Norway
No, it didn’t dull at all. They were very shiny and sparkly :)
Good to know! I’ve seen that people has had a hard time finding a regular top coat to use over foils. Some makes the top coat crack, and others dull them. I’ve been playing around lately with gel polishes. A scandinavian brand has released a line, with a lamp that makes it affordable for us too. Just made my own glitter top coat today by mixing craft glitter and the topcoat. Opens up a whole new glitter world….lol
I must tell you, that i really enjoy your blog! It’s so nice to be able to see gel swatches, (because let’s face it, ebay is not a good source for those ;) ) and pick up some trips and tricks for newbies!
Hugs from Jane
It looks amazing with the foil on it! I might have to try a mani like this!
I second the desire for a video tutorial :)
hello, i tried the nail foil on my gelish like you said , but the foil does not stick on my base coat off gelish
how it comes?
i am disapointed
thanks for your blog, i learned a lot from you
Did you leave the tacky inhibition layer in tact? And did you use the right side of the foil? You can also use foil glue instead if it doesn’t work on your gel polish.
yes i use the good side of the foil
what do you mean with leaving the tacky layer intact?
i first put my 2 layers of gelish color and then i put a layer of base above and put in the lamp
I was asking if you wiped off the tackiness after curing. Try sticking the foil to the color layer instead of the top coat. I just used foils again last night and they stuck to the color but not the top coat.
i did not wiped off after curing the tacky layer off my base coat
i tried already on the color and it does not go well also
is it because i use gelish?
No, I also use Gelish. Try foil glue instead if the gel polish isn’t sticky enough.
strange, because i use also Gelish
After re-reading my post above, I used the foundation gel and not the top coat as my glue.
me to
maybe was my layer not thin enough, but i order foil glue
thanks
ann
Try to wait a couple of minutes after curing the colour and before applying a foil.
If I wait the foil sticks to a tacky layer without a problem, but if I try to do it straight after curing the foil doesn’t stick at all.
I have this same design on right now and I love it! It is so shiny and these colors are amazing together! The first pink foil I pulled did not stick at all so I tried a different pink and it worked fine. I guess some foils need a tackier surface maybe.