Adding Charms to Your #Mani

This blog post goes out to all you attention getters! Sometimes a creative mani just isn't enough to stand out when it's one dimensional. Nail artists are using charms, studs, and beads to their nail art creations more and more often. Now you may wonder why anyone would want to add something to your nails that could just fall off the same day you apply it?! Well we've got some tips that will you can use to make sure your favorite nail art add-ons stay put!

What Will I Need?

You may not need everything on this list depending on the method of application you choose, but if the method you choose ends up not being what you expect it's best to be prepared!

• Nail polish
• Glitter
• Top coat
• Bonding formula (if applying glitter directly to the nail)
• Sealing formula (if applying glitter directly to the nail)
• If creating your own glitter polish, frankening supplies
• Studs, charms, beads
• Nail glue
• Gel polish

How Do I Apply My Add-Ons?

There are various methods of adding on your charms, studs, and beads. They range from easy to time consuming, long lasting to a little more temporary. 

The Top Coat Method

If you're wanting a quick and easy application we recommend applying directly to your top coat.

• Paint your nails with the polish of your choice.
• Add on a clear top coat that isn't quick drying.
• Using tweezers or an orange stick, place your add-ons to your wet nails.
• Once the coat has dried and your add-ons are secure, add one more clear top coat to seal the deal!
• Easy, huh?

The Nail Glue Method

Now this method takes a little more hand stability and a little more time. You'll want to use this method if you are working with large add-ons or want to make sure your charm mani lasts longer.

• Paint your nails with the polish of your choice. (Or glitter your nails :))
• Add a dot of glue to the area you want your add-on to be.
• Place your add-on on the glue dot.
• Use an orange stick to hold your add-on in place. (You will not be happy if your add-on slips and slides!)
• Allow glue to dry.
• Apply a clear top coat.

The Gel Polish Method

Gel polish also works well with larger add-ons without the stress of dealing with glue! You may want to try both out to find your personal preference.

• Apply two coats of gel polish to your nails and cure.
• Apply your add-on.
• Add a top coat of gel polish. (Make sure you apply it over your add-ons)

Which add-on method is best? Only you can decide that for yourself! Try these out and share your best works of art with us! We always love to share great nail art :)

Silver #glitterpowder mani with summer treat charms! #nailart #silverglitter https://t.co/9g1OlSP2wO pic.twitter.com/BWQCQ9c9FJ

— Glitties Nail Art (@rockstartoes) August 1, 2015

DIY Hexagon Glitter Nails

Hexagon glitter transforms your nails to an all purpose look year round. It's not just a seasonal look. We've found some of the best hexagon glitter looks you can pull off with ease! Trust us, it's a lot easier than it looks ;)

Use pre mixed hexagon glitter, or make your own custom mix! This is where your creativity takes over and sets your look apart from the rest. You'll be dying to try out some hexagon glitter once we're through with you!

Colorful #gradientnails with silver #hexagonglitter #silverglitter https://t.co/1YoJxiclhv pic.twitter.com/Gyzcsp2OPf

— Glitties Nail Art (@rockstartoes) July 26, 2015

This first hexagon glitter mani is the simplest to recreate! Perfect for the nail art beginner, but still fun for the more experienced nail artist.

What You'll Need:

• Hexagon glitter
• Bonding formula
• Sealing formula
• Franken formula (if you're creating your own hexagon glitter mix.)
• Nail polish

How To Create:

• Start out with the nail polish base you want. This nail artist used a colorful nail polish gradient and used the hexagon glitter to accentuate the colorful nails.
• Apply the bonding formula once your nail polish has dried.
• Sprinkle on hexagon glitter to your desire. You can use a pre mixed hexagon glitter or you can create your own custom mix.
• Once your glitter is applied, brush on your sealing formula and allow to dry for 3-5 minutes.
• Repeat last step once the first coat of sealing formula has dried.
• Share your creation!

Another design that's somewhat similar in creating as the first look. The hexagon glitter in this mani is used as an accent nail instead of the main event.

What You'll Need:

• Hexagon glitter
• Bonding formula
• Sealing formula
• Franken formula (if you're creating your own hexagon glitter mix.)
• Nail polish
• Nail tape

How To Create:

• Create the nail art look you want to sport. We love the chevron and solid polished nails used in this interpretation. 
• If you want to create a chevron nail, check out our DIY Chevron Mani blog post for directions.
• Prep your glitter nail with a thick wet coat of bonding formula.
• Apply your hexagon glitter to the bonding formula.
• Once your glitter is applied, brush on your sealing formula and allow to dry for 3-5 minutes.
• Repeat last step once the first coat of sealing formula has dried.
• Share your creation!

Turtles on #holographicglitter nails! #hexagonglitter #nailart https://t.co/1YoJxitW93 pic.twitter.com/hHu6F8YNVm

— Glitties Nail Art (@rockstartoes) July 20, 2015

Yes we know that circular glitter is used on this mani, but just imagine it with hexagon glitter instead! Hexagons would create a very oceanic scale texture. Can't help but picture the beauty!

What You'll Need:

• Hexagon glitter
• Bonding formula
• Sealing formula
• Orange sticks
• Nail polish
• Nail polish sticks

How To Create:

• Create the ocean water look with a gradient nail polish base.
• Create a gradient nail by putting the two colors you want on a makeup sponge and blend the colors together. Then apply to nails.
• Apply bonding formula
• Use the orange stick to apply your iridescent hexagon glitter one at a time in the pattern you desire. You can place them to touch each other, or leave space in between each.
• Apply Sealing formula and allow to dry for 3-5 minutes.
• Repeat.
• Use your nail polish sticks to create your sea turtles. 
• Share your creation!

There are so many ways use you can make each of these looks your own! From the colors you choose, to the nail art designs you create to go with your glitter, your nails can always be one of a kind! Check out a few more hexagon glitter manis below!

Summer ice cream nail art with #hexagonglitter!#silverglitter #blueglitter #Summernailshttps://shop.glitties.com/color/metallic-glitter/silver-hexagon-.040
Posted by Glitties Nail Art on Thursday, July 30, 2015

Strawberry nails with red glitter for you sweet tooth!#redglitter #hexagonglitter #glitterhttps://shop.glitties.com/color/red-glitter/ruby-red-hexagon-.040
Posted by Glitties Nail Art on Wednesday, July 15, 2015

#WallE looks awesome with silver #hexagonglitter! #silverglitter https://t.co/1YoJxiclhv pic.twitter.com/9ZxZEf4wc5

— Glitties Nail Art (@rockstartoes) July 19, 2015

10 Ways To Put Your Glitter To Use

There's so much you can do with glitter! Honestly, the possibilities are just about limitless. Crafts, makeup, and nails. All of the things you love can look that much better with a little bit of glitter. Or a lot! Take a look at these cool glitter uses, you'll definitely like what you see! ;)

Glitter hair ties 

Glitter clothes pins

Glitter mason jars 

Glitter shirt collar

Glitter lip makeup

 Glitter balloons

Glitter pants

Glitter nail art

Glitter eye makeup

Glitter egg crafts 

All of the pictures give us such great ideas! Don't tell us you can resist ALL of these glitter craft and makeup ideas!

XOXO, 

Glitties

Why Solvent Resistant Glitter?

Photo from Glitties.com

Are you looking for the next great nail art look? Have you seen all the fantastic glitter powder, glitter polish and matte glitter? Is it time to try something new in nail art? Solvent resistant glitter is a spectacular way to express one's creativity. Solvent Resistant Glitter can be used so many ways. Solvent resistant glitter comes in hexagon and there are a variety of colors to choose from. The main thing is to be creative and enjoy learning how nail art is an expression of ones style. The possibilities are numerous and the fun is just what happens when using glitter.

All of our Franken/Solvent Resistant Glitters have passed the MEK Test!

What is MEK?

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a strong colorless liquid solvent that has a sharp, sweet odor. Methyl ethyl ketone (also known as 2-butanone) is a man-made chemical that is also found in nature.  It is related to acetone and is used in dissolving paint, lacquer, varnishes and cleaning agent.

How Does Glitter Pass the MEK Test?

Photo from Glitties.com

Glitter is soaked in MEK for 5 minutes.  If the glitter does not bleed color or melt/dissolve any, this glitter would be considered solvent resistant.

Why Aren’t the Acrylic Polyester Glitters Solvent Resistant?

Acrylic Polyester Glitter is tiny perfectly cut colored plastic pieces, coated with an outside layer of polyester material.  The outside layer of these glitters is solvent resistant, but because the glitter is layered, the MEK or solvent is able to seep into the side of the glitter and dissolve the color and plastic core.  Just as though acetone dissolves acrylic nails.

If you haven’t already tried it, solvent resistant glitter is worth trying! Especially now that we have 18 new solvent resistant glitter colors available for spring :) https://plus.google.com/100319229337332113065?rel=author

Mani Monday!

Happy Monday and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Okay, to be honest, for our first Mani Monday post, we couldn't decide on just one. Instead, we wanted to share with you some of our absolute favorite manicures from amazing artists from this past month that we are dying over! Tell us which one is your favorite!

Which manicure wins the best #ManiMonday award!?