Nail Art and Specialty Services
What counts as nail art
Freehand painting, French and reverse French, airbrushing, stamping, foiling, water marbling, encapsulation (embedding lace, dried flowers, or glitter inside product), 3D acrylic flowers and bows, rhinestones and studs, chrome powders, and gel color effects such as cat-eye. Each is applied on top of a fully cured or fully set base - never on wet product.
Build it into the structure
Art belongs on a finished, structurally sound nail. If a design is bulky at the free edge, it becomes a lever that lifts the enhancement. Keep the apex and sidewalls clean, and reserve decoration for the top surface. Charms and rhinestones should sit below the highest point of the nail so they do not catch on hair or clothing.
Material safety
Use products intended for nail use. Craft glitter, hobby adhesives, and non-solvent-resistant plastics can break down under gel or monomer and trap moisture. Keep ventilation running and control dust; uncured gel on the skin can trigger an allergic sensitization that may end the client's ability to wear enhancements at all. Gloves and a clean brush for each color limit cross-contamination.
Specialty services
Know paraffin (test temperature on the wrist; avoid over inflamed or broken skin), hot stone and aromatherapy massage (contraindicated over injury, inflammation, or undiagnosed swelling, and for some clients with medical conditions), and hand and foot exfoliation. Add-on services still carry the same sanitation requirements as the core service.
Traps
"Any glitter is fine," "apply art while the gel is still tacky so it sticks," and "decorations can be as tall as the client wants."
Rule of thumb
Cure first, decorate second, and keep decoration lower than the stress area. Nail-safe materials only.