1.
The Tool: Pigments
The Tech: Tera Wyatt, Bellevue, NE @wyatt.tera
The Tutorial: Recreate this look in five easy steps.
The Tip: Don’t share your tools. To keep pigment from contaminating your polish, be sure to designate an oval gel brush specifically for pigments.
2.
The Tool: Bottle Brush
The Tech: Chaun Peth, Beverly Hills, CA @chaunlegend
The Tutorial: Learn to recreate this nude-to-pink color blend in four easy steps.
The Tip: Use colors with similar undertones and apply in thin layers.
3.
The Tool: Detail Brush
The Tech: Sabella Snyder, Los Angeles @sweetbcreations
The Tutorial: Recreate this sunset-inspired color blend in four easy steps.
The Tip: Avoid using colors on opposite sides of the color wheel in a gradient, as the finished result will be muddled.
4.
The Tool: Airbrush
The Tech: Robert Nguyen, Los Angeles @nailguytv
The Tutorial: Recreate this splash of color shade shift in the easy steps.
The Tip: To ensure proper cleanup of the surrounding skin, it’s important to know the base of the airbrush paint: Gel and oil-based airbrush paints should be cleaned with alcohol, while urethane-based airbrushed paints should be cleaned with acetone.
5.
The Tool: Makeup Sponge
The Tech: Jeannette Vazquez-Alfaro, Bay Shore, NY @iluvurnailz
The Tutorial: Recreate this whimsical shade shift in three easy steps.
The Tip: A latex-free makeup sponge is less porous and won’t absorb polish as quickly, giving you more time to transfer color to the nail.
What’s your favorite way to achieve a gradient nail design? Let us know in the comments below!
-Sigourney Nuñez, photography by Jason Bennett
This article was first published in the June 2017 issue of NAILPRO
READ MORE:
How to Create A Flawless Gradient Nail Using Airbrush
No Nail Art Tools? No Problem! Here’s How to Execute A Gradient With a Bottle Brush
How to Use Pigment Powders to Create a Color Gradient Design
Find Out How to Blend Three Gel Polish Colors For a Perfect Gradient