How to Apply Glitter to Gel Nails in 2 Easy Ways
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Time to read 8 min
We love a glittery mani, and there are a few different ways that you can achieve the look. Whether it's with a salon-quality glitter polish or applying loose glitter to your gel nails, the effect you'll get from each method is slightly different – but beautiful all the same!
If you're in the midst of creating a pretty set of glitter gels or you're planning your next at-home mani to do at the weekend, we've got your guide to getting the perfect glittery look in just a few easy steps.
We'll take you through how to apply glitter to gel nails using top tips and tricks along the way to ensure that your glitter application is smooth, long-lasting, and as mess-free as possible!
In This Guide...
What Are the Different Ways to Create Glittery Gel Nails?
There are a few different ways you can create glittery nails...
Glitter gel top coats
Loose nail confetti
The effects you'll get from each type will differ, as will the steps you'll need to follow to apply them to your nails.
Gel polishes or top coats with glitter are definitely the easiest way to achieve the glitz and glamour of glittery nails. They come in a variety of shades and finishes, with the glitter 'floating' in the gel polish formula.
Loose glitter or confetti, on the other hand, will need to be stuck onto or encapsulated on your gel nails, which requires a few extra steps (not many, though!).
You'll get a slightly more textured effect with loose nail glitters and a bit more control over how the glitter is placed on your nail. For example, you might just want to attach one piece of glitter or confetti to an accent nail, as opposed to covering your entire nail as you would with glitter polish.
Is It Easy to Do Glitter Nails At Home?
Contrary to popular belief, creating glitter nails at home is super easy. Any type of at-home mani is actually a lot easier than many salon go-ers would believe (not to mention an awful lot cheaper).
If you're not a gel nail pro, glitter polish is probably the best way to go, as you don't really have to do much other than apply the polish as you would any other gel colour.
Loose glitter does take a little more practising, but it's not a tricky process by any means.
How to Apply Glitter to Gel Nails in 2 Ways
Rather than just telling you how easy it is to create glitter gel nails at home, we're going to take you through the steps so you can see for yourself and follow along...
#1 Applying Loose Glitter to Nails
Before we get started here, it's worth noting that you shouldn't be applying regular glitter to your nails.
Instead, you should be using nail glitter which is made specifically for being applied to nails, like our All That Glitters collection.
Nail glitter and confetti, like All That Glitters, will adhere better to your nails and last a whole lot longer. Regular glitter could also be damaging to your nails, so it's best to keep your arts and crafts glitter to, well, your arts and crafts.
As for how to apply to your nails, we've laid out the steps below:
After painting your nails with gel polish and getting them to the stage where you're ready to apply the glitter or confetti pieces, you can choose to use a Sponge Applicator or Dotting Tool to apply the product to your nails, or simply shake the glitter directly onto your nails.
If using a Sponge Applicator, dip the tool into your glitter pot and pat it onto your cured nail in a dabbing motion. The glitter will adhere to the tacky gel colour on your nail. You can repeat this process until you achieve your desired amount of glitter.
We'd recommend using a Dotting Tool for bit pieces of glitter on confetti. You can pick up the pieces with the tool and place them onto your nail, gently pressing down to secure them into the gel polish. You can also use the tool to reposition the glitter pieces if needed.
For fine loose glitter, simply shaking the product over a tacky nail works just as well. To avoid the mess of nail glitter all over your workspace, our Glitter Catcher is a must-have tool.
You can place your finger and nail over the catcher, and shake the glitter onto your nail. The excess glitter will be caught underneath rather than spilling onto your vanity or worktop.
You can also pop your nail into the glitter pot if it's large enough, covering the whole nail in glitter in one go. You can then use your finger or a brush to gently press down on the glitter.
With any of these methods, you should finish by using a layer of Clear Builder Gel or No Wipe Top Coat to encapsulate and seal in the product, curing for 60 seconds under our Pro Salon Series LED Lamp.
#2 Applying Glitter Gel Nail Polish
As far as applying glitter gel polish goes, there aren't any special extra steps that you would use in comparison to applying regular gel polish.
But, to help you achieve the most salon-worthy results, we've listed out our steps below...
Step 1) Prep your nails following our recommended steps and paint on a Base Coat. Take care to apply the base coat as closely as possible to the edges of your nails, without touching the cuticles. A good base coat is vital if you want your manicure to last.
Step 2) Wait for the base coat to cure. Curing takes 60 seconds with a Mylee LED Lamp or 120 seconds with a UV Lamp.
Step 3) Once the base coat has cured, apply a thin layer of glitter gel polish (or a gel colour first). Try to spread the glitter particles evenly across the nail bed. You can use an orange stick or nail art brush to move the glitter specks around to have more control over where it spreads.
Step 4) Cure for another 60 seconds, then repeat the same process for the second coat. Make sure to cure for 60 seconds after each layer.
Step 5) Apply a No Wipe Top Coat to the final layer and cure again for 60 seconds.
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Reasons Why Your Loose Nail Glitter Isn't Sticking
A common question we get asked on our socials is why the loose glitter isn't adhering properly to the nails or it's falling off sooner than expected.
It's first worth mentioning that you must always apply a Top Coat over the glitter or confetti pieces to seal them in. Builder Gel works well, too, especially for chunkier glitter pieces or nail gems.
You also need to be applying the glitter to a tacky layer of polish. If the gel polish has completely cured, the glitter will not stick. Regular gel polish doesn't have the same tacky layer that you get with gel polish, so you'll need to use a different method.
Also, if you're trying to apply glitter to a No Wipe Top Coat, it isn't going to work. This top coat is formulated without the tacky layer, so glitter will just fall straight off no matter how many layers you apply.
How to Remove Glitter Gel Nails at Home
As for removing your glitter nails, the process is the same as removing any other gel polish.
You can follow our beautifully laid-out video below for the best way to remove your gel nails at home...
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Summary: Creating a Salon-Worthy Glitter Mani
Whether you opt for nice and simple glitter gel polish or take the slightly more creative route with loose glitter, you'll be left with a beautiful and glittery set of nails that will last for weeks (up to 3 weeks when you use Mylee!).
Follow our steps above and you'll have the perfect glitter nails in no time!
You can also shop all our nail art essentials below, including our loose glitters and nail tools that'll help you achieve a great-looking set of glitter nails every time.
FAQs
How do you stop glitter from falling off your nails?
It's important that you apply the glitter to a tacky layer of gel polish and always seal it in with a Top Coat or Builder Gel. This will ensure that the glitter stays in place and lasts longer.
Can you use any glitter for gel nails?
We really don't recommend using anything other than specific nail glitter on your nails. Other types of glitter may not adhere properly, could be too damaging for your nail, and just might not give you the desired look.
How do you use nail glitter neatly?
Our Glitter Catcher really is a handy tool for reducing mess when using loose glitter. You can also use a Sponge Applicator or Dotting Tool to apply the glitter more precisely.
How long do glitter gel nails last?
When using our All That Glitters or glitter polishes, you can expect your shimmery mani to last up to 3 weeks - so long as you've followed our recommended steps!
Ellie Simmons
Ellie is a Brand Ambassador for Mylee. Alongside being a skilled and certified nail technician, Ellie's expertise extends to gel manicures and nail extensions.
Her heart and soul are devoted to all things nail-related, and she loves flaunting her own long, natural nails with captivating nail art. Ellie's ultimate favourites are iridescent and sparkly designs!
