Switching up your appearance is as simple as applying fresh nail polish in a new hue. However, this is not to say that doing your own nail art is a breeze. While some individuals possess a steady hand, many others struggle, making it challenging to recreate elaborate nail designs. Fortunately, you don't require the precision of a surgeon to craft stunning nail art in the comfort of your home. The answer lies in nail stickers.
Nail stickers are easy to use, affordable, and come in countless designs, allowing you to replicate a wide range of looks with minimum effort or expense. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about using nail stickers for acrylic nails, including whether or not you need glue for them, how to get them to stick, and how to ensure they stay on.
The Inside Scoop on Nail Stickers
First and foremost, it's important to note that nail stickers have an adhesive side, so you won't need any additional glue to apply them. This makes the application process quick, easy, and mess-free.
Nail Stickers Vs. Nail Decals Vs. Nail Tattoos Vs. Polish Strips
In nail art, it's essential to understand the differences between nail stickers, nail decals, nail tattoos, and polish strips.
Nail stickers, for instance, feature a one-sided adhesive, eliminating the need for additional glue. They may be made of various materials, including plastic, vinyl, or paper. Moreover, they may come pre-cut or on a single sheet to be trimmed down as needed.
On the other hand, nail decals are activated by water, much like nail tattoos. Unlike stickers, decals require water to transfer the graphics.
Lastly, polish strips, as the name suggests, are essentially polish in sticker form. These strips are stretchy, allowing for an ideal fit, and you can remove them using polish remover.
Understanding the differences between these various nail art options can help you choose the perfect match for your desired look.
How to Use Nail Stickers for Acrylic Nails
Are you ready to liven up those acrylics? Here’s how to get professional results with nail stickers.
Before you start, ensure the nails are clean, dry, and free of oils or residues. This will ensure the nail stickers adhere correctly and stay in place longer. Do any needed filing beforehand and cleanse debris with a lint-free wipe.
- To begin, apply a base coat to the acrylic nails. This can be clear or colored polish.
- Once the base coat is dry, choose your desired nail stickers. Hold them over the nail to make sure they will fit.
- Using a pair of tweezers, gently peel the sticker off the sheet, being careful not to damage the design. It’s best to use tweezers instead of your fingers to avoid wrinkling the sticker or damaging the adhesive.
- Next, place the nail sticker sticky side down onto the acrylic nail. Make sure to position it exactly where you want it before pressing it down, as repositioning can cause the adhesive to lose its stickiness.
- Once the sticker is in place, use a silicone nail stamp, sculpture pen, or your finger to press it firmly onto your nail, ensuring that it adheres evenly and smoothly.
- Finally, to seal the deal and ensure your nail stickers stay put, apply a transparent top coat over the entire nail, including the sticker. This will protect your nail art and provide an additional layer of adhesive, ensuring that your nail stickers remain in place for as long as possible.
With acrylic nails, you can use either nail lacquer or gel polish as your base and top coats.
Where to Get Nail Stickers?
We currently have over a hundred designs in our nail sticker collection. These include fun graphics like flames, hearts, fruit, flowers, festive themes, and more. Specific stickers even offer a raised or three-dimensional texture for added flair.
While you’re at it, browse our nail art supplies collection. It includes favorites like chrome nail powder, emboss gel, glitter, charms, foil, dried flowers, and rhinestones.
LDS UV Glitter Nail Art
It’s simple to extra sparkle to your nails with LDS UV glitter. This collection offers a range of irresistible colors so gorgeous you’ll want to try them all. The best part? They can be used with acrylic powder, dip powder, gel builder, and gel polish. Let your creativity run wild with nail stickers, and then enhance the results with glitter!
How Long Do Nail Stickers Last?
Suppose you took the time to prep the acrylics properly by cleansing them of oil and debris. In that case, you've already done half the work needed to make nail stickers last as long as possible. Then, if you brush on a top coat, they should last about two weeks.
What If the Stickers Don’t Adhere?
On the off chance that the stickers won’t stick to the acrylic nails, you still have options. First, peel them off and clean the nails again. Use rubbing alcohol to make sure there is no oily residue on the surface. That may solve the problem.
If not, lightly buff the surface with a file and wipe off the dust. Try again to adhere the sticker. It should work this time, and a glossy top coat will smooth things over and keep it in place.
How to Remove Nail Stickers
If the stickers have started to lift up the edges or if you want to change up your look, it's easy to remove them. They might peel off on their own. Then you can touch up the polish and apply new stickers if you wish.
Another option is to soak your nails in warm water with a few drops of dishwashing soap. It takes about twenty minutes to loosen stickers so that you can peel them.
If you are removing the manicure anyway, you can soak the nails in a polish remover with acetone. It will definitely remove the stickers as well as any polish and acrylic enhancements.
Conclusion
We hope this article helped you learn about using nail stickers on acrylics so that you can have fun with them! They are a convenient and affordable way to enjoy a stunning manicure without spending a lot of time and money on it. You don’t even need special tools or supplies to apply them. It’s a good deal all around!
If you love to see what's new and trending in the nail world, check out our new arrivals. Remember, we offer free gifts and free shipping on orders over $100!