Crack gel is a nail art gel that breaks apart as it sets, so the colour underneath shows through the gaps like cracked eggshell or dry earth. A'DOR Crack Gel comes in 0.5 oz bottles, in 12 shades and a Set 12 listing. The effect is quick to create because you do not paint the lines by hand: the gel forms them for you.
A dedicated base is not required, but the effect shows best over a contrasting colour, and a gold or silver crack base gives the strongest look through the lines. Apply your base colour and cure it fully before the crack gel goes on, so the layer underneath is set and the cracks open cleanly over it.
Apply the crack gel in a thin layer, because a thick layer does not crack evenly. The longer you let it sit as it sets, the more cracks form, so time the wait to the look you want and keep it the same on every nail for a matching set. Practise on a tip first to learn how your lamp and room temperature change the result.
Use it within a gel system: gel base, cured gel colour, crack gel, then a gel top coat. It is not made for use over air-dry lacquer. Seal the finished design with a top coat that covers the free edge, so the cracked surface is smooth and protected for the whole wear of the set.
Remove it like a standard gel manicure. Lightly file the shiny top layer to break the seal, soak or wrap the nails in acetone, then push the softened gel off gently with a pusher or orangewood stick. Do not scrape hard. Finish with cuticle oil to put moisture back into the nail and skin after the soak, and wait before the next service if the nail feels thin.