krum
Well-Known Member
How long does acrylic paint need to dry for before topcoating with gel polish?
Still on the nail art subject but just a slightly different question....I usually do my nail art on gel polish/Shellac.
I am doing a friends and her daughters nails tomorrow, and her daughter has a file and polish/Vinylux. But today she has asked if I can do a lace and Kath Kidston type nail art on her daughter.
What would you suggest I use to create the hand painted patterns (nails are too small for stamping) on Vinylux, Vinylux or acrylic paint???
I am not looking forward to it as I am so used to the versatility and the forgiving nature of gel polish when it comes to nail art?
I would recommend acrylic paint. You can thin your paint and use a fine brush to create very thin lines and in my opinion, 'draw' better with paint than with polish.
Regular polish dries too quick, especially Vinylux, and isn't a good consistency to create intricate artwork. It's also difficult to correct any mistakes without affecting your base colour.
I apply two coats of colour, and by the time I've finished the last nail, the first one painted is dry enough to begin art on top before topcoating, and the surface is not too glossy to hold the paint.
If you are worried, you can topcoat the polish, let it dry, and then begin your art. Takes longer, but that way if you make any mistakes, or you aren't happy with your art, it can be washed away gently with water (if you used paint) before starting again and your polish will be intact. If you do this method though, don't make your paint too watery, or it won't adhere to the glossy surface very well, and 'slip off' as you work. Then topcoat agin HTH x
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