Query about 3D flowers

[Peachey]

Hello everyone

Am hoping you can give me a little advice please . I have just started a new job (4 weeks ago) in a really lovely salon. The lady I am working for has asked me to produce some 'fancy nails' to be photographed for the salon website as although she too does nails - she doesnt like doing nail art at all, of any description.

I have got a few models booked in and thought it would be a lovely idea to do on one of them a few 3D flowers and things in white (for bridal nails I thought). However, I have driven myself mad (forgive the pun) on the drive home from work. I'm not so much worried about forming the flowers but pondering whether I would then have to seal them with anything? or is it the usual way to leave them as they are? If they are left, do they collect dust and soon look dingy after a while or do they remain lovely and white?

:o Appologies if these are daft questions. I'm usually quite bright but find that sometimes - simple things elude me !!!

 

[rtheoni]

Hello there
Personally I seal my 3D art work with top coat and this way they look more shiny and their color lasts longer.
I don't know if there is anything else for it, I just thought "if it helps nail art then why not 3D art".
Hope this hepls.

 

[Mieke]

I wouldnt touch them with a topcoat or anything. 3D flowers look nice since the shadows cast by the lows and highs in your acrylic flower from pressing it strategicly in to plase are what make these flowers look nice.
Put a topcoat or uv gel on top of it, it will first of all fill in some of the 3D effect that you created making it look less intricate + It will make the flower look glossy eliminating some of the shadowing which gives the flower its depth.

ofcourse the acrylic flower wont stay fresh in color for a long time. acrylic is more porous unless it is buffed and made smooth so it will absorb certain things easy expl. foundation, foods that stain easily....especially when you made your flower in a light color. You can always try to use a nailbrush to clean it but you will never get it as fresh looking.

Ofcourse you could incase your flowers aswell...thats another option

 

[Purelynailz]

I wouldnt touch them with a topcoat or anything. 3D flowers look nice since the shadows cast by the lows and highs in your acrylic flower from pressing it strategicly in to plase are what make these flowers look nice.
Put a topcoat or uv gel on top of it, it will first of all fill in some of the 3D effect that you created making it look less intricate + It will make the flower look glossy eliminating some of the shadowing which gives the flower its depth.

ofcourse the acrylic flower wont stay fresh in color for a long time. acrylic is more porous unless it is buffed and made smooth so it will absorb certain things easy expl. foundation, foods that stain easily....especially when you made your flower in a light color. You can always try to use a nailbrush to clean it but you will never get it as fresh looking.

Ofcourse you could incase your flowers aswell...thats another option

Yeah i agree with mieke, i dont put topcoat or anything on 3d work as i think when ya do it looses all definition.....
One thing i do remeber at the beauty show last year was when Antony Buckley used a small amount of resin to seal the 3d art, as it drys more of a satiny look rather than glossy .
Haze x

 

[tracey louise]

i agree with mieke.
i dont put a topcoat or anything on my 3d work as this is how i prefer it.i dont really like it to look shiney as i think it looks nicer left alone but this is just my opinion.why dont you try out both ways on a tip and see which you like best.
i have never had any problems with my 3d work dulling etc... and i left my nails for 5 weeks and the flowers still looked really good.hths and let us know what you decide.xx

 

[~Emmsybabes~]

Same here I second (or 4th ish 5th ish) everything mieke has said,
I never top coat over my 3d work,
It does fill in the small defintions ...

Although on some designs it can look nice, such as little ladybirds (evil things) or 3d hearts...
It does depend on the style you are looking to do I think,

Some top coats yellow too under certain circumstances, so if you applied it over white it may start to look "dirty" after a while,
It stays crisp white when left alone.

 

[Gilly T]

I haven't done a great deal of 3D.. just a couple of little flowers in my album. I did put glaze n go on it but after I did, I was wishing I hadn't. The definition of the petals just seemed to disappear really. Don't think I'll be doing it again..

 

[Alibarr]

You could always encapsulate some tiny dried flowers or jewels into the acrylic and use a base layer of coloured l&p. French looks good too with a 2 to 1 ratio of glitter for the tip as an extra touch?

 

[femmefan]

Don't know about the white, but I have an orange coloured 3d flower at the moment and I rubbed a little cuticle oil into it and just lightly polished it with a soft cloth. It has a lovely sheen without losing definition and has some protection from staining.

Cheers,
Hazel