Transfer Foils for Nails
in category: Transfer Foils
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Transfer foils for nails are a quick way to striking nail art: a metallic shine, holographic reflections, a lace pattern or leopard print transfer onto your set in a single motion. Julia Nessa offers over 30 transfer foil designs – from classic gold and silver to multicolour multi and holo foils – for gel polish and builder gel manicures.
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What is nail transfer foil?
Transfer foil is a thin film with a coloured, metallic or holographic layer that you transfer onto the nail by pressing. The coloured layer sticks to the sticky (inhibition) layer of the gel polish or gel, and a clear carrier remains on the foil. Julia Nessa transfer foils have a brittle structure, so they transfer easily – across the whole surface or in fragments that make an irregular, "broken" pattern. Nail foil works for quick nail art on a single nail, for advanced jewellery-style designs and as a base under crystals.
Transfer foils for nails – colours and designs
Metallic foils in a single colour
Classics for elegant sets: gold, silver, rose gold, red, pink, purple, light purple, cobalt, turquoise, green, orange and brown. Gold and silver transfer foil are the most common choice for bridal, festive and New Year's Eve sets.
Holo foil for nails
Holographic foil changes colour depending on the angle of the light: gold holo, silver holo, silver holo 1, red holo, fuchsia holo, light blue holo, blue holo and black holo.
Multicolour multi foils
Each has a different colour combination, so one transfer gives you several shades at once: Multi, Multi 1, Multi 2, Multi 3, Multi Holo, Multi Holo 1 and Petrol 2.
Patterned foils and other finishes
A ready-made pattern with no painting comes from lace transfer foil – delicate, ideal for bridal sets – as well as leopard print and striped Holo Strips. For a subtler effect, use foils with a muted finish: satin, satin holo and the matte Silver Matte.
How to apply transfer foil to nails
Applying transfer foil doesn't require a special foil glue – you transfer the foil onto the sticky layer of the gel polish or gel. Order of work:
- ♥ prepare the nail plate as for any set: degrease it, apply gel polish base coat and cure in the lamp
- ♥ apply two thin layers of gel polish in your chosen colour and cure each in the lamp – after curing, the second layer has the sticky layer on which you will transfer the foil
- ♥ place the foil colour side up – the grey side of the foil touches the nail
- ♥ press the foil with your finger or an orange stick and transfer it with a firm motion; for an irregular pattern, transfer the foil only in chosen places
- ♥ cover the whole surface and the edges of the nail thoroughly with gel polish top coat or gel top and cure in the lamp
The most important step is covering the foil thoroughly with top coat – sealed foil doesn't wear off or lift at the edges, and a gel polish manicure with foil looks neat for as long as the whole set lasts.
Encapsulating foil in the colour of the polish
For a more interesting, subtler effect, "encapsulate" the foil in the colour of the set. On a palette or mixing sticker, combine a few drops of clear top coat with a little of the gel polish you painted the nails with – add the polish gradually with a brush until the coverage is clearly weaker. Apply this mixture in a thin layer over the nails with the transferred foil and cure in the lamp. The foil shows through the colour and the whole thing looks like one coherent design. Finally, seal the set with top coat.
Nail set ideas with transfer foil
Transfer foils for nails can be combined in muted pairings – foil colour matched to the gel polish – or used for a strong contrast. Gold foil on red or burgundy gel polish is a classic for the holidays and party season, silver and holo suit navy and black, and lace and rose gold suit milky pinks and nudes. Pieces of foil work as an accent by the cuticles, in a French manicure instead of a painted line, or in a marble effect. Foil also looks great as a background under Swarovski crystals. For inspiration, read the post red nails – 6 fashionable inspirations, and for colours to go with gold and silver designs, see the festive gel polish category.
Transfer foils – frequently asked questions
How do I stick transfer foil to nails without glue? You transfer the foil onto the sticky layer of cured gel polish or gel – no extra glue is needed.
Why won't my transfer foil transfer? Most often the polish has too weak a sticky layer, or the foil was placed the wrong way round. The coloured side should face up, and the grey side of the foil should touch the nail.
Can I use transfer foil on gel? Yes, you can transfer the foil onto gel polish as well as onto gel – in both cases onto the sticky layer.
What do I seal the foil with? Gel polish top coat or gel top, applied thoroughly over the whole surface and the edges of the nail.