Nail innovations didn’t stop with matte and crackling topcoats or even magnetic options. Blooming gel nail art is the latest look to sprout from a recent advancement in the industry, alongside 3D jelly — and it’s taking over tips left and right internationally.
A special translucent formula, typically from the brand The Gel Bottle Inc, is painted onto nails before droplets of colorful gel polishes are placed on top of it while the clear gel is still wet and uncured, British nail artist Imarni explains to Allure. The colors end up spreading out into fun, aura-like orbs in a variety of shapes and sizes that never look the same way twice. She recently brought the technique to FKA Twigs’ nails with a selection of neons for a summery snakeskin moment.
Depending on how your nail artist adds bold hues to your nails, blooming gel can produce a myriad of different effects. In addition to making it look like an animal print, “you can do marble vibes or an abstract effect,” Austrian nail artist Johanna Schüßleder tells Allure. “Actually, there are no borders or rules with blooming gel; just let it bloom.”
The technique’s popularity has flowered out of how satisfying the nail art is to execute, Schüßleder says. Seeing the colors expand is almost like watching a lava lamp warm up on your nails if you ask me. Plus, no matter what you do with the versatile clear coat, the result is always stunning. It can be as simple or complex as you wish. No matter what, your final blooming gel nail art will be colorfully kaleidoscopic.