When it comes to the hottest nail art trends right now, there are a lot of great nail art looks that come to mind.
First up, croc nails are taking center stage this winter, with A-listers like Hailey Bieber sporting dark chocolate brown patterned nails on their tips. Likewise, tortoiseshell nails are on the rise, with Sydney Sweeney a big fan, while viral TikTok trends like "pool water nails" are taking on increasingly creative ways.
Some manicure devotees head to their favorite salon every few weeks, but many manicure enthusiasts choose to apply nail polish at home. While some manicurist-approved supplies are only available to seasoned pros in the industry (such as certain chrome powder toppers), trying "bloom gel" might be your best tip for trendy DIY nail designs.
What is Bloom Gel?
"Bloom gel nails are a trendy design of marbled and watercolor nail art," professional manicurist and Gelish brand ambassador Morgan Haile tells Bustle. “Marbling and watercolor manicures may have been difficult to achieve in the past, but Bloom Gel allows users to create these looks in minutes.”
Products like Gelish's Blooming Gel Polish is a clear gel that cures under a UV light to disperse color.
Adding Bloom Gel Polish to your personal nail painting kit allows you to experiment with thoughtful details like celebrity-favorite croc print, marble quartz art, funky tie-dye swirls, and more.
How to use bloom gel
For those who want to try bloom gel at home, you'll need colored gel polish and an LED-powered UV light. As for creating a psychedelic effect step by step? Hale shares her approach.
After applying your preferred gel color, let it cure. When finished, apply a thin layer of blooming gel without setting. Use a dotting tool or brush to apply desired color to create a blended effect and allow to set for about 30 seconds. Finally apply the topcoat and it's all done.
Gelish Mini Bloom Gel Polish Sally Beauty
Pro Tips for Home Painters
While any non-professional can buy and try the Bloom Gel formula, professional manicurist Anna Miles has insight for those interested in purchasing a bottle.
"Bloom products are not compatible with traditional nail polish," says Myers. She notes that it can be tricky to apply and there's a potential risk of contact dermatitis, so she recommends seeing a professional for best results.
Fair warning aside, however, Myers says that for best results when using blending gel, she often treats one nail at a time (rather than coating the entire hand before setting). Additionally, the success of "smudging" depends on the exact pigmentation of the gel color you're using - so it may take a lot of trial and error before you nail down the exact look you want.
"Less is more—using too much smudge gel may cause your design to be smudged or look distorted," Haile adds. She also says to avoid using too many dots, as too much can make you The design looks confusing. Finally, she warns against using too many dark colors, as they can make your desired design harder to see.
4 Blooming Gel Nail Designs
alien star print
Whether you opt for lots of neutrals or prefer a full-color ensemble, there's an alien vibe to these unique polka dots, swirls, and patterns that are so popular in the mani space right now.
pearl cream
Ultra-realistic white crocodile print? Check. A winter matte finish that looks like holographic? Check. Unique pearls and rhinestones all over your nails? Also check it out.
Groovy Tie Dye Tips
In the world of beauty, all things 1970s-inspired are truly taking over—and what better way to embrace this fun trend than with some killer tie-dye techniques?
Colorful crocodile pattern french
Take a classic French trick to a new level of creativity and try a crocodile print design in two bright colors, such as a combination of purple and blue.
