Vintage Glam Nail Techniques - Featuring OPI Hollywood

featuring OPI

Looking for some spring nail inspiration? You’ve come to the right place. Get ahead of 2021 nail trends with these step-by-steps from OPI Design Team Artist Galdina Jimenez. Using a mix of bold prints, pretty pinks and - of course - lots of glitter, Galdina created four red carpet-inspired nail looks using OPI’s Hollywood Collection. Below, learn how to create an ombré glitter look, leopard print, a marbling technique and a five-point star. Galdina also shared tips on how to flash cure, the quickest way to remove OPI GelColor and much more!
 

Nail Prep
1. Add one coat of OPI Bond Aid Ph Balancing Agent.
2. Apply OPI Stay Classic GelColor Base Coat or Stay Strong GelColor Base Coat. Cure for 30 seconds in the OPI Dual Cure LED Light.


 

OPI Technique #1 - ALL THAT GLITTERS

1. Apply a thin coat of OPI GelColor 15 Minutes of Flame. Cure for 30 seconds in the OPI Dual Cure LED Light.

2. Apply a second coat of OPI GelColor 15 Minutes of Flame. Cure for 30 seconds.

3. Using a cosmetic application brush, tap loose, holographic glitter to the cuticle area, then brush off any excess glitter, and gently bring the glitter downward. Tip: use the clean side of the application brush to press the glitter down. (If any glitter is left sticking up, it could cause chipping problems!)
 

4. Apply OPI GelColor Stay Shiny Top Coat, and cure for 30 seconds.

5. Remove the inhibition layer with an OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe and OPI N.A.S. 99.

6. Apply one more layer of top coat, and cure for 30 seconds. Then wipe with OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe once more.

7. Tip: Galdina keeps two top coat bottles on hand at her station - one for glitter manis (which she marks by painting the top with glitter) and one for manis without nail art. This ensures that glitter doesn’t contaminate any top coat bottles or get transferred to nail designs without glitter. Genius!

 

OPI Technique #2 - Wearing Leopard Print on the Red Carpet

1. Apply OPI Stay Strong GelColor Base Coat in a burnishing motion (rub it into the nail plate in small, short strokes). Cure for 30 seconds in the OPI Dual Cure LED Light.
 

2. Apply 2 coats of OPI GelColor Movie Buff for a neutral base or Hollywood & Vibe for a pastel pink base and cure each coat for 30 seconds.

3. Create spots using OPI GelColor You Don’t Know Jacques! with the corner of your brush wiped clean of excess color, and cure for 30 seconds.

4. Apply a small dot of OPI GelColor Black Onyx with a dotting tool, framing the spots you created with You Don’t Know Jacques!, and cure for 30 seconds.

5. Top coat with OPI GelColor Stay Shiny Top Coat. Wipe inhibition layer with OPI N.A.S. 99 and an OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe.

6. Create a heart-shaped French tip using OPI GelColor I’m Really an Actress and a detail brush. Do not cure yet.

7. Pour clear polymer/acrylic powder over the nail, tap off any excess, then cure for 60 seconds.

8. Dust off excess powder using N.A.S. 99 and an OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe.

 

OPI Technique #3 - GoING MARBLE FOR STARS

1. Apply 1 coat of OPI GelColor Hollywood & Vibe or Movie Buff, and cure for 30 seconds in the OPI Dual Cure LED Light.

2. Apply a second coat of OPI GelColor Hollywood & Vibe or Movie Buff, but do not cure yet.

3. Create an abstract “Y” shape using a dotting tool and OPI GelColor Alpine Snow. Do not cure.

4. Use a dotting tool to apply OPI GelColor Naughty or Ice, following the shape you created with Alpine Snow. Cure for 30 seconds.
 

5. Remove the inhibition layer using an OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe.

6. Apply one large dot of OPI GelColor Black Onyx. Do not cure.

7. Using a detail brush, drag 5 lines from the center of the dot outward.

8. Remove any excess product from your brush, and connect the 5 points, drawing a straight line to every other point. Cure for 30 seconds.

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to create a smaller star.

10. Top coat with OPI GelColor Stay Shiny and cure for 30 seconds. Wipe inhibition layer with an OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe and OPI N.A.S. 99.

 

OPI Technique #4 - GoLden Record Cuff

1. Prep with OPI Stay Classic GelColor Base Coat, and cure for 30 seconds in the OPI Dual Cure LED Light.

2. Press gold transfer foil over the cuff. Top coat the foil with OPI GelColor Stay Shiny Top Coat and cure for 30 seconds.

3. Remove the inhibition layer with an OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe and OPI N.A.S. 99.

4. Apply 2 coats of OPI GelColor Black Onyx. Cure the first coat for 30 seconds. Do not cure the second coat.

5. Pour clear polymer powder over the nail, then cure for 60 seconds.

6. Dust off the excess powder. Wipe with an OPI Expert Touch Nail Wipe and OPI N.A.S. 99.

 

GET EVEN MORE NAIL TIPS - WATCH GALDINA’S FULL TUTORIAL BELOW!