#weekend nails

Having been introduced to Salon Systems recently I have been getting familiar with the Gellux range! Chrome nails have been trending for at least two years now and I don’t see this trend going away anytime soon. Every Gel System offers something different and Salon System don’t disappoint with their Multi-Chrome and Chrome Mirror Kit. 

*Please note these products are for qualified nail professionals only 

As well as the 3 chrome powders that come in each box,  you also receive a little packet of eyeshadow applicators to rub the chrome into the nail (these are particularly adorable) : 

Chrome Mirror Kit  

Prep the nails as per usual for a gel manicure by filing the nail into shape, sanitising the nail plate, gently buffing the surface of the nail, removing any dead skin on the surface of the nail, wiping with Gellux Prep & Wipe and then using the Gellux Bond

Apply base coat and two colour coats curing after each

Apply top coat and cure and wipe off the sticky layer with a lint free wipe which allows the chrome to adhere more easily

Buff the chrome into the nail with the eyeshadow applicator / dust away excess powder with a lint free wipe

Apply topcoat over the chrome to seal it in paying particular attention to the cuticle area/free edges so as to encase the chrome fully

After having a proper play with these products I felt the Silver was my favourite. It gave a really high shine mirror finish that looks very chic. The Gold comes out as more of a soft sparkly sheen as does the Mermaid finish (seen above) which do look very pretty over pale shades like Cherry Blossom. 

Tips 

Chrome isn’t the easiest of nail art products to work with. To make it easier here are a few tips ! 

1. I find curing the topcoat twice helps remove more solvents and makes it better for chrome to stick to the nail plate once the sticky residue has been removed

2. Once a layer of chrome has been applied, I lightly go over the nail with a lint free wipe to remove any excess dust so it doesn’t end up contaminating my base/top coat. 

3. I also discovered that, with these chromes, I felt two coats worked best. Below you can see the Silver Chrome on top of a cured base coat, and two cured coats of Cherry Blossom. The first image is with one layer of Silver chrome. The second is with topcoat cured and wiped of its tacky layer and a second layer of Silver Chrome on top : 

The finished result is gorgeous : 

Multi Chrome Kit 

The Multi Chrome Kit works a little differently than the Mirror Chrome Kit. Firstly it’s less like a powder consistancey and is more “flake-like”. With a patting motion you can crate a speckled effect with the powders, but if you want an all over finished look I would suggest really rubbing the flakes into the nail surface after removing the sticky layer. Below is Rose Gold which I used to create a pretty burnished look over the top of the Gellux Black Tulip Gel Polish :