How to Do Blooming Gel Nails: Watercolor Nails in 6 Steps

Blooming gel · 6 steps · clear art gel

Blooming Gel lets color spread and feather on its own. You drop, it blooms, and the lamp locks it in.

1. 1

   Prep and base

   File, buff and wipe the nail clean. Dehydrate with pH Bond, then brush on a thin coat of base coat and cure.

   TipCap the free edge.

2. 2

   Cure a base color

   Pick the color that will sit under the bloom. Apply two thin coats and cure each one.

   TipPale and dark backgrounds give very different looks. Try one on a practice tip.

3. 3

   Brush on the Blooming Gel

   Brush a thin layer of Blooming Gel over the cured color. Do not cure it.

   TipWork one nail at a time so the layer stays wet.

4. 4

   Drop in the color

   While the Blooming Gel is still wet, dab or draw a second shade on top with a fine brush or the dotting tool. The color spreads and feathers on its own.

   TipStart with a tiny drop. It is easy to add more and hard to take it away.

5. 5

   Let it spread, then cure

   Give the color a moment to bloom, then cure under your LED lamp to lock the effect in place.

   TipKeep the nail still while it spreads.

6. 6

   Seal and finish

   Seal with a no wipe top coat and cure. Finish with cuticle oil.

   TipA clear top coat keeps the soft edges as you made them.

Blooming Gel

Brush-on bottles, 0.5oz.

Blooming Gel 0.5oz 1MSRP $9.50

Blooming Gel 0.5oz 2MSRP $9.50

Blooming Gel 0.5oz 3MSRP $9.50

Blooming Gel Magical Layer 0.5oz (HEMA/TPO Free)MSRP $8.25

Tools, base and finish

Dotting Tool Set of 5 pcsMSRP $10.95

Detail Nail Art BrushMSRP $9.50

Soak Off Gel - Base Coat 0.5ozMSRP $7.25

Diamond Soak Off Gel No Wipe Top Coat 0.5ozMSRP $7.25