Pressed Flower Dried Floral Japanese Gel Nail Art Tutorial

Create delicate Japanese-style pressed flower and watercolor gradient nails featuring embedded burgundy petals, gold wire bows, and high-gloss encapsulation.

Steps

1. 1Apply Clear Base Gel

   

   Take a fine brush and apply a smooth layer of clear base gel onto the transparent nail stand tip, ensuring an even distribution across the entire working surface.

   Tip: Keep your brush strokes light and even to avoid pooling near the edges.
2. 2Smooth and Level the Gel Layer

   

   Gently glide the brush across the nail tip to level the clear gel layer, creating a flat and uniform foundation before adding color or design elements.

   Tip: Allow the self-leveling gel a few seconds to settle before curing or proceeding.
3. 3Apply Translucent Pink Base

   

   Brush a light pink tinted translucent base gel over the cured or wet clear layer, creating a soft, milky color foundation for the pressed flower design.

   Tip: Apply in thin layers to maintain a natural, translucent look without bulkiness.
4. 4Select Dried Flower Petal

   

   Carefully pick up a delicate dried red flower petal from your storage container using a pair of precision tweezers, taking care not to tear or damage the fragile petals.

   Tip: Hold the tweezers with a gentle grip to avoid crushing the dried botanical elements.
5. 5Trim Flower Petal Edges

   

   Use small manicure scissors to meticulously trim the edges of the dried red flower petal so it fits cleanly and comfortably within the boundaries of the nail tip.

   Tip: Trim away any bulky stems or overlapping bits to ensure a flat placement on the nail.
6. 6Place Petal on Wet Gel

   

   Use tweezers to carefully transfer and press the trimmed dried flower petal onto the wet pink gel surface, positioning it artistically to suit your final design.

   Tip: Press down gently with the tip of your tweezers to anchor the petal into the uncured gel layer.
7. 7Press the flower petal flat

   

   Using a fine dotting tool or an orange wood stick, gently adjust and press the dried flower petal so that it lies completely flat against the gel layer on the nail.

   Tip: Apply gentle and even pressure to avoid tearing the delicate dried petals.
8. 8Smooth out bubbles and folds

   

   Carefully smooth out any trapped air bubbles or folded edges on the dried flower petal using your tool to ensure a seamless application.

   Tip: Working from the center outward helps push out air bubbles effectively.
9. 9Check floral alignment

   

   Inspect the nail from different angles to verify the alignment and ensure the entire floral piece sits completely flat within the uncured gel layer.

   Tip: Checking alignment now prevents bumps or lifting after the top encapsulation layer is cured.
10. 10Clean surrounding nail surface

    

    Wipe the surrounding nail surface clean with a lint-free wipe and cleanser to remove any dust, residue, or excess gel. This ensures a clean workspace around the nail design and prevents debris from getting trapped in subsequent layers.

    Tip: Make sure your wipe is completely lint-free so fibers do not stick to the uncured gel surface.
11. 11Encapsulate with builder gel

    

    Apply a generous layer of clear builder gel directly over the embedded dried flower, ensuring the flower is fully covered and sealed underneath.

    Tip: Make sure the builder gel layer is thick enough to level out and completely encapsulate the flower texture.
12. 12Seal flower edges

    

    Smoothly brush the builder gel around all the outer edges of the flower petals to seal them securely and prevent any future lifting.

    Tip: Cap the free edge and seal the perimeter thoroughly to ensure long-lasting durability.
13. 13Position metallic charm or stud

    

    Using precision tweezers, carefully pick up a small metallic charm or stud and position it near the base of the nail over a tacky gel layer. Gently press it down to ensure it adheres securely before curing.

    Tip: Use a small dot of clear builder gel or rhinestone glue underneath the charm to lock it firmly in place.
14. 14Pick up gold wire bow

    

    Using fine-tipped tweezers, carefully pick up a pre-formed miniature gold wire bow from your workspace or palette. Ensure you have a secure grip on the center or side of the bow so it does not bend or deform before placement.

    Tip: Keep your tweezers clean of any sticky gel residue to prevent the delicate wire piece from sticking to the tool.
15. 15Place gold wire bow

    

    Pick up the gold wire bow using tweezers and place it directly onto the nail surface just above the embedded floral design. Adjust its alignment to complement the composition before curing the underlying gel adhesive.

    Tip: Pre-shape the wire bow so it contours naturally to the curved surface of the artificial or natural nail.
16. 16Apply transfer foil for texture

    

    Press a piece of transfer foil gently over the tacky nail surface to create unique texture effects and metallic accents. Peel the foil away smoothly to leave behind irregular foil prints that complement the embedded floral elements and gold wire design.

    Tip: Make sure the transfer foil is pressed firmly onto the tacky layer, but avoid shifting any placed charms or wire bows underneath.
17. 17Apply dark accent gel along margins

    

    Apply a thin coat of dark accent gel around the outer margins of the nail to create depth, framing the inner design and giving the look a sophisticated dimensional effect.

    Tip: Keep this layer very thin around the edges to avoid a bulky or uneven sidewall profile.
18. 18Blend dark accent color

    

    Using a fine detailing brush, softly blend the dark accent color into the background to create a smooth, smoky gradient effect that melds seamlessly with the inner elements.

    Tip: Light, feathery strokes work best to feather out dark gel pigments without creating harsh lines.
19. 19Refine gradient borders

    

    Refine the painted gradient borders and details surrounding the flower element using a fine liner brush for crisp definition and a polished, professional finish.

    Tip: Wipe your liner brush clean frequently on a palette to maintain sharp, thin lines during detailing.
20. 20Apply final high-gloss top coat

    

    Apply a generous yet even layer of high-gloss top coat over the entire nail art design, ensuring all encapsulated elements like the pressed flowers and metallic lines are completely sealed. Cap the free edge to prevent chipping, and cure fully under your UV or LED lamp.

    Tip: Make sure the top coat covers every edge of the embedded nail art so that moisture cannot seep in and cause lifting.

Frequently Asked Questions