Soft Ombre Plaid Nail Art — Step-by-Step Gel Tutorial

Create gorgeous soft mist plaid gel nails with a delicate gradient background and clean intersecting grid lines using striping templates.

Steps

1. 1Apply Base Coat

   

   Using a flat brush, apply a smooth and even layer of Jade 1 gel onto the prepared nail plate to serve as your base coat. Ensure you cap the free edge for better longevity before curing the nail under a UV/LED lamp.

   Tip: Keep the base coat layer thin to prevent the product from pooling around the cuticle area.
2. 2Apply gradient base color

   

   Take a sponge dabber with Soft Ombre Patting Gel No. 7 and gently dab it at the bottom portion of the nail. This builds the initial foundation for the soft gradient color effect.

   Tip: Use a light tapping motion with the sponge to avoid harsh lines and ensure a smooth fade.
3. 3Blend for a Gradient Effect

   

   Using a clean white cosmetic sponge, gently dab and blend the edges of the pink gel towards the center and tip of the nail. Continue patting until you achieve a smooth, seamless gradient effect.

   Tip: Pat the sponge lightly and repeatedly over the transition area to ensure a soft fade without any harsh lines.
4. 4Apply diagonal striping stickers

   

   Using tweezers, carefully place three striping template stickers diagonally across the gradient nail surface. Space them evenly to create the guide lines for the plaid pattern.

   Tip: Press down firmly on the edges of the stickers to prevent gel from bleeding underneath.
5. 5Pat gel over diagonal stripes

   

   Take a sponge and gently dab Soft Ombre Patting Gel No. 1 over the striped template area. This fills in the open sections to build the plaid texture.

   Tip: Keep the sponge layer thin to avoid messy edges when the stickers are removed.
6. 6Remove diagonal template stickers

   

   Carefully peel off the striping template stickers using tweezers to reveal the clean diagonal striped lines underneath.

   Tip: Pull the stickers off slowly and steadily at an angle to keep the painted lines sharp.
7. 7Apply cross striping templates

   

   Place additional striping template stickers across the existing lines in a cross formation to set up the grid pattern.

   Tip: Ensure the new stickers intersect cleanly to form neat squares.
8. 8Pat gel over cross template stickers

   

   Gently pat Soft Ombre Patting Gel No. 1 over the newly applied cross template stickers using a sponge to complete the plaid intersection effect.

   Tip: Ensure even coverage over all intersecting areas before curing.
9. 9Peel off template stickers

   

   Gently peel off the striping template stickers from the nail surface to reveal the clean, patterned plaid grid effect underneath. Take your time during this removal step to avoid smudging any uncured gel or disturbing the crisp lines of the design.

   Tip: Peel the stickers off slowly and steadily at a low angle close to the nail surface for the sharpest lines.
10. 10Apply base gel to the second nail

    

    Begin the design for the second nail by applying an even layer of Jade 1 base gel. Make sure to cover the entire nail surface to create a smooth, clean foundation for the gradient and plaid layers that will follow.

    Tip: Applying a thin and even base layer is crucial to prevent the nail from looking bulky once the layers of ombre gel and top coat are added.
11. 11Dab blue ombre gel onto the tip

    

    Using a small cosmetic sponge, pick up some Soft Ombre Patting Gel No. 11 and gently pat it onto the lower half of the nail. Use light, repetitive tapping motions to build the color and diffuse it upwards toward the cuticle.

    Tip: Dabbing with a sponge helps avoid harsh brush lines and makes creating a soft gradient much easier.
12. 12Blend the blue gradient

    

    Continue to pat and blend the blue gel until you achieve a seamless gradient effect that softly fades into the pink base above it. Once you are happy with the smooth transition, cure the nail completely under your lamp.

    Tip: If the transition line looks too harsh, lightly tap a clean section of the sponge over the middle area to blur the colors together.
13. 13Apply vertical striping templates

    

    Using a pair of tweezers, carefully lift three striping template stickers and place them vertically straight down the nail surface. Press down firmly along the entire length of the stickers to ensure there are no gaps where gel could seep underneath.

    Tip: Make sure the gradient layer is fully cured before applying the stickers to ensure they stick well without pulling up any color.
14. 14Apply Gel Over Vertical Stripes

    

    Gently dab Soft Ombre Patting Gel No. 1 over the vertically placed striping template stickers on the second nail. Use a light patting motion to deposit an even layer of color over the exposed areas.

    Tip: Keep your patting motions light and uniform to prevent the gel from bleeding underneath the template edges.
15. 15Remove vertical template stickers

    

    Once the white gel has been evenly applied, use tweezers to carefully remove the vertical striping templates. This will expose the clean, precise vertical lines that form the base of your plaid grid.

    Tip: Peel the stickers off slowly and steadily to maintain the sharp edges of the grid pattern.
16. 16Apply Horizontal Striping Templates

    

    Take five horizontal striping template stickers and place them evenly across the second nail surface, perpendicular to the vertical lines. Press them down firmly to create the structure for the complete plaid grid.

    Tip: Space the horizontal stickers consistently to maintain a balanced grid proportion.
17. 17Peel Horizontal Templates

    

    Slowly peel off the horizontal template stickers from the second nail to finalize the multi-layered plaid grid pattern. Check that all edges are clean and the design is fully revealed.

    Tip: Remove the stickers immediately after the color application step while the gel is still manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions