Jelly Pink Chrome Nails Step by Step at Home

You can get jelly pink chrome nails step by step at home in about 35 minutes. You need a sheer jelly pink gel polish, a no wipe gel top coat, white pearl or chrome powder, and an LED lamp. The total kit costs around thirty to forty dollars and the set lasts up to three weeks without chipping.

What you need for jelly pink chrome nails

Gather your supplies on a clean towel before you start so you do not touch surfaces with sticky gel on your fingers. Using the correct formula makes the difference between a mirror finish and a cloudy mess.

• Dehydrator or rubbing alcohol: Cleans oil from the nail plate so product sticks.
• Gel base coat: Protects the natural nail and prevents peeling.
• Sheer jelly pink gel polish: A see through pink that lets light pass through.
• No wipe gel top coat: Chrome powder only sticks to a cured top coat that has no sticky layer.
• White chrome or pearl powder: Gives the glazed glass look.
• Silicone tool or eyeshadow sponge: Rubs the chrome powder smooth.
• LED nail lamp: Cures each coat completely.

Buying these tools individually or in a starter kit gives you enough product for at least twenty full sets. That makes each manicure cost less than two dollars after the first purchase.

Prep the natural nail for a long lasting set

Good prep work stops the gel from lifting at the cuticle after four days. Start by pushing your cuticles back gently with a wooden stick or metal pusher, then remove any dead skin stuck to the nail plate.

Shape your nails with a 180 grit file. Lightly buff the shine off the entire surface of each nail with a soft buffer block. Wipe every nail thoroughly with a lint free wipe soaked in pure rubbing alcohol to remove dust and oil. A proper Manicure foundation keeps the color locked down tight.

Apply the jelly pink color coats

Apply one thin layer of gel base coat to all five nails on one hand. Make sure to cap the free edge at the tip of the nail, then cure under your LED lamp for 30 seconds.

• First jelly coat: Brush on a very thin layer of sheer jelly pink gel. Keep it neat and avoid touching your skin. Cure for 60 seconds.
• Second jelly coat: Apply a second thin layer to build a soft, milky depth. If you want a very see through look, one coat is enough. Cure for 60 seconds.
• Check for streaks: Jelly polish levels out on its own if you wait five seconds before placing your hand into the lamp.

If any gel touches your skin or cuticles, clean it off with a small brush dipped in alcohol before curing. Cured gel on the skin causes lifting within two days.

How do you apply chrome powder to jelly nails?

This is the step where most people run into trouble. Paint a thin layer of no wipe gel top coat over the cured jelly pink color and cure it for only 30 seconds. If you cure it for a full 60 seconds, the surface becomes too slick and the powder will not stick.

Dip your eyeshadow applicator or silicone tool lightly into the chrome powder. A tiny amount goes a long way. Gently tap the powder onto the center of the nail, then rub it in firm, circular motions toward the edges until the surface turns into a mirror. Dust away any extra loose powder with a clean, dry, fluffy makeup brush. Smooth buffing is the secret behind clean Nail art finishes.

Seal the chrome so it does not chip

Chrome powder flakes off at the tips within two days if you do not seal the free edge correctly. Take a fine grit buffer and lightly swipe the very front tip of your nail edge to remove any chrome powder sitting on the raw edge.

• Base coat trick: Brush a thin layer of clear base coat directly over the chrome powder and cure for 30 seconds. Base coat grips powder better than top coat and prevents peeling.
• Final top coat: Apply a layer of glossy no wipe gel top coat over the base coat, making sure to cap the free edge completely. Cure for 60 seconds under the lamp.
• Cuticle oil: Finish by massaging a drop of jojoba or cuticle oil into the skin around every nail to restore moisture.

This double top coat technique locks the chrome powder between gel layers so your mirror shine stays bright and chip free for up to three weeks.