The latest mixed media trends in nail art are all about combining textures and materials, to create innovative designs. Incorporating elements like glitter, chrome, foils, matte finishes, decals and even 3D acrylic textures with the timeless sparkle of rhinestones adds unique depth and dimension. The use of mixed media in nail art not only enhances the visual appeal but also allows for a creative exploration of the art form. Rhinestones, in particular, bring a unique element of glamour and sophistication, elevating any nail art design from ordinary to extraordinary by adding a touch of sparkle that captures the light and draws the eye.

Choosing Your Materials

When selecting rhinestones and complementary textures like glitter, chrome, and matte finishes for nail art, it's crucial to consider the overall colour scheme to ensure balance. The size of rhinestones significantly impact the final design, with larger stones creating bold focal points and smaller ones adding delicate sparkle. Mixing textures offers creative depth, where the reflective surface of nail art rhinestones can contrast beautifully with the soft glow of matte gel polishes, and glitter adds a fun, playful element. Other materials such as stamps and decals allow you to portray detailed imagery, which can then be elevated with the addition of rhinestones. And using foils or chrome powder is a great way of adding an extra sheen to the base colour of the nail.

Design Inspiration

Here are some examples of nail artists combining different medias and techniques to create truly unique nail designs:

1. Rhinestones on a matte nail

Nail artist and YouTuber Natalie Mugridge is known for her love of matte top coat, giving many of her nail sets that sleek, muted finish. The addition of rhinestones over the top of the matte nail really enhances their sparkle and shine, making them the focal point of the design. Her use of toned down colours also has the effect of drawing the eye to the distinctive crystals.

2. Stamped Decals

Another favourite technique of Natalie's is the use of stamps and decals to create her base design, then take it a step further by adding rhinestones of similar colours to give it a lift. In the below examples, Natalie's pretty floral decals are spread across two nails, but she continues the theme across the set by bringing in rhinestones of those same colours. It's a clever way of creating a colour scheme across the whole set, without going over the top on rhinestones. When trying this technique, be sure to consider the rhinestone colours and effects available to achieve the best results.

3. Caviar Beads

Here, talented nail technician Scarlett Senter shows us two completely different ways of combining rhinestones with caviar beads. In the first example, she has placed them individually on the nail, in a scattered effect, to create a delicate metallic studded finish. In the second example, Scarlett has used the tiny caviar beads, as an embellishment, to make up the words, symbols and images within the design. So in this case, they are the main focal point of the set rather than the rhinestones, which are a small but gorgeous part of the design.

4. Foils and foil embellishments

Foil embellishments, which can either be large chunky glitter shapes or foil sheets, are an extremely popular medium to incorporate into nail art as they can come in a huge range of shapes, sizes and colours. They are also easy to apply, (add straight onto the gel polish, cover with top coat, then cure into place), and make a great base for additional embellishments such as rhinestones. Our fabulous ambassador Lisa Johnston uses foil heart shapes sporadically across the nails and combines with rhinestone hearts and delicate AB rhinestones to pick out the main colours.

Foil sheets are a great alternative to a solid gel colour base, as they offer 3d textures and patterns that you can easily replicate with gel. In the second of Lisa examples below, she has used a foil that exactly matches the marble effect pattern of the oval cabochon, and picks out the detail with Clear and black rhinestones.

5. Chunky Glitter

Using chunky glitter as the base of your nail creates a fabulous 'in your face', party-ready look, reminiscent of confetti. Scarlett Senter creates a feature nail by adding rhinestones and crystal shapes in matching colours to give that extra hint of bling.

6. Fine Glitter

If you're not a fan of the chunky glitter, but like the spangle effect, try ultra fine glitter instead. This gives you full nail coverage and looks like crystal dust. Fine glitter is so versatile as it can be used to encrust the entire nail, just one feature nail or sections of the nail to make a pattern. It offers a background sparkle that can then be elevated with the addition of rhinestones.

7. 3D Acrylics

The ultimate mixed media nail designs often feature a 3-dimensional element made with acrylic, to make the design physically stand out. This technique is usually seen for competition nails and show pieces, as they are not very practical for everyday wear! While the acrylic icons are the main focal point of the nail design, it is always worth adding the extra detail of small rhinestones in the background to help tell the story of the design.

8. Polymer shapes

Polymer shapes are small, flat embellishments that are made from a silicone like material, that can be easily glues onto your nail art design. You can find almost any shape imaginable, such as flowers, animals, sweets, fruit slices etc, and are a quick and easy way to bring a particular theme to your design. In the below example, Lisa Johnston adds fruit shapes to her cocktail themed nail set, along with rhinestones in colours to suit the theme.

Application Techniques

When thinking of mixing textures with rhinestones, it is important to consider how you are going to apply the gems securely, and without compromising the other materials. Here are some handy tips to guide you through the application process:

• Recommended glue and tools – For attaching rhinestones to nails, we always recommend Crystal Fix nail glue, which has a gel like consistency thick enough to hold the rhinestone in place before curing it. The best precision tools for nail art are rhinestone pickers, such as the Crystal Katana, Tanto or wax pencil (depending on your budget).
• Glitter base – When gluing rhinestones to a glitter based nail, we suggest you top coat and cure the glitter layer first, this creates a smooth surface for you to attach the rhinestones to.
• Foil base – Similarly, foil sheets and embellishments sometimes create a rough textured surface which means the rhinestones may not adhere properly, so we recommend applying a top coat and curing before adding other embellishments.
• Matte effect polish – Once you've applied the matte top coat, you can either place your rhinestones straight on top (before curing), or cure the top coat then glue the rhinestones on.
• Stamped decal base – Apply the decal using a clear stamper, dry off the excess water, top coat it then add your rhinestones.
• Mixed with caviar beads – Caviar beads work well alongside rhinestones, so apply these using the same nail glue.

Maintaining Your Nail Art

To preserve the longevity of nail art designs, especially those with textured surfaces and rhinestone embellishments, consider the following care tips:

• Apply a high-quality top coat that's compatible with your nail art materials. This protects your design and adds a layer of shine, enhancing the textures and rhinestones. Remember, don't apply top coat over rhinestones – this will dull the sparkle!
• For textured surfaces and rhinestones, consider using a top coat designed for 3D elements, which will secure these additions more effectively, and never use matte top coat over your rhinestones.
• Reapply a top coat every few days to maintain protection and shine.
• Wear gloves when doing any kind of manual work.
• Wear washing up gloves to avoid grease or muck getting stuck in between the crystals.
• Try to avoid knocking or catching them on hard surfaces – this is how rhinestones tend to ping off.
• Every so often gently wipe over the top of the rhinestones with a damp fabric cloth to keep their sparkle.
• If you notice a rhinestone becoming loose, simple remove it with a sharp nail tool and replace it using the same glue and method. And remember to cure.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common problems with textured nail designs can be things like rhinestones falling off, textures not adhering properly, or designs not lasting as expected.

• To avoid rhinestones falling off, make sure you have used a specific nail glue, not eyelash or body glue. And try to avoid relying on top coat as an adhesive as this is not a long lasting solution.
• If textures aren't sticking, ensure the nail surface is properly prepped before application, which means filing, buffing and cleaning.
• To avoid your design fading quickly, applying a high-quality top coat and reapply every few days if necessary.
• Avoid using hand sanitizers and harsh chemicals directly on your nails, as they can dissolve adhesives and top coats, leading to quicker wear.

So, dive into nail art by mixing rhinestones with various textures like glitter, foil, decals and matte finishes for unique looks. This mix and match approach lets you create standout, personal nail designs. Don't be afraid to experiment and let your nails show off your creativity!