You’ve heard about Artistic Nail Design’s Rock Hard Nails technology—innovating the versatile ability to use both liquid and powder in nail design, for the first time. From natural-looking gel manis to creative overlays and extensions with acrylic, the final result is a durable manicure with a gentler removal process that keeps the health of the natural nail. To learn how to use Rock Hard in your salon, Artistic Nail Design is organizing an educational world tour, which is already underway.

In anticipation for Canadian stops of the Artistic Nail Design Rock Hard World tour, which starts in Halifax on September 22 to 23 and continues on to Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto in 2014, here’s a tutorial on how to create the One Colour Sculpture manicure with Rock Hard Liquid and Powder (L&P)

Note: To pick up beads of Rock Hard L&P, saturate the brush with Center Stage Monomer Nail Liquid and wipe the edge of the brush on the side of the dish to remove excess liquid. Pick up a medium bead of VIP Polymer Powder and wait until it turns creamy.

Step 1

Follow the steps for Rock Hard Nails preparation and Get Bent Nail Form application. Saturate your Artistic #8 Oval Acrylic Brush with Center Stage Monomer Nail Liquid and wipe out the liquid completely on a lint free wipe to prepare the brush for each use.

Step 2

Pick up a medium bead of VIP Pink or Clear and wait until it turns creamy. Place the bead on the apex area. Tap the top edge of the bead as close to the cuticle as possible area, leaving a tiny free margin between the product and the skin. Press the bottom edge of the bead onto the nail form to create the extension. Brush the surface to smooth.

Step 3

Pick up second bead of VIP Polymer Powder, wait until creamy and place at the apex of the nail. With your brush flat, lightly pat the product towards the cuticle and brush the bead towards the end of the extension to fill in low spots, build arch, and provide strength and structure.

Step 4

During polymerization (the curing or hardening process), the nail will feel warm and be ready to mold the c-curve. Carefully remove Get Bent nail form. Use appropriate sized Artistic C-Curve Stick under the edge of the nail and press the edge of the nail around it to create your c-curve.

Step 5

Gently press on each side of the nail with your thumbs to hold the c-curve in place while the product continues to cure.

Step 6

Refine the L & P application using the Rock Hard Nails Filing Method. Make sure to begin filing on freshly applied product and nothing more coarse than a 180 grit Aspect file.

Images courtesy Artistic Nail Design