Cool designs for nail art fill the first volume of “Nail the Look” by industry maven and lead educator of Australia’s SwitchFunky, Kylie Clare. It’s a recently released book that doubles as a nail tech’s textbook and inspiring coffee table looker for your salon with 65 pages and more than 25 nail designs arranged into four categories—Devilishly Dark Desires; Animalistic Instincts; Beach Brights, Sunny Delights; and Chic Nudes, Metro Metals.

Learn how to create nail art in this book with expert tips from international Artistic Nail Design educators, Alisha Botero, Sam Watkinson, Zoe Vokis and Gisela Gonzalez, celebrity stylist Leah Light, and award-winning nail technician, Mirrka Poikkeus, this book is more than meets the eye. Use this professional book to offer clients stunning nail art that can be achieved in minutes, or learn a new technique with your staff.

Here’s a sneak preview of how to create the Galaxy Dreams mani by Leah Light, who did nails for Katy Perry and Eva Longoria, to name a few.

You Will Need:

Artistic Colour Gloss Colours: Sovereign and Halo

Tools: Artistic Nail Design #7 Square Brush, Mini Striper Brush, Stylus Tool, Loose Glitter, Mineral Makeup Pigments in Blue, Pink and Gold

Step 1 – Prep

Remove the non-living cuticle from the nail plate using a metal cuticle pusher.

Shape free edge of the natural nail.

Gently remove shine from the natural nail using the 180 side of the Artistic Effect Buffer, in the direction of natural nail growth.

Remove dust.

Scrub nails with Artistic Nail Surface Cleanser on a lint-free wipe.

Apply PH Prep to nail plate.

Step 2 – Bonding Gel

Apply Colour Gloss Soak-off Bonding Gel to natural nail plate in a thin application, ensure to seal free edge.

Cure for 10 seconds in LED lamp (or 60 seconds in 36-watt UV lamp).

Wipe sticky inhibition layer with a clean, dry Artistic Nail Design #7 Square Brush for smooth application of Artistic Colour Gloss.

Step 3 – Colour Gloss

Apply a thin application of Sovereign Colour Gloss and seal the free edge.

Cure for 30 seconds in LED lamp (or two minutes in 36-watt UV lamp).

Apply a second coat of Sovereign Colour Gloss and seal the free edge.

Cure for 30 seconds in LED lamp (or two minutes in 36-watt UV lamp).

Step 4 – Design Application

Using a dry Artistic Mini Striper Brush, pick up a small amount of Blue Pigment and apply on the desired angle of the nail in a sweeping motion.

Repeat this step for both the Pink and Gold Colour Pigments, applying both in different areas and angles of the nail to create your design.

Apply Halo to seal in the pigment design. Application should follow the angles in which the pigment was applied to the nail and only cover these areas.

Cure for 30 seconds in LED light (or two minutes in 36-watt UV lamp).

Apply random loose gliter particles using the needlepoint end of the Artistic Stylus Tool to complete the design application. These should be applied to resemble stars and planets.

Step 5 – Glossing Gel

Apply one coat of Colour Gloss Glossing Gel and seal free edge.

Cure for 30 seconds in LED lamp (or two minutes in 6-watt UV lamp).

Step 6 – Cleanse

Remove sticky inhibition layer with Artistic Nail Surface Cleanser and lint-free wipe.

Step 7 – Revive

Massage Artistic Revive into nail, cuticle area and surrounding skin.

Image courtesy of SwitchFunky