"Nail art" can mean very different things. An ombre set, a marble set and a rhinestone set each use a different technique, take a different amount of time and come at a different price. Knowing the main nail art techniques helps you pick a design you'll love, explain it easily to your nail technician and know roughly what it will cost before you sit down. Here are the 9 most popular techniques today, in 3 groups
What is nail art?
Nail art means decorating nails with patterns, colour effects or accessories instead of a single plain colour. Today most nail art is done on top of gel polish. Each layer is cured under a lamp and sealed with a top coat, so the design lasts and doesn't smudge like regular polish.
You can do nail art on all 10 nails, or on just 1–2 accent nails with the rest in a plain colour. The second option looks clean and costs less.
Painting and colour techniques
These techniques use brushes, sponges or special gels to create patterns and colour blends directly on the nail.
1. Hand-painted gel
Your technician paints every detail with a fine brush and coloured gel: minimalist lines, flowers, dots, geometric shapes, cartoon characters or a design from your photo. This is where skill shows the most, because every stroke is done by hand. More detail means more time. See hand-painted gel per nail and full-set nail art.
2. Ombre gel nails
Ombre gel nails blend smoothly from one colour to another on the same nail, with no visible line. The colour is usually blended with a sponge or brush and cured layer by layer. Popular styles include:
- Pink-to-white ombre (baby boomer): nude pink at the base, milky white at the tip. Soft and elegant, great for work and weddings.
- Two-tone ombre: for example light pink to deep pink, or mint to ocean blue.
- Glitter ombre: a plain base with glitter building up towards the tip.
Ombre makes nails look longer, especially when the tip is lighter. See ombre, blooming and marble effects.
3. Blooming gel
Drops of colour are placed on a special uncured gel and spread out by themselves into soft, watercolour-like shapes. Every nail turns out slightly different. This style suits anyone who likes a soft, artistic look, and it is a big part of the Korean nail trend.
4. Marble
This technique recreates the veins of marble stone. Fine lines are painted and softened so they look natural, sometimes with a thin gold line running through. White and grey marble looks classy and works with office outfits, while jade green or blush pink marble stands out more.
Light-reflecting techniques
No pattern needed here: these sets stand out because of the way the surface catches the light.
5. Glitter gel nails
Glitter gel either has glitter mixed into the gel, or loose glitter is applied on top of a gel layer. There are two main types:
- Fine glitter: tiny particles with a soft shimmer. Great over the whole nail or as a glitter ombre.
- Chunky glitter: larger flakes in mixed sizes, much bolder. Best on 1–2 accent nails so the set doesn't look busy.
Gold and silver glitter are perfect for parties, weddings and New Year. Note: glitter gel usually takes longer to remove than plain gel. Have it removed at the salon instead of peeling it off, so your natural nails don't get thinner. See rhinestones, charms and glitter.
6. Cat eye
This gel contains magnetic particles. Your technician uses a magnet to pull them to one side, creating a band of light that moves as you tilt your hand. Read our cat eye nails post for popular colours and effects, or see cat eye gel.
7. Chrome
Chrome powder is buffed onto the gel, creating a mirror-like finish in silver, gold, rose or pearl. Read our chrome nails post, or see chrome gel.
3D and accessory techniques
These techniques add real texture you can feel, not just a flat design.
8. 3D gel nails
3D gel nails use a thick gel that is built up into raised shapes on the nail. Popular styles include:
- Water drops: clear gel drops that look like dew on the nail.
- 3D flowers: raised petals, often paired with tiny pearls.
- Raised lines and waves: gel lines that follow the edge of the nail or curve across it.
3D gel looks amazing in photos. Because it adds thickness, keep it to 1–2 nails and choose small shapes if you type a lot or use your hands often. Price: [3D gel price].
9. Rhinestones and charms
Stones, pearls or metal charms are attached with a special gel. A single small stone near the cuticle is enough to make a set look more elegant, while a full nail of stones is perfect for parties and wedding photos. Tip: choose small, flat-backed stones if you don't want them catching on your hair or clothes. See rhinestones, charms and glitter.
Which nail art technique should you choose?
| If you need | Try |
|---|---|
| Work, clean and elegant | Pink-to-white ombre, white marble, minimalist line art |
| Parties and events | Glitter, chrome, cat eye, rhinestones |
| Weddings and photo shoots | Ombre, pearls, 3D flowers, champagne glitter (see our bridal nail ideas) |
| Beach holiday | Blooming gel, water drops, painted waves (see our beach nail designs) |
| Short nails | Ombre with a light tip, fine line art, one small stone |
| A smaller budget | Plain gel + nail art on 1–2 accent nails |
Not sure which base colour suits you? See our top 10 gel nail colours by skin tone.
How long does Nail Art last day?
Nail art on gel polish usually stays looking good for about 2–3 weeks, the same as the gel underneath. That's long enough to last a whole holiday. Stones, charms and 3D gel may come off sooner if they get knocked a lot. To make your set last:
- Wear gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products.
- Don't use your nails as tools to open cans or peel labels.
- Apply cuticle oil every day so your nails and cuticles don't dry out.
- If a stone comes loose, come back to have it reattached instead of using regular glue.
- Have your gel removed at the salon with our gel removal service instead of peeling it off.
More tips: how to make your gel manicure last longer.
The Nail Art prices in Da Nang at 1996 Nail Studio
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Gel polish, single colour (base) | 130,000 VND |
| Gel polish, multi-colour | 140,000 VND |
| Hand-painted gel / cartoons per nail | 5,000 – 50,000 VND per nail |
| Ombre, blooming, marble, chrome per nail | 10,000 – 25,000 VND per nail |
| Rhinestones, charms, glitter | 5,000 – 30,000 VND per nail |
| 3D gel | [3D gel price] |
| Full-set nail art | 300,000 – 400,000 VND per set |
| Cat eye gel, full set | 300,000 VND |
| Chrome gel, full set | 400,000 VND |
The final price depends on the design. Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll quote you before we start. See the full price list or browse our gallery of sets made in our salon.
Found a technique you love? Book online at 1996 Nail Studio, at our Ngu Hanh Son branch near My Khe Beach or our An Hai branch in Da Nang. Or message us on WhatsApp at +84 794 430 771. We're open 9 AM – 8 PM every day, our staff speak English, and we have more than 1,000 colours to choose from.
