How to do a manicure with craquelure and the best coatings

Crackle nail art, sometimes referred to as craquelure, is a distinctive and striking way to give your manicure some texture and flair. For those who want their nails to stand out, its distinctive cracked pattern creates an edgy, artistic look.

With the correct tools and techniques, achieving this effect is surprisingly easy even though it might seem complicated at first. This tutorial will show you how to apply some of the greatest coatings for long-lasting results and show you how to create a gorgeous craquelure manicure.

This method is a fun way to experiment with your nail designs, regardless of your level of experience. Now let’s get started and learn how to create the crackle effect on your own nails.

Steps	Best Coatings
Prepare nails by cleaning and shaping them.	Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat
Apply a base coat to protect your nails.	OPI Shatter Nail Polish
Once dry, apply the crackle polish evenly.	China Glaze Crackle Glaze
Wait for the crackle effect to appear as the polish dries.	Essie Snake, Rattle, and Roll
Finish with a top coat to seal the design and add shine.	Barry M Instant Nail Effects

What is craquelure

Craquelure, derived from the French word for "crack," refers to the process of applying paint that then cracks. The phrase "nail artists" originated with artists who frequently use a similar method to antique paintings and interior decor.

A particular type of varnish that shrinks and cracks when it dries can be used to create a design. Manicure product manufacturers offer both standard air-drying varnishes and gels that require lamp polymerization.

There are two types of craquelure coatings, based on the kind of cracks:

• spider. Small cracks that completely destroy the varnish surface. Small fragments remain on the surface of the nail, separated by a thin thread of cracks;
• fence. Larger cracks and, accordingly, large fragments of craquelure varnish.

Step-by-step instructions

What supplies are required:

1. Gel polish with a cracking effect. Cracks can be small and thin or wide and large. Think in advance what design you want to get and prepare the appropriate polish. If you have not yet decided on the brand, look at the selection of products at the end of the article;
2. Base. Any, familiar to you – Kodi, TNL, Irisk;
3. Single-color gel polish. This color will serve as the basis for craquelure, which will be visible through the resulting cracks. It looks more impressive when the background is a contrasting color with the craquelure;
4. Top.

To ensure optimal adhesion between the layers, it is ideal for all three coating phases to use the same brand.

Applying craquelure in stages:

1. Apply a thin layer of the base coat and dry in a lamp. Standard drying time – in a UV lamp – 120 sec, LED – 30-60 sec.;
2. Prepare the background. Apply a colored single-color gel polish in the thinnest possible layer. Even if the color of the coating does not seem dense, it is not recommended to apply a second layer – after applying the craquelure, the heterogeneity will not be visible;
3. After thoroughly drying the gel polish, apply craquelure. In order for cracks to form, it is necessary to apply it as thinly as possible so that the background color shines through;
4. Dry the layer, cover the nails with a top coat and send it to the lamp again for polymerization.

You can embellish the design with glitter or rhinestones before adding the final layer. Nonetheless, craquelure appears finished even in the absence of ornamentation.

The best coatings and the appropriate technique are required to create a gorgeous manicure with a craquelure effect. From choosing the ideal base color to applying the crackle top coat, this tutorial will show you how to achieve that distinctive cracked pattern, guaranteeing a faultless and striking outcome.

Tips for creating craquelure

• To create a spectacular coating, purchase coatings of contrasting shades. Successful combinations: white-black, pink-black, black-silver; red-black;
• when choosing a cracking varnish, read the instructions. The fact is that some varnishes crack only with a special base, which is usually included. If there are no instructions, the background can be gel polish of any brand;
• apply the craquelure varnish as thinly as possible. Only in this case the coating will crack properly;
• do not try to exactly repeat designs from the Internet – craquelure each time creates a unique pattern, the probability of repetition of which is almost zero. However, the idea for the base can still be repeated, for example, make it with a gradient effect.

Life hack: how to create craquelure without special varnish

Use foil to create craquelure if you don’t have cracking varnish on hand. Given that craquelure is a cracking effect, you can produce a pattern akin to this using foil, even if it has a metallic sheen.

To work, get ready:

• base and top, preferably of the same brand;
• colored gel polish;
• a piece of foil. A 10 by 10 fragment is enough for one manicure. By the way, to diversify the design, you can use foil of different colors or with a holographic effect.

Perform a manicure—hardware, edging, or any other style you typically wear—before applying a craquelure.

1. Apply a thin layer of base to a degreased nail and dry it in a lamp;
2. Coat with colored gel polish on top, also drying for 30 to 60 seconds depending on the type and power of the dryer. If the color is not dense, apply a second layer;
3. Without removing the sticky layer from the gel polish, quickly stamp the foil chaotically with tamp movements. Do not press it too hard so that the fragments turn out with cracks;
4. Cover your nails with top and dry them in a lamp.

After the procedure, remember to apply oil to your cuticles and refrain from rubbing your hands for one to two hours.

Every master has regular foil in their arsenal, but in addition, special foil with a craquelure pattern is available for purchase.

Transfer foil with a pattern using Formula Profi.

You will also need foil glue in order to transfer the pattern. Numerous brands, including Formula Profi, carry it.

Guidelines:

1. On a prepared background in the form of gel polish or varnish, apply a pattern of future cracks with thin lines of glue;
2. Press the foil to the nail with the inner side and tear it off with a sharp movement;
3. Secure the resulting design with a top and dry it in a lamp.

The best coatings for craquelure

Dance Legend

There are 23 shades of craquelure varnish with a cracking effect available on the brand’s official website. The primary benefit of the manufacturer’s products is their ability to mix cracking varnish with any kind of background, regardless of color or pattern.

Craquelure products have a lid with a pattern of cracks and the word "crack" to make it easier to find your way among other bottles containing dyes.

Popular brand shades:

• No. 660 – white. Any saturated color – black, yellow, pink, blue – is suitable as a background for white cracks;
• No. 670 – red. In manicure, it is combined with a black or white background shade, but you can also try bolder combinations, for example with blue or green;
• No. 678 – silver. Gray with dense small sparkles complemented by a base of any dark color – black, dark green, cherry;
• № 675 – yellow. Sunny yellow cracks will complement a black or orange background.

Every crackle varnish falls between 660 and 690 in the Dance Legend palette.

TNL

The manufacturer of TNL gel polishes advises buying a specific base coat from the same line in order to achieve a cracked manicure. But there aren’t many options for background shades:

Reviews claim that any company’s colored base coat will cause the varnish to crack, so you should first buy only crackle and test it out on the gel polish that you already have.

A little bit more crackle shades are present:

• shades of green – № 9,10,11;
• rich pink – № 34;
• bright yellow – No. 33.

And over two dozen distinct hues.

El Corazon

El Corazon provides four different crackle shades that transition in color gradients due to a thermal effect. These goods are offered under the thermal varnish category. Thermal varnish is a type of nail varnish that varies in color based on body, air, and water temperature.

• TK-01. Pinkish-lilac thermal varnish with a crack effect. The manufacturer suggests combining the shade with a golden or silver background;
• TK-02. Light pink thermal varnish with a transition to a slightly more saturated. After drying, it forms large cracks;
• TK-03. Bluish-pink with cracks of different sizes;
• TK-04. Deep pink with a transition to purple.

The company also carries standard craquelure varnishes that do not require heat treatment. Typically, the Crackle line’s products are separated into:

• metallic – numbers from km-03 to km-07;
• glossy – No. k01 – k in the palette bright and calm shades, for every taste.

You can use any brand and color of gel polish for the base.

OPI

The Opi brand offers to use nail polishes from the Shatter collection to create a craquelure manicure. Note that this collection contains standard polishes that don’t need to be dried under a lamp.

If all guidelines for applying in accordance with the plan are adhered to:

• base;
• color;
• craquelure;
• fixer.

Up to ten days will pass before the cracked manicure comes off of the nails. Additionally, OPI advises getting their own brand polishes for the background; in this instance, the outcome will be very striking.

The manufacturer provides a wide range of colors for the palette, from pastel to neon.

Typical hues

• Navy Shatter NL E63 – rich blue;
• Blue Shatter NL E56 – pearlescent blue;
• White Shatter 2NITE – white.

Naturally, the range is considerably larger, so if you’re more into varnishes than gel polishes, keep an eye out for this brand.

Look Nail

The "Croco" line of small-batch cracking varnishes comes in one base color, white, and over fifteen Krakelura shade options.

The official website is shown as of the time of writing:

• 30606 – black;
• 30610 red;
• 30613-dark bording;
• 30615 – pink;
• 30616 – lilac.

Only when used in conjunction with a white base is the manufacturer accountable for the quality of craquelure. Be aware that polymerization is not necessary for the Look Nail shades that are offered; they dry in the air.

Krakelyur is an original nail design technique that doesn’t require specialized knowledge or effort. Using your imagination and selecting the appropriate varnish are the most important things. Do you like this technique? Please let me know in the comments.

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A manicure with craquelure adds a distinctive, striking effect that makes a statement. Your nails appear more artistic and fashionable thanks to the cracked pattern, which adds depth and texture. Cramé can be made to fit your style, whether you like a soft, subtle crackle with muted hues or a striking contrast with deep tones.

Selecting premium coatings is essential to getting the best results. A well-applied base coat, crackle polish, and top coat will prolong the life of your manicure and keep its vivid appearance. Don’t be scared to try out various color schemes and application methods to see what suits you the best.

Learning the craquelure technique is a fun way to step up your nail art game. It just takes a little practice. It’s the ideal option for people who wish to infuse their regular manicures with some artistic flair. So take out your best nail polishes and begin experimenting with this gorgeous nail art look.

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