How to Make Nail Art Rhinestones Stick

Use rhinestones to accent elaborate nail designs or add glitter to simple manicures.

Nail art is a fashionable way to dress up your nails with colored polish, gems and rhinestones. Find an assortment of rhinestone colors and styles at your local beauty supply or craft store. Rhinestones add a touch of sparkle and glitz to your nails, but getting them to stick the nail's surface is challenging. Use the proper technique and materials to ensure the gemstones adhere to your nails and last all day long.

Things You'll Need

• Nail polish (colored or clear base coat)
• Orange stick
• Water
• Clear nail polish

Instructions

1. Plan out your nail design. Decide where you would like the rhinestones to be placed and lay out the gems so that they're organized and ready for placement.

2. Paint your nails with base coat or the polish of your choice. Follow with a second coat, if desired.

3. Allow the base coat to dry.

4. Apply a dab of clear nail polish onto your nail where you'd like the first rhinestone to be.

5. Wait 20 seconds for the polish to dry slightly and become tacky. The sticky clear polish will act like a glue and cement the stone firmly into place.

6. Moisten the tip of the orange stick, then press it onto the rhinestone to pick it up.

7. Place the rhinestone carefully onto the prepared clear polish and press firmly. Hold the stick against the stone for a few moments before releasing. The rhinestone will be stuck securely to your nail.

8. Swipe a coat of clear polish over the nail's surface to seal the rhinestone in and prevent it from flicking off.

Tips & Warnings

• Old, semi-dry clear polish works very well for sticking rhinestones so use up your older polishes for this technique.

References

• Nail Care Hub: How to Apply Rhinestones to Nail Polish – 5 Steps to Make Nails Look Dazzling
• Nails Magazine: How to Apply Rhinestones; December 2008