NAILS executive editor Beth Livesay, cover tech Elizabeth Morris, model Ciara Pisa, and NAILS art director Yuiko Sugino.

NAILS executive editor Beth Livesay, cover tech Elizabeth Morris, model Ciara Pisa, and NAILS art director Yuiko Sugino.

A nail tech of six years, Elizabeth Morris oftentimes finds her name used synonymously with her podcast’s name, The Nail Hub. “As a podcaster, nail art lover, businesswoman, and detail-oriented, self-professed nerd, I never have enough on my plate,” says Morris. Her “more is more” attitude is perhaps why the July cover image is jam-packed with so much detailed design work. “I am obsessed with anything to do with gel or Swarovski crystals,” she says. This sparkly, textured set is the essence of fun summer nails that look good enough to eat.

Here are Morris’ steps for how to get this month’s cover look:


1. Prep the nails. After all the nails are sculpted into a stiletto shape, cured, and perfected with a hand file, paint the nails with colored gel. Some nails were kept white and some were painted using red, yellow, and blue. Cure.


2. Start with a wet layer of gel and sprinkle Swarovski Crystal Pixie over the entire set of nails. Use a spatula to tuck in bits of crystal while the nail is still uncured for a clean finish.

3. Use a mixture of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and color gel to create a gel syrup to apply over the Crystal Pixie and cure.


4. Other nails in the set were done by creating a rainbow ombre, curing, and adding large Swarovski crystals. Crystal Pixie was then placed over the remainder of the nail.

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