When you are working with chrome pigments, always make sure that you use the base for the chrome pigment on top of your gel-polish. After you apply two coats of your favorite gel-polish, curing in between each coat, apply the chrome base. Make sure you apply polish with the brush bristles parallel to the natural nail to make sure the surface is smooth and even. Do not touch the surface of the chrome base — even though it is a non-tacky surface, you can transfer natural oils from your skin if you touch this surface, and that may affect how the chrome goes on. Use whatever chrome tool you’d like — an eyeshadow brush, a makeup sponge, or a silicone tool — to pick up the chrome and apply it to the nail with force, very thinly. If the chrome powder goes on too thick, it will leave sparkly particles. Use a very fluffy and soft bristled brush to dust off any excess. Then top coat twice with your favorite gel top coat.
— Vincent Nguyen,
Kingwood Nail & Spa, Kingwood, Texas, Hand & Nail Harmony educator
Editor’s note: Check out the Facebook page Confessions of a Nail Tech for more great nail tech questions like this one.