Lunar manicure
Well-groomed hands are a must for any woman. A beautiful manicure attracts attention and serves as the finishing touch to the entire look. An alternative to the usual French manicure, where the emphasis is on the tip of the nail plate, has come a lunar manicure, it is also called Dior manicure. It was Christian Dior who brought back the popularity of this design with his fashion show in 2007.
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What is moon manicure
In the lunar design, part of the nail plate at the base is highlighted in a contrasting color. The base of the nail is called the moon, hence the name of this design. In Europe it is called Hollywood French.
Lunar nail design will highlight well-groomed nails.
Preliminary preparation includes removing hangnails, processing the cuticle, nail plates, polishing and moisturizing the skin around the nails.
Correct moon manicure
When choosing a lunar design option, you should take into account the length of the nails and their original shape. On short ones, a narrow strip of the moon is performed; on long ones, variations are allowed.
The preferred nail shape is oval, almond-shaped, square with rounded edges. It is not recommended to combine a round strip of the moon with a square shape with sharp corners; in this case, the manicure does not look harmonious.
It is possible to use various shapes of the moon strip:
- Smoothly curved, corresponding to the natural contours of the moon or increased in size.
- Triangular shape with a more or less acute angle.
- A curved double line, or a convex crescent.
The shape of the moon is chosen based on the general nail design, the purpose of the manicure, and the general style of the woman. For example, a classic moon with a curved shape is suitable for a business look, for ladies with a classic style.
The triangular shape will allow you to create a bright, unusual manicure for attending entertainment events, and in combination with bright color coating Suitable for young, confident women.
Double and triple lines are used for intricate designs, an example of a black and white fantasy design in the photo.
An example of a youth lunar design with a triple moon.
Very often, manicures combine the use of accents on the tips of the nails and at their base, that is, they combine a French and lunar design. This design option visually reduces the length of the nails, so it is not recommended for short lengths or thick fingers. It is optimal if the free edge of the nail plate is at least 0.5 cm. In this case, the color of the moon and the tip may not match.
Types of lunar manicure
When performing the Hollywood French, one is guided by the classic rule: the lunula area should be lighter than the main part of the nail plate. There are many options for lunar design, they can be divided into the following types:
- Design with transparent moon area. It looks especially good with a bright base nail color. When performing a manicure, the stencil is attached to a transparent base and the lunula area is not painted over. The rest is covered with a colored layer.
- Concave or convex moon. The design uses 2 or more colors. The shaded hole is often combined with French, one color is used to place accents.
- The area of the moon can be drawn triangular, straight, or highlighted with a line. When using a brush, the manicure will turn out to be unusual.
- A combination of several moons on one nail. To obtain this design, 2 or more stencils are glued at the base, in the middle, at the end of the nail plate. It is also possible to place stencils vertically.
- To add individuality to the lunar manicure, use adhesive decor, rhinestones, and draw pictures. It is important not to overdo it, so as not to end up with a too extravagant or vulgar manicure. Examples of beautiful combinations of different decors are presented in the photo.
Varieties of stencils for lunar design
Stencils are special blanks that allow you to perform a manicure at home in the absence of professional skills. They allow you to create different design variations when attached at different distances from the base or edge of the nail plate.
There are several types of such stencils:
- Round, with a hole inside. The appearance of such products resembles a car tire or a donut. There are stencils that have the shape of a circle without holes, but they limit the design possibilities.
The circles are fixed on the nail after applying a colored layer or directly on top of the base, for a design with an unpainted lunula. A contrasting color coating is applied with the second layer, coloring the upper area of the nail; the moon remains painted with the first layer. Circular stencils allow you to create a fashionable manicure when the arc at the base and tip of the nail plate is painted, a unique combination of a French manicure and a lunar design. The arcs are painted in light colors, the middle part is made darker or brighter. - Triangular ones are more often used for long nails, as they can visually reduce their length.
The stencil is attached at the base of the lunula, and the area is left unpainted or made light. A beautiful addition to this design are rhinestones, sparkles, and patterns. - Curved lines or checkmarks.
Such stencils are used to create a French jacket and allow you to draw several outlines of the moon, located at different distances from each other.
Stencils can be purchased in specialized stores or made with your own hands. From available materials, use adhesive tape and masking tape. On long nails, stencils can be attached at some distance from the cuticle. 
When decorating short nails, stencils are glued as close to the base of the nail as possible.
Experienced manicurists can do without stencils and paint holes with brushes.
But for beginners, ready-made stencils are a real find. They will allow you to get smooth outlines without much effort.
Lunar manicure with varnish
Manicure with varnish is the simplest and most accessible for all women. To create it, you will need to perform a classic treatment of the nails and the skin around them, and apply a colored varnish coating. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Preparing nails for color painting. The old colored coating is removed with a special liquid, then the rugs are immersed in a bath of warm soapy water. The softened cuticle is pushed back with a stick or removed with a special product or scissors. The nail plate is given the desired shape, the edges are filed and the entire surface is polished.
- The lunula area is decorated. The colored moon can follow the natural contour, go beyond it, or have a reduced size. If you have the skills, you can paint with a manicure brush or a standard brush from a tube. If you are not sure, then use special stencils, tape or adhesive-based French strips. The stencils are applied in the right place and outlined.
- The selected area of the moon must be thoroughly dried. Only after this they begin to apply the color coating to the remaining part of the nail plate. Apply the varnish very carefully so as not to get into the hole area. The colored coating can be applied in 2 layers, each one dried well.
After the main layers have dried, it is possible to use rhinestones, stickers, and draw other designs on the nails. The final stage is coating with a fixative, which will give strength and durability to the coating and enhance its shine.
Color combinations can be very different; the most common colors chosen for the moon area are black, white, pink, and yellow.
The main color of the nails is chosen to highlight and complement the lunar decor. A design with a gold or silver moon looks very advantageous.
Combined with black red, blue, green, such a manicure will complement an evening outfit.
Lunar gel manicure
It is recommended to perform a gel manicure in a salon; an experienced master will be able not only to create all kinds of patterns on the nails, but also to increase and adjust their length.
Correction of the gel is required after a month; for this, the top layer of the gel will be cut off, a dry manicure will be performed, then a new layer of gel will be applied. If all requirements are met, there is no negative impact on the condition of the nail plates.
After performing a classic manicure and giving the nails the desired shape, a transparent gel is applied and dried in a UV lamp. The second layer of colored gel is applied to the entire surface of the nail; if necessary, it is possible to apply 2 or more layers, each of which is dried for 2 minutes.
To decorate the lunula area, use a gel of a different color, which is applied with a manicure brush to the base of the nail. The size of the moon area is chosen in accordance with the overall manicure style. The selected areas are also dried. To consolidate the result, the colored gel is covered with a transparent layer. The sticky layer is removed with a cotton pad soaked in remover. To complete the manicure, the cuticle area is treated with oil or cream.
Another version of a gel manicure involves applying only one layer of colored gel.
In this case, the lunula area remains unpainted.
Moon manicure shellac
Shellac or gel polish - a modern coating that does not harm the nail plate and forms a strong and durable film. The manicure will last 2-4 weeks, depending on individual characteristics. It is recommended to use shellac for lunar design at home if you have the skills to apply such a coating; it may not be suitable for all techniques.
For a shellac manicure you will need the following tools and materials:
- UV lamp;
- base and top coats;
- degreaser, remover;
- a set of adhesive strips or stencils;
- manicure sticks, brushes;
- shellac 2 different colors.
- The procedure begins by giving the nail plates the desired shape. The cuticle is removed with scissors or professional gel.
- Then the nail plates are treated with a cotton pad soaked in remover; it will remove the oily layer from the nail. It is not recommended to touch cleaned nails with your fingers, otherwise the shellac may not adhere well to the nail. It is recommended to polish the entire surface of the nail with a special polishing block - buff.
- Prepared nails are treated with a base coat. In structure, it resembles a thick, colorless varnish, which must be dried in a UV lamp. Various manufacturers recommend drying the base from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, this is due to the characteristics of the composition of the product.
- The first layer of color coating should be the color that will be used to paint the lunula area. It is applied to the entire surface of the nail plate and dried. If necessary, repeated application of gel polish is possible.
- After the first layer has completely dried, stencils are fixed at the base of the nail. The width of the zone is selected individually according to the length and shape of the nails. Experienced craftsmen may not use stencils.
- The second color layer is applied to the part of the nail free from the stencil. If the moon turns out to be darker than the main part of the nail, use a brush with a beveled edge dipped in remover. The second color layer also needs to be dried well. Used stencils are removed.
- Depending on the intended design, other decorative elements are used for decoration: rhinestones, stamping, painting, stickers.
- A layer of top coat is applied to decorated nails to give them shine and strength. Drying takes no more than a minute and the unusual lunar design is complete.
Lunar manicure with shellac and foil is very popular.
Fashionable ideas for moon manicure
The main fashion trends are non-standard shapes and naturalness. Similar trends are observed in lunar design.
Naturalness is manifested in the design of nails in pastel colors with a light lunula area.
It is also considered fashionable to have unpainted areas of the nail plates; in relation to the lunar design, the lunula area remains free.
You can get an unusual design by highlighting the moon and the edge of the nail plate with two colored hemispheres. The main part of the nail remains without color coating.
To add individuality to the manicure, the lunula area can be highlighted with various shapes, curved lines, and patterns.
The usual triangular holes have sharper angles; the selected area itself is significantly larger than the natural outlines.
At the peak of popularity remains the option of a lunar design with an unpainted hole, as well as combinations of lunar decor with stickers and painting.
The color combinations are the most daring; the color of the nails is not chosen to match the main suit. Red remains one of the favorites.
Making a moon manicure with varnish, gel or shellac is not at all difficult. Feel free to use your imagination and create your own unique design!
