Congratulations on your luxe manicure by Jessieve!
These solid 18ct gold, natural diamond and sapphire nail charms are infinitely reusable so long as they are properly cared for, applied and removed, making them a far more sustainable and cost effective way to add sparkle to your manicure than the usual plastic rhinestones.
*The nail charms must be used with nail products that can be soaked off with acetone or remover. Please do not pull / cut off the charms with pliers or nail scissors, or file off with handheld electric burr as this can damage the gold over time and risk losing the gemstones.*
For best results we recommend manicures that require curing in UV/LED lamps after each step. Any manicure can work with the charms as long as the glue and top coat are dissolvable with acetone.
A FEW GOOD TIPS TO REMEMBER...
YOU WANT THE SURFACE TO BE READY.
Before you layer on the nail adhesive, make sure the nail colour is dry.
If you're applying the charms on acrylic nails or dip powder nails, we recommend applying them on the nail before you apply your top coat. The rough surface of the nail will allow for better adhesion and make the charms last longer.
THINK ABOUT YOUR PLACEMENT.
If your stones aren’t specifically meant for one event, then you probably want your charms to stick to your nails for a couple of weeks. To keep your charms from popping off prematurely, consider your placement — both how and where you place them. (More on this below)
We highly recommend using rhinestone glue that you can cure under UV/LED light for maximum strength.
(our favourite glue at the moment;
NAIL GLUE LINK - Makartt Rhinestone Glue (also available on Amazon and other online stores)
Is the charm laid down properly with enough of its base embedded in the adhesive?We recommend applying enough glue so that when the charm is pressed into it, surplus glue creates a little cushion around the charm.
The larger charms, for example the stars, have a groove filed along the back to give them a slight curve so they fit onto your nail more flush- please note which way this is when applying.
Is the charm laid down in a place where it won’t get caught and easily pop off?
The closer to your cuticle the safer the charms will be. You’re much more likely to catch the charms the closer they are to the tips.
YOU MAY WANT TO USE A TOOL.
Even if you don’t have a rhinestone applicator, it’s a good idea to use some type of tool to pick up and place your stones (a wax pencil or tweezers work) to avoid any dust or fluff getting caught from your fingers and also to have more control and precision when placing the charms.
STEP 1: APPLY YOUR RHINESTONE ADHESIVE
Our favourite adhesive is this one- it requires a UV/LED curing lamp and can be removed by soaking in acetone.
NAIL GLUE LINK Makartt Rhinestone Glue
Once you’re ready to apply your charms, start by applying a small blob of rhinestone adhesive to the area where your charms will be placed. You don’t need to apply it to the entire nail. We recommend applying the adhesive one nail at a time and then curing once you’re happy with your placement. This will help ensure the charms stay in place.
As mentioned before- we recommend letting a small amount of the glue to push out and around the sides of the charms for maximum adhesion and to protect any harsh angles that may catch on clothing etc.
STEP 2: PLACE YOUR CHARMS
Using your rhinestone applicator, carefully pick up a charm with the wax end. Place the charm on your nail, and if necessary, use the tip of your applicator to gently correct the positioning and ensure the charm is pushed down into the glue.
Quick Tip: If you don’t have a rhinestone applicator or wax pencil, you can use tweezers to pick up the charms and a toothpick to position them.
STEP 3: CURE YOUR CHARMS.
Once the charms are applied, cure the nail under your UV/LED lamp.
STEP 4: APPLY A TOP COAT.
Once your charms are cured, apply a generous layer of top coat. You’ll want to apply the top coat around and over the charms- you cannot do this with plastic and crystal rhinestones because it dulls the sparkle- but with real diamonds the sparkle remains!
This further secures the charms and smoothes the edges to again prevent catching on clothing etc.
Our current favourite topcoat;
TOP COAT LINK Gelish- ‘top it off’ (also available on Amazon and other online stores)
FINAL TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
- Protect your charms: When you wash dishes, consider wearing gloves to protect your manicure from unnecessary water damage. If you take baths or swim often, limit the amount of time your nails spend soaking in the water as this can cause them to pop off sooner.
- Place your charms: We already said this earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again — If you’re not used to gems on your nails or if you want them to last a long time, consider placing your charms closer to your cuticle. The closer your charms are to the tips of your nails, the more likely it is that you’ll bump into something and knock them off. This is especially true if you work with your hands a lot at work or at home.
- For best and safest results- we recommend wearing the charms for no longer than two weeks as this is when nail products will weaken depending on your application.
- Be sensible- no rock climbing or anything too harsh on the hands and nails. They’re hand made fine jewellery at the end of the day so please treat them as such!
- Jessie V E cannot be held responsible for any lost gems as the application is key to the longevity.
REMOVAL
Your nail charms are infinitely reusable so long as they are properly cared for, meaning in girl-maths, the cost per wear ends up being next to nothing!
Plus, there’s no plastic rhinestones being thrown in the trash after each new set of nails- we love a sustainable queen just living her life with diamonds on her nails. Look at you.
To remove your charms the glue and top coat MUST be softened with acetone.
Do not file or buff over the charms as this can scratch the gold or could damage the setting making it vulnerable to the diamond becoming loose and falling out. You wouldn't file any of your other fine jewellery and this is no exception!
- Step 1: File the Top Layer of varnish avoiding the charms. Using a nail file, gently file the top layer of your manicure so the acetone can soak in...
- Step 2: Soak Cotton Balls in Acetone.
- Step 3: Place Cotton Balls on Nails.
- Step 4: Wrap Nails in Foil.
- Step 5: Wait 10-15 Minutes.
- Step 6: Remove Foil and Cotton Balls.
- Step 7: Gently remove the charms with a nail tool by pushing the softened product away from around them. Try to be gentle so as to not scratch the gold. Larger gems like the stars are the trickiest to remove so be patient.
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If the gems aren’t coming off easily, repeat steps 2-7 again
- Pop the charms in a small pot of acetone if there is any product or adhesive still attached. Once softened you can use an old toothbrush or toothpick to gently remove any remains so the charms are good as new and ready to reapply when you want to!
- Store your nail charms and diamonds in their screw top pot when they’re not being worn to keep them safe.
