If your manicures are feeling a little plain Jane lately, we have just the thing: rhinestones for nails. We’ll explain how rhinestones elevate your nails, how to apply them, which crystals work best, and everything else you need to know about bringing some extra shimmer to your fingers.
Table of Contents
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Why Rhinestones for Nails are the Ultimate Style Upgrade
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Choosing Your Sparkle: A Guide to Rhinestone Types
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The Essential DIY Nail Tech Toolkit
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Step-by-Step: How to Apply Rhinestones for Nails Like a Pro
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Pro-Tips for Wearability and Removal
Why Rhinestones for Nails Are the Ultimate Style Upgrade
Sparkly nail polish is nice, but it's nothing compared to the bling factor you get with rhinestones. They bring an amazing 3D element to your nails that makes them stand out and glitter like never before, and they can turn the plainest manicures into stylish, beauty statements that follow the latest trends.
Gems also give you the chance to flex your creativity and express yourself through your fingertips. Your fingers are mini canvases that show off your personality and artistry, and rhinestones for nails are like shimmery accessories you get to wear 24/7. Here are fun ideas for how to use them:
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Diamond-studded French tips
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Clear crystals on black polish for a night sky look
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Multicolored polka dot manicure
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Cuticle-framing designs
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One dainty crystal on each nail for a minimalist look
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Small, round red gems with green nail art for a cute cherry look
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All-over sparkle that completely covers your nails
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One dazzling accent nail
While rhinestones are an exceptional way to step up your manicures, having professional nail technicians do them can be expensive. A fancy manicure with rhinestones usually costs over $100, but when you do it at home, it can be under $20. DIY rhinestone manicures are a fun, creative outlet and an affordable way to amp up your sparkle.
Choosing Your Sparkle: A Guide to Rhinestone Types
The rhinestones you choose can make or break your sparkly manicure, so make sure you pick the perfect ones.
Glass vs. Plastic
Plastic rhinestones may be cheaper, but they also look cheaper and have a duller, less shiny appearance. On the other hand, Swarovski crystals are stunning but extremely expensive.
For a rhinestone that gives you the sparkle you want without breaking the bank, Planet Rhinestone gives you a great product: high-quality crystals with a more profound sparkle and shimmer at a great price.
Rhinestone Sizes
Rhinestone sizing has its own system, which ranges from as teeny-tiny as SS3 to as big as SS48. For nails, the best sizes are SS3 to SS12 as these are small enough to fit on most nails. However, you could go as large as SS20 if you want a bulkier look and have longer nails. We recommend mixing and matching different sizes for a dynamic look.
Flatback vs. Pointed
Flatback rhinestones have a smooth back that is easy to glue onto surfaces like your nails, while pointed ones are bulkier, harder to secure, and may be uncomfortable to wear. Pointed rhinestones can be tough to work with, so you should always choose flatback stones when doing nail art.
Picking the Perfect Color Palette
At Planet Rhinestone, we have gems in an extensive range of hues, from hot pink to jet black. For a timeless look, opt for rich-looking emerald gems or classic clear ones that look like diamonds.
Or try one of our to-die-for color options: Aurora Borealis (AB). You can buy mixed AB rhinestones and get a rainbow-like look that changes color in different lights.
If you're hoping to match the season, wear black crystals for your Halloween look or chic clear ones for your chilly winter manicures. Neon crystals in bright yellow or purple are fabulous for festival manicures, and there’s nothing like cool blue gems for a beach vacation.
Shapes Beyond the Circle
Nail rhinestones come in a variety of distinct shapes, including teardrops, triangles, pyramids, ovals, and many more. Square, rectangle, and round gems are classic, elegant options, but we adore an edgy or regal design that features more eye-catching shapes, like pears or navettes. And don’t be afraid to mix and match different shapes for even more options!
The Essential DIY Nail Tech Toolkit
Professional nail artists have an arsenal of tools to make rhinestones look flawless on nails.
Precision Placement
To place the gems properly, use precision placement tools like wax pencils, rhinestone pickers, or tweezers. Using your fingers can result in sloppy results.
Glue and Polishes
There are a few options for rhinestone adhesives:
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GEMGEL: A UV-cured resin designed specifically for fusing gems to nails with maximum durability
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E6000: Standard craft glue that can be used on your nails
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Top Coats: Regular or gel nail polish can be used to lock gems in place
GEMGEL and other nail resins are the best option and are the ones most commonly used by professionals.
Nail Prep
Before you start, make sure your nails are filed and buffed so they're perfectly smooth. Use acetone to remove any excess oils or moisture, so you have a dry surface for the adhesives to fuse to. You can do this before applying polish and again before adding rhinestones.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply Rhinestones for Nails Like a Pro
We’ll break down how to add rhinestones to your nails below. If you don’t know how to paint your own nails, we recommend figuring that out first!
1. Prepping the Base
First, follow your normal manicure routine, but stop before applying a top coat. Make sure your nails have a smooth surface with no bubbles or bumps. You can apply the crystals after the top coat, but it’s better to apply the top coat around the stones after securing them.
2. The "Dab and Place" Technique
Use a toothpick to apply tiny dots of adhesive. You can dot the adhesive on your nails where you want the stones or apply it directly to the back of your stones. Use the smallest amount of glue possible to avoid overflow that can look cloudy, chunky, or messy.
3. Sealing for Longevity
If you’re applying your top coat after the rhinestones, use the “trench” method. Move the brush carefully around the stones, like you’re filling the empty space (or trenches) in between each stone. This method prevents the top coat from dulling the crystals’ sparkle, but it helps lock them in place. For very small crystals, like the SS3 size, you can paint the top coat over them, but they may lose some shine. Then cure for 30–60 seconds with a UV lamp if using a UV gel.
Pro-Tips for Wearability and Removal
Lastly, here are a few secret tips that will make your manicures much better.
Place Them Strategically
If rhinestones are placed too close to the edge of your nail or on a particularly rounded part, this can leave an edge exposed. That results in frustrating snagging, as the free edge might catch on your hair or clothes. Ideally, rhinestones should be toward the center of your nail, away from the edge, and placed on the flattest parts of your nail. This thoughtful placement also helps the rhinestones stay in place for longer, since we all want to keep our sparkly manicures for as long as possible.
Remove Them Properly
Using the right method to remove nail art rhinestones can take some time, but it protects your nails and the crystals. The top-quality gems from Planet Rhinestone can be used again and again and again, if you remove them gently. The best method is to soak them off using acetone or another kind of adhesive dissolver.
Though there are specialized nippers you can use to remove the gems, we still recommend soaking them off for the best results.
Whatever you do, do not try to wrench them off.
Choose High-Quality Stones
If you want ultimate sparkle, you need to use the highest-quality crystals you can find. That’s where we come in! We carry premium crystals and gems that sparkle more than the stars and bring a magical, whimsical vibe to your DIY manicures.
But it’s not just about the sparkle. High-end rhinestones are easier to reuse, whereas poor-quality ones are more of a one-and-done product. So choosing our rhinestones can save you money in the long run and help you create endless nail designs.
Make Your Manicures Magnificent
Treat yourself to manicures that wow everyone. Shop Planet Rhinestone’s collection of impeccable rhinestones for nails, from icy-blue raindrops to ruby-red rectangles. With excellent crystals, precision tools, strong adhesive, and fabulous design ideas, you can dazzle with every tap and point of your fingers.
FAQs
How long do rhinestones stay on nails?
When you use professional-grade gem gel and cure with a UV lamp, your rhinestone-studded manicure can last up to three weeks, if not longer.
Will rhinestones ruin my natural nails?
No! Just like with gel or dip powder nail polish, when applied and removed correctly, rhinestones will not damage your nails. It’s important to soak them off using acetone or another dissolver. Do not try to pry or pull them off!
Can I use a regular top coat to stick them on?
It’s best to glue rhinestones on with their own adhesive to ensure they stay in place. The smallest stones (like SS3), can be held in place with a top coat, but they won’t last as long.
How do I keep my rhinestones from getting "dull"?
The top coat can dull the sparkle of your crystals. Paint the top coat around the base of each gem, not over the top.
Which size should a beginner start with?
We recommend starting with SS5 or SS7 sizes, as these are more manageable than tiny gems but not as hard to secure as larger sizes. These sizes are also dainty enough for nails of any length.