Blooming gel is a clear gel that stays wet on the nail, so gel colour dotted into it spreads on its own into watercolour, marble and blossom effects before you cure it. M1 Nail & Beauty Supply stocks blooming gels and blending liquids from DND, Cre8tion, ONME, JING, Notpolish, Vinimay, Mr. Nail, The GelBottle and Bio Seaweed.
Types of blooming gel
| Type | Best for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Clear blooming gel | Watercolour and marble designs over cured gel colour. | DC Blooming Gel, Cre8tion Blooming Gel Magical Layer 15ml, ONME Blooming Gel 15ml, JING JS11 Blooming Gel 16ml, The GelBottle Blooming Gel Clear, Mr. Nail Blooming Gel L015 14g |
| Blossom, bubble and artist gels | Petal, cloud and watercolour designs. | Notpolish Blossom Gel 15ml, Vinimay Bubble Gel 15ml, Vinimay Blooming Liquid, Bio Seaweed Artist'e |
| Ombre and blending | Soft gradients and softer edges on watercolour art. | Notpolish Ombre Gel 15ml, YHH Blooming Liquid 7ml |
How to choose blooming gel
- Timing sets the size. Colour keeps spreading until you cure, so cure as soon as the bloom looks right; Vinimay notes that a thicker blooming layer gives a bigger bloom.
- Use thin, well-pigmented colours. Runny gel colours spread best; test a new colour on a tip before using it on a client.
- Check the lamp time. Cure times differ by brand: JING lists 30 seconds for JS11 on its card, so follow each label.
Related: Nail art gel, Painting gel, Gel colours, Gel top coat, All nail art
Blooming gel FAQ
How do I use blooming gel?
Cure your base colour, then apply a thin, even layer of blooming gel and do not cure it. Dot or draw gel colour into the wet layer and let it spread. Cure as soon as the effect looks right, then seal with a gel top coat.
Why is my blooming gel not spreading?
The colour may be too thick, or the blooming layer too thin or already starting to set from stray lamp light. Use a thin, well-pigmented gel colour, apply the blooming gel in an even coat away from the lamp and work one nail at a time.
Blooming gel or marble ink: which should I use?
Blooming gel is a clear layer that makes gel colour spread into soft, rounded shapes, good for watercolour and blossom looks. Marble ink is a thin coloured ink that spreads by itself into veins and smoke, good for marble and stone effects; you will find it under nail art gel.
Order online for in-store pickup at our Markham, Ontario store, usually ready in 2 to 4 hours, or have your order shipped anywhere in Canada.