Hailey Bieber’s ‘Glazed Donut’ gel nails have been the talk of the town, and it’s easy to see why. In fact, this nail trend shows no signs of slowing down, and why would it? The result is absolutely stunning and surprisingly easy to achieve with the right products.
We’ve been working hard at Gelous to find the perfect combination to recreate this iconic look and our resident nail tech has discovered two - one that exclusively uses Gel Nail Polish, and another that incorporates Chrome Powder for an extra sweet finish. Read on to learn how you can make this trendy mani yours!
How to Create Glazed Donut Nails Using Gel Nail Polish
Gel Nail Polish colours needed
Let’s start with the polishes you’ll need and why.
- Pink Rubber Base Coat: The pink toned Pink Rubber Base Coat gives your gel manicure the charming pinky tinged base. Rubber Base Coat is also amazing smoothing, strengthening and thickening flaky, brittle, thin or splitting nails. It has enhanced rubber-like qualities that allow your nails to flex without breaking.
- Pink Builder Gel: This reinforces the pink undertone of the manicure and adds a layer of strength. Builder Gel is harder and thicker than our other Gel Nail Polishes, so will decrease nail flexibility and bending, helping your Gel Nail Polish last longer.
- Swan Lake Gel Nail Polish: This milky-white, semi-opaque Gel Nail Polish creates the stunning see-through, white effect on the nails.
- Snow Place Like Home Gel Nail Polish: This semi-opaque shimmer with a white base offers more coverage, while adding that all-important white chrome effect.
- Top Coat: This seals your gel manicure and adds that extra shine to top off your flawless Hailey Bieber manicure.
Prepping your nails
Now you know the Gel Nail Polishes you’ll need, let's get onto the prep side of things. You will need to shape your nails into an almond shape if they are long enough. To do this use a nail clipper to cut the sides of your nails, then file each side towards the middle using the fine side of your Gelous Nail File. Make sure you’re not filing too much on one side and that the sides are even. Following this, softly buff the nail bed using the same side to create an even, matte surface for your Gel Nail Polish to adhere to. Take your time and buff as close to the cuticles and sides as possible to ensure a flawless and long-lasting finish. Thoroughly wipe your nails with a Lint Free Wipe soaked in Nail Polish Remover, then brush on our Nail Primer. This step is to dehydrate the nail bed and clear off any natural oils and moisture your hands and cuticles create. It’s a vital step in all gel manicures, as any residual dust or oils left on the nails can negatively impact the way your Gel Nail Polishes apply and last.
Applying your Gel Nail Polish
Now for applying your Gel Nail Polish - the rewarding part! When applying all your coats, always cap the free edge of the nail and leave a small gap between the Gel Nail Polish and your cuticle. Aim to avoid getting any Gel Nail Polish on your skin or cuticle, however if you do, remove it with an Orangewood Cuticle Stick before curing. Your Base Coat and Colour Coat should remain a little sticky after curing, so that when you apply the following layer it sticks to the layer below.
- Start out with a thin layer of Pink Rubber Base Coat, cap the free edge and cure for 60 seconds under the UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp.
- Then add 1-2 thin coats of Pink Builder Gel over top and cure after each coat for 60 seconds. This will give you the subtle, pink tinged base you're after. Thin coats of Builder Gel are particularly important, as it is a thick, hard gel that if applied poorly can look messy and bulky.
- You’re then going to apply 1-2 thin coats of the white-tinged, semi-opaque Swan Lake Gel Nail Polish, curing after each coat for 60 seconds.
- Following this, apply 1-2 thin coats of Snow Place Like Home Gel Nail Polish for a semi-opaque pearlescent white sheen. Cure each coat for 60 seconds.
- Finally, apply standard Top Coat or Rubber Top Coat to finish off your ethereal gel manicure and cure for 60 seconds.
How to Create Glazed Donut Nails Using Chrome Powder
Chrome Powder & Gel Nail Polish colours needed
For this gel manicure to be pulled off flawlessly, we've outlined what you'll need and why.
- Clear Rubber Base Coat: Keeping your base clear for this look allows for a more classic Glazed Donut-inspired finish. This lets your natural nail subtly peek through the stunning white-tinged glaze for a gorgeous result. Rubber Base Coat is also amazing smoothing, strengthening and thickening flaky, brittle, thin or splitting nails. It has enhanced rubber-like qualities that allow your nails to flex without breaking.
- Clear Builder Gel: This further reinforces the natural undertone of your nails while adding thickness and strength. Builder Gel is harder and thicker than our other Gel Nail Polishes, so will decrease nail flexibility and bending, helping your Gel Nail Polish last longer.
- Swan Lake Gel Nail Polish: A stunning milky-white, semi-opaque shade that creates the elegant semi-transparent, white effect on the nails.
- Ice Age Aurora Chrome Powder: This dazzling Chrome Powder is essential for achieving that all-important glazed finish. Its cool, silvery-white tones add the perfect depth and shine to your gel manicure to bring Hailey’s iconic look to life.
- Top Coat: This seals your gel manicure and adds that extra shine to top off your flawless Glazed Donut manicure.
Get the look for less with our Sugar Glazed Polish & Chrome Pack. Bundling together Swan Lake and Ice Age Aurora Chrome Powder with the option to add Clear Builder Gel, this delectable set promises a gorgeous glazed finish in a flash.
Prepping your nails
As outlined above, you will need to shape your nails into an almond shape if they are long enough. To do this use a nail clipper to cut the sides of your nails, then file each side towards the middle using the fine side of your Gelous Nail File. Make sure you’re not filing too much on one side and that the sides are even. Following this, softly buff the nail bed using the same side to create an even, matte surface for your Gel Nail Polish to adhere to. Take your time and buff as close to the cuticles and sides as possible to ensure a flawless and long-lasting finish. Thoroughly wipe your nails with a Lint Free Wipe soaked in Nail Polish Remover, then brush on our Nail Primer. This step is to dehydrate the nail bed and clear off any natural oils and moisture your hands and cuticles create. It’s a vital step in all gel manicures, as any residual dust or oils left on the nails can negatively impact the way your Gel Nail Polish and Chrome Powder applies and lasts.
Applying your Chrome Powder & Gel Nail Polish
We're breaking your gel manicure down step-by-step. When applying all your coats, always cap the free edge of the nail and leave a small gap between the Gel Nail Polish and your cuticle. Aim to avoid getting any Gel Nail Polish on your skin or cuticle, however if you do, remove it with an Orangewood Cuticle Stick before curing. Your Base Coat and Colour Coat should remain a little sticky after curing, so that when you apply the following layer it sticks to the layer below.
- Begin your gel manicure with a thin layer of Clear Rubber Base Coat, curing for 60 seconds under your UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp.
- Apply 1-2 coats of Clear Builder Gel to create an understated base that allows your natural nail to shine through, curing for 60 seconds after each coat. With Builder Gel, it is particularly important to apply thin coats, as this is a thick, hard polish that can easily flood your cuticles or look bulky.
- Following this, apply 1 thin coat of the sweet, creamy-toned Swan Lake Gel Nail Polish and cure for 60 seconds.
- Apply our regular Top Coat and cure for 60 seconds.
- Next, apply Nail Polish Remover to a Lint Free Wipe and fully wipe down the cured TopCoat.
- Smoothly rub on a layer of Ice Age Aurora Chrome Powder.
- Apply Nail Polish Remover to a Lint Free Wipe and gently rub the Chrome Powder off your nails until you’ve reached the desired intensity. This will make the chrome look slightly more pearly with the natural nail peeking through.
- Finish off your ethereal gel manicure by applying our regular Top Coat and cure for 60 seconds.
LOOKING FOR A TUTORIAL?
To recreate our Glazed Donut gel nail art, watch our Youtube tutorial here.
