How to Do Marble Nails with Gel Polish: Step-by-Step Guide
Creating elegant marble nails might look complex, but achieving this sophisticated design is easier than you think. While there are several techniques that can create stunning effects for your marble nail designs, we'll focus on a straightforward method using gel polish that delivers beautiful, long-lasting results for your clients.
What You'll Need to Create Marble Gel Nails
- Neutral base colour gel polish
- 2–3 contrasting TGB gel polishes for marble effects (Check out our blog on colour theory to understand what shades to choose for your clients.)
- Flat or Round Brush
How to Create Marble Effect Nails with Gel in 6 Simple Steps
Step 1: Prepare the Nails
Start with proper nail prep to ensure your clients’ gel nail extensions, BIAB™ infills or natural nails are ready for product application. Clean with our TGB Acetone (pure acetone) and Lint-Free Wipes.
Looking for a nail prep refresh? Check out our blog here, plus make light work of your nail prep and master the TGB E-File with our dedicated TGB Academy course!
Step 2: Apply Base Coat Polish
Apply a thin layer of base coat evenly across each nail. This creates the perfect foundation for your marble nail art design. Cure under our gel nail lamp for 99 seconds on Low Heat Mode using the TGB Light The Way Nail Lamp.
Step 3: Apply Gel Polish Colour
Apply your chosen neutral base color for a classic marble look. Apply two thin coats, curing between each layer for the perfect gel manicure finish.
Step 4: Add Marble Effect
This is where the marble nail art comes to life. There are two methods you can use to create your marble nail design.
Method 1: Direct Application
- Apply a thin layer of Blooming Gel to the whole nail, but don’t cure.
- Using your preferred Detail Brush, draw irregular, wavy lines with your contrasting colours.
- Use a clean Detail Brush to gently drag and blend the lines as needed.
- Cure for 60 seconds when you're happy with the marble effect.
Method 2: Palette Technique
- Apply your gel colours onto the TGB Palette.
- Create a marble effect on the palette using your Detail Brush to gently swirl the colours together.
- Using your Round or Flat Brush, pick up some of the marbled gel from the palette and apply onto the nail wherever you would like it.
- Cure for 60 seconds when you're happy with the marble effect.
Step 5: Enhance Marble Details
To create even more dimension, trace some marble lines with metallic gel polish like Mirror Studio Gel™. Cure after applying for 60 seconds.
Step 6: Seal Your Marble Nail Design
Seal your beautiful marble design with a layer of Extreme Shine Top Coat and cure for 60 seconds.
Create Marble Effect Nails for Every Client
Popular combinations for marble nail designs include:
- Pastels for spring and summer marble nail designs.
Elevate your Skills and Build your Business
Take your nail art and BIAB™ manicures to the next level with our complete range of professional nail products, including BIAB™ builder gel, gel nail colours, and nail tech supplies. You’ll find only the best nail supplies from The GelBottle Inc™.
For more inspiration and advanced nail art techniques, look no further than TGB Academy, the UK’s leading nail academy. Whether you’re looking to learn something new or are ready to start your career as a nail tech, our nail courses have you covered. From BIAB™ courses to online nail courses and gel nail courses, every offering is ABT and Guild-accredited to ensure you have all the tools you need to succeed.