How to Apply Decals

Full Nail Decals:

Note: Waterslide decal paper is not as durable as nail wraps. Please be careful when sliding, applying, stretching and smoothing full coverage decals or you will rip them.

  1. Prep/shape your nails as usual.
  2. The nail you’re applying the decal to should be painted/dipped an opaque white so that the colors pop.
  3. After your nail is completely dry, you need a sticky layer on it for the decal to stick to. Use a sticky base coat, or a cured layer of gel base coat, or nail foil glue, etc. and let it get tacky.
  4. Cut the decal out from the decal paper and soak it in room temperature water until it starts to curl (about 10-30 seconds). Remove from water with tweezers, pat dry, and gently slide it from the backing. Tip: Sometimes picking up with a nail stamper and sliding from there can help make it easier.
  5. Place decal on the prepped nail. When you have the placement correct, press down the center of the decal with your finger, then smooth it out in a clockwise direction over the nail; stretch very carefully where needed to remove creases/air bubbles. A paper towel rubbed lightly over the top can help remove them as well. Again, a light touch is needed to avoid ripping the decal.
  6. When you’re pleased with the placement, trim off any excess decal. Buff around the edges lightly or use a cleanup brush dipped in acetone to melt the decal edges and avoid lifting. Be careful not to get acetone on the main part of the decal itself.
  7.  Encapsulate/seal the decal with 2 coats of top coat, or 1 coat of Base coat and 1 coat of top coat, or in clear dip powder if you’re dipping, etc. Make sure to cure fully in between layers if using gel.

Clipart Large, Medium, and Mini Decals:

Note: Waterslide decal paper is not as durable as nail wraps. Please be careful when sliding, applying, and smoothing decals or you will rip them.

  1. Prep/shape your nails as usual.
  2. Paint/Dip your nails and let fully dry/cure. The nail you’re applying the decal on can be any color. If you choose anything other than white, you will need to reverse stamp. If you want to skip reverse stamping, use a white base.
  3. Before applying to your nail, you need a sticky layer on your nail for the decal to stick to. Use a sticky base coat, or a cured layer of gel base coat, or nail foil glue, etc. and let it get tacky. If using a colored base, you may want to wait and do this step while your reverse stamping polish is drying.
  4. Cut the decal out (to shape) from the decal paper and soak it in room temp water until it starts to curl (about 10-30 seconds). Remove from water with tweezers, pat dry, and gently slide it from the backing. (If you’re planning to reverse stamp, pick it up on your stamper head before removing the backing)
  5. If your base is colored: Pick the decal up on a nail stamper and then reverse stamp white polish on the back of it where you want it to be opaque once placed. You may want to skip text as it’s tiny. Keep in mind dark text on a dark background could be lost, or if on same color as the color of text etc. (You’ll want to move slightly faster than normal and use a thin layer of polish, so the decal doesn’t dry out too much before applying) Once reverse stamping is dry enough, apply to prepped nail.
  6. If your base is White: No reverse stamping needed. After sliding the backing off, apply directly to the tacky layer on your nail.
  7. There shouldn’t be much excess with clipart, but if there is any extending off your nail, trim off the excess or use a cleanup brush dipped in acetone to melt the decal edges and avoid lifting. Be careful not to get acetone on the main part of the decal itself.
  8. Encapsulate/seal the decal with 2 coats of top coat, or 1 coat of Base coat and 1 coat of top coat, or in clear dip powder if you’re dipping, etc. Make sure to cure fully in between layers if using gel.