Art with Jark

Scratch Stars Hall of Fame pro & founder of Jark Nails, JIAK HING, shares a masterclass in gel polish design to elevate your artistic offerings

ABOUT JIAK HING

Jiak Hing is a bespoke nail artist from Bolton, Manchester. She specialises in unique, illustrative nail art under the business name, Jark Nails, and has scooped multiple industry awards, including the Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year accolade in 2022, 2023 and 2024. These three wins granted her entry into the Scratch Stars Hall of Fame for the category. Jiak is committed to producing innovative and intricate nail art, and credits gel polish for offering creative freedom. The versatility of the medium allows her to experiment with a spectrum of colours and bring her artistic visions to life. She hopes to inspire nail professionals to step out of their comfort zones, embrace creativity and try new skills and techniques.

New year, new studio

My New Year’s resolution for 2025 is to share my nail art knowledge with more people. To make this possible, I’ve moved to a bigger premises, where I can teach masterclasses and connect with the local nail community. The last few months have been very busy, so the move has been gradual, but I’m looking forward to welcoming pros into the space soon.

Sweet snowdrops

January is one of the coldest months of the year in the UK, but frosty weather can have a special charm. Snowdrops are popular with my clients between January and March, and offer a versatile style as we move into spring.

For this look, I used a cool, wintry blue shade for the background, adding a pearly glaze to create a frosted appearance. The textured, miniature snowdrops are delicate, making this a simple yet elegant design for the start of the year.

You will need:

• Pastel blue gel polish.

• Pearlescent nail art powder.

• No-wipe top coat.

• No-wipe art gels in green and white.

Step 1 Prep the nails and apply your chosen pastel blue gel polish shade to all nails in two thin, even layers, curing in between each coat. I used Indigo Nails Gel Polish in Luisa Ibiza. Follow with an application of no-wipe top coat. Cure.

Step 2 Rub a pearlescent nail art powder onto the cured nail surfaces to create a frosty, shimmering effect. I used Indigo Nails’ Glammer Silver. Apply top coat and cure.

Step 3 Use a fine liner brush and a green no-wipe art gel to paint delicate flower stems onto the nail, near the free edge, and flash cure. I used HD Pro Art Gel in Forest.

Step 4 Enhance the design by painting leaves on the stems, using your chosen green no-wipe art gel. Flash cure.

Step 5 Paint snowdrops at the end of the stems using a white no-wipe art gel. Next, use a dotting tool to add small white dots around the design, to create a snowy effect. I used HD Pro Art Gel in Casper. Fully cure the design, and either leave as is for a textured finish, or apply top coat and cure.

TREND TIP

Create seasonal nail art options for your clients and display them on tips. I gather inspiration from previous years, my own experiences, and fashion and celebrity styles. Social media is a fantastic tool for staying updated and discovering new ideas. Have fun exploring and experimenting!

Education matters

In-person training is one of my favourite ways to grow as an artist. At the end of 2004, I attended an education session with manicurist & mentor, Emma Jackson, and Antonia Bryans of @studio7wellbeing. It was an incredible experience, full of valuable insights and techniques. I enjoy learning from fellow techs, as everyone has different perspectives and talents to share.