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.

Photographer, Tash Jones (@loveluella),captures a photo of my nail art on bridal client, Francesca Wood.

A personal touch

I had the pleasure of creating bridal nails for one of my close friends, Francesca Wood (@copperandwildhair).I was honoured that she wore my nail design on her special day.

Mr and Mrs Wood, photographed by Tash Jones.

BRIDAL NAILS: opalescent myrtle leaves

We’re heading towards wedding season, so this month, my focus is on a bridal nail design. I’ve chosen to paint the white myrtle flower onto nails, and have paired it with a pearlescent chrome pigment to create a soft, opalescent finish. This elegant and timeless creation is the perfect match for an opal engagement or wedding ring.

Why myrtle?

The myrtle plant has long been a symbol of love, luck and marital happiness. In Greek mythology, it was sacred to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Sprigs have featured in the wedding bouquets of royal British brides for over 170 years, including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. This makes myrtle a beautiful symbol of continuity and tradition. A subtle yet meaningful detail, it serves as the perfect inspiration for bridal nail art.

You will need:

• Neutral-coloured builder gel.

• Neutral-coloured gel polish.

• Matte top coat.

• White gel polish.

• Blue-gold chrome pigment.

• Glossy top coat.

• Isopropyl alcohol.

Step 1 Prep the nails for gel polish application and enhance using your chosen builder gel. I used Mii Cosmetics Strengthen + Shield Pink Builder Gel. Cure, then apply a thin coat of a gel polish hue suited to your client’s skin tone and cure. I chose Mii Cosmetics Statement Gel Polish in Naturally Modest.

Step 2 Apply a matte top coat as an isolation layer for the chrome pigment. Cure, then wipe over the nail surface with isopropyl alcohol. Use a white gel paint, such as HD Pro Art Gel in Casper, to paint the stalk and leaves of the myrtle plant. Cure.

Step 3 Rub your chosen chrome powder over the cured art gel to achieve an opalescent glow. I used the Noelle Aurora Chrome from Nail Stamping Queen. Dust off any loose powder.

Step 4 Paint the other side of the plant using the white art gel. Cure, then repeat step 3.

Step 5 Apply a glossy top coat to enhance the chrome effect and cure to finish.

SAY ‘I DO’ TO BRIDAL NAIL ART TRENDS

Subtle elegance: Brides are opting for timeless, understated designs. Consider soft pastels, nude bases and delicate accents.

Chrome is ‘in’: Chrome effects are trending, as they add a touch of subtle glamour to nails. Pearlescent finishes are particularly popular with brides keen to complement their wedding accessories.

Nature-inspired designs: Florals and botanical details pair perfectly with natural or rustic wedding themes.

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