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.

A group selfie with attendees.

With Paulina Zdrada.

.OUT & ABOUT

I enjoyed attending The Nail Lab’s experience day at its Leeds headquarters. It was an intimate event, with a small group of attendees, filled with product insight, demos and masterclasses. These were led by brand owner & fellow Scratch Star award-winner, Paulina Zdrada; content creator, Georgi Watt, and educator, Oksana Smirnova. The day helped me gain a full understanding of The Nail Lab’s products and relevant techniques. I especially loved connecting with fellow nail techs who are equally passionate about the industry.

SUMMER FLORALS: minimalist 3D nail art

June marks the start of summertime, and I’m welcoming the season with this elegant floral style. This year, the ‘clean girl aesthetic’ remains a top trend: think minimal, effortless nail looks. This design combines the trend with soft, 3D flower elements in a French tip-style pattern, for those who seek some fun from their nail looks. It is a perfect look for sunny days and embracing fresh starts.

Step 1 After prepping the nail, apply a milky pink gel polish and cure. This helps to create a clean and fresh look.

Step 2 Using a gel polish colour of your choice, paint three petals on the right-hand side of the nail towards the free edge, as if the flower is coming off the nail. Cure.

Step 3 Using a second gel polish colour, paint a full flower with five petals on the left-hand side of the first flower. Leave space to add a dot to its centre. Cure.

Step 4 Paint three petals on the left-hand edge of the nail using a third gel polish colour of your choice. Cure.

Step 5 Using a dotting tool, add a white art gel dot to the centre of each flower. Cure.

Step 6 Apply a glossy top coat to seal the design. If your chosen top coat leaves a tacky finish, wipe off the inhibition layer so the surface is smooth and ready for 3D art.

Step 7 Apply 3D gel onto the petal shapes, flash curing between each application to avoid the product blending. Add the gel to the centres of the flowers last. I used SISSI’s Easy Squeezi 3D gel. Cure fully once happy with the 3D detailing.

You will need:

• Milky pink gel polish.

• A variety of gel polish shades.

• White art gel.

• Glossy top coat.

• 3D gel.

Keeping up with trends in the ever-evolving nail industry can feel overwhelming, but it’s also what makes our jobs fun and exciting! By learning new techniques and exploring designs, we can challenge our skills. This 3D floral look requires patience and precision, but you can make it your own. For example, cover the entire nail with 3D flowers, or keep it simple with a French-style with placement close to the free edge, as demonstrated above.