Stamp It Out!

Offer speedy & effective nail artistry with an insight into stamping techniques & tools

Are you a time-pressed pro who seeks to elevate your manicure offerings – and make more money in the process? Consider stamping: a speedy way to achieve striking nail art results, with little investment.

“Stamping is an incredible way to achieve detailed, intricate nail art in a fraction of the time it would take to hand-paint,” shares Sarah Richardson, nail artist & founder of Nail Stamping Queen UK. “It opens up the world of design to both beginners and seasoned pros, and is a great option for clients who want nail styles that are eye-catching and unique – but are short on time. Stamping can be easily introduced into lacquer, gel polish, hard gel and L&P acrylic services.

Sarah Richardson

“Once you purchase the basic tools, you can reuse them,” Sarah continues. “Any pro – from a mobile tech to a salon employee – can incorporate stamping, and it’s amazing for those who don’t hone advanced freehand skills, yet wish to offer nail art services.

“Promote the service to clients who love seasonal and themed designs, as you can update your offerings by investing in new plates for each holiday or event.”

Application tips

“Preparation is key. Ensure you have all your stamping tools to hand and that the stamping plate is free of residue,” shares Sarah Richardson. “Pure acetone and lint-free wipes work best to clean plates, and I suggest cleaning the stamper with a sticky lint roller or Sellotape.

“Use a firm, even scraping motion at a 45-degree angle and roll the stamper gently on the plate to pick up the image,” Sarah continues. “If you make a mistake – don’t panic. You can quickly remove partial transfers or off-centre designs with a swipe of acetone and re-stamp. A silicone mat is ideal for practicing placements or creating nail decals before applying, to reduce the chances of mistakes on a client’s nails.”

Nails by Sophie Donaldson using Moyra products.

How it works

To transfer intricate and detailed designs onto nails quickly and easily, you need a stamping plate, stamper, stamping polish/paint or formula suitable for stamping, and a scraper.

Step 1

Prep the nails and apply the chosen base shade.

Step 2

Choose a stamping plate design and apply stamping paint over it.

Step 3

Use a scraping tool to remove the excess product, leaving only what’s required in the grooves of the design on the plate.

Step 4

Roll the stamper over the design to transfer the paint from the plate to the stamper.

Step 5

Roll or press the stamper onto the nail to transfer the pattern or image.

Step 6

Apply a top coat to seal the design and use acetone to clean the plate, stamper and scraper between each use.

:YOURS Halo Stamper £14.95 + VAT & Scraping Card 45p + VAT www.sweetsquared.com

:YOURS Stamping Polish in Blue Emotion £5.55 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com

:YOURS X Sascha Gossen Butterfly Garden Stamping Plate £7.45 + VAT www.sweetsquared.com

Course spotlight

Moyra Mini Stamping Plates £6.90 inc VAT each www.moyra.uk

Moyra UK offers a pre-recorded Advanced Stamping Course with company owner, Vonny Tuckley. It is ideal for nail professionals keen to master intricate nail art techniques. The online course features eight advanced stamped designs, each presented via a video tutorial with a detailed voiceover guide.

“Stamping is a great way to attract new clients and set you apart from your competition,” Vonny Tuckley shares. “Those who struggle with creating freehand nail art can achieve perfect results quickly with stamping. Plus,there are stamping plates and shades to suit any season, event or client style. You can layer textures and create intricate art for elevated looks.”

Vonny Tuckley

Course tutorials cover:

• Understanding the products in the Moyra stamping system.

• Creating your own stickers.

• Adding watercolour to stamped designs.

• Selecting the right tools and products for the technique or design.

• How to layer stamping designs.

• Adding stickers, chromes and glitters to elevate nail looks.

Moyra Clear Mini Stamper £3.70 inc VAT www.moyra.uk

The Advanced Stamping Course is £45 inc VAT and available via www.moyra.uk

Stamped nail designs featuring chrome by Vonny Tuckley.

Moyra Stamping & Painting Gel in White £8.90 inc VAT www.moyra.uk

TOP STAMPING TRENDS

By Sarah Richardson, nail artist & founder of Nail Stamping Queen UK

POND MANICURE

“The Pond Manicure is a stamped design sandwiched between sheer or tinted polishes, to give the appearance of ripples on a pond or lake. Here, I’ve used the What’s Up Nails Zoology Trip Stamping Plate with By Sarah Milk Bath Mani Gel to create colourful, summery styles.”

By Sarah Milk Bath Mani Gel in Wild Lilac £8.95 + VAT www.nailstampingqueenuk.co.uk

What’s Up Nails Zoology Trip Stamping Plate £7.99 + VAT www.nailstampingqueenuk.co.uk

HIDDEN CAT EYE STAMPING

“The hidden stamping technique cleverly incorporates cat eye gel. For this design, I used the By Sarah Velvet Cat Eye Gel 2.0 and manipulated the magnetic particles, before stamping a design with a shade to match the base. The design appears and disappears as the hand moves, creating a subtle and mesmerising effect.”

ISOLATED STAMPING

“Simply stamp then isolate your design with gel top coat and cure. Remove the excess with cleanser. Classic and alternative French tips are popular designs using this technique. For the style shown, I’ve used the By Sarah Liquid Metal Gold Chrome Gel Paint to outline the wavy edges and elevate the look.”

Sophie Donaldson

Moyra Smart Stamping Polish £5.50 inc VAT www.moyra.uk

TECH TALK

Sophie Donaldson, nail artist, session stylist & Moyra UK ambassador “Stamping is a quick and easy way to add extra layers to nail art designs and make them more intriguing. I use Moyra Stamping Plates as I love how detailed they are, and the brand offers a huge variety of Stamping Polish shades and Gel Paints – including Foil Polish, to create dazzling foil and pigment looks. I enjoy creating designs using White Foil Stamping Gel, before adding neon pigments on top for bold, standout looks.”

Pricing pointers

“I typically promote stamping as an add-on service,” Sarah Richardson shares. “Pricing may depend on the complexity: I charge £3-5extra for simple accent nails, while full sets and those incorporating other mediums, such as chrome and pigment designs, can be £10-£15 extra. Price for your time, materials and skill level.”