SCRATCHCOLUMNIST
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.
.OUT & ABOUT
I attended the Professional Beauty Autumn and Salon International trade events at ExCeL London, and watched pros compete in Nailympia London’s live competitions. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, creativity and inspiration. Congratulations to my fellow nail techs who stepped out of their comfort zones to compete. I also caught up with the HD Pro Nails and Andreia Professional teams and learned about Umia Beauty’s AI nail art machine. I loved the event: it’s a must-attend for anyone passionate about nails.
With Umia Beauty co-founder, Modi Liu.
@jark.nail
/jarknailartisan
Follow Jiak:
@jarknails
CANDY CANE NAIL ART
Candy cane nails are popular at this time of year, and I want to show you how to elevate the iconic festive pattern. Metallic gels and gemstones create a party-friendly finish, and the right combination of shades and sizes can transform the nail design. I regularly use Crystal AB stones, which have an eye-catching clear base and rainbow reflection. What better way to celebrate Christmas than with sweet inspiration and sparkle?
You will need:
• Pink or nude gel polish or builder gel.
• Red and green metallic gel polishes. I used Cosmic Kiss and Mint Eclipse from the Mii Statement Gel Magnetic Skies collection.
• White art gel.
• Nail art brush.
• Small gemstones in sizes SS3 to SS6.
• Glossy gel polish top coat.
Step 1 Prep the nails and apply a pink or nude gel polish or builder gel base to suit the client’s skin tone. Cure.
Step 2 Paint a French-style tip using a red metallic gel polish, making it slightly thicker than a standard tip to ensure room for the design. Cure.
Step 3 Use white art gel and a nail art brush to paint a triangular shape over the cured red metallic gel polish. Cure.
Step 4 Continue to paint white triangular shapes across the red tip, curing after each addition. The tips of the shapes should meet in the middle of the smile line.
Step 5 Paint a thin line in the centre of each white shape using green metallic gel polish. Cure.
Step 6 Adhere gemstones in sizes SS3 to SS6 along the smile line using clear gel or builder gel. Place larger gemstones in the centre and smaller ones towards the sidewalls. Cure when you are happy with the placement.
Step 7 Apply a glossy gel polish top coat, being careful to paint around the gemstones and not over them. Cure.
TOP TIP For long-lasting gemstone adhesion, I apply gel polish underneath and around the stones. The sparkle and durability of nail art crystals can vary greatly, so be sure to purchase from a reputable supplier, such as Bluestreak Crystals or Crystal Parade.