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3 mins

Styling with THE STARS

Let your skills sparkle with technical & artistic step-by-steps from Scratch Stars Awards champions

Scratch Star spotlight

Who: Danielle Brindley

What: Scratch Stars Mixed

Media Artist of the Year 2024 & Ultimate Polish & Paint Artist.

Why: With over 11 years’ nail industry experience, Danielle has made her mark in the competition sphere as well as the classroom. She is a Glitterbels educator at the brand’s HQ in Newcastle-under-Lyme, teaching students perfect prep, flawless application and how to nail the creative process.

How: Danielle’s work is defined by a love of colour. She thrives on experimentation and transformation, with her hand-painted designs and mixed media creations pushing creative boundaries.

WINNING WISDOM

The Scratch Stars Awards has helped me grow in confidence and skill. It’s pushed me outside my comfort zone, introduced me to nail artists I admire and inspired me to keep learning and improving.

Personally, the competition environment helps me greatly. As I have ADHD, I really struggle when I feel stuck or uninspired. Having a nail art theme, deadline and clear limitations for my work helps me channel my energy and ideas in a positive and productive way.

FINE ART FLORALS

Step 1 Prep the nail and apply Glitterbels Hema Free No Wipe Topcoat. Cure, then rub Glitterbels Chrome Powders in Pegasus and My Little Unicorn onto the surface, blending them together. Dust off excess chrome powder with a soft brush, apply another layer of No Wipe Topcoat and cure.

Step 2 Buff the entire nail with a 180/220-grit sponge buffer until a matte finish is achieved. Scrub the nail with sanitiser on a lint-free wipe to remove debris.

Step 3 Decant a selection of Glitterbels Unbelievabel Gel shades onto a palette. Using a fine liner brush and Unbelievabel Gel in Hot Shot, paint petals onto the nail. Cure, then apply Glitterbels Chrome Powder in Ruby Mirror on top.

Step 4 Dust off excess powder and use Unbelievabel Gel in It’s a Fling to add more petals to this flower. Cure, then rub Gitterbels Chrome Powder in Blushing Mirror onto these petals.

Step 5 Create more flowers on the nail as desired. Work on one flower at a time, adding Unbelievabel Gel, curing then applying Chrome Powder and dusting off excess. Layer petal shapes to build depth, using different shades of gel paint and chrome to add dimension.

Step 6 Use Unbelievabel Gel in Green Glory to add stems and leaves to the flowers, then cure. Apply Glitterbels Chrome Powder in Mint Mirror to these sections.

Step 7 Dust off excess chrome powder then use Unbelievabel Gel in Black to add dimension to the stems. Cure and apply Chrome Powder in Mint Mirror over these areas.

Step 8 Once happy with the flowers, brush away any final, loose chrome particles and encapsulate the design in a thin layer of Glitterbels Hema Free Builder-bel Gelin Crystal. Cure.

Step 9 If needed, file the nail to refine. Finish with a layer of Glitterbels Hema Free No Wipe Topcoat, cure, then rehydrate with cuticle oil.

You will need:

• Glitterbels Hema Free No Wipe Topcoat.

• Glitterbels Chrome Powders in various shades.

• Chrome applicator.

• Soft dust brush.

• 180/220-grit sponge buffer.

• Nail sanitiser and lint-free wipes.

• Glitterbels Unbelievabel Gels in various shades.

• Fine liner nail art brush.

• Glitterbels Hema Free Builder-bel Gel in Crystal.

Floral fingertips are a staple summer style, and can be elevated with chrome for a blooming beautiful finish.

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TOP TIP

Cure the gel paints for the manufacturer’s specified time, as chrome powder will not adhere to over-cured gel.

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This article appears in July 2026

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July 2026
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