Most nail lovers and nail techs agree that having brittle and split nails can be a nightmare. It doesn't look cute, and it can hurt so much and be a telltale sign of your nail care or nail prep habits. On the contrary, cracked or shattered nail art designs are making rounds on the internet as a trend since .

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This crackle-like design resembles shattered glass on the ground, looks Instagram-worthy, tempting even for you to try it out. Our crackle gel nail polish can help you achieve that shiny and - perfectly looking gel nails.

What is Crackle Gel?

If you're a lover of nail polishes, then the crackle gel nail polish should be a part of your nail collection. It's specially formulated to last up to 3 weeks, highly pigmented, and easy to apply on nails. Not to mention, the crackle effect will spice up your nail art design. You may put it over Builder Gel and Sculpture Gel too!

Materials:

What you need to have crackle gel nails.

• Base Color (Gel Polish, Dip Powder, Sculpture Gel, Builder Gel)
• Crackle Gel (to overlay the base)
• Top Coat (to get that shine)
• Primer
• Base Coat

How to apply Crackle gel?

 Here are the step-by step guide on how to use crackle nail polish.

STEP 1: Prep your nails

Every nail professional knows the importance of nail prep before any nail art design. It will set the foundation and longevity of your nail design. You can read our nail prep starter guide to refresh your memory.

If you want to know more about gel aside from crackle gel, you can read our beginner's guide to gel polish. Don't forget to use a PH Bonder or the Ultimate Bond Primer to fully dehydrate your nails to ensure better adhesion to the surface of your nail! 

STEP 2: Use a base color   

Apply your chosen base color to bring out that edgy nail art design. We highly recommend high-contrast colors like black, white, gold, silver, neon, glitter, or glow-in-the-dark colors! You could use lacquer polish; however, it wouldn't be as sturdy or long-lasting as gel polish, builder gel, or sculpture gel. For the base color, you can use any gel polish from our iGel Match line or the Dip and Dap Duo line. 

If you need help with applying Builder Gel or Sculpture Gel, we've got blogs you can read: The Ultimate Guide to Builder Gel & Sculpture Gel. If you want to achieve a certain level of opaqueness, add a few layers of base color until you're satisfied with the results.

STEP 3: Apply a Gel Base Coat

If you want to make your gel mani stay longer and look smooth, apply a thin layer of Gel Base Coat, then cure your nails. When applying the base coat, the curing time depends on the nail lamp you have. 

Thirty seconds for LED, 60-90 seconds for UV/LED, while 2 minutes for UV, depending on lamp wattage. You can check out our roundup on stylish UV/LED nail lamps we have in store.

STEP 4: Apply the LB Crackle Gel  

Here comes the fun part, to achieve the crackle effect on your nails, apply a thin layer of LB crackle gel, then let it air dry.

STEP 5: Apply Top Coat

For Crackle gels, we highly recommend stickier topcoats such as the Original Gel Top Coat and the No Cleanse Top Coat. 

Application of crackle gel according to size:

For smaller cracks, we highly recommend using thinner layers. It would cause easier separation of the crackle gel.

We recommend using the gel polish alone for regular-sized cracks, which means there's no gel base.

For larger cracks, try adding a gel base to the gel polish. The gel base will help create the largest asymmetrical crackle effect possible.

Alternatively, you may add foil transfer gel before adding the crackle gel. It would be slightly less large than when using a gel base. Remember to cure the gel before adding the crackle gel nail polish when using the foil transfer method.

Note: If you want to learn more about Crackle Gel. You can watch our Crackle Gel live videos in our  iGel Beauty Facebook community.

How to remove Crackle gel?

SOAK OFF METHOD:

Step 1:

Use a nail cutter to remove any excess length from your nails.

STEP 2:

It would be best if you'll just buff the shiny top coating of your nails. Just make sure not to buff your natural nail bed!

Step 3:

Soak your nails in acetone to remove your gel manicure. Dip your nails into a dish of acetone for 15 to 20 minutes. Additional 5 minutes of soaking is recommended if polish is still visible after removal.

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Step 4:

Buff your nails lightly to remove any rough edges. After that, use an e-file to shape your nails.

Step 5:

Use a Nourish Oil afterward to ensure your nails are moisturized.

Foil Method:

Another method to remove the crackle gel nail polish.

Step 1:

Using acetone, soak a cotton ball or pad and place it on your nails.

Step 2:

After that, wrap your nail with aluminum foil so that the sheet of plastic entirely covers it. Put on each finger and keep it on for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the finger.

Step 3:

Finally, remove the foil and carefully rub the cotton ball or pad along with the foil on your nails.

Helpful tips on wearing Crackle gel nails:

• Be mindful of the temperature

If you live in a cold area and can't seem to get that crackle effect. You may use body heat by taking the bottle and cupping them in your hands, and rubbing the rolling the bottle back and forth. Imagine it being like warming your hands on a cold winter day!

• Use Complementary Colors

To make that Crackle Gel pop, try taking out your basic color wheel and try using the color on the opposite side (e.g., blue and orange). If complementary colors are too strong or remind you too much of Christmas (red and green as complementary colors), you may take a pastel shade of the other color as a base. For example, mint green with a candy apple red.

Nearly 20 years later, Y2K trends are alive and well. From indie sleaze hairstyles to early 's beauty basics (hello, lower waterliner), we're seeing a major resurgence in all things once loved and later kind of regretted. One trend that's right at the tip of our fingers: crackle nail polish. Oh yes, the distressed lacquer look has officially made its second debut. But before we spin out in a quintessentially Millenial mix of nostalgia and regret, why don't we take a trip down memory lane and revisit the crackle nail polish trend of the s'and how it has (hopefully) evolved for a more modern manicure?

Read on for everything you need to know about the comeback of crackle nail polish along with expert intel on how to achieve the look should you choose to.

The Trend

Let's hit the rewind button and time travel all the way back to . Nail polish is huge. I read nail polish blogs religiously (yes, blogs), drive all over the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in search of certain coveted shades and keep my ever-growing collection housed in a shoebox under my bed. Lately, I've seen a new trend emerging, and it's called crackle. Bloggers are painting their nails pretty shades of robin's egg blue or magenta, then layering a black topcoat that literally crackles and shatters atop for a peekaboo effect that feels completely brand new to my twentysomething eyes. I am obsessed.

It doesn't take long until every brand is making their own version of the polish. OPI releases their crackle topcoat as part of their Katy Perry collab and, knowing that OPI makes superior polishes to many drugstore rivals, I enter a JCPenney for the first time in a decade to find a bottle'it's that serious. My friend swipes my bottle to do her nails for a music performance, giving her baby blue mani an extra edge that looks so good with her American Apparel minidress. We are living.

Much like American Apparel itself, crackle topcoats are one of those things I thought would die with the s. But at least according to a TikTok with over 5 million views from beauty brand Essence, it's seemingly ready to claw its way back from the indie sleaze grave, and those of us who used it the first go-round are, understandably, wincing at the memory.

'At the time, crackle nail polish was unique and innovative'there truly wasn't anything like it,' says Mazz Hanna, celebrity nail artist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood. 'Nail art hadn't peaked yet, so nail designs were typically limited to French manicures, rhinestones and a few daisies and florals to choose from at your local salon. For those reasons, crackle nail polish was empowering. It allowed nail art enthusiasts to take matters into their own hands and experiment with something new at home.' It was also at the forefront of easy-to-use products to take your at-home manicure to the next level of interesting. 'Dare I say it even set the stage for the advent of nail strips, velvet nails, holographic glitters and other 'novelty' polishes that have since gone mainstream? Perhaps it did.' 

Crackle Nail Polish vs. Fractured Nail Art

The geometric splintering and fractured texture created by crackle nail polish may be immediately recognizable, but it does share similarities with other abstract nail art. "Crackle polish is so versatile'you can create everything from minimalist accent nails to full-on glam looks. It's similar to other nail art trends like metallic foils, shattered glass effects, and chunky glitters, but what makes crackle polish stand out is its texture and the fact that every application is a bit unpredictable and unique," explains Rebecca Isa, creative director at Zoya. "That said, while crackle is undeniably cool, we're seeing a growing trend towards holographic textures, like the ZOYA PixieDust colors. These offer a more controlled outcome and give you the flexibility to create precise nail art designs, such as textured tips, half tones, and negative space looks."

"Croc patterns and snakeskin patterns are similar in style and embossing is as well," adds celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein. Though, again, these designs are typically painted on meticulously, offering more control of the final result than a coat of crackle.

How to Get the Look

I won't judge you for wanting to give crackle polish a try; it is kinda fun to watch the polish do its things on the nail. It also requires absolutely zero nail polish expertise, given that you just paint a thin layer of the crackle polish atop your base, whether that's a metallic, glitter, baby pink or milk bath neutral. TikTokers have also created 'lava nails' with a bright orange or red base coat with the shatter polish on top, which is a fun twist, especially for Halloween. "I'm a big fan of using bold shades as a base'think red, white, silver, or black'and applying the crackle polish on one accent nail for a modern twist," says Isa. "For a more natural vibe, try using Naked Manicure Natural Nail Perfectors as your base and apply the crackle on top."

"Crackle nail polish is a unique formula that uses silica and higher solvent levels to dry about 10 times faster than regular polish. As it dries, it shrinks, causing the polish to crack and reveal those cool, broken-up designs we all love," explains Isa. "Creating a crackle manicure is super easy and looks amazing. Start by shaping your nails and cleaning the nail plate with Remove+'this helps the polish adhere better and last longer. If you're looking for max wear and to prevent staining, definitely go for a base coat like Naked Manicure Repair Base. But if you're in a hurry and just want to have fun, skip straight to applying your base color. Give it 2-5 minutes to dry, then apply your crackle polish and watch the magic happen. After another 2-5 minutes, you'll see the crackle effect start to form. Finish it off with a glossy topcoat like Naked Ultra Glossy, or keep it subtle with Naked Satin Seal." 

If you're worried about the longevity of an already splintered topcoat, Isa can ease those concerns. "Crackle polish isn't necessarily more prone to chipping, but sticking to the usual prep steps will help it last longer. One of my favorite tricks is using a clear hybrid LED gel like Naked Manicure Gelie-Cure Gelie the day after your mani. It seals in the look, adds incredible shine, and can extend wear by up to 5 days. Just make sure to wait at least 12 hours before applying it," she says.