Award-winning LGBTQ+ nail artist: 5 steps to create a blooming Pride rainbow nail

Seasonal & Occasions, Step by Step

Miami-based nail pro & CEO of Nails BTCH., Tatiana Savostikova, shares her LGBTQ+ experiences and a blooming gel Pride step-by-step…

Tatiana savostikova

My LGBTQ+ journey began a long time ago in Russia, and the community I have found as a result means everything to me. It champions freedom, love and self-expression that cannot be confined by rules. I believe that the nail industry should be more inclusive of trans and non-binary nail enthusiasts, as manicured hands have traditionally symbolised femininity.

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Why are you proud to be part of the nail community?

I believe true style lies in details, and nails are a perfect way to showcase identity. Nail appointments are more than treatments – they’re moments of support and self-care. I’m proud to help students develop their talents and build careers through my Level Up course, which offers time-saving techniques to attract clients and avoid common mistakes.

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Tatiana nails

LGBTQ+ techs – prioritise yourself, embrace your uniqueness and proudly bring beauty into the world through nail artistry!

Follow Tatiana on Instagram: @nailsbtch

Step-by-step: Blooming Pride flag

You will need:

White gel polish.
Fine liner brush.
White gel paint.
Blooming gel.
Gel polishes in key colours of the Pride flag (I chose pink, red, yellow, green, light blue and dark blue).
Glitter top coat.

Step 1

Prep the nail and apply a white gel polish as the base shade. Cure. Mark out the shape of a heart in the centre of the nail using a fine liner brush and white gel paint. Cure for reference.

Step 2

Add blooming gel around the heart shape, and apply the first gel polish shade in an outline around the heart, allowing the colour to spread. It’s important that the position of this initial colour is correct, as it creates the structure for the following shade applications.

Step 3

Paint around the coloured heart outline with a second gel polish shade, and repeat the process with the rest of your shades to create the Pride rainbow. Allow the blooming gel to spread the colours.

Step 4

Continue adding the Pride flag shades on top of the blooming gel, until the entire nail is filled and all colours have spread and created a gradient effect. Cure once happy with the design.

Step 5