Frequently asked questions
What nail flakes does ND carry?
Six-grid flake boxes in three families: iridescent XR flakes (Cosmos, Fairytale, and more) for shattered-glass and aurora effects, shell flakes (Lovey, Elegant) for mother-of-pearl and inlay looks, and flower flake charms in neon and pastel sets. Each box holds six colors or finishes, and every box works over gel, acrylic, dip, and natural nails under a gel top coat.
How do I apply nail flakes so they last?
Cure the base color, then either leave its tacky layer or apply a thin uncured coat of clear gel. Lift flakes with tweezers or a dry brush, press them flat, and cure. Then float a layer of clear builder gel or a thick top coat over the flakes so no edge sits proud, cure, and top coat. Flakes that are not encapsulated catch on hair and clothing within a day.
Which base color shows flakes best?
Iridescent flakes read brightest over black, navy, or a deep jewel tone, laid sparsely so the base shows through; shell and flower flakes read best over sheer pink, milky white, or nude. For an opal French, press iridescent flakes along the free edge only over a milky white.
What is the difference between flakes, glitter, foil, and sequins?
Glitter is fine and uniform for sparkle across the whole nail; flakes are larger, irregular film or shell that give a pattern and depth under a clear layer; transfer foil is a printed design with no encapsulation; sequins are cut shapes that sit on top. Most stations keep one box of each and use flakes as an accent nail.
Are nail flakes sold at wholesale?
Yes. Every flake box at ND Nails Supply is wholesale-priced for everyone, with no business license, no minimum order, and no membership fee, and one six-grid box covers dozens of accent nails because each design uses a few flakes. Orders $100+ ship free, and in-stock boxes ordered before 2pm PT on weekdays leave the same day; flakes ship flat in the same carton as a color order.
Nail flakes: iridescent, shell, and flower flakes in six-grid boxes
Nail flakes are the thin, irregular pieces laid into wet gel or pressed onto a tacky layer for the shattered-glass, crushed-shell, and pressed-flower looks: they catch light from every angle, sit flatter than glitter, and encapsulate under a clear layer so the finished nail stays smooth. ND Nails Supply stocks the flake range at wholesale as six-grid boxes, each grid a different color or finish, in three families: iridescent flakes, shell flakes, and flower flake charms. Seven boxes are live, and each one covers dozens of accent nails, so the page is small by count and long by use. Every box works over gel, acrylic, dip, and natural nails under a gel top coat.
What is on this page
| Box | What is in it | Look |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Grids of Iridescent Flakes, XR series (#2 Cosmos, #3 Fairytale, and more) | Six grids of color-shifting iridescent film flakes | Shattered glass, aurora, and opal effects that shift with the angle |
| 6 Grids of Shell Flakes (YM-30 #2 Lovey, YM-32 #1 Elegant) | Six grids of crushed shell in pearl and pastel tones | Mother-of-pearl, mosaic, and stone-inlay looks |
| 6 Grids Flower Flakes Charms (#03 Neon, #04 Pastel) | Six grids of small flower-shaped flakes in a color family | Scattered blossom accents in neon or pastel |
A six-grid box is six colors for the price of one item, which is why flakes are stocked by the box rather than by the color: a single box of iridescent flakes covers the aurora nail, the glass nail, and the opal French from one drawer.
How to apply nail flakes
- Base. Apply and cure the base color. Iridescent flakes read brightest over black, navy, or a deep jewel tone; shell and flower flakes read best over sheer pink, milky white, or nude.
- Tacky layer or wet gel. Either leave the color's tacky layer, or apply a thin coat of clear or builder gel and leave it uncured.
- Place. Lift flakes with tweezers, a silicone tool, or a dry brush, and press them flat onto the nail; for the shattered-glass look, lay iridescent flakes in overlapping angles; for shell, fill the nail edge to edge like a mosaic.
- Cure and encapsulate. Cure, then float a layer of clear builder gel or a thick top coat over the flakes so no edge sits proud, cure again, and finish with top coat.
Flakes that are not encapsulated catch on hair and clothing within a day; the clear layer is the step that makes the design last the full manicure.
Which flake for which design
- Aurora and glass nails: iridescent XR flakes over black or a deep color, laid sparsely so the base shows through.
- Opal French: iridescent flakes pressed along the free edge only, over a milky white.
- Shell and stone inlay: shell flakes edge to edge over nude, encapsulated under builder gel and filed smooth.
- Spring and neon accents: flower flake charms scattered over a pastel base, a few per nail.
- Encapsulated acrylic: any flake laid into a bead of clear acrylic on a sculpted set.
Flakes, glitter, foil, or sequins?
Glitter is fine and uniform and gives sparkle across the whole nail; flakes are larger and irregular and give a pattern, so they are used sparingly as an accent. Transfer foil gives a printed design with no encapsulation; flakes give real depth under a clear layer. Sequins are cut shapes (hearts, stars, hexagons) that sit on top; flakes are film or shell that sit in the gel. A station usually keeps one box of each: glitter for full sparkle, flakes for glass and shell effects, foil for patterns, sequins for shapes.
Pricing the flake nail on the menu
Flakes are priced as an accent add-on per nail, like charms and rhinestones, because the encapsulation layer adds a few minutes and a second cure. One or two flake nails per hand is the usual order, with the rest of the set in a plain cream from the same brand; a full ten-nail flake set is booked as nail art time. Because a box covers dozens of accent nails, the product cost per nail is close to nothing, and the add-on price is for the time.
Storing and stocking flakes
Keep the six-grid box closed and dry; iridescent film flakes curl in humidity and shell flakes chip if the box rattles. Pick from the grid with tweezers rather than pouring, so the colors stay separate. One iridescent box, one shell box, and one flower box cover the flake designs on most menus for a season, and because each box holds six colors, the reorder is the same box again rather than a new color.
Why flakes lift or look dull, and the fix
- An edge catches on hair or clothing: the flake was not encapsulated. Float a layer of clear builder gel over the design, cure, and top coat; a flake sitting proud of the surface will lift within a day.
- The iridescent shift disappeared: the base was too pale, or the flakes were buried in too many layers. Use a dark base and one thin clear layer over the flakes, then top.
- Shell flakes look grey: they were laid over a dark color. Shell and flower flakes read best over nude, milky white, or sheer pink.
- The nail feels thick: too many overlapping flakes. For the glass look, lay flakes sparsely with the base showing between them; for a full inlay, use the smallest pieces in the grid and file the encapsulation layer smooth before top coat.
- Flakes curled in the box: humidity. Keep the lid closed and the box in a dry drawer.
Flakes through the year
| Months | Flake | Base and look |
|---|---|---|
| January and February | Iridescent XR flakes | Over deep red or black for a shattered-glass Valentine and Lunar New Year accent |
| Spring | Flower Flakes Charms in pastel; shell flakes in pearl tones | Scattered blossoms over milky white; mother-of-pearl over a sheer pink for bridal and Easter |
| Summer | Flower Flakes in neon; iridescent XR over jelly brights | Aurora and sea-glass nails over aqua and coral jellies |
| Fall | Shell flakes in warm tones | Stone-inlay and tortoiseshell over mocha and amber |
| Holiday | Iridescent XR (#2 Cosmos, #3 Fairytale) over navy and emerald | The opal and galaxy party nail, sealed under a glass-like top |
A six-grid box covers all five seasons if the salon buys one iridescent, one shell, and one flower box, because each grid is used a few flakes at a time and a box lasts a year of accent nails.
Flakes over dip and acrylic
Flakes are not limited to gel sets. Over a filed and buffed dip or acrylic set, a thin gel base is cured first to give the clear layers something to bond to, the flakes are pressed into an uncured clear coat exactly as on a gel manicure, and the encapsulation and top follow. On a builder overlay the flakes go between the builder and the top. The rule is the same on every surface: the flake sits inside cured clear gel, never on top of it.
Encapsulating flakes so the surface stays smooth
The difference between a flake nail that feels like glass and one that catches on a sweater is the encapsulation. The flakes are pressed into an uncured layer with a silicone tool or the flat of a brush so they lie flat, cured, and then covered with a thin layer of clear builder gel or a thick no-wipe top rather than a single coat of regular top: the clear layer fills the space around the flake edges and levels the surface, and a final top coat over that gives the gloss. A flake that stands proud after the first top is pressed down with a fresh drop of clear gel and cured again, not filed, since filing exposes the film and dulls it. Iridescent film flakes are the thinnest and encapsulate in one clear layer; shell flakes have body and take two.
Flakes as an upsell to the cat eye and jelly menu
Flakes pair with the effects gels already on a station. Iridescent flakes pressed into a sheer jelly layer give the aquarium nail; a few shell flakes set into the band of a cat eye read as a stone inlay; and a flake accent nail on a plain cream set is the smallest art upcharge on the menu, a minute of work and a pinch of product. Salons that sell art by the nail keep the three boxes at the desk with the jelly and cat eye swatches, and the accent nail is sold as the client picks her color.
Wholesale pricing at ND Nails Supply
Every flake box is wholesale-priced for everyone, with no business license, no minimum order, and no membership fee. Free shipping on orders $100+, and in-stock boxes ordered before 2pm PT on weekdays leave the same day.