Frequently asked questions
What kinds of nail rhinestones are on this page?
Five working types plus the tools to set them: 12-grid flat-back diamond sets sorted by color family (blue, green, red, rose red, black, purple, light blue, lake blue, crystal yellow, pink and more), mixed-size 3D sharp-cut diamonds for bling and bridal nails, 3D bead mixes in white, blue, yellow, and purple for caviar effects, flat-bottom stones for single accents, a refillable wax pick-up pen, and LDS Rhinestone Gel, a clear no-wipe gel that both sculpts 3D art and glues stones.
How do I keep rhinestones from falling off?
Set them in rhinestone gel, not glue, on a gel or dip set. Cure the color and top first, put a dot of LDS Rhinestone Gel where the stone will sit, press the stone in so gel rises around the base, cure 60 seconds under LED, then run a thin rim of gel around the base (never over the facets) and cure again. That rim is what holds a stone for 2 to 3 weeks. Glue goes brittle and is the first thing to fail on a gel manicure.
Should I top coat over rhinestones?
No, not over the face of the stone. Top coat over the facets dulls the sparkle and leaves a ridge that catches on hair and fabric. Seal only the base of each stone with rhinestone gel or a thin line of top gel, then cure. For a cluster, cure after every few stones so nothing drifts while you place the next one.
Which rhinestone set should a salon buy first?
One 12-grid flat diamond box in a neutral tone for single accent stones and French smile lines, one box in the season's color (red and rose red for the holidays, light blue and lake blue for summer, pink for spring), one mixed-size 3D sharp diamond pack for bling nails, plus the LDS Rhinestone Gel and the wax pen. Without the gel the stones fall off in a week; without the pen the small sizes are slow to place.
Are rhinestones sold at wholesale?
Yes. Every rhinestone set, the wax pen, and the LDS Rhinestone Gel at ND Nails Supply are wholesale-priced for everyone, with no business license, no minimum order, and no membership fee. Orders $100+ ship free, and in-stock items ordered before 2pm PT on weekdays leave the same day.
Rhinestones for nail art, sorted by how they sit on the nail
Rhinestones are the fastest upcharge in nail art: a single flat-back crystal on an accent nail, a line of small stones along a French smile, or a full bling nail built from mixed sizes. What matters when stocking them is the back of the stone and the size mix, because those decide how the stone is glued and how long it stays on. ND Nails Supply carries the working range at wholesale: 12-grid flat-back diamond sets sorted by color, mixed-size 3D sharp-cut diamonds, 3D bead mixes, flat-bottom stones, a refillable wax pick-up pen, and LDS Rhinestone Gel to sculpt and set them.
What is on this page
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Grids Flat Diamonds sets (Blue, Green, Red, Rose Red, Mine Black, Purple Flame, Light Blue, Lake Blue, Crystal Yellow, Pink and more) | A 12-compartment box of flat-back faceted stones in one color family | Daily salon use: one box covers a full-size run of one color |
| Mix Size 3D Sharp Diamond | Pointed-back and sharp-cut crystals in mixed sizes | Bling nails, 3D clusters, bridal sets |
| 3D Beads mixed size (White, Blue, Yellow, Purple) | Round beads in assorted sizes | Caviar and pearl effects, borders, cluster fill |
| Flat Bottom stones | Flat-back stones for direct gluing | Single accent stones, French smile lines |
| Refillable Wax Rhinestone Pen (pink or white) | Wax-tip pick-up pen | Picking and placing small stones without tweezers |
| LDS Rhinestone Gel UV/LED, 15 ml | Clear, no-wipe 2-in-1 gel for 3D sculpting and rhinestone adhesion | Setting stones so they survive 2 to 3 weeks of wear |
How to set rhinestones so they last
- Finish the color first. Cure the color coat and the top gel, then wipe if the top is not no-wipe. Stones go on a finished, cured surface, not into wet color.
- Apply rhinestone gel where the stone will sit. A small dot of LDS Rhinestone Gel per stone, or a thin bed for a cluster. The gel is clear and no-wipe, so it does not cloud the crystal.
- Pick up and place. Use the wax pen for stones under 3 mm and tweezers for larger ones. Press the stone into the gel so gel rises slightly around the base.
- Cure. 60 seconds under LED. For a cluster, cure after each few stones so nothing drifts.
- Seal the edges. Run a thin line of rhinestone gel or top gel around the base of each stone, not over the facets, and cure again. That rim is what holds the stone through a 3-week set.
Pro tip: never top-coat over the face of a crystal. It dulls the facets and adds a ridge that catches on hair and fabric; seal the base only.
Which set should a salon stock first?
- One 12-grid flat diamond box in a neutral tone (white or pink), because most requests are a single accent stone or a French smile, and a neutral stone goes with most colors.
- One 12-grid box in the season's color (red and rose red for the holidays, light blue and lake blue for summer, pink for spring).
- One mixed-size 3D sharp diamond pack for bling and bridal work, and a 3D bead mix for caviar borders.
- LDS Rhinestone Gel and the wax pen. Without the gel the stones fall off in a week; without the pen the small sizes are slow to place.
Glue vs rhinestone gel: which holds better?
Nail glue sets fast and works for a single flat-back stone on a natural-nail or lacquer manicure, but it goes brittle, and on a gel set it is the first thing to fail. Rhinestone gel cures into the top layer of the manicure, stays slightly flexible, and can be built up around the base of a stone or a whole cluster, which is why it holds for the life of the set. For gel and dip clients, use the gel; keep glue for press-ons and quick lacquer fixes.
Pricing a rhinestone service
Most salons price rhinestones per stone for small accents and per nail for clusters and bling nails. The 12-grid boxes make the per-stone cost easy to work out, since one box is one color family bought at one price, and the mixed 3D packs are for the full bling nail, priced per nail. Keep a small swatch tip with three stone sizes at the desk so the client can pick the size before the price is quoted.
What is the difference between a flat-back stone and a 3D sharp diamond?
A flat-back stone has a flat, often foiled base and a faceted top. It sits low on the nail, catches light from the top facets, and glues down with a single dot of gel, which is why it is the everyday accent stone and the one sold in the 12-grid color boxes. A sharp-cut 3D diamond has facets on the underside as well, so it stands proud of the nail and throws light from every angle. It needs a bed of rhinestone gel rather than a dot and a rim of gel around the base after curing, and it is what a full bling nail or a bridal cluster is built from. The bead mixes are round with no facets and are used to fill the gaps in a cluster or run a caviar border.
Care and removal
- Tell the client to avoid picking at stones and to wear gloves for dishes; heat and detergent loosen the seal first.
- To remove, file through the gel rim, lift the stone, and soak off the set as normal. Flat-back crystals can be cleaned and reused.
- Keep the 12-grid boxes closed and dry; loose stones scratch each other's facets.
Wholesale pricing at ND Nails Supply
Every rhinestone set, pen, and gel ships at wholesale pricing for everyone, with no business license, no minimum order, and no membership fee. Free shipping on orders $100+, and in-stock items ordered before 2pm PT on weekdays leave the same day.