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Nail art has become more popular than ever these days and there are endless ways to create and design your most perfect nail. One of those ways is with the addition of nail rhinestones. Rhinestones, jewels or crystals for the nails are a great way to get your creative juices flowing and make for a beautiful, sparkly, and all over Insta-worthy nail.
Below we have found some great nail rhinestones that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and color options and in quantities large enough to keep your nails blinged out for a long time.
These nail jewels apply easily with glue and can be worn on natural or artificial nails. Mix and match these rhinestones to create luxe nail art and then use the extras to adorn the face and body, decorate your phone, on clothes, shoes, and many other decorative items.
Detailing Our Favorite Nail Rhinestones of 2024
Nibiru DU Multi Shapes Rhinestone Set — Best Overall
This set of 120 3D nail art rhinestones come in 12 different shapes that will add sparkle and glamour to every unique nail look. These rhinestones are made of specialty, high-quality glass that will not easily break and are firmly coated on the outer surface of each bead to ensure out-of-this-world sparkle and brightness. In addition to the rhinestones, this set includes a pick-up pen, one stainless steel tweezer, and one storage box.
Pros
- These nail jewels apply easily to natural or artificial nails
Cons
- Glue adhesive is not included
ULGAI Opal Rhinestones for Nail Art — Runner Up
This set of crystal rhinestones has a total of 1400 pieces including a variety of shapes and size options. Made from high-quality glass, these crystals are opalescent in color with an iridescence that acts as a mirror while reflecting a rainbow of colors. They also feature the specialty bonded coating to ensure durability and brightness while the genuine gold and silver flat back plating help to enhance the dazzling reflection.
Pros
- A variety of different shapes are included such as round, heart, arrow, teardrop, raindrop, oval, and butterfly
Cons
- There is not an even quantity of each shape
TecUnite Round Crystal Rhinestones — Honorable Mention
A great contrast to all the iridescent and colorful rhinestones are these clear crystal ones which come with 2000 pieces in six different sizes. Also included in this kit are two rhinestone pick-up tools and a small sectioned case for keeping them organized. These rhinestones also have a flat back and multi-faceted sides that make them look even more brilliant while allowing them to easily apply to just about any surface.
Pros
- There are more than enough pieces to do your nails and have leftovers for all your creative decorating
Cons
- The smallest crystals come with the most pieces
Bememo Nail Crystal Rhinestones — Contender
This pack of 3,456 rhinestones comes with a bunch of mixed size options from 1.6 mm all the way up to 3 mm that allows you to create a wide array of creative nail art. These flat back gems are crystal clear and when viewed in the light give you intense sparkle and beauty that will keep you coming back for more.
Pros
- These come in two large bags of six compartments each
Cons
- Keep these jewels away from any oils or alcohol
Aafke Nail Art Rhinestones — Also Consider
This all-inclusive pack of rhinestones includes pick-up tools with sticky jelly to help pick up the crystals, 2,320 rhinestones in different sizes, and unlike our other options, a storage/organizer plate to keep them in order. Made from a crystal and glass type material, these rhinestones have silver foil on the back with different shapes and have multifaceted designs to keep them sparkling in all directions.
Pros
- Six different sizes are included in varying quantities
Cons
- There is no glue or top coat included
MOPRETTY Mini Rhinestones — Another Option
This pack of rhinestones comes strictly with 5200 small, iridescent crystal pieces. Mini in size, these are ideal for nail art as they give you the great shine and sparkle effect of larger crystals but in a much smaller shape. These diamond-shaped crystals are versatile and in addition to amazing nail art, you can adhere these onto the face for fun makeup effects, decorate your cell phone, and basically work them in to any other DIY projects you can think of.
Pros
- These stones make a great filler between larger rhinestones
Cons
- Their small size may make them harder to work with
Proteove Nail Art Tools Set — Another Top Pick
This comprehensive nail art kit comes with everything you need to keep your nails glamourous, fun, and cool. This 13 piece set includes double-headed nail painting brushes and pens for detailed and intricate work, a case of mixed rhinestones of varying shapes and colors, and different sized nail decals in three classic colors. Also included is a large DIY sponge to give your manicure a faded look and a pair of scissors to help cut up all the art.
Pros
- This is a great starter set for DIY nails
Cons
- No instructions are included
Buying Guide: Nail Rhinestones
Nail rhinestones are delicate ornaments for your nails that are quick to jazz up any boring nail art design in a jiffy. These decorative little stones are widely used by nail artists around the globe to create mainly formal and glamorous nail art designs for festive and celebratory occasions. Whether it’s on an accent nail or an all-over design, a set of matching rhinestones are a little-effort way to achieve party nails in no time. Although nail rhinestones come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, along with a wide range of colors and materials. Therefore, it’s crucial to know which collection is the right one for you and your desired nail art designs.
What Are Nail Rhinestones Made Of?
A common question that customers always ask is regarding the material of the rhinestones. Most professional nail rhinestones are made from glass. Manufacturers use a particular kind of glass called transparent k9 glass to create these rhinestones. Nail rhinestones made from glass are normally more expensive and luxurious than ones made from plastic.
How Are Nail Rhinestones Made?
Glass manufacturing
While there are various methods of cutting and creating nail rhinestones, one particular process of making these rhinestones includes the use of a unique diamond cutting machine that precisely shapes these rhinestones into individual shapes. This process is typically more costly and labor-intensive than molded rhinestones, as the rhinestones require several cutting sessions, along with individual polishing at the end.
Molding
Another widely used method for creating these shiny and delicate stones is through a molding process. In this process, the rhinestones are typically all made in one go, which is why this method is the cheapest of all. To start with, the raw material is injected into the mold, before which the mixture is left to harden.
How to Apply Nail Rhinestones to Nails
While it may be daunting at first, applying rhinestones to nails is a relatively uncomplicated process that you can get better at with time. Although perfecting this craft may take some time, starting out with some simple and easy designs is a piece of cake for most users. There are a few critical steps you ought to follow in order to ensure a clean and mess-free application that will last you a good while.
Application:
- Start by applying a rhinestone adhesive to the part of your nail where you want the rhinestone to be. There is no need to apply the adhesive to the entire nail unless your desired design calls for it. It's also useful to apply the adhesive to one nail at a time to ensure you're happy with the results before curing.
- Next, it’s time to place the rhinestones onto your nails. It’s always handy to employ a rhinestone applicator in this regard. Use the applicator's waxy side to carefully lift the rhinestone and position it onto your nail. You may move the rhinestone around with the applicator to settle it into the correct place.
- After you’re happy with how all your rhinestones look, then it’s time for curing. To cure your newly created design, place your hand under an LED lamp. In case you don't have access to a LED lamp, it’s also possible to make use of a nail polish top-coat instead of an adhesive. However, this method does decrease your design longevity and the stones have a higher risk of falling off.
- The fourth and final step of rhinestone application is to apply a topcoat. Finish off your design by applying a generous amount of top-coat nail polish to your nails once they’re done curing. It’s important to keep in mind to never apply the top coat on top of the stones and to only use it around the stones. Coating your rhinestones with a top coat can drastically reduce their sparkle and shine.
Tips And tricks:
There are some useful pointers to keep in mind when applying rhinestones, in order to achieve a clean and long-lasting design.
- It’s crucial to ensure that your nail polish is completely dry before applying the adhesive to your nails. In the case of dip powder nails or acrylics, it’s generally recommended to apply the rhinestone to your nails before the top-coat application.
- It’s useful to make sure the rhinestones are placed in such a place that they won’t easily get caught up in things and pop off. Therefore, considering the design and amount of rhinestones beforehand can be useful in achieving a long-lasting design.
- In case you don’t have a rhinestone applicator, you can simply make use of a wax pencil, or a pair of tweezers to carefully pick up and place the rhinestones on your nails.
- To make sure your rhinestones last long and don’t pop off after a couple of days, it’s wise to place them near your cuticle area on your finger. This is because the likelihood of your stones coming off is greater when they’re placed on the tip of your nails as compared to the base.
How to Care for Nail Rhinestones
After all the effort that goes into carefully placing and curing a rhinestone nail art design, it’s important to take good care of your nails to prevent them from falling off prematurely and ruining your design. Here are a few quick tips that can help you care for your rhinestone nails.
- When washing dishes, it’s useful to wear gloves to ward off any additional damage that the water may cause to your nails.
- Reduce the amount of time you spend in the water, whether it be swimming or taking long baths.
- Use a strong, high-quality adhesive to make sure your design lasts as long as possible.
