Every ZIYURA set begins long before the first coat of gel. It starts as a sketch: a color story pulled from a painting, a stone, a season. This is the part of the process we rarely show, so here it is.
From Sketch to Sculpt
Our artists draft each design on paper first, testing proportions against the curve of a real nail. Only when the composition feels balanced do we move to the base: layers of premium gel, built up and shaped by hand on every single tip. Nothing here is printed or stamped.
A set is finished when the light moves across it the way it moved across the first sketch. Not a moment earlier.
The Process, Step by Step
- Sketch and color study on paper, tested against real nail curves
- Base sculpting: gel built up layer by layer and shaped by hand
- Hand painting with fine brushes, one nail at a time
- Setting the stones: cabochons, pearls and crystals placed with tweezers
- Sealing, curing and a final symmetry check before packing
Painted Like a Canvas
The artwork is applied with fine brushes, one nail at a time. A single set can take several hours: blending oil-paint gradients like the ones in our Oil Paint Series, laying gold foil, setting cabochons and crystals into the surface while the gel is still workable. Each stone is placed with tweezers and sealed so it stays put through daily wear.
Time and Materials at a Glance
| Stage | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sketch | Color study and composition on paper | 1 to 2 hours |
| Base sculpting | Gel layered and shaped by hand | About 2 hours |
| Hand painting | Brushwork, gradients and foil | 3 to 5 hours |
| Stone setting | Cabochons, pearls and crystals | About 1 hour |
| Final check | Symmetry, finish and packing | 30 minutes |
The Materials
- Salon-grade gel, cured layer by layer for strength without bulk
- Hand-set crystals, pearls and glass cabochons
- High-pigment colors that keep their depth in any light
- A glossy or velvet-matte topcoat, depending on the design
Finished by Hand, Checked by Hand
Before a set is packed into its ZIYURA box, it passes a final inspection: shape symmetry, surface finish, the way the light moves across the art. If a nail does not pass, it is remade. That is why sets like Lost Treasure are never exactly alike, and why we would not have it any other way.
