Scratch Magazine
Take a look behind the scenes at the making of the March 2024 Scratch magazine cover.
BY GELISH
03.06.24

A melding of vintage trends and futuristic technology was the inspiration for the March 2024 cover of Scratch magazine, and Gelish nail artists Erin Eng and Vu Nguyen were tasked with creating a set of nails that reflected the theme. The idea was to take a vintage editorial look—think: clean lines, warm pops of color and different textures found in mid-century modern fashion—and pair it with the feel of AI. The play between things that are real and virtual is not only a burgeoning trend, but it’s going to continue to be a part of our lives moving forward; this cover was created to inspire optimism in what’s to come in our not-so-distant future.

Eng and Nguyen collaborated on the artistry of the nails, ultimately deciding on a silver and gold color palette reflected in the model’s wardrobe. But color was not the only defining element on this set: The artists used their precision painting skills to create a vintage-inspired pattern with added texture to create a look that still feels contemporary and wearable for today.

Creating the Cover Nails

Step 1
The artists began by elongating the model’s natural nails using Gelish Soft Gel Tips in Long Coffin.

Step 2
To create the silver background for all the nails, they applied two coats of metallic silver Gelish A-Lister, curing after each.

Step 3
The idea was to make the gold pattern the star of the nails, so they applied one coat of Matte Top It Off to dull the silver shine.

Step 4
Next, they applied Gelish Art Form Essential Black with an ultra-thin liner brush to create the pattern. Art Form gels do not have an inhibition layer, making it perfect to use with transfer products.

Step 5
After curing, they topped the black lines with Gelish Chrome Stix Gold Holographic to create that gold finish.

Step 6
Finally, they applied Chrome Stix Gold Holographic to encase the entire look.

Art Form Gel - Essential Black Art Form Gel - Essential Black 1119004
Matte Top It Off Matte Top It Off 1140001
No Cleanse Top Coat No Cleanse Top Coat 1148008
Soft Gel Tips Long Coffin Soft Gel Tips Long Coffin 1168096
Chrome Stix- Gold Holographic Chrome Stix - Gold Holographic 1168196
Gelish Soak Off Gel Polish - A Lister Gelish Soak Off Gel Polish A-Lister 1110969