💅 Not A Nail Tech: Jelly Koi Pond Nail Art 🐟💧

Not all nail lovers are professional techs — and Anna, one of our videographers, proves just that. She adores nail products and recently created a set of mesmerising 3D koi pond nails using our Jelly polish range. The result? A dreamy, water-inspired design with depth, shimmer, and sculpted koi fish swimming across the surface.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown so you can try Anna’s koi pond nails at home with Naio Nails and Urban Graffiti products.

The products you’ll need

xxxxx Not a nail tech: Jelly Koi

Step 1. Base blends

1. Prep your nails as usual and apply a base coat.

2. For each nail, blend together two different Jelly polishes to create a soft, watery background.

3. Cure under the lamp.

Step 2. Sealing and shimmer

1. Apply Urban Graffiti Top Coat over the blended base colours. Cure.

2. Burnish Topaz Chrome Pigment across the surface to add depth and a subtle reflective sheen, perfect for a water-like finish.

Step 3. Sculpting the koi fish

1. Using Clear As Day Builder In A Bottle and a Dotting Tool, sculpt small koi fish directly on the nail.

2. Cure between layers to build up the 3D shape.

3. Once set, paint in the details with Snow White and Serious Black using a Fine Detail Brush.

4. Add touches of Valencia Orange to bring the koi fish to life.

Step 4. Creating ripples

1. Use Clear As Day Builder Gel again to add raised ripple shapes around the koi fish.

2. Cure and repeat as needed to build dimension.

3. This creates the illusion of fish swimming beneath the surface of water.

Step 5. Final details and finish

1. Add highlights or accents with your chosen Jelly shades (Star Fruit, Pink Pineapple, Elderberry, etc.) for extra depth.

2. Seal everything with a final coat of Urban Graffiti Top Coat for shine and durability.

3. Cure, then admire the layered, pond-like effect.

The final reveal

Anna’s set of koi pond nails is a perfect example of creativity meeting technique. Blended Jelly bases create a watery background, chrome adds shimmer, and sculpted koi fish with rippling water details bring the whole look to life. 🐠💧

Proof that you don’t have to be a nail tech to make magic happen — just a little patience, the right products, and a love for nail art.