Fimo is a brand of polymer clay.  It is one of the brands I use, mainly for it’s firmness, baked strength, and ability to hold a shape without distortion when creating millefiore canes.

My fimo nail art canes are reduced by hand to a diameter approximately between 1/8-inch (3mm) and 1/4-inch (6mm).  Even though the diameters are very small, the designs are perfectly visible, as you can see by the reduction stages shown here. 

The canes are sold in 2-inch (5cm) lengths.  A very sharp blade is needed to slice the canes.  Some of the canes will need to be warmed before slicing and adding to the nail.  Click Here for instructions on how to warm the regular Fimo Nail Art canes for slicing.  

The NeoFlex Nail Art canes do not need to be warmed, however, and are more flexible than regular canes.  See more information about NeoFlex Nail Art below.

I offer a great little 4-inch (10cm) cane slicing blade.  These blades are stiff and very sharp, perfect for cutting raw and baked canes.  I use them in my studio and in my classes. 

Slices of these clay nail art canes are embedded into the layers of acrylic or gel, over natural or artificial nails.  This image shows three slices of my white hibiscus nail art cane, glued onto my natural nail.  You can see how thin the slices are, and how the translucent clay surrounding the design disappears when the slices are glued down.  I would sand the slices slightly and then add the acrylic. 

 I did a french manicure on my daughter’s nails with my orange slices and tiny leaves.  First I added tips to her nails that already had the white area on the tip.  Then I glued each slice of Fimo Nail Art in place with nail glue.  I brushed on two layers of nail acrylic over the top, then sanded lightly.  Two coats of clear nail polish gave the nails a nice shine.  

Fimo and NeoFlex Nail Art canes can produce between 50 and 100 slices, depending on how thick you slice.  Ideally, the slices should be approximately 1/32-inch (.5mm).  Partial slices work fine on edges, and thicker slices can be sanded before adding acrylic or gel sculpting mediums.  The key to good slices is a very slow slicing in one direction, rather than rapid sawing back and forth.

If you would rather not have to slice the canes yourself, I carry the designs pre-sliced.  There are 24 slices per package.  These slices are about 1/32nd inch thick (.5mm), or about the same thickness as a sheet of card stock.   

Introducing NeoFlex Nail Art Canes and Slices

NeoFlex Nail Art canes don’t need to be warmed before slicing.  The .5mm slices are are extremely flexible, able to bend and twist.  They will conform to any nail shape.  

Thicker slices are still flexible, and can even bend many times before showing signs of stress. 

NeoFlex Fimo Nail Art canes and slices can be stored indefinintely in a container or zipper baggie.