Delineating nail for nail treatment applications and method therefor

Abstract

A delineating nail for creating quick, consistent, and high quality nail treatments is disclosed herein. The delineating nail may have a substrate with a base end and a tip end. A guide of various configurations may extend from the substrate at the base end. The delineating nail may be attached to a natural nail such as with one or more adhesives. One or more decorative coatings may then be applied to the substrate, natural nail, or both. The guide may shape the decorative coatings to produce various designs on the natural nail. In this manner, the delineating nail may be used by nail technicians of virtually any skill level. With the delineating nail, even inexperienced technicians can provide consistent and high quality nail treatments in a rapid manner.

1 . A delineating nail for a nail salon nail treatment comprising:
 a substrate having a base portion and a tip portion and a top surface and a bottom surface, the substrate having a curved shape to engage a natural nail, the base portion having an indented end; and   a guide extending upward from the top surface at the base portion of the substrate, the guide having a shape configured to conform to the curved shape of the substrate and the indented end of the base portion.   
     
     
         2 . The delineating nail of  claim 1 , wherein the guide is oriented laterally across the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The delineating nail of  claim 1 , wherein the guide extends at an acute angle relative to the base portion of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The delineating nail of  claim 1 , wherein the guide extends at an obtuse angle relative to the base portion of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The delineating nail of  claim 1 , wherein the guide has one or more decorative shapes formed therein. 
     
     
         6 . The delineating nail of  claim 1 , wherein the indented end has a curved shape. 
     
     
         7 . A delineating nail for nail salon nail treatments comprising:
 a guide configured to define a shape of one or more decorative coatings as the one or more decorative coatings are applied, the guide having a height configured to define a thickness of the one or more decorative coatings; and   a substrate comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the substrate having a curved shape to conform to a natural nail, the guide extending upward from a top surface of the substrate at the proximal end.   
     
     
         8 . The delineating nail of  claim 7 , wherein the guide has a curved shape configured to form a “smile line” in the one or more decorative coatings. 
     
     
         9 . The delineating nail of  claim 7 , wherein the guide extends upward from the top surface at an acute angle relative to the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The delineating nail of  claim 7 , wherein the guide extends upward from the top surface at an obtuse angle relative to the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The delineating nail of  claim 7 , wherein the guide has a ribbon-like shape. 
     
     
         12 . The delineating nail of  claim 7 , wherein the guide comprises one or more decorative shapes configured to form a corresponding design in the one or more decorative coatings. 
     
     
         13 . The delineating nail of  claim 7 , wherein the guide extends upward 1-3 mm from the top surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . A method for applying one or more nail treatments with a delineating nail comprising:
 attaching the delineating nail to a natural nail such that a guide of the delineating nail extends upward from the natural nail.   applying a first decorative coating to a tip portion of the delineating nail;   forming at least one first shape with the first decorative coating by shaping the first decorative coating with a first side of the guide;   applying a second decorative coating to the natural nail; and   forming at least one second shape with the second decorative coating by shaping the second decorative coating with a second side of the guide.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising blending the second decorative coating into the first decorative coating at the guide. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising filing the guide to adjust the shape of the guide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the delineating nail is attached to the natural nail such that the guide of the delineating nail extends upward at a distal portion of the natural nail. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein applying the first decorative coating comprises completely covering a substrate of the delineating nail. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forming the at least one first shape and forming the at least one second shape comprises forming a curve corresponding to a curved shape of the guide. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 attaching one or more additional delineating nails to one or more additional natural nails; 
 applying the one or more first coatings to the one or more additional natural nails; and 
 forming the at least one first shape in the one or more first coatings on the one or more additional natural nails with a guide of the one or more additional delineating nails, wherein the at least one first shape of the one or more additional natural nails and the at least one first shape of the natural nail are formed into a substantially identical shape.