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12. SKIN ELECTRONICS

RESEARCH

This week, we had a fascinating lecture by Katia Vega. We went into the world of the intersection of skin electronics and beauty technology. The concept of embedding electronics into the skin and body as a form of expression, utility. Katia's work can be found HERE.

For my weekly project I created a rosary with a red LED light embedded in the cross, symbolizing a heart at its center.

ELECTRONIC TATTOOS + CONDUCTIVE INK

I began exploring electronic tattoos and the potential of wearable conductive ink. This field promises to revolutionize healthcare, art, and personal expression.

IINSPIRATION

  • π–‘Ž Batoul Omar AL-Rashdan: Her attempt to create a conductive ink with henna showcases the challenges of combining traditional practices with modern technology.
  • π–‘Ž Katia Vega: Her groundbreaking work on conductive makeup redefines electronic cosmetics as both functional and artistic tools, pushing the boundaries of wearable technology.
  • π–‘Ž MIT Research: Scientists developed electronic tattoos capable of real-time healthcare monitoring. See the presentation below:

ROSARY IN THE MAKING

MATERIALS

    π–‘Ž LED light (red) - for the heart in the cross.
    π–‘Ž Circuit design - internal for invisibility, with the battery placed externally.
    π–‘Ž Soldering tools - for connecting beads and components.

HOW 2

I created the rosary beads using soldering tool. I integrated the led light inside of the cross using a combination of manual assembly and soldering.

CONCLUSION

While photographing the rosary, it broke due to fragile solder beads which pulled my sweater but I managed to take a photo on the mannequin. This showed the need for more robust assembly techniques and materials in wearable electronics.

2ND PROJECT: NFC BUSINESS CARD NAILS

A my first project failed, I decided to experiment with microcontrollers. This project builds on the concept of skin electronics as art and functional technology. I explored integrating NFC (Near Field Communication) chip into gel nails to serve as an interactive business card.

This project stands in the intersection of beauty, wearable tech, and personal networking, aligning with Katia Vega's philosophy of merging cosmetics and electronics into functional art.

INSPO

    π–‘Ž Katia Vega – Pioneering use of skin and wearable electronics for self-expression.
    π–‘Ž NFC Technology in Wearables – NFC chips are increasingly used in rings, bracelets, and cards for digital sharing. Embedding them in nails creates a hidden yet interactive interface.
    π–‘Ž Gel Nails / Nail Art – Offers a durable surface to house microelectronics without discomfort.

TOOLS

    π–‘Ž NFC chip (NTAG215 or equivalent) – encoded with my social links
    π–‘Ž NFC Tools app - used to program the chip
    π–‘Ž UV gel nail kit – base coat, gel, top coat, UV lamp
    π–‘Ž Smartphone (NFC-enabled) – to test chip functionality

PROCESS

  1. App

Download NFC Tools app.

For Apple download HERE, for Android: Download HERE.

  1. Program the NFC chip

Select β€œWrite,” "Add a record,", and then "Social Networks".

Write your username and click on "Edit". From this list, you can choose what social media channel you want to be coded on your chip. At the end click "Write/33 Bytes" and put your phone near the chip.

Congrats! You coded your chip!

  1. Prepare your nails Apply a thin layer of base gel layer and cure under the UV lamp.

  2. Embed the NFC chip Place the programmed chip on the nail surface. If the sticker doesn't want to stick to the nail, clean the nail with alcohol, wait until it dries and try again.

  1. Apply colour Cover the chip with as many layers as you need of gel in your chosen colour, ensuring it's smooth and fully covered. Cure under UV light to secure the chip. I decided to go for a simple nail design, but with the chip that I got, longer extanstions with exotic nail art style would be better as the chip would be easier to camouflage.

  1. Apply top layer Add a final gel top coat to seal the chip completely. Check that the nail surface was smooth and that the chip remained invisible.

  2. Test Tap the nail against a smartphone to verify that the link opens automatically.

CONCLUSION

The NFC nail project explores how skin electronics can move beyond experimental prototypes into practical, everyday use. By embedding a programmable NFC chip underneath a gel nail, I created a wearable that is discreet, durable, and functional. It serves as a digital business card hidden in plain sight. This experiment shows the potential of merging beauty rituals with technology, transforming nails into more than just cosmetic accessories. NFC-enabled nails could evolve into multi-purpose tools for networking, access control, or even artistic expression, blurring the line between skin, fashion, and technology. In this way, this project, highlights how skin electronics are not just wearables. They are intimate interfaces that extend identity and connection through the skin itself.

REFERENCES

    π–‘Ž Scalco, L. et al. (2024) β€˜On-scalp printing of personalized electroencephalography e-tattoos’, Cell Biomaterials, 0(0). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celbio.2024.100004.