Let Your Artistic Side Shine

Special Guest Blogger Paula Hunter shares some really cool nail art ideas. Try them!

With the advent of summer, comes the appearance of more brightly colored and diverse nails. If you’re looking for some quick and easy ways to spice up your normal manicure, try one of the following:

Newspaper Transfer Manicure

Items you will need: base and top coats (or clear polish,) lighter colored non-shimmery nail polish, newspaper strips, Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (either 70% or 91%)

1. Start like you would every other manicure, with clean nails and a coat of base coat or clear polish
2. Paint your nails with 2 coats of your chosen nail color, allowing each nail to dry in between coats. Choose your nail color wisely; shimmery and dark colors will not work as well as lighter and crème style polishes
3. Paint your nails with 2 coats of your chosen nail color, allowing each nail to dry in between coats
4. Cut your newspaper into 10 strips or blocks that will easily fit over your nail. Be creative; the wackier the words or ads, the more obscure the manicure-have fun!
5. Once your nails are completely dry, either rub the nail with the alcohol, or dip into a small bowl filled with alcohol. Then, dip one strip or block of newspaper into the bowl of alcohol. Place the newspaper strip directly on the nail bed and keep it still. Most newspapers are double-sided, but make sure you place the strip ink-side down. Then take an alcohol-dampened paper towel and apply light pressure on the nail like a temporary tattoo. After 10 seconds of pressure, slowly peel off the strip and the ink will have imprinted on the nail. Repeat this process for each nail.
6. Allow nails to dry for at least 5 minutes, and then apply the top coat or a coat of clear nail polish.

Marble Manicure

With this manicure you really have the ability to pick an array of colors, or you can stay in the same color family (use several shades of blues from light to dark, etc..) You can also do this with as little as 3 or 4 colors, or as many as 6-8. You also do it several ways. Below are instructions for two different ways.

The plastic bag method:

Items you will need; base and top coat (or clear nail polish,) a cut open plastic bag (sandwich or Ziploc,) and your nail color choices. This works best when you start with 2 coats of your favorite light or nude shade, but you can skip this step.

1. Start off like a normal manicure, with a coat of base coat or clear nail polish.
2. Paint nails with 2 coats of your chosen light or nude shade. Allow time for nails to dry in between coats.
3. Once nails are dry, drop larger sized dots of several colors of nail polish onto your nails. These can overlap, touch, or even be on top of one another.
4. Place the plastic bag over the painted nail and lightly press and slide the bag back and forth. The aim is to mix the nail colors together slightly, creating the marbled effect.
5. Allow nails to dry completely and finish with a coat of top coat.

The toothpick method:

Items you will need: base and top coat (or clear nail polish,) your nail color choices, and several toothpicks.

1. Start off like a normal manicure, with a coat of base coat or clear nail polish.
2. Paint nails with 2 coats of your chosen light or nude shade. Allow time for nails to dry in between coats.
3. Once nails are dry, drop larger sized dots of several colors of nail polish onto your nails. These can overlap, touch, or even be on top of one another.
4. Before polish has a chance to try, take a clean toothpick and swirl the colors together to create a marble look.
5. Allow nails to dry completely and finish with a coat of top coat.

The toothpick method will result in a more defined pattern, while the plastic bag method will produce a more subtle one. There is a 3rd method, called a water marble manicure, but take note; since our WaterColors Nail Enamels are water-based, they will not work for this type of manicure. If you choose to skip painting your nails with 2 coats of a nude or light colored polish, make sure that you cover the entire nail with your swirl patterns, whether you use the plastic bag or toothpick method. Be bold, have fun, and enjoy!!