One of the most exciting beauty trends out there at the moment is that of nail art. Painting your nails in just one color is boring when you can have little pieces of art on your fingertips and toes instead. The good news is that anybody can create these nail designs. You need to start with basic techniques, though, and gradually work towards more complicated designs.
The most basic items you'll need are different colors for painting on your nails. These don't have to be expensive. In fact, the cheaper brands are often a better choice because you'll be more inclined to experiment if you know that you're not going to waste many dollars' worth of polish. Along with different colors, you'll need white and clear polishes. Acetone or polish remover is a must too. Prepare your nails by applying some petroleum jelly onto the surrounding skin. This forms a barrier between your skin and any excess polish, which you can then simply rub off.
A look that often forms the base for striking ethnic or animal prints is gradient nails. It looks fantastic on its own too. A white base coat will make the colors stand out. Apply lines of different paints onto a make-up sponge and then press the sponge onto your nails. This will transfer the colors and they'll look as if they flow from one to another.
For soft texture, try watercolor nails. First apply a base color. Then paint little dots of other colors onto the base. Lightly press a paintbrush dipped in acetone onto these dots to dissolve the polish and make it flow like watercolor paints.
Another easy technique is to make spatter nails. First you'll need a base color. Take a contrasting color and pour out a little bit of it. Add a few drops of acetone, which will thin it. Dip an old toothbrush into this mixture and use it to spatter the polish onto your nails.
Animal prints and even roses are actually much easier to paint than they look. Here the tools you use are important, though. They need to have a fine tip so you can add fine details. Cut a paintbrush to size or just use a toothpick or even a needle to apply the paint.
The internet is a great resource if you want to learn how to create a specific design or just need inspiration. Some sites offer tutorials in video format. Others use photographs and step-by-step instructions to help you create stunning nail art.
The most basic items you'll need are different colors for painting on your nails. These don't have to be expensive. In fact, the cheaper brands are often a better choice because you'll be more inclined to experiment if you know that you're not going to waste many dollars' worth of polish. Along with different colors, you'll need white and clear polishes. Acetone or polish remover is a must too. Prepare your nails by applying some petroleum jelly onto the surrounding skin. This forms a barrier between your skin and any excess polish, which you can then simply rub off.
A look that often forms the base for striking ethnic or animal prints is gradient nails. It looks fantastic on its own too. A white base coat will make the colors stand out. Apply lines of different paints onto a make-up sponge and then press the sponge onto your nails. This will transfer the colors and they'll look as if they flow from one to another.
For soft texture, try watercolor nails. First apply a base color. Then paint little dots of other colors onto the base. Lightly press a paintbrush dipped in acetone onto these dots to dissolve the polish and make it flow like watercolor paints.
Another easy technique is to make spatter nails. First you'll need a base color. Take a contrasting color and pour out a little bit of it. Add a few drops of acetone, which will thin it. Dip an old toothbrush into this mixture and use it to spatter the polish onto your nails.
Animal prints and even roses are actually much easier to paint than they look. Here the tools you use are important, though. They need to have a fine tip so you can add fine details. Cut a paintbrush to size or just use a toothpick or even a needle to apply the paint.
The internet is a great resource if you want to learn how to create a specific design or just need inspiration. Some sites offer tutorials in video format. Others use photographs and step-by-step instructions to help you create stunning nail art.