Hawaii Nails

These nails did take a while and the only reason I did them was for a contest. After I finished and took a picture I took them off. The fingers with the islands on them are actually what the islands of Hawaii look like.

Tools:
Clear coat
Lots of different colors
Detail brushes

Step 1: The Islands
For these I'm pretty much going to just show you the pictures as there really are no steps to this. For this I looked at a picture of Hawaii and its islands and used my detail brush to make the islands.

 


Step 2:  The Black Sand Beaches 
On my pinky I did some waves with a black sand beach in the background.

Step 3: The Volcano 
Start with the mountain, the black hump. I used two different shades of purple for the back ground then I mixed some red and yellow to make some lava falling down the mountain and then exploding from the top. Add your clear coat and you're done.
 

Petite Roses

These are probably one of my favorite designs so far. Very in style for the spring and summer. These nails are actually very easy to do and work well with any colors and any outfit.

Tools
Detail Brush
3-4 colors
Clear coat

Step 1:
Start with your clear coat then a base coat.

Step 2: 
Make messy circles of different sizes and let these dry. You don't have to use the detail brush but it is helpful at this point.

Step 3:
Add green strips as leaves. Use the detail brush.


Step 4:
Add small white dashes with the detail brush to the circles and leaves. Add a small dot at the center of the big circles to indicate a center of the flower. Add a clear coat and use some handy Rapi Dry spray (see supplies page) to get your nails to dry quickly.

Stripidy Do Da!

This is a very easy design, just a quick thing so my nails weren't bare.

Materials
Base coat
Clear coat
2 different colors for stripes (preferably with striper brushes)

Step 1: 
Put down your clear coat then your base coat  and let that dry most of the way.


Step 2:
Add stripes to your design. You can do them whichever way or whatever color order you want to with as many or few stripes as you want.

Paint Drop

So again I started using my nail pen but with the white this time.

Materials Required
Base color
Clear coat
A nail pen is very useful

Step 1: 
Put your clear coat down and when that's dry put down your base color. 


Step 2:
For this step you can kind of make a blob at the top of your nail like I did or you can make the drips come from the very top of your nail and no blob. Next add a wavy, unsteady line with a big dot at the end. My nails are very uniform here but to really get the effect make different numbers of lines with different sizes.

Playing With My New Nail Pen

So I got a new black and white nail pen! (Go see it in the supplies page for information.) It was like $2 including shipping from Amazon.com.

For that price I'm very pleased. Also, I think I'm able to refill it with polish.

Anyway so I put a pretty white coat down and then just made some random designs with the black.

I think one of the most difficult things about nail art is being creative. Look around you in your house,  your room, your rug, or heck a jar of pencils for inspiration. Just let your hand do as it pleases! Good luck :)

Don't forget to vote on the left side bar for which nail design you would like me to do next. You don't have to sign into anything.

Spirit Nails

Spirit Nails

Tools: 

• Dotting tools
• Polish
• Possibly brushes

These nails are really a just kind of go for it. I used a neutral polish as my base and then just made different designs on each. I unintentionally used my school colors. 

Step 1: 

Put a clear coat down and then put your base coat on. 

Step 2: 

Just go for it! Use different colors and different tools to give your nails a fun look. 

Tools

This is one of my favorite top coats by Cina. It goes on very smoothly and looks amazing! 

Neon Dots

Neon Dot Nails

Tools:
Dotting tools
3 Different polishes
Clear Coat

Step 1:

Start with a clear coat on the base of your nails. Once that has dried put on your neon coat. 

Step 2:

Using different size dotting tools place random dots along one side of your nail.

Step 3:

Once these dots have dried take another color and place smaller dots within some of the bigger dots for more effect. Add a clear coat and you're finished. 

Stripes and Dots

Stripes and Dots

Tools:

• Dotting tools (not necessary but very helpful)
• Clear Polish and Rapi dry (helpful)
• I used 7 different colors but you can do different amounts of stripes or skip the dots entirely 

Nail Tip: 

• I use OPI Nail Strengthening Matte Nail Polish on my nails at least once a week. It works really well and is worth the money if you paint your nails a lot like me

Step 1: 

Use a base coat (or top coat, they are virtually the same thing) and once that dries put on your base color.

Step 2:

Paint stripes after your base color has dried. I did three stripes on each finger with an extra stripe on my ring finger.

Step 3: 

Add dots with the dotting tool if you have one. If not try the tip of a pencil or a toothpick. I did white dots on one side and turquoise dots on the other. 

 
Step 4:
Finish off with a clear coat and spray your Rapi dry.

Pastel Cross

Pastel Cross

Tools: 

• 5 different colors
• Striper
• Optional extra brushes
• Clear coat 

I forgot to take more pictures as I was doing this but this is pretty self explanatory.

Step 1:

Start by taking one of the colors and paint a small triangle on one bit of your nail. It should cover 1/4 of the nail. Then simply repeat this with the other colors. Remember that the lines don't have to be perfect as you will later paint over them. 

Step 2:

Take your striper and paint a criss cross where the colors meet. Apply a top coat and you're done!