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Keira Lennox

beauty / DIY / howto / inspiration / manicure / nailart / tips and tricks / trends

manic[ure] monday: gradient effect

11/07/2011

I fell in love with gradient manis last year, when photos of Lauren Conrad sporting them started popping up all over the style interwebs. The good news: you don’t need five different bottles of polish to pull this look off. Keep reading for a simple how-to!

IMG_7084 IMG_7090

You’ll need:

– one nail polish in the color of your choice (I used O.P.I.’s Malaga Wine)

– white nail polish (I picked up a little bottle of nail art polish for $1.99 at the drugstore)

– a good base/top coat

– nail polish remover

– a clean polish brush (use one from an old bottle of polish or a sample, and clean with nail polish remover)

– a small orange stick or toothpick

– parchment paper

Step 1: Start with clean nails, and a thin coat of base. When the base is dry, paint both of your thumb nails with the original color.

Step 2: Drop a few large drops of the original color onto parchment paper…

 IMG_7092 IMG_7093

… And slowly add drops of white polish until you reach your desired gradient effect. The first color you make will be the color for your pointer fingers. For a more subtle gradient, use less white; for a more drastic gradient, add more white.

IMG_7096 IMG_7097

Step 3: Using a small orange stick or toothpick, carefully mix the white into the original color. Do this gently, or you’ll get a lot of air bubbles in the polish.

IMG_7100 IMG_7104

Step 4: Using a clean polish brush (I used one from an old sample bottle of O.P.I. top coat, and cleaned it with nail polish remover before I got started) apply the new color to both of your pointer fingers. While they dry, soak the polish brush in a capful of nail polish remover to remove the color and get it clean and ready for the next finger.

IMG_7108 IMG_7113

Repeat steps 2-4 three more times for each set of fingers (left and right), adding more white each time to make lighter and lighter shades. Seal the entire manicure with a good top coat.

TAGS:gradient manicure
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The Comments

  • gina4star
    06/04/2013

    Oh I really like it! What a great idea!! :)

    Reply
  • Technique: Gradient Nails | The Beauty Model
    06/28/2012

    […] Gradient Effect by A Pretty […]

    Reply
  • Courtney Hartmann
    04/29/2012

    I like the pics with the tutorial. Very cool. If you have more to share, we’d love to see what you have to show us about nails at Taaz.com.

    Reply
  • Betrose Given
    01/06/2012

    Newport Beach Opening – Bellacures

    The Bellacures Newport Beach grand opening is Jan. 12. Stop in and get $10 off your service (301 Marine Ave. Suite B – Newport Beach) ! You can also like Bellacures on FB http://www.facebook.com/Bellacures to win a free manicure a month for a year! .

    Reply
  • Betrose Given
    01/06/2012

    Studio City Promotion – Bellacures

    You can win a $500 gift card to Bellacures Nail Salon by visiting their Studio City Location! See their Facebook page for more details: http://www.facebook.com/Bellacures?sk=app_208195102528120

    Reply
  • Bellacures
    11/17/2011

    Wow that is awesome!I I just love fashion nails and I love this post! I’m sure you’ll like this too. Bellacures Nail Salon is offering a $15 coupon for liking them on Facebook. Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/Bellacures?sk=app_174961479209942

    Reply
  • Daily Jo Haiku
    11/14/2011

    What a fantastic idea! I like the subtley of it. I don’t paint my nails often, but I might try this on my toenails!

    Reply
  • CiCi
    11/11/2011

    So cute! Gonna try it this weekend :-)

    Reply
  • Chelsea @ Maritime Shopaholic
    11/08/2011

    Very cool! I love this and will definitely have to try it sometime soon!

    Reply
  • ellenkaminagakura
    11/08/2011

    So cool ! I loved your idea !

    http://universeandyou.wordpress.com/

    Xoxo from Japan

    Reply
  • laura
    11/08/2011

    awesome tutorial. such a fun, versatile look!

    Reply
  • typefashion
    11/07/2011

    Cute and Creative !

    xoxo

    http://www.typefashion.wordpress.com

    Reply
  • Melina
    11/07/2011

    Ahh, I always wondered how to do this without getting several very similar colors! Such a great tutorial, thanks for sharing!!

    xx Melina

    Reply
  • Stefanie
    11/07/2011

    This idea is so creative but so easy! Love it!

    Reply
  • Sarah
    11/07/2011

    I really like this, so different but still classy!

    Reply
  • Loren
    11/07/2011

    Love this! Great idea. Looks lovely.

    Reply
  • soanthro
    11/07/2011

    Such a cute idea, will have to try this!!

    Reply
  • Kassie Nichole
    11/07/2011

    This is fantastic! I will be giving this a go, thanks!

    Reply
  • Cecilia Oviedo
    11/07/2011

    Looks cute! Nice twist from the usual all red or pink, but still subtle!

    Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries

    Reply

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