manic[ure] monday: gradient effect
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!
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…
… 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Comments
gina4star
Oh I really like it! What a great idea!! :)
Technique: Gradient Nails | The Beauty Model
[…] Gradient Effect by A Pretty […]
Courtney Hartmann
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.
Betrose Given
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Betrose Given
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Daily Jo Haiku
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!
CiCi
So cute! Gonna try it this weekend :-)
Chelsea @ Maritime Shopaholic
Very cool! I love this and will definitely have to try it sometime soon!
ellenkaminagakura
So cool ! I loved your idea !
http://universeandyou.wordpress.com/
Xoxo from Japan
laura
awesome tutorial. such a fun, versatile look!
typefashion
Cute and Creative !
xoxo
http://www.typefashion.wordpress.com
Melina
Ahh, I always wondered how to do this without getting several very similar colors! Such a great tutorial, thanks for sharing!!
xx Melina
Stefanie
This idea is so creative but so easy! Love it!
Sarah
I really like this, so different but still classy!
Loren
Love this! Great idea. Looks lovely.
soanthro
Such a cute idea, will have to try this!!
Kassie Nichole
This is fantastic! I will be giving this a go, thanks!
Cecilia Oviedo
Looks cute! Nice twist from the usual all red or pink, but still subtle!
Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries