When it comes to sorority gear, you’ve got plenty of t-shirts and totes—so we’ve got a new way to show off your sorority’s colors: DIY nail art! In honor of #ManiMonday, we’ll be releasing a tutorial for a new sorority at the beginning of each week, so keep your eyes out—and let us know in the comments which sorority you want to see next!
Before you start, remember to always begin by smoothing and shaping your nails with a file; you’ll get nails that look more professional and less arts and crafts. This includes applying a clear base coat, because not only will your masterpiece stay longer, the color also won’t stain your nails.
Let’s get started! Delta Gamma’s colors are pink, blue and bronze, so I’m using the colors in the photo below: OPI’s Designer…de Better! ($24.99), Ulta’s Blue Streak ($6) and China Glaze’s Something Sweet ($3.90).
Begin by painting your nails with the light pink. With a color this light, I had to apply three coats to get a nice opaque color—you want to apply as many layers as it takes as you want a solid base for the rest of the look.
I decided to draw DG’s anchor on my thumb, where I have the most space. Using the blue paint, place a dot on your nail at the cuticle and draw a line down from the dot towards the tip of your nail using a toothpick or nail art tools like the Insten Nail Art Drawing/Dotting/Painting Pens ($6.29). Draw a curved line, perpendicular to the first line, following the tip of your nail.
Finish off the anchor by drawing another line perpendicular to the first line, close to the dot, keeping it a bit shorter than the curved line. Draw a tiny sideways “v” on both ends of the curved line. Lastly, place a smaller, pink dot in the middle of the blue dot to create the ring at the top.
On the ring and middle finger, use the blue paint again to write the Greek symbols for Delta Gamma.
To finish off the manicure, add bronze accents to the pointer and pinky fingers. I chose stripes to keep with the nautical theme, but polka dots, flowers, or even painting the entire nail bronze would work as well.
Be sure to protect your manicure with a clear topcoat and give it plenty of time to dry fully.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and stay tuned next week for our Kappa Alpha Theta nail art! Let us know in the comments what other DG ideas you’ve got—and if there are any other sororities you’d love to see nail art for!