This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CMU chapter.
Everyone has seen the crackle topcoat trend by now, but it’s surprisingly difficult to get it right! Once you understand how the topcoat works, achieving this look is a super quick way to add a little something to your manicure.
What you’ll need:
- Nail polish: a base color (or colors!). For my base, I used my favorite nude, Zoya in “Helen.”
- A crackle topcoat. The crackle topcoat I used is Sally Hansen in “Antiqued Gold.”
What you need to know before using a crackle topcoat:
- Your basecoat needs to be completely dry before using it – if you don’t, the crackle topcoat might dry differently and look lumpy.
- It dries REALLY fast – you’ll need to put the cap all the way over the bottle after painting one or two nails, otherwise the polish will dry on your brush or even in the bottle.
- Go over each part of your nail only once – since it dries so quickly, you can’t go over the same spot more than once, or it will clump up on your nail.
How to do it:
1) Paint your base and let it dry completely. See my tips for getting a great base coat.
2) Once it’s completely dry, paint on your crackle topcoat. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t look perfect – it may take some practice!
3) Put on a clear topcoat, and you’re done!