My last ombré nails post showed all you collegiettes how to get a nice and simple ombré look on your nails;now it’s time to pick up the intensity! Instead of creating a color gradient across your hand, I’ll help you create a beautiful gradient on each fingernail! Keep in mind, this might take some practice and there is definitely more than one way to achieve this look. These are just the ways that have worked best for me.
What you need:
– Small makeup sponges
– Small cup of water
– Three (or more if you want!) nail polishes in the same color scheme
– Clear top coat
– Q-Tips
– Nail polish remover
There are two ways you can achieve this look:
Get the look: Technique #1
1) Before getting started, set up a little cup of water for your makeup sponge to soak in, then once you start using the sponge (step 3) ring it out so that it’s 75% dry (this keeps any nail polish from completely soaking into the sponge.)
2) Use a white or nude polish and paint all 10 nails with two coats. This creates a great base that you can then blend other colors on top of.
3) Once that base color has COMPLETELY dried on each finger, you’re going to start creating the ombré gradient. Start with your next lightest color after the nude or white (or whatever base color you’re wearing) and paint it lightly on the makeup sponge.
4) Next, press the polish that is on the sponge onto your nail and blend by dabbing the sponge so that there isn’t a harsh line. **Make sure you leave some of the base color showing at the bottom of your nail**
5) After that coat has completely dried, take another sponge and add your next or last (darkest) color to the tip (like step 2).
6) Then press this color onto the very tip of your nail and blend with the sponge using dabbing motions. **Again, make sure you allow the second color you put down to show**
7) Let that coat dry and add a shiny topcoat; then you have completed one nail!
8) Finish the rest of your nails, and there you go!
Get the look: Technique #2
1) Just like step 1 above! Before getting started, set up a little cup of water for your makeup sponge to soak in, then once you start using the sponge (step 3) ring it out so that it is 75% dry (this keeps any nail polish from completely soaking into the sponge.)
2) Have the tops of your three (or more) polishes unscrewed so that you are ready to go.
3) Paint a stripe of your lightest color (or darkest – it’s up to you!) at the very tip of the (75% dry) sponge.
Try to use a generous amount of polish when you do this – it will help with blending!
4) Then paint stripes of your next colors (in a gradient) directly next to the first stripe.
5) Blend the lines by lightly pressing/dabbing the sponge onto a plastic surface.
6) Press the sponge onto your nail and clean up any excess on your skin with a Q-Tip soaked in nail polish!
7) Let the colors dry completely, add a topcoat, and there you go!
Keep in mind that you can use any set of colors (see below) and you can just do it on one nail (if having all 10 nails painted this way seems like too much for you!)
Enjoy!
Nail Polish Combinations:
Base colors:
Nude: Zoya Nail Polish in SHAY
White: China Glaze Nail Polish in WHITE ON WHITE
Grey:
Lightest
China Glaze Pelican Grey
OPI French Quarter for your Thoughts
OPI You Don’t Know Jacques
Darkest
Green:
Lightest
Revlon 085 Minted
Essie Turquois and Caicos
Maybelline Forever Strong Pro Hyper Jade
Darkest
Pink:
Lightest
Revlon 060 Café Pink
Spoiled Venice and Ongles
Revlon 050 Passionate Pink
Darkest
Blue:
Lightest
China Glaze Bahamian Escape
O.P.I No Room For This Blues
O.P.I Ogre The Top Blue
Darkest
Orange:
Lightest
Sally Hansen Tough Buff
Sally Hansen Sorbet
Essie Tart Deco
Darkest