Hey nail polish lovers! Want to find fun ways to spice up your everyday look? Look no further than this monthly photoblog, where my nail-polish-addiction-enabling friend Jen and I take you step-by-step through easy and unique technique that will really make your nails pop.
Galaxy Nails!
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- Base coat
- Glossy top coat
- Dark base color nail polish (black or navy)
- 4 to 6 assorted “galaxy”-esque colors with some shimmer to them (blues, purples, yellows, reds, greens, and iridescent colors are all great)
- Foam make-up wedges
- Chunky glitter nail polish (optional)
Step One: Apply base coat
C’mon, you know the drill. Base coat is vital to a girl who does her nails with any sort of frequency, both for nail health and polish longevity. Just trust us on this one, okay? You’ll thank us in the long run.
Step Two: Apply base color
Black and super-dark blues and purples work best for this. You want an inky night sky upon which to create your galaxy masterpiece. Two coats should do it, then wait until the polish hasdried completely before moving on to the next step.
Step Three: Apply first sparkle color to a wedge
You don’t have to coat the whole surface, just a small section will do. Consider how prominently you want that color to be featured on your nails and brush on the appropriate amount accordingly. So, if you want a whole lotta purple, coat liberally. But if you’d just like a subtle iridescent shimmer, a couple swipes will do.
Step Four: Sponge shimmer color onto the surface of your nails
You don’t need a whole lot of pressure, just apply as you see fit. Galaxy nails are in the eye of the beholder, so experiment by sponging on different colors and consistencies. Because I stuck with darker shimmer colors, my nails turned out a little more Northern Lights, but Jen went all out bold with hers and got a gorgeous galactic swirl!
Step Five: Repeat steps as necessary — you’re well on your way to galaxy nails!
You don’t have to do the same thing on every nail. Change it up so each one’s a unique piece of art. That’s the fun of galaxy nails, no two are exactly alike. You can wait for each layer to dry entirely before adding another, but sometimes getting a couple colors to smear into one another is fun too. I know the immediate result of these nails is kind of messy and everywhere, but if you have some cotton swabs and nail polish remover handy, it’s a pretty simple dip-and-rub clean-up process. If not, whatever color clings to your skin will easily come off after a few hand-washes.
Step Six: Allow time to dry
This is super important. You’re basically piling on a bunch of layers at once to achieve this effect, so once you’re done messing around, let them set. I’d suggest keeping away from jeggings and boots for at least half an hour to forty five minutes after this little project. I didn’t (my nails and my social life often conflict with one another) and suffered for it.
Step Seven: Apply top coat
Like I said, Jen went all out with some killer silver glitter top coat. I stuck with a nice gloss, which is recommended for this particular manicure over the matte alternative. This is a style you want to let shine. Either way, top coat is essential for long-lasting nail polish. Don’t skip this step — you’ll regret it when the galaxies you labored to create begin to chip away after a couple days.
Happy painting!
Jen and Andrea