When prompted with the word “fashion,” our mind immediately jumps to runways full of clothes, bags, and shoes. While new styles are emerging in these areas all the time, there are other domains by which a true fashionista must assert her trendiness. Although keeping up with latest fashions in nail polish color is highly acceptable, mixing up shades and patterns is a quickly emerging necessity for those looking to stand out. If you don’t feel like blowing all of your money on a manicure, here are a few simple ways to dress your nails to impress: DIY style.
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1. The newest in nail trends: magnetic nails. Simply coat your nails twice with the polish (giving the first coat time to dry, of course) and immediately place the magnetic overcap above your nail. Wait 10-20 seconds and voila! A revolutionary 3D nail design. Available at Sephora.com or in Sephora stores for $16.
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2. Polka dot nails. Choose two bright, fun colors, preferably contrasting ones. Paint four out of five nails on each hand with one color, coating the leftover one with the opposite color. After letting them dry, dot each nail with the opposing color to which you painted. Add a clear topcoat to smooth texture.
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3. Geometric print. You will have to invest in a nail art pen for this look. Start by coating your nails in whichever color(s) you choose, but make sure they’ll stand out against the color of your pen. Let your nails dry and go to work creating your design. Honestlywtf.com recommends practicing on a piece of paper first, but don’t worry about making mistakes because you can easily wipe them away while they’re still wet. When content with your handiwork, seal with a top coat to keep them from chipping. Step by step instructions can be found at http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-nail-art/.
Image from http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/tips/spring-nail-trends
4. The Ombre effect. Pick two colors of relatively similar tone— one dark, one light. Using the darker polish, paint from the base of your nail and continue about 1/3 of the way up. Switching to the lighter shade, immediately paint up the nail, beginning where the darker shade ends and “dragging” it upward. Seal with a top coat.
Image from http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/tips/spring-nail-trends
5. Fishnet. Cut a pair of fishnet stockings into ten small pieces— one for each nail. Thinly coat your nails with a metallic silver and let dry. Next, painting one nail at a time, apply a color of your choosing (creamy, bright colors look best). Instantly press one of the ten pieces of stocking you cut earlier onto your nail. After letting it set for a few minutes, peel of the fishnet to reveal the silver pattern underneath. Don’t use a top coat or it will smear.