"end of summer sunset" nails. three dusky colors and a little bit of sparkle for stars.
people like to ask me how i do my nails!! i really, really like gradients. they're very gender. so when i saw ombre nails back a few years ago, i needed it. i use The Sponge Method. it's roughly this:
- get one of those wedge-shaped makeup sponges
- get colors that look cool together (make sure the polishes are of similar consistency. this doesn't work if one is way thinner than the other)
- do a base coat, if you can. this is layered in a way that can flake off.
- optional*: get something to cover the non-nail part of your fingers, like that paint-on latex stuff, or tape, or whatever adhesive skin protectors there are. this can get messy.
* this isn't super important if you're chill with your fingertips being dramatic/messy, because the stuff that gets on your skin will flake off within a couple days. the bits that are left around my nails in the photo is what's left after a day. it'll probably be all gone by tomorrow
- paint a stripe of each color on the sponge
- dab the sponge on one of your nails. dab it more. dab dab dab. move it around ever so slightly so the colors mix a little, and get it all over your nail. you can squeeze it in a bit.
- it will be really thin, but we're going to do a bunch of thin coats like this
- repeat with the next nail. keep going.
- do them all again, because by now they've probably dried
- three coats is usually good for me, but it depends on the lacquer
- put a shiny top coat on it. you can actually do whatever you want on top, but it needs a shiny finish to look its best (imho)
notes:
- if you mess something up, you can usually cover it on the next coat
- get a new sponge if the colors get too mixed up
- for some reason, Essie works best for me, but i've had a lot of luck with others