How To Guide: Nail Gradients

I first saw the gradients style on a website, so I sat down and copied the method and soon found myself getting in a bit of a mess with sponge sticking to my nails and the gradient looking very odd. So, I had a bit of a play and came up with something (hopefully) a little more straightforward than spending ages mixing and blotting.

You will need:

Your choice of two colours of nail varnish. Nail varnish remover. Foundation sponge. Base & top coat. Cotton wool buds. Optional: Paper/cellophane surface. Toothpick. Flat angled thin paint brush.

1. As always start with the base coat.

2. Paint 1-2 coats of the colour you wish to be at the bottom.

3. Allow to dry fully.

4. If the top level colour is weak, paint a line about brush width across the top of the nail and allow to dry.

5. Take the foundation sponge (you can get a whole bag of them from the pound shop) and use of the flat sides (after use I cut it off to form another usable flat section). Paint over the sponge using the top colour, about a brush width should do.

6. Gently dab the flat, painted surface of the foundation sponge down the nails starting strongly at the top then lighter.

If the sponge begins to stick, cut that surface from the sponge and use the next flat edge, apply the varnish again and continue.

If you bodge up the gradient and take it too low, you can take another surface on the sponge and paint it with the bottom colour then gently dab it over and work up and gently mix it back in.

7. Take the top coat and paint it over the gradient. With each stroke try to gently draw the gradient up, allowing the acetone in the top coat to melt the undercoat a little so the effect is more.. well.. gradual!

8. Using the cotton wool bud, dip it in the nail varnish remover and gently swab around the edges of the nail to neaten it up. If you want to make it even neater, take the slanted flat brush, dip it in the remover and run it carefully around the edges of the nail.

Should you wish to add stamping on top there will be a guide available in the stamping section!

Alternative method (less effective):

1. Base coat. 

2. Take a piece of cellophane or thick paper. 

3. Pour a dollop of first colour and a dollop of the second colour close to each other and use the toothpick to swirl the two together but ONLY in the middle section so it there are gentle swirls of mixed colour in a band. 

4. Dab the flat surface of the foundation sponge in the varnish. Dab the sponge very gently on some tissue so it isn’t too damp. 

5. Place the foundation sponge on the nail and push down gently, gently moving it up and down just a fraction.. and I mean a fraction! This will help blend the varnish. 

6. Repeat the process when the sponge does not transfer the gradient to the nails. 

7. Take the top coat and paint it over the gradient. With each stroke try to gently draw the gradient up, allowing the acetone in the top coat to melt the undercoat a little so the effect is more.. well.. gradual!

8. Using the cotton wool bud, dip it in the nail varnish remover and gently swab around the edges of the nail to neaten it up. If you want to make it even neater, take the slanted flat brush, dip it in the remover and run it carefully around the edges of the nail.

I didn’t really get on with this method but some others might!

Lush Nails: Easy How To Guide

My favouritest by far!

For Christmas this year I was given a lovely gift from Lush (cosmetics) and within it was their 'Lush News' which is printed on.. well.. newspaper! Out came the meths and cotton wool pads.

This time I've simplified the method and it's quicker and less messy. I chose to go with title page, product image, ingredient description, lush bottle/vegan logo (cute!) and front page artwork.

You will need: Tissue/kitchen roll, 2 cotton wool balls, nail varnish remover, pale nail varnish, top/base coat, meths (adults only!) and a copy of the Lush Times.

1. Look through the Lush Times and cut 10 sections which are large enough to cover the nail.
2. Protect the work surface you're working on. Wash and dry hands.
3. Apply base coat followed by two layers of pale varnish. Wait until completely dry.
4. To minimize meths inhalation, use the cotton ball and use that to absorb a moderate amount of the meths from the bottle, like you would nail varnish remover. Place to the side for the moment and put lid back on the meths.
5. Take one of the sections of paper, place it over the nail. Take the meths cotton ball and place it on top of the paper, press down firmly and hold for 25-30 sec.
6. Gently peel off the paper to reveal transfer. If the paper resists, use a dab of meths to wet the paper.
7. Leave 1 minute then paint over with 1-2 layers of top coat.

If you fudge up the nail transfer the you can grab the other cotton ball, absorb nail varnish remover and gently swipe over the nail to remove transfer without too much polish coming off.

So the things you can't use for transferring to nails via meths: heavier wrapping paper, inkjet printer images, laser printer images. Was worth a try but turned out fruitless.

I may go hunting tomorrow for some more newspaper-based bits.

Thanks for visiting!