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!