After browsing through a few nail art tutorials on Instagram, most of us are guilty of contemplating an attempt ourselves, then giving up because, well, the effort! I, for one, give up before I’ve even begun as soon as I see any design that involves the use of tape! If you’re anything like me and the prospect of that messing about deters you, here are some tape-free, easy-peasy nail art designs that are simple yet snazzy.
HYPE THAT STRIPE
Stripes are in this summer, be they thin or thick. For near-perfect, super-thin stripes, invest in a fan brush.
• Paint your nails with a base colour, the lighter the better.
• Once it’s dried, dip the tips of the fan brush into a darker, complementing colour and lightly brush over your nails horizontally.
• Once dried, you can either stop here for a simple, stripy look or carry on with other colours in the same way to create a jazzier vibe. Your nails are your canvas, and you hold the brush – literally.
SPLATTER MATTERS
For a quick yet artsy and quirky manicure, splatter nails should be your go-to. All you need is a slanted make-up brush for the splatter effect, some nail polish remover and a few different colours.
• Paint your nails with a light base colour — white is ideal.
• Dip the bristles in the colour of your choice, then dip once in nail polish remover to thin the polish enough to splatter.
• Aim the brush at your nail and pull back on it so the paint flicks onto your nail.
• With a Q-Tip dipped in nail polish remover, wipe away any splatter on your hands.
(Tip: Cover the surface you’re working on, it might get a tad messy.)
OMBRÉ ALL THE WAY
If you’re a fan of ombré nails, here’s the easiest way to get them without a trip to the manicurist.
• Apply two coats of your base colour to each nail then let dry.
• Paint the ombré colours you would like to use onto a make-up sponge and ensure the colours touch each other.
• Carefully apply the sponge to your nails until covered.
• Immediately afterwards, apply a top coat to further blend and smooth.
• After each application, add more polish as the sponge tends to soak it up.
• With a Q-Tip dipped in nail polish remover, wipe the area around your nails.
BeautyTop Tips:
Apply a top coat after you’re done to avoid smudges and for smooth nails.
Combine your nail polish colours with summery hues to pop!
– Peach and minty green
– Mint blue and light pink
– Orange and nude
– Teal and silver
