Nail Tutorial: French Manicure

Although I really love wearing bright block colours on my nails, it is always nice to be able to have a simple manicure. It can enhance your natural nails whilst also makes them look sophisticated and is a quick and easy way to change the way your nails look. Here I have put together a quick tutorial on how to create a perfect French manicure. 

  

Nail Polishes L-R:
Rimmel 60 Seconds: Princess Pink
Barry M: Matt White
Avon: Base Coat

For this look I will be using a natural nail colour for the base and then white for the tips. However you can change up these colours and use any combination, which also looks amazing on the nails. Some examples of other combinations that I've used are red with gold tips, purple with silver tips and blue with red tips.
   To create this particular look you will need a base coat, a base colour and then another colour to use for the tips. In this case I am using the Rimmel 60 Seconds nail polish in 'Princess Pink' for the base, Barry M nail paint in 'Matt White' for the tips and an Avon base coat.

1. Firstly I would cut and file your nails using a clipper and nail file to ensure that all your nails are the same length and evenly shaped. Once you are happy with the length of your nails,apply the base coat and allow to dry. 

2. Next, apply the base colour to your nails. Depending on the coverage of your nail polish you may want to apply two coats but it is important to make sure that you do not make the layers too thick. This is so the nail polish dries and doesn't become tacky or sticky. I've applied 2 coats of the Rimmel nail polish in 'Princess Pink' here.

Rimmel 60 Seconds 'Princess Pink'

3. Once the base colour is completely dry, you can then start to do the tips of each nail. My tip for this stage is to take the nail polish brush and use one motion to swipe the brush across the top of the nail. Don't worry if the colour looks patchy at this stage because you can always go back and apply another coat to the tips if necessary. This step may take a bit of practise but don't worry if the tip colour goes onto your skin as it can be easily removed with some nail polish remover. Once you have used the brush to add tips, leave the nails to dry completely. 

4. To make the look last longer and to reduce the chance of chipping you can apply a top coat to this look but it is not necessary. To remove any stray nail polish from your skin, apply some nail varnish remover to a cotton bud and carefully wipe away the nail polish. 

Here is the finished look. Perfect for everyday wear or for special occasions or events, this is a really versatile nail effect and can be achieved using only 3 products and you can easily change the colours which have been used to create your own take on a classic manicure.

Tutorial: Monochrome Aztec Nails

Aztec prints and patterns have been very popular recently, particularly in clothes. However a different way to wear the trend could be in the form of your nails. Aztec nails can add something to a simple outfit on a night out or can be used alongside other aztec prints to enhance your outfit. You can even reproduce the same aztec pattern from your clothing onto your nails to create a matching outfit.

Although aztec patterns look intricate and difficult to transfer onto your nails, they are mostly made up of a variety of simple shapes and lines and I've found that you can easily create an aztec nail look in your own home. This tutorial will focus on a monochrome aztec nail effect, but you can change the colours and the patterns used to suit your own style or taste. 

Aztec inspired nails

Before you start, you will need to ensure that you have used a nail polish remover to remove any nail polish that you are currently wearing. I also recommend that you take this time to cut and shape your nails so that they look even and straight. 

Polishes Used: L-R Avon Base Coat, Barry M in Matt White and Models Own Nail Art Pen in Black

To create this look you will also need a base coat, a base colour and a nail art pen. The base colour and nail art pen can be any colour of your choice, but for this tutorial I am using a white base colour and a black nail art pen. I think a dark/light colour contrast works best for this look, because it makes the pattern really stand out. 

Step 1

Step 1: Apply a base coat to your nails. This will prevent the coloured nail polish from staining your nails and can prolong the wear of your nail polish. Once the base coat is dry, apply two coats (depending on the consistency of your nail polish) of the base colour to your nails and allow plenty of time to dry.  Here I am using Barry M nail polish in the shade 'Matt White.'

Thin nib part of the nail art pen used for intricate designs

It is essential that the base colour is completely dry before the next stage, as the nail pen will work better and will not stick to the polish already on your nails. 

 Next, you should get a nail art pen ready to use. The best type of pen to use is one which had two applications. A thin nib at the top for intricate detailing and then a long, thin brush which is used for lines and strokes. The models own nail art pens are brilliant for this job as they feature both and I am using their nail art pen in the colour black. 

Step 2

Step 2: Once the base colour is dry, take the nail art pen and using the nibbed end, paint three small dots at the bottom of the nail, near the cuticles. As you are doing this whole look free hand it may take a while to get the hang of being precise, but practise makes perfect. Don't worry if you find that your line of dots are not straight, it does not necessarily need to be accurate. 

Step 3

 Step 3: Then using the same technique, use the nail art pen to draw three more dots at the top of the nail. If possible, try to align these dots with the bottom dots which you have already drawn to make the nail look symmetrical. 

Thin brush for strokes and lines

Step 4

 Step 4: For the next stage of the nail, you will need to use the thin brush as this will be used to draw the lines. Using the brush, drag the brush along the nail, from one side to the other, starting at the bottom of the nail. Then leave a small gap and then using the same technique draw a line across the middle of the nail as pictured above. 

Step 5

 Step 5: Once the lines have been drawn across the nails, it is time to draw the zig zags which are found just below the top dots. For this stage I usually change back to the nibbed applicator as I can join the lines up easier than the brush. You then need to draw the zig zag in the space between the top line and the top dots.

Step 6 & finished nails

 Step 6: To finish the nails, using the nibbed tool, go back to the space between the two lines drawn with the brush and then draw some more zig zag patterns to fill in the gaps. Finally, using the nibbed tool carefully paint dots in between the zig zags in between the two lines and then wait for the paint to dry. 

At this point you could add a top coat to preserve the nail polish, however I do not usually use a top coat for this look because of the texture created by the nail pen. 

You can always try experimenting with different patterns and colours. If you have more than one nail art pen you could always paint different parts of the pattern with different colours and make your nails look really unique.