Nail Art So Easy All You Need Is a Bobby Pin
Nothing conveys instant sophistication quite like a classic nude nail—we spotted them all over the fall 2014 catwalks and loved every second of it. But while the minimalist manicure makes a big statement, wearing natural nails nonstop can be, well, boring. Give your beloved nude shades a break, and add a little bit of glitz and whole bunch of glamour to your manicure with these runway-inspired tricks for your tips. Best of all, they're easy enough that you don't need a whole crazy kit to pull them off—just one little bobby pin and you're good to go.
Photo: Imaxtree1/5It's really that simple, we swear.
Photo: Imaxtree2/5For Beginners: Negative-Space Nail Art
Not very well versed in the nail department? No problem! Choose a dark shade of polish, like JINsoon Rhapsody Nail Lacquer, and apply two coats to the nail bed. While the polish is still tacky (not wet!), carve squiggly lines into the lacquer. "The darker color allows you to distinguish the lines from the rest of the polish, so they stand out," says celeb manicurist Jin Soon Choi, who created the look at left backstage at Tess Giberson.
Photo: Imaxtree3/5For Those Who Know a Thing or Two About Nail Art: The Half-Moon Mani
Update your go-to daisy design with this super pretty half-moon manicure. After coating nails with the polish shade of your choice, take your bobby pin and start dipping. "Make sure the polish you're using to paint the dots isn't sheer," advises nail genius Miss Pop, who crafted this mani at Alice & Olivia. Otherwise, you'll have to apply double the amount of dots, putting you at risk of smearing your artwork.
Photo: Imaxtree4/5For Experts: Houndstooth Prints
To achieve a rad pattern like this, you need a few different bottles of polish and a ton of patience—be prepared to commit at least half an hour to your nail art session, plus drying time. Apply your base coat in a neutral color, then draw lines with your bobby pin across the nail. Let dry, then paint the opposite way. To finish the look, create tiny squares where the different lines intersect. You'll come to class with the best nails, hands down.
Photo: Imaxtree5/5For More Experienced Nail Artists: Outlined Tips
Dress up a nude nail by outlining your fingertips in white lacquer, like this polish job at Band of Outsiders. Miss Pop's trick for maintaining such precision? Wipe off the excess polish before dipping your bobby pin into the lacquer again. "That way, the hardened polish won't congeal and alter the shape of the pin."
