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How To: Splash a beachy scene on your tips


Raise your hand if you’ve been counting down the days to summer. Keep ’em up if it’s been since Labor Day. If your hand is still in the air, you’re probably like me, waiting all year to see the waves crash in front of a hazy sunrise (or sunset, depending on your coast). But before you pick up your boogie boards or surfboards, dust off your emery board and sport this Memorial Day mani to kick off the sunny season.
Polishes and tools

NailTek for base and cover coat

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Whirlwind White (Note: I used this as a background color, but you can use a different color)

Wet ‘n’ Wild in Sunny Side Up
Sally Hansen in Mellow Yellow

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Mint Spring

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Co-Bolt Blue

Cosmetic sponges cut to the shape of your thumbnail

Thin paintbrush or nail art pen in preferred colors

 

Instructions

1. After painting a clear coat, paint your background color. Let dry.

2. Generously (and I do mean generously) paint polish on the sponge in the order of your preference.
 
Tip: It helps to have each color bottle of polish already open, since the sponges soak up the polish so quickly.
3. Dab the sponge on the nails.

Tip: If you prefer a less sheer look, let it dry before you reapply the polish with your sponge. Don’t go overboard, or else the sticky sponge will pull off your tacky polish. The not-so pretty proof, shown by my middle fingernail:


4. With your thin paint brush or nail pen, draw C-shaped waves at the tip of your nails, like on my ring fingernail. Practice on scrap paper first to get the feel. It’s kinda like making a bunch of cursive C’s in a row. You do remember how to do cursive, right?
 
5. Fill in and round out the waves. Let dry.

6. Outline the crests of the waves with a darker color. Let dry.
 

7. Clean up any messes, cover with a clear coat and voilà!

 

Are you headed to the beach this summer? Blog it out, babes.

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by Karmen Fox | 2/1/2016
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