How to: Tropical Ombré Nail Art

Mon, 7 January 2013 4:06PM

Although we’ve come back feeling refreshed from our break, here at PRIMPED HQ we’re still dreaming of lazy summer days by the beach.

Especially after having seen this seaside snap of Constance Jablonski in Vogue Brazil … sigh.

Not surprisingly, I was inspired to get a little creative with my nail art…

Image: Fashion Gone Rogue/Vogue Brazil/Henrique Gendre

I’ve officially coined these nails Tropical Tips, but the technical term would be better known as ombré nail art, or even sponged nails, which you have probably seen before.

The tropical component, however, is all in the colour selection, Primpers, so we’re turning to summery, sea-inspired hues like a beautiful bright yellow – we love Maybelline Color Show in Fierce N Tangy, $5.95, from pharmacies – and a vivid ocean blue – in this case, OPI Nail Lacquer in Can’t Find My Czechbook, $19.95, David Jones.

Let’s get started. Here’s what you’ll need …

• Two nail polishes – one blue, one yellow
• Base and top coat
• A latex makeup sponge

Step 1:

Working on clean, dry nails, slick on a coat of base coat and wait for it to dry thoroughly.

Step 2:

Grab your piece of sponge and paint a strip of yellow polish, and then a strip of blue nail polish a little bit thicker above it. Try not to leave a gap in between the strokes.

Step 3:

Press the sponge down onto a scrap piece of paper so that the colours can merge together.

Step 4:

Working quickly to ensure that the nail polish remains wet, place the sponge over your nail as close to the base as possible (so you don’t have to clean up too much spillage on your nail bed). Press it down in the same spot a few times and don’t worry if the colours smudge – this will actually make it look more realistic. Then, use a cotton tip dipped in remover or a Revitanail Precision Corrector, $12.95, Priceline, to clean up any spillage around your edges and underneath the nail.

Step 5:

Repeat Steps 2 – 4 on each nail, ensuring you tidy around your nail beds after each finger so the polish doesn’t dry onto your cuticles.

Step 6:

Add a slick of top coat on each nail, and wait around 10 minutes until it your polish is thoroughly dry. Here’s the finished product!

However if you still want to try summery nails but aren’t a fan of getting too technical with your nail art, try the limited edition Kit Cosmetics Nail Strips, $9.95, Kit Cosmetics, which come in three tropical-inspired prints. Like all other nail strips, the application process is super-simple – stick them down, smooth them on, a trim off any excess – voilà!

Tell me, Primpers, have you ever tried ombré nails?

What colour combination would you use?

Or would you rather try the nail strips?

Hayley x

Posted by: Hayley Bennett

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Tags: diy, how to, nail art, nails, ombre, ombre nails, summer 2012, tropical