Olympics 2012: How to … Do an Australian Flag Manicure

Mon, 30 July 2012 10:15AM

With the 2012 London Olympic Games having kicked off (extremely early) on Saturday morning local time, we’re all about getting into the Olympic spirit here at PRIMPED HQ. The widescreen TV is set so we can tune in on all the coverage, our flags are up and there’s a sense of excitement in the air.

So last night I was cheering on our Aussie swimmers, spotting Leisel Jones not only acing it in the 100m breastroke heats, but also working some green and gold Australian-inspired nail art. She’s clearly a girl after my own heart. But today, rather than going for a two-tone mani like Leisel, I’ve opted to try something a little more detailed, but also easy to recreate. It’s my variation on the Australian flag manicure.

Now before you have visions of sticky tape, rulers and stick-on prints, it’s all about the Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen, $12.95, from Priceline. These pens are a permanent staple in my nail art kit, and they come in an array of colours for creating nail art and drawing directly over your polish.

Ready, set, go!

Step 1:

After you have applied a thin base coat, paint a coat of your blue nail polish. I used Glamnails by Manicare in Original Sin, $9.95, from Priceline. It looks like a deep, almost-navy blue but after one coat it dries down to a medium blue with a hint of shimmer. Wait until this coat of nail colour is thoroughly dry.

Step 2:

Pick up your Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in Red/Rouge, $12.95, and on your ring finger, etch, or dot a thin, straight line vertically down your nail.  Once the colour is showing through, add another coat over the line and build it up to a thicker line. Allow it to dry. Next, draw the horizontal line through the vertical line, building up the thickness so they are the same width. Then draw the diagonal line through the centre, beginning at the top left-hand corner, drawing to the bottom right-hand corner. Repeat the process from the top right-hand corner.

Step 3:

Grab your Nail Art Pen in White and draw in-between each of the white lines, outlining the red stripes.

Step 4:

Now onto the Southern Cross. I chose to scatter the stars across the rest of my nails with an accent on each finger. Use the White Nail Art Pen, and depending on how confident your drawing skills are, draw a few simple stars. Remember that if you can write a dash, you can pretty much do any design in nail art. Keep them as short, straight lines, and they will look just as good as those drawn in a more sketched manner.

Step 5:

Once your nails are thoroughly dry, paint on a top coat for extra gloss. Here’s the end result:

When it comes to your other hand, you can repeat the pattern; alternatively, one coat of blue polish on its own also looks great.

What do you think Primpettes? Love the flag mani?

Are you excited about the Olympics? Have you seen any other great nail art so far?

Hayley x

Posted by: Hayley Bennett

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Tags: 2012 olympics, australia, australian flag, how to, Manicare, manicure, nails, olympics, sally hansen