Have you ever looked at your nails and wished you could give yourself a cute, stylish manicure at home? With some simple tools and easy techniques, you can start doing basic nail art on your own without going to the salon. As a beginner to DIY nail art, there are some key tips to get you going. From choosing polish colors to using striping tape, let’s explore some fun ways to decorate your nail designs!
Gather Your Nail Supplies
When one first wanted to try nail art, it was overwhelming trying to figure out what nails supplies were actually needed. You likely have some basics at home already. Then you can add special accessories over time. Here is a starter list:
- Base coat
- Top coat
- Nail Polish in different colors
- Dotting tool or bobby pin for dots
- Toothpick for details
- Striping tape
- Scissors
- Paper reinforcers
- Glitter
This covers a lot of beginner nail art designs. Don’t try to buy everything at once! Start simple.
Perfect Your Base Manicure
Before attempting any nail art, it’s important to master a flawless base manicure. Take your time painting on even coats of nail polish. Let them dry fully between layers. Apply a quality base and top coat to help the manicure last. Shaping and cleaning cuticles also helps the overall look. Perfected nails make any designs really stand out!
Try Easy Dotting
One of the most straightforward techniques for beginners is dotting. All you need is a dotting tool or even a bobby pin. Dip it in different colored polishes and gently push onto the nail where you want a dot. Build flowers by making five dots in a circle for petals. Or trail dots down the nail for a colorful effect. You can make big, medium and small dots too. So much creativity with some simple dots!
Have Fun with Tape
Using striping or masking tape allows one to create fine lines, geometric shapes and cool patterns. The key is applying it carefully onto dry polished nails before adding another coat of color. Let this dry thoroughly, then remove the tape to reveal perfect stripes! Start with basic lines, then get creative with chevron, zigzags or angled DIY manicure designs.
Explore Gradients
Ombré or color gradients are very on-trend and surprisingly easy as a beginner. Paint on your base color, then before it fully dries, lightly brush on a second color near the tip of the nail. It will softly blend together. You can do more drastic shifts or subtle ombré swirls too. Have fun mixing and matching shades.
Embellish with Glitters or Rhinestones
Add some shimmer and shine by incorporating glitters or embellishments. For glitters, simply apply a wet coat of top coat or clear polish to the nail first. Then pat or press on glitter while still wet. Tiny iridescent glitter can also be mixed into polish before painting on for a sparkling finish. If using larger glitter, apply glossy topcoat over it to smooth. Rhinestones can be attached using nail glue – start very small!
Trying any of these nail art starter ideas, focus on taking your time as one builds confidence. Don’t worry about perfection just yet! Part of the fun with DIY nails is being creative and enjoying the process. You will get better with practice. And you can always remove it in a couple days for a fresh canvas. Happy polishing!