Fashion & Beauty Ethos: DIY Chic Tribal Mani

Everywhere I turn, I find design speckled with tribal undertones. So I decided to do my nails in a tribal inspired mani this past weekend, and it was extremely easy! In keeping with the theme the past few weeks, I decided to use a toothpick for the line details and it was a breeze. 

You Will Need:

Two Shades of Nail Lacquer; O.P.I - "The It Color" [yellow] & O.P.I "Over The Taupe" [taupe color]

Black Nail Polish: I used Rimmel in "Black Satin"

Toothpicks for nail design 

Top Coat: I tried out Seche Vite, so far so good ladies!

Base Coat: I used Essie Protein Base Coat 

Apply a base coat

Paint a little more than half your nail bed with two coats of your main color

Paint the remainder of your nail with two coats of your secondary color 

Draw a line down the middle of your nails with your toothpick dipped in black nail polish [be careful not to drag the toothpick as it may scrape the polish; instead lightly dot it creating a solid line]

Draw several lines near the top portion of your nail bed

 Draw more lines as illustrated in the photo above

Now draw dots down the nail bed using a new toothpick and black nail polish

Repeat the steps above on each nail, then seal with a top coat

Enjoy your new nails!

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Fashion & Beauty Ethos: DIY Black Tie Mani

Something about this mani reminds me of a woman's tuxedo. The black adds a bit of masculinity, while the lace pattern gives it a dainty feel. This took little-to-no time to complete [20 minutes to paint and design], and the design is very forgiving in case you happen to mess up a little bit. - I used a toothpick for the design because it is much easier to control versus those long, thin, nail art brushes. 

Tip: When making the diagonal stripe, start from the cuticle area, and drag the brush down in one stroke. Don't lift the brush off the nail until you reach the end. This helps you make a straight line.  

You Will Need:

Base Coat: I used Essie Base Coat

Mauve Base Color: I used O.P.I "Barefoot in Barcelona"

Black Accent Color: I used Rimmel "Black Satin"

Black Striping Color

White Striping Color

Top Coat

Toothpick

Apply base-coat; this is important when using black, as it helps prevent staining. 

Paint your nails with your base color, then draw a diagonal line with your black nail art polish

Fill in the lines with the black polish 

With a toothpick, make a half-circle near the base of the black polish

Make the tiny half circles all the way down the base of the black polish

This is what the finished lace pattern should look like

Using your toothpick and white nail art polish, add white dots near the base of each arc

Seep each nail with top coat and you're good to go!

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DIY Super Easy Leopard Mani

Looking for something over-the-top? These nail's definitely make a statement, however they can still look chic and polished depending on your color palette. I admit I am not a fan of leopard anything, however after seeing them on a style maven in Whole Foods, I wanted in on the fun. 

The good thing about this mani is that it is very forgiving. Leopard spots aren't perfect, which means your nails don't have to be perfect either. If you have trouble keeping your arm steady, let it gently rest on a stack of thick books or any flat, sturdy object! The designs take little to no time to complete, and you can be very creative with the color palette. 

To keep the design somewhat subdued, I decided to go with an accent color that was a few shades lighter than my main color. This gives the nail a slight monochromatic feel. 

DIY Fierce Leopard Mani

You Will Need: 

Base Coat - I used Essie's protein base coat 

Base Color - I used China Glaze Shower Together

Black Striping Polish

Leopard Accent Color - I used OPI No Room For The Blues

Dot tool [you can use an actual dot tool, a toothpick, bobby pin, or paint brush]

Paint your nails with a base coat; allow to dry for a few minutes

Paint your nails with your base lacquer of choice, allow to dry for about 10-15 minutes

With a dot tool, fill your entire nail bed with dots. Let dry for about 10 minutes. 

With your striping brush outline the edges of your spots, leaving one end open [don't outline the entire area]. Let dry for about 3-5 minutes [After I outlined the dots, I also made random stripes and dots using my striping brush]

 Gently polish your nails with a glossy top coat. Let dry thoroughly. Enjoy your new nails!

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Super Easy DIY Zebra Mani

This is definitely not a look I would wear all the time, however it was fun while it lasted [about a week]. The good thing about this mani is that the Zebra stripes don't require perfect lines, so it takes the fuss out of striping the nails. The most important part of this mani is making sure your striping color is thin enough. If it's too thick you may have thick, goopy lines on your digits. No bueno. - If you notice your striping polish is a little thick, add a bit of polish thinner (thanks LMV!) 

You Will Need:  

Base Coat - I used Essie

Base Color - I used "Blue Collar" by Orly

Black Striping Color - It's important to use an actual striping polish like the polish above, as the applicator wand is like a thin, long paintbrush; perfect for striping.

Start by applying your base coat, and allow to dry thoroughly

Paint your nails with two coats of your base color and allow to dry for about 20-30 minutes 

"Stripe" your nails as illustrated above; making your way up the entire nail.

Sweep a clear top coat over your nails and allow to dry thoroughly

Enjoy your new nails! 

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The DIY Ruffian Manicure

Dubbed the "Ruffian Manicure" by CND, this mani is the uber chic sister of the French Manicure. I spotted this look whilst flipping through the lookbook of Creative Nail Design, the creative force behind some of the most inventive nail designs on the runway [and my favorite line of polish].

I love this look because it is unique without being overpowering and lends a very feminine feel to your digits. It is extremely easy, and is perfect for the DIY divas and beauties on a budget. This simple mani also works for those looking for nail art without the bling.

You Will Need:

Base Coat: Protein Base Coat/Essie

Primary Color: Flashbulb Fuchsia/OPI

Accent Color: White Lilly/Lili

Top Coat: 3 Way Nail Glaze/Essie

French Manicure Stickers

Paint your nails with a base coat - This will help prevent staining and will also extend the life of your manicure.

Paint your nails with two coats of the accent color of choice. Allow to dry for 20-30 minutes [It is important for your nails to be completely dry before applying the french manicure stickers].
 

Apply the French Manicure stickers upside down. For a nice clean line, make sure to rub the sticker on the nail and that there are no ridges or raised areas where the sticker and nail meets [this ensures no polish gets underneath the sticker].

Paint your nails with two coats of your main color and allow to dry for 20-30 minutes prior to removing the sticker. 

 

>> Remove the sticker and touch up nails as needed [removing color from the cuticles or skin].

Enjoy your new Ruffian Manicure!

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