DIY NAIL ART Easy, Step-by-Step Instructions for 75 Creative Nail Art Designs CATHERINE RODGERS Copyright © 2013 by F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews. Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc. 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A. www.adamsmedia.com ISBN 10: 1-4405-4517-0 ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-4517-7 eISBN 10: 1-4405-4518-9 eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-4518-4 Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Readers are urged to take all appropriate precautions before undertaking any how-to task. Always read and follow instructions and safety warnings for all tools and materials, and call in a professional if the task stretches your abilities too far. Although every effort has been made to provide the best possible information in this book, neither the publisher nor the author are responsible for accidents, injuries, or damage incurred as a result of tasks undertaken by readers. This book is not a substitute for professional services. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. Photography by Catherine Rodgers. This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases. For information, please call 1-800-289-0963. Dedication In memory of my mom. Acknowledgments I would first like to thank my friends and family for always being there and for supporting me. I would like to say a special thank you to Andrea Hakanson, who helped me along in this process. And finally, I want to say thank you to all of the people who watched my videos and supported my work; I would never have had this opportunity if it weren’t for them. Contents Introduction HOW TO USE THIS BOOK NAIL ART DESIGNS Ladybug Nails Vintage Rose Nails Neon Peace Sign Zebra Nails Blue Faded Zebra Nails Halloween Jack-O’-Lantern Nails Forest Pixie Nails Black Lace Nails Strawberries and Polka Dot Nails ’80s Floral Nails Pink and Black Animal Print Nails Summer Citrus Nails Paris-Inspired Nails Hawaiian Hibiscus Nails Nautical Nails Hot Pink Zebra Nails Sweetheart Pink Nails Flowers and Bubbles Nails Cherry Blossom Nails Argyle Nails Tiger Print Nails Turquoise and Gold Leopard Print Nails Daisy Nails Cute Bow Nails Cloud and Rainbow Nails Abstract over Rainbow Nails Paint Splatter Nails Maroon Leopard Print Nails Palm Tree Nails Zigzag Nails Giraffe Print Nails Pink Camo Nails Cupcake Nails Rastafarian Nails Diamond Nails Swirled Color Nails Orange and Purple Tiger Print Nails Simple Floral Nails Strawberry Tip Nails Plaid Nails Fire Nails Rainbow Drip Nails Bumblebee Nails Owl Nails Cute Penguin Nails Cow Print Nails Rubber Ducky Nails Blue and Zebra Checkered Nails Starry Sky Nails Ice Cream Pop Nails Pink Skull Nails Black and Pink Stripe Nails Turquoise and Brown Nails Gift-Wrapped Nails Easter Egg Nails Summer Fruit Nails Light Burst Nails Button Nails Lips Theme Nails Silver Glitter Heart Nails Mushroom Nails Snowman Nails Purple Leaves Nails St. Patrick’s Day Nails Fourth of July Nails Sports Nails Patched Nails Music Note Nails Black and Gold Jeweled Nails Black, White, and Blue Nails Spiderweb Nails Easy Dotted Nails Mermaid Nails Icing Tip Nails Strings of Dots Nails Simple Flower Nails Introduction Creating amazing designs is not only fun, but incredibly easy with just a few simple tools. It really requires no experience, and instantly adds a personal shimmer to your nails you can’t get anywhere else. You just need to learn a few basic tools and techniques, like which tool is best for making dots, how to create different shapes, and what you’ll need to do to your nails to get the best results and achieve the nail art in this book. The most important thing to remember is this: Practice makes perfect. You shouldn’t get discouraged if your first design doesn’t come out exactly like the picture. While many of the nail art designs in this book are super easy to recreate, some (like Palm Tree Nails) require a lot of drawing and are hard to get down at first. But don’t worry, after a few tries and with the right tools, you’ll master these intricate designs and even be able to create your own original ones. So say goodbye to the nail salon and hello to attention-grabbing nails! With this book, you’ll have everything you need to punch up your nails and create fun, one-of-a-kind designs. HOW TO USE THIS BOOK You might think that a manicurist or nail technician is the only one who can create beautiful nail designs. After all, they’ve taken classes and have made a career out of giving thousands of clients the perfect manicure. But designing your nails isn’t nearly as scary or difficult as you might think. In fact, once you get started, you’ll wonder why you went to the nail salon in the first place. Best of all, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you not only accomplished this salon- quality look on your own, but that you didn’t have to spend a lot of money doing so. There are just a couple of things you need to know before you get started. Prepping Your Nails and Taking Care of Your Design Creating the perfect manicure and nail art design isn’t just about color or pattern. You must allow each nail polish layer to dry as you complete each step in order to make the design last. You also have to make sure that your nails are in good shape. You might be tempted to skip these first few steps, but the prep work is just as essential as the nail art itself. It not only keeps your nails healthy and clean, but extends the polished look of your design. Now, who wouldn’t want that? Cutting and Shaping Your Nails Before you start any design, you should wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover. Even if your nails aren’t painted, you should always make this your first step because it helps