From the seed-bead nails shown on the runway of Cushie et Ochs’ Fall 2011 show, to Ciaté’s chic Caviar Manicure kits–texture has been touted as the next big thing on the nail art scene. We show you how to nail the trend in 5 simple steps…
You’ll need:
*1 jar of black micro beads. These tiny glass hole-less beads can be found in arts and crafts stores, or can easily be purchased online. We got ours here. Note: for best results, we do not recommend using seed beads. Micro beads are much smaller thus, the finished look is much more wearable.
*Black nail polish (we used Zoya Lacquer Dovima Matte Velvet $19.00 www.zoya.com.au)
*Clear nail varnish top coat–to seal the beads in place (we used Revlon ColorStay Top Coat $15.95 available at Priceline and all major department stores)
*Tupperware container–to be used as a catchment device when pouring the beads onto nails.
Step 1
Paint your first nail with two coats of nail varnish.
Step 2
Place your nail over your Tupperware catchment dish, and pour the beads directly over your painted nail (the Tupperware container will reduce mess–and save waste.)
Step 3
Gently pat beads down with your forefinger to set in place, then pour beads over again to ensure there are no gaps. Pat down gently again to ensure the result is neat and even. Move onto next nail and repeat process until all nails are completed.
Step 4
Carefully coat each nail with your clear top coat. You can skip this step and the beads will still stick, though the topcoat will keep the beads in place for longer.
Step 5
While you give your nails approx 10 minutes drying time, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax and feel oh so smug about how ridiculously clever you are.
Our results
We loved our 3D nails so much we could hardly stop touching them once they’d dried. Though initially a little sceptical about our dexterity in being able to pull off this DIY, much to our delight–it was actually super easy! The whole process from start to finish took 20 minutes.
Just remember, micro beads not only look more desirable than seed beads, but they’re also much easier to work with. Removal was easy. Just soak each nail in nail polish remover for about a minute and wipe off!
Hot tip: We’ve already ordered ourselves some multi-coloured micro beads and got our candy pink polish at the ready to try the hundreds and thousands style manicure for a fun take on this textural trend. Buyer Beware: may induce strong sugar cravings!
Fake it with Foils…
For those who want nails that command attention, but aren’t quite brave enough to try the Caviar Manicure, try the stick on nail foil trend. They come in a variety of patterns and colours, and are super easy to apply. No mess, no fuss, just fab nails! Look out for brands such as Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips Kits rrp $14.95 (pictured below, and available Priceline, pharmacies and department stores) as well as Blixz Nail Foil Kits rrp $17.95 www.blixz.com.au and 1000hour Nail Foil Kits rrp $17.50 www.1000hour.com.au
