Stained Glass nail art Photo: Hardie Grant Books
In the WAH Nails Book of Nail Art, Sharmadean Reid shares 25 of her most in-demand designs, as requested at her hip London salon, WAH Nails. Below is an extract of two projects, Rhinstone Rain and Stained Glass for your nail-painting pleasure.
Stained Glass Go colour crazy by imitating the ancient art of stained glass with these pretty patterned nails.
YOU WILL NEED
Rhinestone nail art. Photo: Hardie Grant Books
• yellow nail polish
• blue nail polish
• pink nail polish
• lime green nail polish
• black nail-art pen
HOW TO
Step 1. Using your yellow nail polish brush, paint three dabs on the nail, spaced far apart. Hold the brush flat so you get a squarish mark.
Step 2. Paint a few blue dabs, close to, but not overlapping, the yellow.
Step 3. Add some pink, being careful not to touch the other colours.
Step 4. Fill in the remaining gaps with the lime green nail polish.
Step 5. Using your black nail-art pen, outline all the colours to create a stained-glass effect.
TOP TIP: IF YOU CAN FIND TRANSLUCENT OR JELLY POLISHES THEN YOU CAN CREATE SOME TRULY AMAZING GLASS EFFECTS.
Rhinestone Rain
Make it rain jewels, not money, with these crystal-studded nail stars! Swarovski crystals work best with this design. Choose a dark stone, a light stone, and a white stone for a cool sparkle effect.
YOU WILL NEED
• pink nail polish
• glitter nail polish
• nail glue
• cocktail stick
• large, medium and small
rhinestones or Swarovski crystals
• top coat
HOW TO
Step 1. Paint your nails with the pink base colour. Allow to dry, then
add a light coat of glitter, fading halfway down the nail.
Step 2. Dab three drops of nail glue onto the nail. Dip your cocktail
stick in some top coat, use it to pick up a large gem, then press it
in place onto the nail. Follow with two more gems. The glue will take a
few seconds to dry, so try not to touch them until they’re secure.
Step 3. Using the same method, stick on your medium-sized rhinestones,
interspersing them amongst the larger gems.
Step 4. Fill in any gaps with the small rhinestones. These little ones
can be a bit fiddly to apply, but practice makes perfect!
Step 5. Add more small rhinestones trickling down the nail to get the full Rhinestone Rain effect!
TOP TIP: LIBERALLY APPLY THE TOP COAT SO THAT IT DRIPS DOWN BETWEEN THE RHINESTONES TO SECURE THEM IN PLACE
The Wah Nails Book of Nail Art by Sharmadean Reid ($19.95, Hardie Grant Books) is out now in bookstores.
