By SAMANTHA SASSO, REFINERY 29
We can come up with a laundry list of beauty treatments that make us feel like a million bucks, but living like an A-lister isn't always the most wallet-friendly. We have to make beauty sacrifices in order to pay our rent and eat dinner, and one of those is not booking a manicure every time we get a tiny chip. Luckily, the at-home mani is easy to master, and will make you feel just as shiny and fancy as the salon version once you do.
[post_ads_2]
The trick is to not fall into a rut and pick the same old shade over and over again. To get you inspired to stay in tonight with a glass of wine, a fresh bottle of polish, and a dotting tool, we tapped nail artist and Sally Hansen Global Color Ambassador Madeline Poole to show us the cool trends of the moment.
Sally Hansen recently launched its new Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure® Madeline Poole Collection with Poole, the mastermind behind these Oscar-inspired designs, in five shades (Material Pearl, Say It Lycra Mean It, Slime Scene, Mallratz, Vinyl Tap, Call Me On My Shellphone) inspired by Poole's childhood. "The colors are nostalgic from the late '80s and early '90s when bright colors were abundant and embraced," Poole tells Refinery29. "All of the colors are shades that I find myself frequently wanting to use but not being able to find in the right formula blend."
Ahead, check out the shades in action, which will be available later this month for then follow Poole's step-by-step tutorials for each easy nail art look.
The Look: Tiny semi-circles
Step 1: Paint two coats of a nude polish to every nail (this will offset the brighter designs to come later.)
Step 2: Dip the tip of a sewing pin or bottom of a pen in the colors of your choice. "Practice on paper to get a feel for pressure and size," Poole suggests.
Step 3: Dot the circular shapes to your nail. This example uses multiple shades, but feel free to stick to whatever you vibe with the most.
Step 4: To achieve the two-toned design, grab a extra-thin striping brush to divide the circles in half, then fill in one side with the contrasting color.
[post_ads_2]
The Look: Striped tips
Step 1: Start on the stripe that will be closest to your cuticle and draw a straight line from one side of the nail to the other. Tip: Skip the brush and use tape for a more precise line that doesn't require a steady hand or pro kit.
Step 2: Fill in the entire line with polish. Poole suggests that you treat this like your winged liner: "Sometimes I mark off dots along the nail and connect the dots so that I can be sure my lines are going to be level on the nail." Let that first layer of color dry.
Step 3: Switch colors and paint the second stripes on with a brush.
The Look: Round stripes
Step 1: Start off with two coats of Mallratz. Let it dry.
Step 2: Use a striping brush to paint on rounded stripes in Slime Scene.
Step 3: Clean up and sharpen the uneven edges of the lighter green polish with Mallratz on a striping brush.
[post_ads_2]
The Look: Gradient
Step 1: Fair warning: This is an AP-level look. Poole finds it easier to skip the sponge, but that's up to you. Mentally divide your nail into thirds: bottom, middle, top. Paint one coat of Slime Scene along the bottom, closest to the cuticle.
Step 2: Paint the top third of your nail in Say It Lycra Mean It.
Step 3: In a dish, blend both polishes together with a little bit of base coat. This will thin them out and make it easy to create the ombré effect.
Step 4: Quickly — before the polish blend dries — paint the mixture in the bare, middle section of the nail. Since these combined polishes are thinned out, it will be easier to make all three appear cohesive.
Step 5: Use a top coat to finish off the look. Poole says that using a top coat is essential as the last step in order to really melt all three colors together.
[post_ads_2]
The Look: Circular center
Step 1: Paint every nail with two coats of Say It Lycra Mean It.
Step 2: Use a striping brush to paint circular shapes onto the center of the nails in Call Me On My Shellphone. As an alternative, use the same household tools used in the semi-circle look.
Step 3: To perfect the circles, lightly go around the shapes with Say It Lycra Mean It on a striping brush.
Et voila, you have the raddest nail designs of the season.
