DIY Nail Art

DIY Moon Manicure
nail polish

Learn an Easy Update to the Moon Manicure

The moon manicure is a classic, but dotting a contrasting polish into a moon shape is a cool way to freshen up the traditional look.
by

The moon manicure is a classic, but dotting a contrasting polish into a moon shape is a cool way to freshen up the traditional look. Plus, you don't have to have much dexterity to nail this look. After applying a base coat, I polished my nails with the new By Terry Nail Laque in Vintage Coral for a warm, vibrant base. Next, I opted for a gold accent using Essie Good as Gold ($18.95) to create the spotted moon shape.

To do this, pour a little of the gold polish onto a piece of paper, and then use the tip of a pencil or bobby pin to dot the metallic hue onto your nail. You only need a small amount of polish for each dot, or else you might make them too big. Don't forget to seal the look with a high-shine top coat, like Essie Good to Go ($15.95), for a fast-drying finish.

10 Professional Nail Art Tips and Tricks
nail polish

10 Dos and Don'ts of Nail Art

Nail art can be quite tricky to master, which is why we turned to Stephanie Lavery, the editor in chief of Nail It!
by

Nail art can be quite tricky to master, which is why we turned to Stephanie Lavery, the editor in chief of Nail It! magazine, to tell us the dos and don'ts of artful manicures. She dishes on all sorts of nail tricks and tips, from at-home to professional polish jobs and even nail safety.

View 10 Photos
Pictures of Celebrity Manicures From the 2013 Awards Season
Hair

See the Hottest Red-Carpet Manicures of 2013

It's a wrap! From the Oscars to the Grammys and Golden Globes, awards season has brought on manicures galore.
by

It's a wrap! From the Oscars to the Grammys and Golden Globes, awards season has brought on manicures galore. See the latest major polish moments from all the red carpets, including the Spirit Awards and the Sundance Film Festival to all the inaugural events and beyond.

— Additional reporting by Jessica Cruel and Maria Del Russo

Diane Kruger Jennifer Garner Sandra Bullock Selena Gomez Amy Poehler Kerry Washington Amy Adams
View 92 Photos
DIY Valentine's Day Nail Art
nail polish

An Easy Heart Nail Design to DIY

Valentine's Day offers the perfect excuse to have unapologetically girlie, romantic nails, like this dainty pink look accented with a bright pink heart and pretty polka dots.
by

Valentine's Day offers the perfect excuse to have unapologetically girlie, romantic nails, like this dainty pink look accented with a bright pink heart and pretty polka dots. This sweet manicure has different elements happening at once, but it's easy to create and even easier to wear. First, I polished two coats of Deborah Lippmann in Prelude to a Kiss (get similiar by using Chanel Le Vernis Nail Varnish in Emprise) to form a pink base. Next, I used a white nail art pen to dab on the delicate spots. If you already have a white polish, you can use that and the tip of a pencil to create the tiny dots. Once my ring finger polish was completely dry, I used this tutorial to form a heart-shaped stencil with tape. I finished by painting on Mac Cosmetics Nail Lacquer in Steamy ($22) to create the bright pink accent. Go ahead and wear your heart on your fingertips!

DIY Video: How To Do Quick, Easy, Pretty & Cool Nail Art
nail polish

Create a Nude Nail Art Manicure Look in Less Than 5 Minutes

One of the best ways to enhance a nude manicure is to add a subtle accent.
by

One of the best ways to enhance a nude manicure is to add a subtle accent. And in this case, it requires only one coat of metallic polish and a strip of tape. The end result is a chic, eye-catching design that takes less than five minutes to complete. Let this sophisticated style be inspiration for your next manicure, and here's exactly how to do it.

Review of Illamasqua Speckled Nail Varnish
product reviews

First Look: Illamasqua's Limited Edition Speckled Nail Varnish

Last week revealed Illamasqua's new Rubber Brights Nail Varnish, and this week, we bring you Speckled Nail Varnish ($22.50 each).
by

Last week revealed Illamasqua's new Rubber Brights Nail Varnish, and this week, we bring you Speckled Nail Varnish ($22.50 each). Limited edition and reminiscent of a speckled egg, we've got an exclusive look at the collection, set to drop in store at Myer on January 31. The polish is semi-sheer on the first coat, but you'll have the full effect by the second. Be sure to add a high-shine top coat for maximum mani power, and why not mix the colours and wear a cute combination across both hands? Pastels are great like that. Click through to see the colours up close — we know what we'll be wearing on our talons this Easter...

Fragile Freckle Mottle Scarce Speckle
View 6 Photos
Essie's DIY Nail Wraps Review
nails

Essie Gets In On the Nail Appliqué Trend

Essie is starting the New Year with an exciting new launch: Sleek Stick Nail Appliqués.
by

Essie is starting the New Year with an exciting new launch: Sleek Stick Nail Appliqués. While nail art wraps aren't exactly new, the brand is out to set a new bar on the nail sticker category. The Sleek Stick collection features 12 different designs with many of them making a good use of metallics. UV cured, the high-shine wraps are made with a long-lasting adhesive that can stick to your nails for up to 10 days. I used the Oh My Gold! design, which features a silver and gold geometric pattern. The wrap is actually clear, so my natural nail was able to peek through; that means this would also look great over any nail colour. Learn more about the application process when you read more.

DIY Leopard Print Nail Art How To
nail polish

DIY Leopard Nail Art: It's Easier Than You'd Think

Leopard print has taken the fashion accessories world by storm, but it's also reared its surprisingly neutral head in the nail art realm, as well.
by

Leopard print has taken the fashion accessories world by storm, but it's also reared its surprisingly neutral head in the nail art realm, as well. Recently at a Revlon-hosted nail art event, celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi (who has worked with stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Stone, and Scarlett Johansson) showed me a few tricks to get it right. Her version features a nude base with bright orange and black spots, making for a surprisingly wearable look.

First Choi applied a base coat and then two thin coats of Revlon ColorStay in Bare Bones, a creamy almond. Next she applied orange spots using the brand's Nail Art Neon in High Voltage, ensuring the brush only had a little bit of polish so it didn't create big blobs of paint. Jin says the key is to create irregular forms, so nothing needs to look perfect. To finish, she used the black end of the Nail Art Expressionist in Night & Degas to add dark accent spots with the tip of the brush. Again, you only want a tiny bit of polish on the brush to maintain control. The end result is a lot more complicated than it really looks, but because the whole design is about imperfection, it's easy to do yourself.