How To: Tuxedo Nails

As you may have noticed, nail art is becoming more and more popular these days. Maybe it's because we're all broke and just need a little something to perk us up from home at a cost next to nothing? Probably! Plus, it's really cute if you're good at it. I'm no expert, as my right hand is extremely shaky and I'm practically incapable of executing a straight line...but I try! Also, there's just something so therapeutic to me about taking an hour out of the night to focus on just one thing. From fixing up cuticles to filing, buffing, and coating with pretty polish, it's just relaxing (not to mention a really awesome diet trick to keep your fresh nails out of the bottom of a chip bag...).

Anyways, last night I attempted to recreate Zooey Deschanel's red carpet look from this year's Golden Globes. She was quoted on her Instagram that night saying, “I am wearing a gown but my nails are wearing tuxedos!!!" Too cute. So I tried it, except I used a really light silver polish as my base and a deep navy blue for my buttons and such. I wish I had black and white, but it was kind of a last minute decision to try this! They turned out okay! XX. 

Zooey's Version!

My Attempt!

What You Need:

- clippers, file, buffer, etc.

- base coat 

- white polish

- black polish

- a good top coat

- a bobby pin with those little plastic round pieces still attached on the end

- nail polish remover

- q tips

What You Do:

- make sure your cuticles are cleaned up, then file and buff your nails so they're smooth

- put on a base coat and allow it to dry

- add a coat of white to both hands, repeat with a second coat, and allow both hands to dry to the point where they aren't sticky

- give yourself "french tips" with the black polish, making sure that the thickness of each tip is consistent on each nail

- take your bobby pin and paint that little round tip with the black polish

- immediately add two (or three, depending on the length of your nail bed) little dots above the tips you just painted

- i recommend doing your buttons one nail at a time so your bobby pin doesn't dry up, you should be re-coating it with black polish after each 2 or 3 dots 

- go back and add your bows by using the same bobby pin technique (i just made a few dots and sort of blurred them together with the polish and my pin, it will get easier as you discover what works best for you)

- after you've finished both hands, go over each nail with a generous helping of a fresh top coat (i say "fresh" because there's nothing more irritating than ruining your polish with a sticky top coat...you should buy a new one often!) 

- if you've made a mess out of your fingers, as I always do, then go back and dip your q tips in nail polish remover to clean up around the edges

Tip:

After you've waited a good ten minutes for your polish to dry, run your fingers under cold water for a few seconds to set the polish and avoid the tackiness that typically plagues your fresh mani!