Animal Print Nail Art is a timeless trend that allows you to express your bold and fashionable personality right at your fingertips. From classic leopard spots to zebra stripes and cowhide patterns, animal-inspired designs are incredibly versatile and fun to create at home. If you’re looking for an easy yet impactful way to elevate your style, look no further than this step-by-step guide to achieving stunning animal print nails.
Step-by-step guide to creating leopard print nail art at home, a fun and easy animal print nail design tutorial.
This tutorial focuses on the ever-popular leopard print, a fantastic starting point for exploring the world of animalistic nail designs. The technique is simple to master and can be adapted to various color combinations to match your unique style. Let’s dive in and discover how to create this eye-catching manicure.
What You’ll Need:
- Base coat (e.g., essie ‘spin the bottle’)
- Contrasting base color for spots (e.g., Barry M ‘Tiki Hut’)
- Darker contrasting color for outlining (e.g., essie ‘licorice’)
- Dotting tool (or a hairpin)
- Foil or shiny card
- Top coat
Step-by-Step Guide to Animal Print Nail Art:
Step 1: Lay Down Your Base Coat
Begin by applying your chosen base coat to clean, dry nails. Select a neutral or pastel shade as your base – essie ‘spin the bottle’ is an excellent option for a subtle, chic background. Apply 2-3 thin coats, ensuring each layer is fully dry before proceeding. This creates a smooth canvas for your animal print design and helps protect your natural nails.
Step 2: Create Irregular Spots
Next, take your contrasting base color – Barry M ‘Tiki Hut’ offers a vibrant pop – and create irregular dots or blobs across your nails. Don’t aim for perfect circles; the beauty of animal print lies in its organic, slightly messy appearance. Vary the size and placement of the spots for a more natural look.
Step 3: Prepare Your Detailing Color
Pour a small amount of your darker contrasting shade, like essie ‘licorice’, onto a piece of foil or shiny card. This will serve as your palette for the next step. Having a non-absorbent surface ensures you can easily pick up the polish with your dotting tool.
Step 4: Define the Animal Print Markings
Using your dotting tool (or the tip of an unfolded hairpin as a clever alternative), dip it into the dark polish and begin outlining your base color spots. Mimic the characteristic markings of a leopard print by creating messy “u” shapes and small, connected dots around the edges of the spots. For inspiration, a quick online image search for “leopard print” can be incredibly helpful. Practice on your foil first to get a feel for the pressure and amount of polish needed.
Step 5: Seal with a Top Coat
Patience is key here! Allow your design to dry slightly before carefully applying a generous layer of top coat. This crucial step seals in your artwork, adds shine, and prevents smudging. Waiting a bit before top coat application minimizes the risk of streaks.
Congratulations, you’ve created your own animal print nail art! Experiment with different color combinations to achieve various animal patterns. Try cheetah print with smaller, more tightly packed spots, or even zebra stripes using black and white. Don’t be afraid to get creative and let your inner artist run wild. Share your creations and inspire others to embrace their own animal print nail art journey!
