Did you know you can create unique nail art using plastic wrap? It’s relatively simple and creates less of mess than other nail art techniques that give a similar effect. In this blog post you will see examples of how I have painted my nails at home using plastic wrap and a tutorial on how you can recreate the look!
We’re all stuck in the house, so now is a great time to learn a new nail technique! Plus, you can’t go to the nail salon. So, either you paint your nails yourself or you don’t have your nails done.
I’ve seen a few ways to create a similar look, but they seem like too much work for me. One nail art technique is to tape around your finger, put nail polish in water, swirl it and dip your nails. It’s the taping part that is difficult for me and takes too much time.
I find this method to be easier!
How to Create Nail Art With Plastic Wrap
Here is a short video illustrating the steps below! I did end up smudging this right after I filmed it, so I had to redo it! But, that’s okay because I wasn’t happy with how this one turned out.
Materials needed:
- At least two colors of nail polish
- Plastic wrap
- Tooth pick
- Nail polish remover (for mistakes)
Drop Nail Polish on the Plastic Wrap
Determine the colors you want to use. I have been liking the look of using one color and combining it with white.
Lay out a piece of plastic wrap and place one drop of nail polish on it. Then place the other color(s). I tried to place the droplets next to each other.
Swirl Nail Polish With a Toothpick
This step is how you create the swirly detail. Begin mixing the colors together with a toothpick. I think less is more when it comes to this step. The more you swirl, the more the colors will mix and create a new color.
For example, if I swirled too much here it will start to just look like a lighter pink – which we don’t want.
Apply Polish to Your Nail
Once you’ve swirled the polish, it’s time to apply it to your nail. Carefully pick up the plastic wrap, flip it over and gently press it on to your nail.
If you press too hard, you may squish the polish and therefore sort of ruin the swirly design you created.
Plastic Wrap Nail Art With Three Colors
I wanted to create a sort of a gradient effect by using three colors. To do this, you will need black, white and one color. When you drop the nail polish on to the plastic wrap you’ll want to do the black at the top and the white on the bottom. Think of it like a little snowman!
Then swirl and apply to your nail. To make this look really pop, add some sparkle along the grain of the swirls with a fine brush.
Tips on Perfecting this Technique
- Practice on bare nails. If you notice in my examples I didn’t have a base coat of polish on my nails. I strongly recommend testing this technique out a few times to get the hang of it. I also think it looks pretty on bare nails! All you would need to do is add a shiny top coat.
- When applying the polish don’t press too hard. Just lightly apply the polish to you nail otherwise it will smear.
- When swirling, less is more. Don’t combine the colors too much or they will become one solid, new color.
- Apply polish toward the tip of your nail. Stay away from the base of your nail to avoid getting the polish on your skin.
- Keep nail polish remover close by. If this is your first time trying this, you’re going to make some mistakes!
- Accept that your nails may not look exactly the same. Making this technique look uniform is a challenge. Accept that there is beauty in the imperfection of this nail design.
I hope this post inspires you to try a new technique! I am a perfectionist, and I still think there is a lot of room for improvement in the way I created this look.
Another takeaway from creating this blog post is hand photography is hard! It was so difficult to figure out how to not make my hands look purple and dead. The key? Natural light! There’s a reason I’m standing right next to the window in these photos.
If you’re looking for more DIY projects be sure to check out my reverse tie dye sweatshirt post and tutorial on making pearl earrings.
Thanks for reading!
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