DIY We Love: Bridal Nail Art

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bridal nail art

We're obsessed with the nail art trend (think: 3D embellishments, chunky glitter and intricate patterns) that's been dominating Pinterest, blogs and celebrity style since early this year. But a detailed, customized manicure can be really pricey. We reached out to Jen, the mind behind blog and Etsy shop Never Too Much Glitter, to create an exclusive nail design that's easy enough to DIY and gorgeous enough to wear on your wedding day.

Materials

Nail polish in a sheer pink or nude base (we used Orly Bare Rose)
Silicone baking cup or small glass or metal cup
Fine glitter in silver or white (we used MAC Reflects Pearl Glitter)
Clear nail polish
Clear-based polish with dense glitter (we used China Glaze Luxe and Lush)
Quick-dry top coat (we used Seche Vite)
Toothpick
Nail polish in your choice of colors for flowers, dots and accents

nail art materials

Step 1: Prep and Paint Nails

Polish nails as usual with your base color.
After it's dry, mix a pea-sized amount of glitter and polish in the silicone cup. It should look sheer and glittery.
Paint the mixture across nails horizontally, going about 1/3 of the way down the nail.
Let dry.

nail art glitter gradation

Step 2: Finish the Gradation

Using your dense glitter polish, paint a horizontal stripe on the top of the nail. It should be half the width of the first glitter stripe.
Add between 1-3 coats, depending on the level of sparkle you prefer. Dry between each coat. Don't worry if it's not perfectly smooth at this stage. A good top coat will even out the bumps and add shine.
If you're not adding any nail art accents, go ahead and apply the top coat.

diy nail art

Step 3: Add Dots and Flowers

Use a toothpick dipped in your choice of nail polish colors (we used white).
Put a couple of drops of nail polish in your silicone baking cup or on a sheet of waxed paper. Dip the toothpick in and touch to the nail. Five dots in a circle make a flower, just be sure to add a contrasting color in the middle for the flower's center.
Option 2: Add a curved, dotted line as an extra embellishment. It's totally up to you!