- 2 nail polishes
- 1 ombré brush or makeup sponge
- 1 brush designated for clean-up
- Acetone-based nail polish remover
- Paper hole reinforcements
Step 1: Prep your nails. File them to your preferred shape and push back your cuticle. Then, apply a base coat.
Step 2: Paint one side of your nail. Sweep on the first color of your gradient. Don’t worry, the polish can extend to your tips.
Step 3: Paint the other side of your nail. Apply the second color of your gradient, ensuring the two hues meet in the middle.
Step 4: Blur. Create the ombré effect by tapping the area where the two colors meet with a sponge or brush.
Step 5: Dry. Make sure your nails dry completely. This can take from between five to 10 minutes.
Step 6: Prep to create the second gradient. Carefully place a hole reinforcement — you know, one of those stickers you used to make sure your hole-punched notes wouldn’t rip out of your binder — onto your nail where you’d like your designed tip to begin.
Step 7: Repeat steps two through four along the tip of your nail. Again, your gradients should be opposite of each other. (If the base of the nail features a dark to light gradient, then the tip should feature a light to dark one.)
Step 8: Apply your top coat.
