I love nail art, especially when it’s easy enough to duplicate at home (especially for those of you who don’t have nail guru Susan Nam in your backyards). A couple weeks ago the producers at the Wendy Williams Show asked me to show up on set for my segment with nails that matched the fashion trends I was going to be talking about on air, so I accepted the challenge with excitement. I was there to talk about burgundy and lace being the two must-do trends of Fall 2012… but how could I make my nails like this?
I headed to Polished Beauty Bar in NYC to consult with nail expert (frankly, nail genius), Susan Nam. It came to her in a jiffy- burgundy layers with real pieces of lace over the top as a stencil. And so we were off to make the 1-finger nail art that’s become all the rage these days (notice I abandoned the ring finger for the pointer, the ring finger is sooooo July 2012).
Step 1. Start with a good base coat like CND’s Sticky to anchor the rest of the color.
Step 2. Apply 2 coats of a deep, dark wine color like CND’s Bloodline. It’s deep, dark, perfect for Fall, and free of all the nasty chemicals that’ll make you fear manicures in the first place. Let your nails air dry for 10-15 minutes before moving onto step 3.
Step 3. Cut an old piece of lace from a worn out bra, a ribbon from a birthday gift, or just about anything else. Just make sure it’s big enough to completely cover the nail (or nails) that you’ll be lacing up! Wrap the finger with the lace and either tape it down (you can even use a band-aid for this) or use the weight of your finger to anchor it against a hard surface.
Step 4. Use a makeup sponge to leave a dense layer of white or cream colored polish over the lace. Use the lace as your stencil, and make sure the polish goes on thick! Wait 2-3 minutes and gently peel back the lace. Allow to dry for 5-10 minutes.
Step 5. Finish off the entire lacy manicure with a good top coat, and voila!
TIP: use a piece of lace with a very fine grain, chunkier lace will leave your nails looking splotchy instead of lacy.
