How to create an ombre nail design

Nov 01, 2012 1:32 AM by Kara Endres

Posted in How-To / Beauty & Style How-tos

How To Get... Easy Ombre Nails

Gone are the days of trying to quickly blend wet colors on your nails for an ombre design, furiously working away with a toothpick or paintbrush to get a gradated effect. Here is a simple and foolproof way to get a great ombre effect on your nails that will save time and headaches. You can use any color combination you like to suit your mood or time of year. This can be done with up to four colors for the best result.

ombre nails

Step 1: Set out your supplies

The supplies used for this ombre nail tutorial include:

Sinful Colors Pull Over
Sephora by OPI Hi Def
Zoya Kara
Scotch tape
Makeup sponges

ombre nail supplies

Step 2: Prepare your sponge

Using the small end of the makeup sponge, paint three colors side by side. I went with pink, then orange and then yellow to mimic the colors in a sunset. Tape off your nail to get ready for stamping this sponge onto your finger. (This makes for an easier cleanup.)

Ombre nail sponge prep

Step 3: Stamp your nails

Stamp the sponge onto your nail and press it over and over, slightly moving it up and down your nail to blend the colors. You can wait for it to dry and do a second coat of this if you need it darker.

Start stamping

Step 4: Continue stamping all of your nails

Stamp all your nails. You don't have to wait for the polish to dry before taking off the tape, since it's not crucial to the design.

Continue stamping ombre nails

Step 5: Remove tape and add a top coat

When the colors are dry, remove tape and finish with a top coat.

finished ombre nails

Comments

Comments on "How to create an ombre nail design"

I find this only works if I have first painted my nails white, otherwise the colour doesnt show.

Just brush a thin coat of Elmer's glue on your fingers, let dry, then sponge like crazy... when polish is dry, just peel off glue & mess.....

If you find the polish is soaking into the sponge, dampen it first. It will prevent the polish from soaking in too fast and give you more time for your technique.

I tried this but it didnt work the sponge soaked up the polish so when I'd dab it on my nail I nothing would come off. And I did it immediately after painting it on the sponge