Ombre nails are super on trend right now, and when done correctly, they look very cool. They may seem daunting at first, but this fashion-forward style is absolutely doable, it just takes a little practice.
Ombre Nails Step-by-Step
Here is our simple guide on how to do ombre nails:
Gather your materials. You will need two or more shades of nail polish (choose colors that blend well together), makeup sponges, base coat, topcoat, nail polish remover, and some cotton swabs.
Prepare your nails. Before beginning, be sure to trim and file your nails to a smooth, even edge. Push back cuticles if needed. For a great, professional-grade manicure set, we recommend Tweezerman. On clean, dry nails, apply your base coat to create a smooth, even surface for the nail polish to adhere to. Allow this coat to dry completely.
Start with the lighter shade. Apply the lighter nail polish color to the sponge and dab it on your nails. You can do this in two ways: apply the color to the tip of your nails and blend it upwards towards the base, or apply the color to the base of the nail and blend it towards the tip. Since this shade is lighter, you could also simply brush it across the entire nail if you like.
Apply the darker shade. Put some of the darker color nail polish on the same sponge, right next to the lighter color so that now there are two thick lines of different colors on the sponge. Dab the sponge again on your nails with the darker color being applied to the tips and the lighter color at the base (or vice versa depending on the look you’re going for).
Repeat. The first layer will likely be pretty subtle, so you will want to repeat until you achieve the desired ombre effect. You may have to layer the polish several times to get the intensity of color you want. Be sure to allow each layer to dry completely before adding the next!
Refine the edges. Use a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover to carefully remove the polish from your skin.
Apply topcoat. Allow nails to dry completely before applying a topcoat. This will give your nails a shiny finish and help the polish last longer.
Once the topcoat is dry, you're done! Enjoy your beautiful ombre nails. Note: For more intense or dramatic looks, you can use more than two colors to achieve an ombre effect. You can also experiment with glitter or other nail art to add more depth and interest to your ombre nails.
