Newsprint nail art. I've been wanting to give this a go for a while now, but never seemed to find the time. I have to admit, that although I loved the look, I was worried about what kind of undertaking it would be. How long is this going to take? How much effort will it require? What kind of products do I need? Well, let me tell you, newsprint nail art is the easiest, most fool-proof type of nail art you can imagine. If you're a beginner or a pro, you can do this nail art.
Here's what you need:
- Light colored nail polish. I used Don't Pretzel My Buttons by OPI.
- Base coat and top coat. I always prefer OPI.
- Newspaper.
- Rubbing alcohol.
- Nail file.
- Small cup.
- Old magazines (for the mess).
1. File your nails. I like mine short and squoval, but the rule of thumb, so to speak, is to mimic the shape of your nail bed. Mine are a little bit squarish, so the squoval shape works great. I like to use 100 Grit pro nail files, but they are actually meant for acrylic nails and could cause cracking, so be careful. Very careful. Only file in one direction or you may split your nail.
2. Rip your newspaper into pieces - big enough that the cover your entire nail but not so big that it's hard to work with. I like using the arts section!
3. Lay down your magazines to contain your mess. While you're at it, put on a movie so you have something to do while your nails are drying!
4. Pour your rubbing alcohol into a small cup-you'll need enough to cover your entire nail. I've heard you can use Vodka, but why waste it? Rubbing alcohol is less expensive.
5. Apply your basecoat and let it dry. I like OPI brand best.
6. Apply a pale nail polish color. I used a nude shade, because it was 'handy.' But after completing my nails, I think I would use more of a griege (think beige and grey) color for the next time. The benefit to nude, though, is that it won't show chips or nicks as much. You could use white, grey, pastel, etc, anything that has a strong contrast with the newsprint. Light colored nail polish may require extra coats - I used three- so keep them very thin. The pros learn to apply each coat in three swipes - right down the middle first, then one on each side. Good nail polish, like my fav OPI, has smoothers in it that will help the polish smooth out after you've applied it.
7. Allow your polish to dry thoroughly.
8. Dip one nail into the alcohol, then press a piece of newsprint on top and hold it firmly for a few seconds. If you hold it too long the paper will stick to your nails, but if you don't hold it long enough the print will look faded. Repeat, one nail at a time, on all your nails. I like when the print is placed randomly over the nail, but you can also line up the print so that it is straight. Keep in mind, though, that it will be backwards!
9. Allow it to dry.
10. Apply your top coat and allow it to dry. Reapply top coat every other day to keep your nail art looking beautiful.
Don't rush the drying time - I did, even though I know better, and I smudged one of my nails. Always use thin coats so the polish doesn't bubble. I tried a few different fonts and styles for variety, but can you tell which nail I smudged? Have you tried newsprint nail art? Did you like it?
Amanda Furbeck is a Yahoo! Shine Beauty Guru, cosmetologist, and blogger at thebeautifulblog.com. Read more of Amanda's articles at Yahoo! Shine.
