The water marbling technique makes for some fabulous looking nails, but the whole process can be a little intimidating to both newbies and manicure gurus. Let me assure you that it's not as difficult as it seems and that anyone can master the art of water marbling their finger nails. In fact, the photograph you see here is a result of my first attempt at a water marbling manicure. I was tickled pink (and blue and yellow…) with the results and am sure you'll be just as successful.
Here's a step-by-step water marbling manicure tutorial to help you out. For my manicure, I used Bodyography's new spring lacquer line in the following colors: Airy Fairy, Fancy Free and Glow With The Flow.
Prepare Nails
Remove any leftover nail polish with a nail polish remover. FIle your nails so they're all the same shape. This helps create a more polished manicure.Base Coats and White Polish
Before you begin, paint your nails with a base coat polish. This makes your manicure last longer and also protects your nails from stains. Allow the base coat to dry and then paint one to two coats of a plain white nail polish. The white polish should be opaque and not sheer.
Prepare Needed Items
You'll need a disposable paper cup, warm water, several nail polishes of your choice, scotch tape and a toothpick. The nail polishes you choose shouldn't be too old. If they're at all goopey or thick, this won't work. The thinner the polish is, the better your results will be.
Taping Nails
Tape around the edges of your finger nails (all four sides). This makes post-painting cleanup far easier. I usually tape one finger nail at a time, but you can do all one hand or a few nails at a time.
Preparing Water and Polish
Fill your cup with warm water. It's important that the water is warm and not cold or too hot. Apply a drop of nail polish to the water. It should disperse immediately and won't look very bright. Follow up with a drop of your second nail polish and third, etc. Use the toothpick to create swirls.
*You must work very, very quickly or the polish will dry on the surface of the water and won't work.
Dip Your Finger
Dip your finger into the marbled surface of the water at a 90 degree angle. This prevents bubbles. Stick your toothpick back in the water and circle it around your finger. This removes the residual nail polish on the surface and makes for easier cleanup.
Top Coat
Repeat this process on all 10 fingernails and then follow up with a top coat. It may take trial and error on a few nails, so don't be afraid to re-do nails if you're unhappy with the first design.
Feel free to share your finished results in the comment section below.
