How to Get Hailee Steinfeld's Wild Comic-Con Mani

Self Magazine

by Alexandra Samuel



Getty Images
Getty Images

Comic-Con is many things: A geek's paradise, a movie's unveiling, and, of course, a representation of the coolest casual-chic fashion around, modeled by stars, of course. But while buzz centered around things like Lily Collins and her new flick, I was majorly focused on something else: Hailee Steinfeld's seriously on-theme manicure.

But, just like CosPlay, NailArt can be totally scary -- or daunting at best. And finally, after a week of playing, I figured out the best way to copy the comic-inspired pattern on Steinfeld's tips, who attended to promote her new movie Ender's Game. And, unless you've got, like, an entire Saturday to do this, stick to the design on her pointer finger and use it as an accent nail amidst a pure white mani.

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YOUR SUPPLY KIT:
* Brow and/or Sewing Scissors
* Scotch Tape
* White, Yellow and Red Nail Polishes (ORLY has a great color range)
* Black and Blue Nail Art Pen (I love the ones from Sally Hansen!)

Start with a totally dried, professionally painted super-white mani. Normally I'd always tell you to DIY it, but you need your cuticles need to be in top shape to rock such a bold look. Seriously. #Trust.

Snip one piece of tape to the width of your finger and trim jagged edges. Position the tape about a quarter of the way up your nail, with the jagged part facing your cuticle, and press down so everything lies flat against your nail.

Paint the part between your cuticle and tape with red polish and let it dry completely -- ideally an hour, but you could get away with less time, should you be in a rush. (But what's more important than your mani?) Once it's dry, carefully peel off the tape.

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Cut a second piece of tape the same way and place it so it covers about half of the red polish, with the jagged edge again facing the cuticle. Paint yellow polish over the exposed area (you may need two coats) and let it dry completely before peeling off the tape.

Repeat the last two steps on the tip of your nail, starting with the yellow polish this time, and then follow with the red.

Once you're all dry and tape-less, use the black polish pen to trace the borders between the red, yellow and white polish.

The final touch? Use the blue polish pen to draw dots on the remaining white area.

ZAP! You're done.

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