Valentine’s Day means it’s time for a themed manicure!

I thought I’d do this one step-by-step so you can see how I created it…

First some Nail Envy as a base coat on clean nails. I’m convinced this is the reason why my nails are finally all growing in unison rather than perennially at different lengths!

 

Next up base colour of black (Rimmel – Black Out) and white (Illamasqua – Scorch and OPI – Don’t touch my tutu).  I used the OPI on top of the Illamasqua as it can end up looking like a thick coat of Tippex – the OPI is much more sheer, but would need about 6 coats on its own.  In between the two coats of colour I added a coat of Sally Hansen – Hard as Wraps.  I find this helps minimise wear and lifting (which can be an issue with Seche Vite).

Next up, dots! Reversed the colours on all but the middle finger – Illamasqua not the OPI for opaque dots in one coat.  I missed out one white dot each on the index and ring fingers. I used a large-ish dotting tool but it’s easy to make your own with a pencil and a pin.

I went back into the missed space with a very small dotting tool to make a heart in the spaces I’d left – first using the white, then red polish (Chanel – Pirate) to fill in the white (when dry) using a very fine paintbrush.  You need the white under the red or you won’t see the red on the black base.  Using the same paintbrush I outlined the large heart on my middle finger and filled it in using the brush that came with the red polish – this needed two coats.  When it was dry I added the white highlight on the heart. Waited for it to dry properly then added a coat of Seche Vite – make sure its dry or the colours will drag and you’ll lose the clean look!

Ta-da! What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know!!