We’ll take any excuse to play with nail art, but National Nail Polish Day gives us the perfect reason. Taking place on June 1 annually, essie founded the day three years ago and it continues to get bigger every time. Nailing the perfect mani is the best way to celebrate. Plus, the start of summer kicks off the season known for experimenting with your makeup. “Summer is the perfect time to play with color, especially if you’re out of the office and going on vacation,” says Steph Stone, essie Celebrity Manicurist. “Brights and primary colors are in. Try experimenting with a multi-colored rainbow mani. If you like to play it safe, don’t worry because there is a neon for everybody that you’ll love.”
As for the old nail shape debate, Stone suggests shaping them based on how your nails grow. “There’s no right or wrong answer,” she says. “My main priority is to round off the sides to prevent any breakage or snags. I find that nail shape can really be more of a personal choice rather than a trend-based decision.”
Gear up for summer and National Nail Polish Day with these three fun and easy nail art designs shared by Stone:
Look #1: Summer Swirl
Step 1: Paint your nails with one coat of “in full swing” from the essie summer 2019 collection as your base. Allow a few minutes to dry.
Step 2: Next, wrap the tips of your fingers in scotch tape, leaving only the nail bed tape free. This is going to help with clean up later.
Step 3: For these next steps it’s very important to work quickly. In a small cup of room temperature water, place one drop of each shade after another. It’s important that the water not be cold or the polish will quickly harden. Each color should spread in the water as you place it. Then, use a toothpick to draw lines towards the center of the circles. Next, pick a spot in the water and place your finger in it, nail bed facing down. The swirls in the water will adhere to your nail (and the rest of your finger, which is why tape is necessary). Repeat for each nail.
Step 4: Remove the tape to reveal your design without all the mess! You will still have polish remnants around your cuticles, which can be cleaned up with a tiny concealer brush dipped in nail polish remover.
Step 5: Apply gel.setter top coat to give your look high shine and ensure a long lasting manicure!
Look #2: Rainbow Ombré
Step 1: Start by painting each nail with one coat of “no place like chrome” topped with “set in stones.”
Step 2: Next, following the order of the rainbow, paint the glazed days shades over half of your nail. Layer the colors in the middle of the nail, creating a gradient affect. Repeat these steps until you’ve created a seamless look from nail to nail.
Step 3: Seal in the look with gel.setter top coat for an ultra high shine finish.
Look #3: French Tip Twist (“If you like a more classic mani, you can still play it up by incorporating hints of metallic,” Stone says.)
Step 1: Start by painting your nails with two coats of gel couture in the shade “fairy tailor.”
Step 2: Then, swipe “no place like chrome” across the tip of your nail, creating a fun twist on the French Tip.
Step 3: Top it off with gel couture top coat for a longwearing glossy finish.
