A SMALL RITUAL. A LITTLE COLOR.
Do It Yourself.
Make time for a simple polish look. Start with one of three approachable guides and make it your own.
This is a simplified regular-polish interpretation, not an exact tutorial for the image’s finish or extensions.
YOUR AT-HOME PLAN
The soft French tip
A regular-polish interpretation of French tips. Start with a narrow tip that follows your own nail edge.
- Difficulty
- Some practice
- Estimated time
- 30–45 minutes, plus drying time
What you’ll need
- Nail file
- Sheer nude or pink regular polish
- White or colored regular polish for the tips
- Fine nail-art brush
- Compatible base coat and top coat
Use suitable products you already have, following the directions on each label.
ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME
From prep to polish
- Shape the free edge gently and prepare clean, dry nails according to your polish label.
- Apply your base coat and a thin layer of sheer color. Let each layer dry as directed.
- With a small amount of tip color on a fine brush, draw a narrow line along the free edge. Turn the finger gently to reach each side.
- Let the first tip dry before making small corrections. Keep the line narrow instead of repeatedly building thickness.
- Once the design is dry as directed, apply a compatible top coat without repeatedly brushing over the tips.
A little extra help
- Practice the tip on a spare nail tip or a washable practice surface first.
- A soft, slightly curved line is a good starting point; every nail does not need to be identical.