Glitter Placement Gradient Tutorial

Hey guys! These super sparkly nails are the result of me really having nothing better to do, so if you also have nothing better to do with your time than stick hundreds of tiny pieces of glitter to yourself, then read my tutorial below to see how to get this glittery mermaid-like mani :) 

What I Used:

- OPI Nail Envy Base Coat
- OPI Incognito in Sausolito
- OPI Top Coat 
- Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
- Rainbow hex glitter from bornprettystore
- Dotting tool from winstonia
- Nail polish remover and cleanup brush

1. Apply a base coat to protect your natural nails from stains and provide a smooth base for polish.

2. Next, apply two coats of a dark polish as a base for your glitter (I chose navy blue) and allow to dry.

3. Select three colours of glitter that go together (e.g. dark blue, light blue and silver) and tip some glitter out on to a piece of a paper, separated in different colours, for easy cleanup.

4. Paint a stripe of top coat (not a fast-drying one) down the centre of your nail, and add a small dot of top coat to the end of a small dotting tool or toothpick to use to pick up the glitter.

5. Working quickly so the top coat doesn't dry out, add the glitter one by one in a vertical line up the centre of your nail, darkest colour to lightest. Make sure the pieces of glitter are all placed the same way around so they form a smooth and straight line.

6. Add another line of glitter right alongside the first line, carefully slotting the glitter in to place so that there aren't any spaces between them. Continue all over your nail, row by row, adding more top coat as you need it. 

7. Once all the glitter is in place, make sure to finish with a top coat. Two coats is better than one with this kind of design, as the glitter will flake off quickly if it is not properly sealed in.  

8. Clean up any polish around your cuticles with a brush or cottonbud dipped in polish remover, and get rid of any flecks of glitter on your fingers by rinsing them in water after everything has dried.  

Ta da! SO SPARKLY. Please do have a go at glitter placement yourselves, maybe just for an accent nail if you can't quite manage the whole ten, and let me know how it goes! It may be a long and frustrating process but it sure is pretty. Feel free to share any comments with me below, and I'll see ya next time!

Lisa xx