Tips for your tips!

On my latest shopping trip, I purchased this nail art pen, by Model's Own at Urban Outfitters. Since then, I have been experimenting with various patterns and have developed quite a passion so I thought I'd shed some light on how to achieve some cool and colourful effects.


I'm really fond of all the Aztec prints around at the moment and was inspired by this ring I purchased before Christmas (I think it's from Primark?) I love chunky, statement jewellery so this ring was perfect for me:

The nails were relatively easy to paint, although you will need to develop a slight ambidexterity, or get somebody kind to do your right hand.


Step 1: Prepare your nails: clip, file, shape, buff. You want a nice, smooth surface to achieve the best look. 


Step 2: Use Barry M gold foil effect nail varnish to create your base coat. Leave to dry completely, I'd suggest at least 15-20 minutes.


Step 3: Listen to the following Beatles covers to pass some time:


1. Rufus Wainwright- Across the Universe

2. Eddie Vedder- You've got to hide your love away

3. Ben Folds- Golden Slumbers

4. Ben Harper- Strawberry Fields

Step 4: Time to use the new pen! To ensure smooth flow, first dip the nib into nail varnish remover, squeeze it a little and do a few doodles on some paper. Now for the fun bit! To create the Aztec patterns, I drew the outline M shape a few times over and added a few triangles here and there, but you can be as creative as you want. Take it slowly, and repeat this on both hands so you have the full outline. You can then fill in some of the black spaces so some of the lines are bolder than others.

Step 5: This is the tricky bit. Filling in the blocks of colour can be difficult with a nail varnish brush so I used a small paintbrush. I diluted my red nail varnish with a little nail varnish remover so it would paint on more freely. Be careful here, you don't want to use too much. It's better to come back and add another layer after it's dry.

Step 6:Watch this video and wait for your nails to partially dry:

Step 7: This is where I 'neaten up' a bit. Use your pen again to go over some of the black lines, make sure they're neat. As the red will still be a bit tacky you can use the pen to remove it 'push' it in the right direction if it's being difficult.

Step 8: Leave your nails to dry for a few hours now. Maybe watch a film. I'd suggest a chick flick, you don't want anything too lively that could involve sitting on and/or biting your nails. That would be a disaster. 

Step 9: Apply a top coat. I use Maybelline Salon Manicure 3-in-1, but any will do. Again wait for this to dry whilst doing an activity of your choice.

Step 10: Finally, tidy them up a little. Remove excess from the awkward finger bit around the nail etc.

And now...ta-daaaa! There you have it. Easy as pie, your very own Aztec-inspired nails.

Now you're free to do what you want. 

If anyone attempts this- I'd love to see your creations, so reply below with a picture.