Monday, May 21, 2012

Easy Half Moon Mani - Using Clippers and Tape!



Not all of us have a steady enough hand for a perfect French Tip or half moon mani for that matter. That's why when I heard mention of a simple clipper trick, I had to give it a try.

Basically to make your own nail guides you use a sharp nail clippers and ordinary tape. The result is less curved than hole reinforcer stickers (what I'd been using previously) and both easier to use and cheaper than ordinary guides. I've done a pictorial below to show just how simple this is.



Step 1: Gather your supplies. Plain tape, a sharp clippers, NYC's Pinstripe White, China Glaze's Flip Flop Fantasy & Model's Own nail art pen in black. 

Step 2: Place small pieces of tape on the back of your hand. This works to both cut them efficiently but also to make the tape tacky so it doesn't stick to your base coat and is easy to remove. 

Step 3: Using your white polish, paint two thin coats as your base. This is a great way to make your neon colour Pop! Allow to dry fully. 

Step 4: Place the tacky tape 1/4 the way down your nail bed, pressing onto the flesh each side and not your nail. Paint one coat of your neon polish. While your neon is still wet, remove the tape carefully. This will give you the sharpest line. 

Step 5: Using your black striper/nail art pen, paint zebra line haphazardly onto the white half moon. 

Step 6: Using a high shine top coat, seal in your design. This one is Sally Hansen's 4 in 1. It's a great all rounder. Gorge. 

Although this particular design isn't for the faint hearted, this trick can be used for straight forward French tips or more subtle half moon manis. 

What do we think? Will you try it? Have you any other little tips or tricks you'd like to share? 


17 comments:

Unknown said...

really good idea! I love a nice half moon. This is really simple! Grear

Kitty Catastrophe said...

Oh these are DEADLY!

Laura Larrie said...

This looks great! I must try it :)

Sue Jordan said...

Thanks, Katie :)

Unknown said...

Brill you make it look so simple .. When I do it I'll look like I have a fungal nail infection

Sue Jordan said...

Thank'um! :D

Sue Jordan said...

Ta for that :)

Sue Jordan said...

It's really simple, Mags, genuinely x

boredmum said...

wow thats fab, definately gonna give this a whirl, it looks so easy, although knowing me i'll make a balls of it lol

Unknown said...

I will have to try this!

Unknown said...

These are great.. im crap at nail art :(

Lovely Girlie Bits said...

I could totally do this and pretend to the girls at work I didn't use the tape, I just have a steady hand innit. I lahve it!

Sue Jordan said...

Just take your time, A, you'll get the hang of it in no time x

Sue Jordan said...

Do Sarah, it's so easy :)

Sue Jordan said...

Eh, I'm certainly not proficient :D Have a look through some of the tutorials, I try to use easy peasy ones!

Sue Jordan said...

Do it!!! :D

Rachelle said...

fab nails as always! Love the easy to follow tutorials too! *highfives*