First Nail Tutorial: How To- Ikat Nails

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE nail polish and doing nail art. I have never posted my results or how-to so I decided there is no better time then the present. Let me know how you enjoy this!!

I was browsing YouTube yesterday because I love to do that to find inspiration for my daily life. I happened to stumbled upon all of these awesome nail tutorials- some that were unnecessary and others that made me go "ahhhhhh" *angels voices*

I came across MissJenFabulous (links at bottom) and found a nail tutorial on Ikat nails. So I watched and fell in love and decided to try it. It just so happened to be time for me to do my nails for the week, eekk!

What I love about this design is that you can get creative with your shapes and your color pallet. Another thing I love is that this looks like it took forever to do but it is super easy. I did this watching a movie so I would be distracted while letting the polish dry in between coats and designs.


Here is a preview of what you will be doing!!

Not too shabby for my first attempt, huh?

Things I Used:

• Nail file
• Nail clippers
• Sally Hansen "Instant Cuticle Remover" Max strength 
• Cuticle pusher
• Base and Top coat (Beauty Secrets, from Sally)
• Nail strengthener (Sally Hansen's "Advanced Hard as Nails")
• OPI Over the Taupe (base color)
• "Black Sketch" nail precision nail art brush by Milani
• OPI "Alpine Snow"
• "White Canvas" nail precision nail art brush from Milani
• Sinful Colors "Hazard" (Walgreens or Target)
• Corrector pen or q-tip with remover 

How to Get the Look...

1. So as always take the polish off of your nails
1. Still rub your nails with a moist cotton ball of nail polish remover to the excess oil off the nail
2. Cut and file your nails- I use a glass nail file for my nails
3. Apply Sally Hansen "Instant Cuticle Remover" Max strength and push back cuticles 
4. I then buff and shine my nails
5. I then apply 1 coat of Sally Hansen's "Advanced Hard as Nails" nail strengthener 
6. Then I apply my base coat
7. I applied 3 coats of my base color (OPI Over the Taupe)



Base color

1. of course drying in between coats
8. I then applied my black lines with "Black Sketch" nail precision nail art brush by Milani

1. I started from the nail bed in strokes, making a triangular shape
2. I then did the top part of the nail in the opposite direction
1. I would recommend doing all 10 nails in order to give the black a chance to dry so you can continue the process
9. I then filled in the black area with OPI "Alpine Snow" 

1. I used "White Canvas" nail precision nail art brush from Milani to fill in any missing spots towards the top of my design
2. Do this to all 10 nails
3. I let them dry for an extra few minutes
10. I then placed a dot of Sinful Colors "Hazard" in the middle of the white of each section of the nail
11. Fill in any spots that need touching up
12. Take a correction pen or q-tip with remover to get access polish off skin
13. Let it dry
14. Apply your favorite top coat

Right hand

Left hand

Inspiration:

Polish and Pearls Blog

MissJenFabulous Nail Tutorial

So give this cool nail art design a try and let me know how it works out for you!!

Peace, love and nail polish.

-Asha Monet