Nail Art: How-to

With an extra long bank holiday just around the corner, why not take the time to try some nail art? Here ELLE shows you eight ideas sure to inspire manicure magic. Find your favourite and follow the steps to get the look at home...

The look: This neon yellow, white and grey nail with a hint of sparkle is not only fun to do, but looks impressive too.

You will need:
Base coat
A white nail polish, try Orly Feel the Vibe Nail Polish in Dayglo, £10.25 (at lookfantastic) it glows in the dark. 
Neon Yellow polish - ELLE loves Orly Nail Lacquer in Glowstick, £10.25 (at lookfantastic)
Grey polish, try Revlon Nail Lacquer in Timeless, £6.49 (Boots.com)
A glitter polish to add extra sparkle, try Revlon Nail Lacquer in Stunning, £6.49 (Boots.com) 
Thinner, Mavala Thinner for Nail Polish, £6 (at Debenhams)
Paintbrush, ProArte White Nylon Brush size 4, £2.50 (at Artists Materials Online)
Newspaper
Selotape/masking tape
Shot glasses / artist's palette

How-to: Once your basecoat is dry apply two coats of white polish and leave to dry. In a shot glass (yes, that's how we roll) pour a mix of half neon yellow polish to half thinner. Do the same in another glass with the grey polish. Cover your fingers around each nail with selotape or masking tape to protect your fingers from the paint splatters. Place your nails on top of a surface well covered with newspaper and using the paint brush dip it into the neon yellow mix and splatter each of your nails then leave to dry. Do the same with the grey mixture and leave to dry. Finish by dabbing a little glitter sporadically on each nail. Once dry finish with a clear, high shine top coat, ELLE loves Seche Vite, £9.85 (at Feelunique). Clean up any paint splatters on your fingers with OPI's Correct & Cleanup pen, £11.50 (at John Lewis) or use a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover.

The look: A pretty vintage floral that's easy to do, but looks really effective.

You will need:
Base coat
Four nail polishes - a base colour, a shade for the flowers, a white for the petal detail and a green for the leaves.
We used:
Mavala Nail Colour in Frozen Berry, £4.30 (at lookfantastic)
Fashionista Nail Lacquer in Hot Pink, £5 (Superdrug.com)
Revlon Nail Enamel in White on White, £6.49 (available nationwide)
NYC Quick Dry Polish in High Line Green, £2.59 (Superdrug.com)
Paintbrush - ProArte White Nylon Brush size 4, £2.50 (at Artists Materials Online)

How-to: Following your base coat, paint your nails with two coats of your chosen shade and leave to dry. Next, splodge a few circles of your flower shade, in this case pink, onto the nail. Then using a small artist's paint brush (thinner than a polish brush) paint on a couple of leaves next to each flower. Finish by using another fine paint brush to add the white details; onto the flowers paint horse shoe shapes to create a rose effect. You can mix a little of the white and green polish to add a touch of pale green detail to the leaves. Once dry finish with a high-shine topcoat.

The look: Super glitzy this is best used on one nail (we like it on the ring finger of each hand) then paint the rest of your nails a similar shade.
You will need:
Base coat
Nail polish, we used Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Enamel in Bleu, £5.99 (out June in Boots and Superdrug)
Flat-backed jewel beads, £2.30+VAT, from Creative Beadcraft 
Nails Inc Save the Nail 45 Second Topcoat, £6.95 (Boots.com) 

How-to: Following your base coat, paint all your nails in a similar shade to the crystals you will be using, in this case we chose a blue Bourjois polish. Next dot on a small amount of topcoat, leave to dry for a few seconds then apply a crystal. Apply another dot of topcoat, leave to dry for a few moments then adhere your next crystal; keep going until your whole nail is covered. 

The look: Sporty neons with a matte finish, this is the perfect off-duty nail look.

You will need:
Base coat
Nail polish in two different neons, we used:
Models Own Hed Kandi Nail Polish in Beach Party, £5 (boots.com)
Models Own Wah Nails Art Pen in Pink, £6 (modelsownit.com)
Scotch Tape, £2.99 at Ryman
Scissors
Grey polish, Revlon Nail Enamel in Timeless, £6.49 (boots.com)
Matte topcoat, Bourjois So Matt Topcoat, £5.99 (out Mid June)

How-to: First take the Scotch tape and paint a section with two coats of your grey nail polish so you have a nice solid block of colour, set aside to dry. On your nails once you've let your base coat dry paint three quarters of each nail (from the cuticle  towards the tip) with one neon shade - we chose the orange, leave to dry. Then using the brush in the Models Own Nail Art pen, paint the neon pink over the remaining quarter of your nail near the free edge. Don't worry if the line between both shades is a little wonky because this will be covered. Once both neon sections are dry cut a strip of your - now grey - Scotch tape and stick along your nail where the two neon polishes meet to conceal the join. Do this on each nail then trim away the excess at the egdes so it sits snug from one side to the other. Finish with a matte topcoat which we think gives the look a modern, sporty vibe.

The look: The velveteen finish on this nail is part Sesame Street character, part flocked wallpaper.

You will need:
Base coat - ELLE loves Essie Base Coat All in One, £8.99 (Boots.com)
Nail polish, we used Bourjois So Laque! in Rose Imaginaire, £5.99 (Superdrug)
Original Sugar Velveteen Manicure in Hot Pink, £4.95

How-to: This flocked finish comes loose in a pot that you dip your nails into. Follow your base with a coat of nail polish in a colour as near to that of your Velveteen Manicure. After you paint each nail with the polish leave to go tacky (around 10-15 seconds - depending on the polish you use) then dip it into the pot of velveteen. Once the polish is dry you can brush of the excess with your fingertips.