This year, sporty gear and graphic nails land at the top of our holiday wish list. So for a few ways to get festive without a lot of fuss, we asked NYC nail studio Paintbox to share a few cool (and chic) nail art looks. These metallic manis are easy enough for even novices to create, so grab your kit and get ready to shine.
In The Club
For a fresh French, cover each nail with one coat of metallic polish, then skim the tip with an evergreen hue. Pro tip: Wield that brush with confidence! “If you move too slowly, that’s when the line gets wobbly,” says Paintbox creative director Julie Kandalec.
Polishes: Diorific Vernis in Gris-Or , $28; Essie in The Perfect Cover Up , $9
Silver Belles
Tinsel tones add a flash of shimmer to a clean, angular design. After painting the entire nail white, apply a quick-dry top coat to prevent smudging. For the silver and pewter triangles, create the outline with a fine striping brush, then fill with a regular polish brush.
Polishes: Morgan Taylor in Could Have Foiled Me, $9; Ginger + Liz in Ice Queen , $12; CND Vinylux in Grommet , $11
Slice Of Ice
The best thing about this crescent design? “It’s organic and free-flowing,” Kandalec says. “You can add a hint of metallic without going crazy.” Apply two coats of white polish, then paint on a light blue swoop, moving from the cuticles toward the free edge.
Polishes: Zoya in Adel , $9; Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in Babe Blue , $3
The Right Stripe
This negative-space look showcases healthy, bare nails in just two steps. Start by painting a line of rose gold polish down the center of each nail. Then, to create texture (and sparkle), dab a chunky, glittery gold on top. Score!
Polishes: OPI Nail Lacquer in Worth A Pretty Penne , $10; Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Shattered Souls , $18
