DIY Ombre Nail Polish

I debated whether or not this was truly an “ombre” manicure because the fade from white to dark blue is so clunky. It looks more like tie dye or water color, but it’s super cute in person, and is technically a gradation from light to dark, so “ombre” it is!

SUPPLIES

• A light polish (I used alpine matte by OPI)
• A dark(er) polish (I used a blue by Sally Hansen that I affectionately named Bud Light Blue because it dries the EXACT same color as a Bud Light can)
• A needle or q-tip with the fuzzy end cut off
• A clear top coat polish

 INSTRUCTIONS

1. Brace yourself for cleanup duty. This can get a little messy and gloopy, but that’s okay. Use a napkin with a small bit of nail polish remover on it to clean up the area around the nail when you’re done.
2. Glob on the light polish on the bottom half of your nail and the dark polish on the top half. You want to put it on thick because you’ll only be doing one coat to achieve this ombre look, and you’ll want enough excess so that you can blend it in the middle of the nail.
   
3. Using the blunt end (eye) of a needle or a q-tip with the fuzzy end cut off, blend the two polishes in the middle of the nail using the same motion you’d use if erasing a small spelling error (weird analogy, I know).
   
4. Using your thumb nail on the other hand, clean up the excess polish around the nail. Go back with a napkin corner dipped in nail polish remover to get any remaining spillage.
5. Once dry, cover with a clear top coat of polish and voila!—ombre(ish) nails!

I chose white as my primary polish because Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to summer, and nothing feels more summery than white nail polish against tan skin. Like I mentioned before, the blue polish I chose is the exact same color as a Bud Light can so…it was an obvious secondary color choice.

Enjoy this last day of long-weekend fun!

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