DIY: Ombre Fever

I never thought I'd see the day, an actual DIY post on the blog! Unlike most bloggers out there, I am not very do-it-yourself inclined; in other words, any runway nail art or garment I've attempted to recreate in the past has been an utter disaster (think shreds of fabric and spontaneous nail polish splatters). But the moment I laid eyes on the insanely chic ombre nail designs of Jenny Kao's spring/summer 2012 runway show, I was completely obsessed. I laid the unfortunate nail art attempts to rest, and somehow managed to put my best foot forward and master that elusive ombre effect (yes, there was an overflow of excitement). It is such a versatile yet provocative look that can be done with literally ANY range of colors, therefore the possibilities are endless. Good luck on all of your ombre adventures!


To achieve the look: 


You Need:


- Two shades of nail polish
- One makeup sponge
- Fast drying top coat


-Pick two colors (make sure one shade is very dark and the other is either very bright or much lighter than the first). Remember, the color combos are endless, be bold! I chose Chanel's Peridot for the tips, and a simple black shade for the base. 


-Paint your nails with the base color and allow them to dry completely. I know we get antsy but the dryness of your nails is CRUCIAL for the effect.


-Once your nails have dried, rip off a small piece from the makeup sponge (about the size of the base of your nail) and put some of the lighter shade of nail polish on it (make sure not to put too much, this design is all about subtlety so just a small spread will work wonders).


-Once the sponge is ready, dab it on the tips of your nails lightly, concentrating the color on the bottom half of your nail. Remember to do it lightly, the desired shade won't show till you build the color up.


-Continue the process of dabbing the sponge onto your nail, letting it dry (somewhere around five minutes) and then dabbing some more color on and so forth.


-Once you have achieved the desired color, make sure and apply a fast drying clear coat (don't worry if the blending effect isn't absolutely flawless, the top coat will make any imperfections blend in).


-And that's really all there is to it. Simple, yet totally unconventional, and perfect for all seasons. yes indeed, I have caught a very serious case of the ombre fever.