Nail Tutorial // Zig Zags!

by Kaylah Stroup

During mine and Elycia‘s blog weekend we worked on a cute little nail tutorial. While it does take some patience (drying time) it’s super easy and perfect to do while you watch a movie in the evening. Let’s get started…

♥ three different nail polish colors ♥ tape ♥ pinking sheers

1 // Use your pinking sheers to cut out ten strips of tape. You’re going to want the tape to have been cut on both sides so it has zig zags. *Tip* press the piece of tape to your (clean) hand before you cut and apply it to your nail so it’s easier to use and not so sticky!

2 // Paint your nails one solid color, and let dry completely.

3 // When your nails are 110% dry apply the small piece of tape across your nail in the middle so that there are equal areas not covered on the top and the bottom.

4 // Using which ever color you’d like next paint the bottom portion of your nail. It’s easiest to start from the bottom of your nail and paint slowly and steadily up to the tape.

5 // Now paint the top part of your nail starting from the top of the tape to the tip of your nail.

6 // As soon as you get done painting take the tape off quickly in one solid pull. If you do it slowly it might pull up some of your newly painted polishes. Now repeat with the rest of your fingers and after that’s all dry seal it up with a top coat. My favorite is seche vite!

green and blue combos by me, black & white and purple combo by Elycia.

Let us know if you have any questions and send us pictures if you use the tutorial, we love to see your color combos! I know I have about a million more I want to try! 😉
xoxo

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47 comments

Heather February 9, 2012 - 1:03 pm

My only question is… why hasn't anyone done yellow background with black stripe? It would be the Charlie Brown nails!!!!!

The Dainty Squid February 9, 2012 - 1:08 pm

Sounds like you better go paint your nails! 😉

Erica February 9, 2012 - 1:08 pm

Love it!!! I'm going to try those this weekend 🙂

XO,
Eeka

marie February 9, 2012 - 1:22 pm

Thanks for sharing the tutorial, it's great 🙂 As far as I'm concerned I just discovered nail stamping and I think i'm goign to have a lot of fun with it!

Zane February 9, 2012 - 1:47 pm

stunning idea, have to try it

anita February 9, 2012 - 1:47 pm

Cute!

Jessica February 9, 2012 - 1:47 pm

Looks great! Will definitely have to give it a go.

Estherina February 9, 2012 - 2:16 pm

That is such a cute manicure idea!

Step into Estherina's World

Angel February 9, 2012 - 2:16 pm

Your green and blue nails reminds me of a mermaid tail. Pretty. :]

Tynee February 9, 2012 - 2:25 pm

Excellent! I actually have seen the pictures of your nails like this before, went ahead & figured the steps out myself…I was pretty darn close! My pinky nails are also always longest, (I notice you suffer from this also haha) wonder why that is?

<3 Tynee

Alice February 9, 2012 - 2:55 pm

Amazing! I am definitely trying this.

Inna February 9, 2012 - 2:56 pm

So cute!!! I think the green is my fav. 🙂
Btw, you are a *pro* at doing nails! They are soooo perfect! I bet if I ever try this, it will take a couple tries to get it right. And even then it will probably smear! I'm not very patient when it comes to letting my nails dry … so I almost never do them. 😛
Although, I *did* just post a super easy cheaty way to do colorful French manicures on my blog last week. Those turned out quite nicely, but they're not as complex as these. 😉

Kimberly Horne February 9, 2012 - 3:07 pm

I love it! Looks like so much fun to do! Can't wait to try it now.

xoxo, Jjanga
http://www.sayhelloandsmile.blogspot.com

STEPH J February 9, 2012 - 3:22 pm

haha! the black & white is super cute!

i reckon you could use the sticky tape idea to make pretty much any kind of nail art pattern! brilliant idea (:

♥ valour & lace

Natasha February 9, 2012 - 3:28 pm

What a great idea. I was wondering how to do zig zags today.

Ruzu February 9, 2012 - 4:00 pm

cute!! thanks for sharing

Sarah Mira February 9, 2012 - 4:02 pm

This is genius! I am definitely going to try this!!

Oh Deer February 9, 2012 - 4:16 pm

so cute! i am inspired.

Nix February 9, 2012 - 5:13 pm

No way! That's is so super cute. I'm def gonna try but not sure I'll be that good at it.

http://www.threadsandwhistles.com

Jothestrange February 9, 2012 - 5:45 pm

yeah! super happy to see this tutorial. I spotted the amazing zigzag nails in your joint outfit post earlier this week and was hoping you would show us how to do it, so thank you very much. SO going to make an attempt this wknd! Jo (jothestrange.blogspot.com) x

Ana Maria Mendez February 9, 2012 - 6:11 pm

yess!!! i'll do it you'll se

Jill February 9, 2012 - 6:14 pm

Love the Twin Peaks colors!

Kimberly February 9, 2012 - 6:49 pm

Love this idea! Your color combinations are beautiful! Can't wait to try this! Thanks for the tutorial!

xo-Kimberly

Bethany Susan February 9, 2012 - 6:56 pm

this is soooooo fun and looks rad! thank you!!!

Shannon February 9, 2012 - 6:57 pm

Wow! Great job. Those all turned out so well.

http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com

Helen Overton February 9, 2012 - 7:13 pm

So pretty, I love nail tutorials, now I just need some nice nail varnishes.

Vivi K February 9, 2012 - 7:36 pm

I saw this look in your outfit post with Elycia and was so curious!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I think I'll try a pink and silver combo… 🙂

Much love, Vivi

http://www.vivikstyle.blogspot.com

Heather Belle February 9, 2012 - 8:39 pm

These are so adorable! I'm definitely trying this soon 🙂

http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/

Liselotte Arty Farty February 9, 2012 - 9:05 pm

Just tape??? So easy? I always thought that's hard work… I love it! 🙂

Nuckin Futs Knitter February 9, 2012 - 9:20 pm

That's so neat, the pattern reminds me of one of those zigzag afghan blankets, love it. 🙂

April February 9, 2012 - 9:28 pm

AWESOME! I noticed your blue zig zag nails in the Behind the Scenes: What We Wore post and was hoping you'd put up a tute. LOVE these 😀

Lacey February 9, 2012 - 10:02 pm

These are adorbs! I linked to them in my blog for my friends to see… cannot wait to try them.
-Lacey
http://www.savoredsweetness.com

CC February 9, 2012 - 10:31 pm

Oooo that's super adorable, totally gonna try it n-n

Trude February 9, 2012 - 10:51 pm

So adorable! I was hoping you'd share the tutorial, so thanks! 🙂

Emily Josephine February 10, 2012 - 1:54 am

http://ejosephine.tumblr.com/post/17348847593/i-swear-im-adhd-i-had-to-stop-doing-homework-to

I did mine with Valentine colors! A light pink, a "pinky" pink, and red! Love it!!

The Dainty Squid February 10, 2012 - 1:57 am

Oh my gosh, that is SO pretty! Thanks for sharing a picture!

marissa | sugar + bean February 10, 2012 - 4:17 am

Love this so much! You girls are so creative!

StaceyFacex February 10, 2012 - 5:59 pm

I'm so glad you've said about the stickiness of the tape – I've tried something you showed us before but the tack stayed on my nails for ages so now I have something new to try! xx

kat February 10, 2012 - 6:27 pm

I was originally going for a weird yellow/purple/black combo, but they just ended up yellow and black! Also, using masking tape isn't a great idea, so they're a little smudgy and took a bit of touching up and 2 top coats but nonetheless look pretty cool 🙂

http://bearsinmymacbook.tumblr.com/post/17378002384/killed-some-time-earlier-and-did-this-they-were

Filipa Sompy February 11, 2012 - 11:11 pm

http://soscraft.blogspot.com/2012/02/coroa-de-amor-love-wreath.html

Mine didn't end up as cute as yours and Elycia's, but I'm still loving it! 🙂
Thank you for sharing the tutorial.

Jay February 12, 2012 - 7:09 pm

I love the look of this to death. If I'm ever feeling patient enough, I'll have to try it.

RosMari Brand February 13, 2012 - 3:53 pm

Totally did this!! Check it out, please!!! http://rosmaribrand.blogspot.com/2012/02/good-feeling-monday.html

lemonjelly February 14, 2012 - 9:00 am

im a beauty student and this really helps bring out my creativity although my nails didn't look as neat, oooops!
fantastic tutorial, please check out my blog.
http://somuchlovex.blogspot.com/
x

Waleska March 3, 2012 - 5:51 pm

I looooooooooooooove that! I will try when my nails grow 🙂 I follow you. I hope you can follow me. Kisses. http://amolemaquillage.blogspot.com/

Ashly Casey March 4, 2012 - 5:39 pm

Brilliant!

markedbeautyblog March 18, 2012 - 2:03 pm

This is amazing!! I definitely need to try this! xx

Melissa August 30, 2012 - 6:03 pm

WOAH! I never would of thought of doing this! So easy & yet such awesome results. Thanks!

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