Single Color

• The classic and traditional nail painting technique is to paint the whole nail a single color of polish. Whether you choose light or dark colors, the best effect is achieved when the polish is even and neat. Avoid getting nail polish on your cuticles by placing the brush about 1/8 inch away from the cuticle then pushing it backwards toward the cuticle stopping just before you touch the skin before drawing the brush down the length of the nail.
  
  

French Manicure

• The French manicure technique of painting fingernails makes your nails look perfectly shaped and bare, as though you were not wearing polish. French manicure kits make the process easier, as many come with strips of sticky paper that you stick over the top of the base coat which help you to paint a clean white line over the tip of your nail. An alternative to the normal technique is the reverse French manicure. For this technique you paint your nail white, and use the pink or nude nail color on the tips.
  
  

Artwork on Nails

• More advanced nail painting techniques create patterns or pictures on the surface of the nail. First paint your nails using the single color technique to create a background for the pattern. You can use artists acrylic paint and fine artists paintbrushes to paint patterns on nails. Practice first with dots and stripes before moving on to more advanced patterns. Allow the painted pattern to dry completely before finishing with a top coat of clear polish to seal and protect the design.
  
  

Nail Stencils

• Using stencils for fingernail painting makes the task of getting neat and dramatic or pretty patterns on nails quick and simple. Stick-on stencils are designed for single use and are available in a range of patterns and designs such as stars or bows. Apply a base coat and allow it dry completely. Remove some of the stickiness from the stencil by pressing it against the tips of a finger a couple of times, then press it onto the nail where you want the pattern. Using ordinary nail polish, dab color over the top of the stencil. Peel the stencil off the fingernail before the polish dries, then wait for the design to dry before applying a topcoat.