You might have seen the tie-dye nail art [1] trend on Kylie Jenner [2] — who matched it with her toe rings to evoke the most intense sense of '90s nostalgia [3] — or maybe you saw the trend while scrolling through the explore page of your Instagram. The watercolor-like nail art is a dreamy look to try that is also easy to do yourself.
If you're wondering how, look no further. We've enlisted the help of celebrity nail artist Elle [4] to give us a step-by-step tutorial on how to DIY [5] tie-dye nail art. Check out her tips and a few more examples of the look, ahead.
Start With a Coat of White Nail Polish For Tie Dye Nails
"Think of tie dying nails just like you would a t-shirt — you want to start out with a white base," Elle told POPSUGAR. She opts for the LeChat Dare to Wear Flawless White [6] ($9) for a base and said that it, "[brightens] the colours you use for the design."
How to Choose Your Colours For Tie Dye Nails
When choosing colours, Elle says that some are easier to work with than others. "Always go with bright blues, purples, yellows and pinks," she said. "Greens and oranges are trickier as they can cause the other colours to brown if you don't choose the perfect colour and layer carefully!" We love the fluorescent hues in the SinfulColors Neon Nail Polish Collection [7] ($17).
Apply the Polishes in Layers
If you're creating the look with nail polish (the look can be done with ink and even Sharpies), Elle said that the look has to be done in layers. "[The colours need] to be dragged, or marbled, in order to blend the layers," she said. "Using a clean detail brush (like the ones in the Professional Nail Art Liner Brush UV Gel Painting Acrylic Nail Brushes Striping Brushes [8] ($7) set) or even a toothpick, drag through the polish to blur the lines. Be very careful with the colours you choose as the wrong colours can muddy the designs."