Denim serves as inspiration for clients’ summer nail style.
“Jeans can be cool, girly, elegant or stylish, so I wanted to recreate the look with nail art,” says Beverly Hills nail artist Yoko Badi.
White Leopard Denim
Step 1 Apply two coats of light blue gel polish, curing after each. Then, dab navy blue gel polish onto the nail with a cosmetic sponge, concentrating most of the color at the free edge to create a gradient effect. Cure.
Step 2 Use a detail brush to paint thin horizontal and vertical lines across the nail with white gel polish. Cure.
Step 3 Paint a leopard pattern with white gel polish down the right side of the nail. Cure. Then, outline the perimeter of the nail with gold gel polish. Cure. To finish, apply matte gel top coat and cure.
Chain Detail Denim
Step 1 Apply black gel polish to the free edge and cure. Then, apply navy blue gel polish to the base of the nail and cure. Use a cosmetic sponge to dab light blue gel polish onto the navy blue gel polish and cure.
Step 2 Apply no-wipe gel top coat to the entire nail and cure. Next, apply silver chrome powder over the black gel polish. Apply a second layer of gel top coat over the entire nail and cure.
Step 3 Paint thin white horizontal and vertical lines across the base of the nail and cure. Then, apply a thin layer of gel top coat and cure. Next, apply clear gel to the area where the blue and chrome meet, place a chain into the gel and cure.
Stud Detail Denim
Step 1 Apply gel base coat to the nail and cure. Then, paint two imperfect ovals with white gel polish and cure.
Step 2 Use a cosmetic sponge to dab navy blue gel polish around the two ovals and cure. Then, dab light blue gel polish onto the navy blue gel polish and cure.
Step 3 Paint thin white horizontal lines across the nail and inside the ovals, and cure. Next, apply matte gel top coat and cure. Apply clear gel across the center of the nail, place studs into the gel and cure.
[Images: Nail Art courtesy of Jason R. Bennett and denim courtesy of Getty Images]