Marble Manicure DIY tested

By Andrea Claire · July 6, 2010 · 19 Comments ·

First: credit where credit due: I just saw this manicure yesterday tweeted from Modern Salon.

I thought - ok - sure - for clients but this could also be one for the DIY'er.

I cleaned off my 3 day old, salon pro-manicure and pulled out my editorial nail kit.

As recommended in the Modern Salon instructions, I choose three shades: Sally Hansen White Tip,

Essie Splash of Grenadine and OPI Lincoln Park After Dark.

Then, in room temperature water I poured in the Sally Hansen White Tip. At first it seemed to really thin out in my plastic container, so I was concerned this wouldn't work out:

I proceeded with the next steps laid out in the Modern Salon blog.

Layer in a Bullseye...

Then swirl with a toothpick..

AND DIP! (makes me think of Roger Rabbit - NOT THE DIP!!)

To clean up edges it may help to wrap an orange stick with cotton and dip it into nail polish remover.

I know, looks like a really bad puppet! Wrap it around then dip it into the remover.

Clean up edges... et viola!

Filed in: Manicures, diy manicure, marble manicure, diy marble manicure
Tagged with: andrea claire, aclairebeauty, Sally Hansen White Tip, Essie Splash of Grenadine, OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

posted by FacesBySarah

06/7/10

SO COOL!!! ive tried it before but failed miserably! this is so neat andrea!

posted by Andrea Claire

07/7/10

Thanks Sarah!

How did yours fail?? I have to admit, I thought this would too mid-marble but I kept on so I could see the end result. Maybe you didn't give yourself enough credit?

posted by karen - The Art of Doing Stuff

08/7/10

Um ... so ... um ... I have to try this NOW. I mean, seriously ... it's ME ... can you even IMAGINE my excitement??? YAY Andrea!

posted by Andrea Claire

08/7/10

Go Karen Go!

I wanted to try a camouflage version with green, biege and brown... Not that YOU need creative suggestions!

posted by catherinedevlin

08/7/10

But doesn't this pretty much use up three whole bottles of nail polish for one manicure? I guess it could be a good excuse to gather a dozen friends...

posted by Andrea Claire

08/7/10

Catherine - Actually, you'd be surprised at how much polish is in those little suckers! I just did one little spill of each colour - i have plently left of each. On the Modern Salon blog they talk about using fresh polish per nail. I did not - I used the same and just stirred it around a little each time to modify the marble - but you do need to be quick-ish. If you feel the need to buy lots of polish who am I to talk you out of it! Smiling Lord knows I have a lot!

If you do it I want to see!! Smiling

posted by MartiniLush

08/7/10

Wow, this is amazing!

posted by Andrea Claire

08/7/10

MartiniLush

Thanks! 2 days later I'm still rocking it and loving it!

posted by vanityx0kills

08/7/10

This is really pretty, I'm definitely gonna try it!

posted by lilshutterbug

09/7/10

I've been doing this for a long time. LOL I use a votive candle holder instead of a larger container though. They're super cheap - just go to a dollar store and pick up a plain one. Since they're smaller, you don't use as much nail polish.

posted by Luckyoneseven

09/7/10

Fabulous idea!! I feel like it's something you really can't mess up!

posted by AnnieAreYouOhK

09/7/10

Love this!!!

posted by Andrea Claire

09/7/10

I try to respond to each comment individually, but I am based in Singapore now; little delay with being asleep and all Smiling .

The votive idea: good one! Do you find you get enough spreading of the colours to see the textures?

Yes, messy but you are right - hard to mess up!

posted by lucyloo5127

10/7/10

I am a bellasugar addict!! and I have to say this is the first time ive commented because I just had to!! This is such a cool idea I want to wake up my 11 year old daughter and try it right now!!! But I wont since its midnight in Minnesota but awesome I cant wait to try it!!!

posted by Andrea Claire

10/7/10

lucyloo5127,

I love that you wanted to wake up your daughter to try this! What a great response! Have fun! (ps - Love Minnesota; I have an aunt in Minneapolis. Great shopping there!)

posted by Miss Style Apothecary

12/7/10

I love it and think - I might just be able to do my left hand, I always fail miserably on my left side.. You make it look really easy

posted by Andrea Claire

12/7/10

cakedoo1

I think the added plus with this method is that the technique is 'imperfect' therefore any imperfections look intentional!

Good luck if you dare try! Smiling

posted by Nakymee

20/7/10

You can get a similar effect by putting a few drops of different colour polish on your nail and then blend the colours with a toothpick. It saves you the whole hassle with polish dip and the cleaning afterward.

posted by BeautyJunkieCorner

03/12/10

Hey i love how your did your nails, it looks really great. It did my nail that way but they don't look so great as yours. Check some of my nail art on my blog.
http://beautyjunkiecorner.blogspot.com

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