New year nails tutorial

New years is just around the corner, now that Christmas is "technically" over! I always love to do my nails for the holidays because not only do i have that extra time to dedicate to my nails, the festivities lets you get away with a bolder look that you've been hesitant to try. I decided that i want a gold and black theme that channels the feel of the countdown; excitement!

This tutorial will teach you how to make a gold gradient over a black base:
Here are the nail polishes I used in this tutorial: 

Left to right: Skin Food Nail Vita in BW701, Etude House Base Coat 05, Etude House LuciDarling in 02.

First, I put on a layer of my base coat, it can be any base coat really. The one I have is from Etude House. I would suggest to definitely put on a base coat because we are working with a dark colour and the base coat will prevent it from staining your nails (:

Next, you want to put on a layer of black nail polish. The one I chose is a black with very fine shimmers in it by Skin Food. Shimmery over glittery black 'cause you don't want the black to outshine the gold now do you. 

One coat

Depending on your nail polish, it could take one or two coats, just make sure you have a nice solid black that has dried before you move on to the next step.

Left to right: LuciDarling Nail Polish, One thin coat, Second coat on the tips of the nails.

Now you can go ahead and put on a thin thin layer of your choice of gold nail polish. Make sure your gold nail polish is slightly transparent and needs several coat to be opaque, this is VERY IMPORTANT to achieve the gradient look! In the middle picture shows a very thin layer applied and the one on the right shows a second layered applied only on the bottom half of the nail.

As you keep on adding thin layers of the gold nail polish to the tip of your nail, painting less and less of your nail each time you should start seeing the gradient.

Finally, as an optional part of this tutorial, you can add an opaque gold polish to the very very tip of your nails like a french manicure tip. This will bring out the gradient even more and add that extra glam to an already glamorous look !

I used this one:

It's skin 1 minute innovation nail polish in BR102.

Finish it with a top coat and you are all ready to go! The gold & black in this tutorial has just the perfect amount of elegance and class for a romantic night out, but the gradient gives off an edge if you are attending a party for NYE !

Hope you all enjoyed this tutorial, and enjoy the rest of the holidays!

-- em.