Learn how to paint your own special something blue for your bridal manicure!
Jen Causey-Kidder
Jen Causey-Kidder November 25, 2016

5 DIY Bridal Nail Polish Ideas

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Happy DIY, oh I mean, Black Friday! I trust that most of you are out shopping or relaxing at home… I don’t partake in normal black Friday shopping, I enjoy doing my holiday shopping online, shocker right? I absoltuely LOVE painting my own nails and I rarely go to the nail salon, so today I thought I’d share some fun DIY Bridal Polish Ideas with you! I’m always trying out new techniques and buying the latest shade of polish, I’m kind of obsessed actually. Normally, my nails are always this color, but today I’m switching it up. These polish ideas would be perfect for any of your upcoming bridal events, from your engagement party to your bridal shower, and even your wedding day. Don’t forget to show a little extra love to that one fingernail on that one finger that has that special piece of bling on it!

DIY your own bridal manicure, we'll show you how!

Step One: The Perfect Manicure

First, you’ll need to head over to this post that I shared a few years back on how to DIY the perfect, long lasting manicure. It’s an oldie but a goodie… follow those steps first before you paint using the techniques below!

The Foiled Something Blue

Learn how to use metallic foil nail tape for your bridal manicure!

Paying homage to the french manicures of yesterday, use your choice of metallic nail striping tape to add a special something to your bridal look!

How-to:

  1. Start with the perfect manicure.
  2. Using nail nippers, cut small strips of the metallic nail tape, in your favorite color, here I did blue for “something blue”. I’m obsessed with these tapes!
  3. Place at the edge of each nail, being careful to not have any sticker hanging off the nail (if you do it’s easy to just pull the sticker right off).
  4. Finish with two coats of clear top coat to seal the sticker to your nails. So cute right!?
Learn how to use metallic foil nail tape for your bridal manicure!

The Matte Sequin

Learn how to use matte top coat for your bridal manicure!

Using a matte top coat adds a chic and unique look to any color of nail polish. Paired with a single rhinestone at the base of each nail, this matte bridal look is one of my favs!

How-to:

  1. Start with the perfect manicure.
  2. Paint at least 2 coats of matte top coat on each nail. It dries quickly and adds a gorgeous matte finish to any nail polish color!
  3. Using a regular top coat as “glue”, adhere a rhinestone to each nail. Do this by adding a little top coat to the rhinestone dish, then dab a little top coat onto your nail using a toothpick, pick up each rhinestone using a wax pencil and press into the top coat. For this style it’s important to have enough top coat to glue the rhinestone to your nail, because you can’t paint over it. If you paint over it with matte it will dull the rhinestone and if you paint over it with top coat it will make your nails shiny again.
Learn how to use matte top coat for your bridal manicure!

The Classic Something Blue

Learn how to paint your own special something blue for your bridal manicure!

This polish idea ended up being my favorite… but you know instead of blue I would have done turquoise! The little metal stud embellishments are super fun and totally eye catching.

How-to:

  1. Start with the perfect manicure.
  2. Paint one or two nails “something blue”.
  3. Using a regular top coat as “glue”, adhere a metallic stud rhinestone to one nail. Do this by adding a little top coat to the rhinestone dish, then dab a little top coat onto your nail using a toothpick, pick up the rhinestone using a wax pencil and press into the top coat.
  4. Finish with a coat of clear top coat to seal the rhinestone to your nail. Love it!
Learn how to paint your own special something blue for your bridal manicure!

The Pale Pink Ombré

Learn how to create a soft pink ombre for your bridal manicure!

Ombré nails are gorgeous but can be a hard technique to achieve, so I’ve tried to simplify it for you.

How-to:

  1. Start with the perfect manicure.
  2. Paint your nails a pale, pale color like this pink or a soft nude or maybe even a very light gray.
  3. You’ll need to use a peel-off nail polish barrier to keep the skin around your nails clean. The kind I’ve linked below is amazing! Paint the barrier all around your nail, even underneath the free edge.
  4. Add a little white nail polish to a makeup sponge or the like. Gently dab it onto each nail, adding more polish as you go. To get the ombré effect, continue dabbing more and more white color onto the edge of your nail.
  5. Peel off the nail polish barrier using the little wood stick included with the barrier. It comes right off and takes the stray polish with it!
  6. It might not look like much now, but this last step makes it look amazing! Add a clear top coat but while adding this layer, paint a few extra strokes to blend the two colors together!
Learn how to create a soft pink ombre for your bridal manicure!

The Statement Color

Learn how to embellish your signature wedding color for your bridal manicure!

If your wedding day look includes a signature color, let it shine through your nails!

How-to:

  1. Start with the perfect manicure.
  2. Embellish your nails using rhinestones in a similar color! Using a regular top coat as “glue”, adhere a metallic stud rhinestone to one nail. Do this by adding a little top coat to the rhinestone dish, then dab a little top coat onto your nail using a toothpick, pick up the rhinestone using a wax pencil and press into the top coat.
  3. Finish with a coat of clear top coat to seal the rhinestones to your nails. So fab!
Learn how to embellish your signature wedding color for your bridal manicure!

As with all our DIY tutorials, if you create one of our projects please send us a picture – We Love Seeing Your Creativity! If you use Instagram or Twitter please use the hashtag #SomethingTurquoiseDIY and it will show up on our Get Social page. Happy Crafting!

DIY Tutorial Credits

Photography + DIY Tutorial: Jen Carreiro of Something Turquoise // All OPI Nail Polish: Amazon // Nail Art Rhinestones: Amazon // Peel-Off Latex Polish Barrier: Amazon // Metallic Nail Art Tape: Amazon


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