Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Nail Art Tutorial: Colors of the Philippine Flag - Gradient Version

Philippine Independence Day --- celebrated last Sunday.  I think the "Nationalistic feel" should not end in a day but prolong it to our whole lifetime!

I want to draw the Philippine Flag on my nails but I don't want to cause issues as you know how sensitive our country is when it comes to using the Philippine Flag!  I don't want to be harassed because the 9 rays of the sun wasn't shown clearly because my nails are too small, or the color blue is not the right shade!  You know what I mean!

In this week's tutorial, I've decided to create a nail art base on the color of the Philippine Flag.  I've done it last year and I'm doing it again --- in the form of Gradient Nails!

Who could have thought that the colors of our Philippine Flag - Red, Blue, Yellow and White can achieve a good, complementing gradient nails?  I was surprised myself!  I had a nail polish remover ready the whole time I was doing this nail art!  Thank goodness I didn't have to use it!



Step 1:
Apply your favorite base coat to protect your nails from dark colored polish.  It's ZOYA Base Coat in this tutorial.  Apply 1 coat of OPI Dominant Jeans (lighter blue) and another coat of OPI Blue My Mind (darker shade).  2 different shades of blue were used to create an iridescent shade of blue.  Not too light nor too dark! 


Step 2:
Making sure the base color is COMPLETELY dry, use an eyeshadow sponge, in my case, I am using a styrofoam to dab on the yellow shade on top of the blue.  Elianto Yellow Nail Color is used.
Step 3:
As soon as the yellow polish is dry, I added up a light orange shade from OPI Totally Tangerine, orange is not part of the Philippine flag, the color won't show up anyways but it gives a nice base for the next color plus it shows a nice 2-3 toned flower.  (You will see this later on.)

Step 4:
Using  Revlon's ALL FIRED UP or any red polish you have available, pat on the top most portion of your nails as shown on photo below.  Try your best not to cover the shades you previously applied.  Try as much as possible not the cover the yellow portion.

Step 5:
With White 2 Way Nail Art Pen, I wanted to draw our local flower Sampaguita but it didn't came out right!  (It helps to at least try if the design you want is feasible or not!)  I ended up with regular flower!  

To create a flat, non-embossed flower, apply any clear polish or top coat like the one I used in this tutorial, OPI's Start to Finish Base and Top Coat.

Immediately drop 5 dots while the clear polish is still wet.
Step 6:
With a needle, drag one part of the dot inwards with a bit of pressure so the base color will show up making it look like 2-toned flower.

Step 7:
Wait for a couple of minutes before you apply your top coat.  I am  using ZOYA Armor Top Coat in this tutorial.

All those crazy colors I thought would end up looking like garbage on my nails actually do not look bad at all!  The shades reminded me of Superman and Wonder Woman as well!  Now, aren't we all heroes in our own tiny ways?

Hope you like my nail art design for the week!
I want to remind Philippine readers to join the Estee Lauder Gives: What's Your Mood Today contest which will be ending....tomorrow! :)

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!


35 comments :

  1. That looks really nice. I have yet to try making flowers like that on my nails.

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  2. it's so pretty! i love the colors!

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  3. i love the gradient and the effect of the sponge thingy ☺♥

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  4. Hey nikki,
    I have posted out the postage to you. hope you will receive it soon. Plus I'm amazed every time you can come up with stunning nail arts, I'm proud of my self just getting the colour on my nails... HAHAHA even that with difficulty using my left hand on my right.. >__<

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  5. this is beautiful and the gradient effect is really pretty!

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  6. wow! i love the gradient effect! ganda!

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  7. This is such an eye candy! I hope I can do it with my nails, hehe. Thanks for sharing :)

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  8. i love this nikki! <3 <3 <3 its so pretty! I wish i can do this to my kiddo-sized nails haha! :D

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  9. That'sm gorgeous! Love the gradient effect.

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  10. awesomely cool nails Nikki! :D

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  11. Really pretty, I'm digging the gradient effect. :)

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  12. Wow great! I really wanna learn nail art too but I messed up the first time I did it. Hope to try it again this week. Cheers!

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  13. This is amazing design. Love the tone, something like "batik" art. very very nice!

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  14. Love it Nikki!!! I suck on gradients!!!:P

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  15. @Poetic Realist Yes, give it a try! it's nice to see flowers like that :)

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  16. @Marge I like how fun it is to create "new gradient" effect with various shades :)

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  17. @purple snowflake OH!!! Thank you so much again for the nth time for being so sweet to me! :) Will let you know once I receive it!

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  18. @Amelie Of course you can! If you can't draw freehand, kahit gradient effect nails lang! It's good enough!

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  19. @BabyJap,RN Kiddo size nails? Keri! Use 3 colors lang or even 2 :)

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  20. @beetrice You are one awesome girl if I may have to add :D

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  21. @Pammy Kakasaya to create shades that works together na di ko akalain :) Well if it works on flags, why not sa nails di va?

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  22. @rock-or-not Thanks for the visit! Glad you liked it!

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  23. @Jamilla Camel Wow, now I'm pressured to create your next favorite :P *just joking*

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  24. @Lavender You are right about "Batik"!!! That's a perfect example!

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  25. @Elsa Kaw pa? I saw your nail art photos on FB! I'm sure you'll do fine! :)

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  26. love this look!
    actually ako most of the times i apply top coat before i start doing decos. if ever magkamali man & i used a polish-based deco, i can lightly clean it with a polish remover without ruining the base color!

    love love love the color combination!
    our flag color is great!

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  27. Hi Nikki,

    Can I repost this on Kikay Exchange? Link back to you of course :)

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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to comment your questions, suggestions and just anything you may want to say! Keep smiling and stay happy!