Red Glitter Fade Nail Art Tutorial

I wanted to get back into nail art, so I decided that I would go back to a stand-by: the glitter fade. It’s easy, has lots of sparkle and it looks like you spent a lot of time on it.

Usually with glitter fades I will paint on the glitter, but I thought I would try a technique that I have never tried before.

Using makeup sponges, I created this glitter fade easily and without creating a thick nail in the process. The sponge soaks up all of the nail polish base and leaves behind the glitter. This makes the glitter go on more opaque, with less layers and less work.

What you will need:
A base polish of your choice
Glitter polish
Latex free makeup sponge (like these)
Cleanup brush and cotton buds
Cuticle oil

1. Paint your base coat and base color like you usually would. For this glitter fade, I chose Zoya Dakota. Let dry 10 minutes.
2. Take your glitter polish (I chose OPI In True Stefani Fashion) and wipe it along the edge of the makeup sponge.
3. Start dabbing the glitter at the edge of the nail. When there is less glitter on the sponge, start working towards the middle of the nail. This will create the fade. Repeat until you get the desired opacity.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on each nail.
5. After 10 minutes, apply top coat.
6. Glitter will get around your nail, but it’s easy to clean up. After the top coat has dried, wash your hands and try to scrub around the nail. Then, apply cuticle oil. The oils will lift the glitter. Repeat this process until all of the glitter is gone.

That’s it! It’s an incredibly easy nail art that only takes a few minutes. The only thing I wish I had was a latex barrier. These barriers make cleanup easier. They’re kind of expensive (you could go the DIY route and just buy special FX latex, but that’s messy), but they make cleanup so much easier. It’s something that I want to pick up sooner than later!

-Allie