DIY Manicure with Nail Art Pens

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Brighten up your nails for summer with a DIY manicure with nail art pens!

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There’s a drug store here in New York called Duane Reade. I’m sure if you’ve ever visited NYC you’ve spotted it. Duane Reade is everywhere … it sometimes feels like there’s one on every block!

I shop the one on my corner all the time, usually to pick up basics. Every once in a while though, I’ll walk through the makeup aisle and see if anything catches my eye. Not surprisingly, something always does!

My latest Duane Reade find was some cool nail art pens. I fell in love with the bright colors, and started imagining all the fun manicures I could create with them.

I couldn’t resist adding stripes with the pens, and my DIY manicure with nail art pens turned out so cute! I got a ton of compliments when I wore it to work. Who doesn’t like a pretty pink polish accented with colorful stripes?

I love all the fun shades these Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Pens come in. Somehow, I limited myself to three colors … it was hard! And don’t worry if you are nowhere near a Duane Reade … I found the pens on Amazon, too!

The nail art pens make it easy to draw colorful designs. I found the hardest part was keeping my hand steady, but practice makes perfect, right?

Want to try your own DIY manicure with nail art pens? Here’s what you’ll need:

base coat (I like Orly Bonder.)
main polish color (I used OPI Kiss Me on My Tulips.)
accent polish color (I chose Sally Hansen White On.)
quick dry top coat (My fave is Seche Vite.)
nail art pens (I used Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Pens in chartreuse, turquoise, and magenta.)
nail polish remover or manicure clean-up pen

Start by applying your base coat. Next apply your main and accent polish colors; I used OPI Kiss Me on My Tulips as my main color and Sally Hansen White On as my accent color. Use multiple coats, if necessary.

I chose to do a white accent nail so the colors of the nail art pens would pop. Feel free to do more than one accent nail.

Cover your nails with the quick dry top coat and let dry completely before using the nail art pens.

The nail art pens work like paint pens. You need to shake them, then press in the tip until the color starts to flow. This may take a little time; don’t give up if they don’t work immediately!

Since this was my first time using these pens, I practiced on a piece of scrap paper first. It was an easy way to get the hang of how the pens work and to see how the colors worked together.

Next, use the pens to create stripes or other designs on your nails. Try not to press the pen too hard, or you may gouge your polish. Learn from my mistakes!

Take your time, and don’t worry if it’s not 100% perfect. I guarantee you’ll be the only person to notice. If you do make a mistake, just wipe the polish off before it dries with a little water. I really liked that I didn’t need to repolish the whole nail.

Tips:

For straighter lines, keep the pen moving. The more you start and stop as you cross the nail, the harder it is to follow a straight line.
Don’t be afraid to get a little polish on your fingers. You can clean it up after the stripes are complete.
When using your non-dominant hand, try rolling the nail and keeping the pen stationary. I found it easier to get a good line that way.

Clean up any excess polish with the clean-up pen or polish remover.