This was an experiment I did a couple of days ago. Out there on the web they call it grunge nails or acid wash nails:
The idea with grunge nails is that you apply a base color (usually it is black), and then you layer segments of bright colors randomly over it. When all the layers are dry to the touch, you use a thick nail art brush to wipe down the layers of colors with nail polish remover or acetone. This makes the finish uneven and grungy, because the colors will be eaten away here and there to the underlying layers.
I decided to use a classic combination of colors to be on the safe side, but I still didn’t know what I’d get when it was all done. Here’s what I needed for my black & pink grunge nails:
- Sally Hansen in Black Out – black base color (2 coats)
- Sally Hansen in White On – white layers
- Sally Hansen in Wet Cement – grey layers
- OPI Shorts Story – pink layers
- Orly clear top coater
- Nail art brush
- Nail polish remover – this time I used the one that contains acetone
Like it was said above, I partially removed the colors/layers with the brush and acetone, trying not to mix them too much. After that I decided to paint some white and pink spots over the so called “design” with a thin paintbrush. Doing so I realized that I could get the same washed out effect without acetone and layering – all you need to do is to apply colors one by one with the brush after you wiped off most of the polish from it :)
Anyways, like I said, it was an experiment, and I think I might try the grunge nails technique again using other colors… Perhaps something orange, brown, green and rusty for the next time, and for today I liked my black/pink version enough to share with you guys :)
Thank you for reading and see you soon! xxx
So lovely!
Thank you so much Cassilda :) I’m glad you liked the grunge effect :)