Pretty Polished: These Shibori Nail Art Ideas Bring Fashion’s Tie-Dye Trend to Your Fingertips

There’s nothing like a fresh mani to top off any #OOTD. But, with so many nail colors and designs to choose from, how’s a girl to know which polish to pick? Don’t let endless options stress you out. In this series, we’re diving deep into top nail trends to teach you how to DIY and provide color and inspiration along the way.

It’s no secret that tie-dyed fashion is having a moment; take a peep at our favorite designers and stores for proof. Just like animal prints took over our closets before our fingertips, the throwback patterned trend — in the form of shibori, tie-dye’s fancier, older sister — is now popping up in manicures. While you can book an appointment with your favorite nail artist to try the look, we found a few hacks to DIY the blue-and-white swirling, striped, and dotted designs at home. Scroll below for tips to perfect the shibori nail art.

Start by choosing any tint of deep blue (or mix it up with a pastel hue for a softer take) and your favorite crisp white. Paint two layers of your base shade, like white, blue, or a mixture of both. After your base dries, Queenie Nguyen, a manicurist at Olive & June Salon in Beverly Hills, California, says to quickly add a thin layer of the contrasting color. While wet, use a toothpick or bobby pin to gently drag vertical lines through the polish and then pull three to four horizontal lines across the nail. (Photo via via @buffcsjen)

If you want to switch things up, add a row of vertical messy dots down the center of one or two nails (you can use the tip of a polish brush for this). For a bolder tie-dye look, paint two horizontal navy blue stripes on white — or vice versa — and run a toothpick from the base of your nail to the tip. Wait for your art to dry completely before adding a high-shine clear coat.

Looking for something on the simpler side of the spectrum? Try a sloppy polka dot pattern. Easy enough for shaky hands to master, this technique calls for a stippling tool (or a bobby pin if you want to MacGyver it), white polish, and a deep blue nail tint. (Photo via @jkaquinn)

First, add two layers of your favorite white polish to create the base. Let the paint dry, then use a pointed tool to add the indigo design. Place some droplets close together to create a bleed effect, and apply less or more polish to your nail tool for different sized circles. If you want a more tailored look, try tapping the dots in a row or on a diagonal.

To create a festival-worthy mani of your own, keep scrolling for some of our favorite shibori nail art designs to copy from Instagram.

1. Boho ‘Bori (via @nails_by_rika)

2. Watercolor Wash (via @oliveandjune)

3. Dotted Dye (via @buffcsjen)

4. Blue Skies (via @alexacristinaartistry)

5. Shibori Swirl (via @nailsbyjessicawilliams)

6. Seeing Stars (via @nailistanri)

7. Pastel Patterns (via @her_design_studio)

Will you try your hand at shibori nails? Tell us @BritandCo!

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