This week I took on a project, a pseudo-scientific experiment per say, which has not proven to be anything more than a hassle and complete waste of time. Ladies (and gents, if you wish), this is a warning to all of you who do not have a team of professional makeup/aesthetic artists on hand : marbling your nails is not for the weak.
The reason I attempted this ludicrous fashion trend in the first place can be attributed to a 4 page spread that Glamour Magazine dedicated to marbling. The professionally painted nails looked lively and fresh – a perfect way to spice up your paws in the summer time. . . Or so I thought.
It took me THREE attempts to master this technique, and in my opinion, the results were lack lustre, at best.
Glamour.com details how you can achieve this look at home which (when to put to test) results in a recipe for disaster . . . DIY my a**. The first attempt landed me with a not-so-chic, slightly Charlize Theron ala Monster, swamp creature nails. I immediately took to the nail polish remover. My second attempt was no better and at that, I put the polish away for a few days.
A bridal shower this weekend inspired me to try once again as I met a woman who flaunted two perfectly marbled hands and shared a secret with me. “Vaseline,” she said, “is the key to marbling. Lather your fingertips , all around your nail, in vaseline.” I tried this trick at home and it worked, I suppose. This is how I did it; however, I urge you to simply laugh at my miserable pampering session and put marbling out of your mind forevermore.
If you so desire, you will need:
1 cup of cold water
1 jar of vaseline
1 base coat of a light colour/clear polish
At least 2 contrasting colours of polish
5 Q-tips
Nail polish remover for the first few times you turn into a swamp mongrel
Begin by painting your nails with a base coat, preferably a light or clear polish.
Next, lather one finger with vaseline, surrounding the nail. Then take the first colour and let it drip onto the surface of the water. Follow with the second colour. Repeat to get a ripple effect of the two colours.
Follow by cutting a q-tip in half and using the sharp end to swirl the colours together, creating a marble effect.
Then, dip ONE finger in and out of the water. As you remove your finger use the q-tip to remove any excess paint around the nail. Repeat x 9 for a 10 fingered, full-fledged marble look. This process takes about 30 minutes for a nail painting rookie and for a seasoned vet. Best of luck to you, nuts. Unfortunately, this beauty trend ordeal is not something that can be performed or explained inanutshell.
SO not worth it.
I can see why you are having trouble. I had trouble at first, too. Use room temperature water, not cold water. Cold water messes with the nail polish and makes it dry too quickly. I also found using a toothpick for swirling made a nicer swirl, and use the q-tip to remove excess nail polish *before* pulling your nail out. I’ve gotten loads of compliments on my nails, which aren’t actually very long. I managed to do both hands while my daughter napped for an hour one afternoon.