Beauty DIY: Polka Dot Manicure with Zoya Dove and Morgan

September 26, 2012

Sometimes fashion inspiration comes from the most unlikely places – in this case, it came from a 3 year-old!

I was trying to entertain my nieces and give them these manicures a year or two ago (for a perfect, at home manicure, see my previous tutorial here).  They still needed some entertaining time before dinner so I decided to liven up their manicures and put on a very simple design – polka dots!  I grabbed a sharp pencil (there were no thin nail polish brushes around) to put on the dots and loved the cute results!  I adore this manicure for myself for the same reasons that I loved them on my nieces – it is simple, whimsical, and adds a great contrast between two colors.

So grade schoolers and adults can be chic!
Polka dot manicure with pearls 2- by Chic n Cheap Living

Here are the materials you need to create your manicure:

  • base coat
  • top coat
  • 2 shades of contrasting nail polish
  • 1 item with a sharp tip (sharp pencil, pin, etc.)
  • wax paper (or a regular page from a magazine you won’t be reading anymore!)

Here are the steps I used to create this manicure:

1. I painted my nails in the base coat and then two coats of one color (with sufficient drying time between each layer of course!)

2. I put a few drops of nail polish on the wax paper and then dipped my pencil tip into the nail polish. Be careful not too put too much nail polish on at once or else it will be difficult to work with since it thickens/dries slightly quickly!

3. I drew in dots of varying sizes.  I would try to go from the center and draw around the circumference of the first dot.  If you have too much nail polish and are drawing a larger circle, you may get little nail polish lines when you lift up your pencil.

4. Allow sufficient drying time for the dots and then put on your top coat to keep your dots from smudging!

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  • Katie September 26, 2012 at 01:34

    Too cute! I need that Zoya color 🙂

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living September 26, 2012 at 11:26

      These are two of my favorite Zoya colors!

  • honeymyheart September 26, 2012 at 04:09

    super cute! i really like the contrast in colors between the solid and dots 🙂

  • Emma (Fluff and Fripperies) September 26, 2012 at 04:31

    Aw, that is so cute! I am totally gonna try and be a bit more experimental when it comes to my nails. You have inspired me! xo

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living September 26, 2012 at 11:26

      Yes, I am surprised by how much fun I have with my manicures now and it is so easy!

  • The Dainty Dolls House September 26, 2012 at 05:21

    Love that, it’s so cute 🙂 xx

  • Kim September 26, 2012 at 10:35

    that’s definitely super cute and fun! i bet they were tickled pink!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

  • Krysten September 26, 2012 at 10:47

    LOVE it, I’ll have to try the pencil trick.

  • krystal/village September 26, 2012 at 11:04

    that’s a good idea for a way of doing that!

  • Tanvi September 26, 2012 at 11:57

    Love the colors and looks totally doable! 🙂

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

  • lisa September 26, 2012 at 12:22

    this is soo cute!! it conjures up images of kate spade adverts!! muhaha

    i do have a WOC but truthfully i don’t use her all that often i tend to be a “big bag” girl hehe.. but it does come in handy when i’m running errands and grocery shopping 🙂

  • lisa September 26, 2012 at 12:22

    i forgot to add i have in fact seen the pink camelia flower one and that one is gorgeous if you are thinking about it i would get it it is really girly and pretty!

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living September 26, 2012 at 21:36

      You are the biggest Chanel enabler! The camellia is too cute!

  • Oh to Be a Muse September 26, 2012 at 12:54

    Dip the pencil tip on wax paper–duh! That’s such a great way to do the polka dots on the nails…love it.

  • Couture Carrie September 26, 2012 at 12:54

    Amazing mani ~ love it!

    xoxox,
    CC

  • Akaleistar September 26, 2012 at 17:55

    Fun manicure!

  • Sam September 26, 2012 at 18:38

    I will out my polka dot phobia aside and agree that this does look super cute!!

  • Jennifer Fabulous September 26, 2012 at 22:14

    Wow love everything about this. The colors are adorable together. And it’s such a simple, fun design. You make it look so easy. 🙂

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living September 27, 2012 at 10:46

      Thank you! It is really fun and easy!

  • Lyddiegal September 26, 2012 at 22:56

    those came out great and are so cute! I never do elaborate mannis, as much as I’d like to, I’d be so upset as soon as they started to chip and I’d have to destroy all my hard work.

  • MOSAMUSE September 27, 2012 at 00:09

    cute DIY!!
    they came out great!
    xo
    MOSAMUSE

    http://www.MOSAMUSE.com

  • phiphisblog September 27, 2012 at 10:34

    this is SO fun!!! thank you for the tips – your dots have been one of the few “clean” looking ones i’ve seen yet. the colour combination is adorable too!! xox P

    phiphisblog.com

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living September 27, 2012 at 10:45

      Thanks dear! Yes I did try to be neat about the dots and a sharp tip really helps!

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