This nail art takes some work, but the end result is pretty spectacular. To do it, paint a base coat on your nails, then apply tape all around your nails, covering your cuticles. Then, take a bowl of room temperature water and very quickly drop in droplets of multiple nail polish shades (keep them all in the same color family to get a camo look like this one). Use a toothpick to swirl the droplets of polish around and dip one finger in. Let it sit for a few seconds and use the toothpick to collect the remaining polish off the surface. Remove your finger and repeat the process for each nail. (If you need help, check out this video tutorial.)
Source: OoohShinies blog and Polish and Pearls blog
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Ring around the edges
This high-fashion manicure is a more modern take on the French or moon manicures. To do it, just paint your entire nail with a base shade, then paint a darker color just in the center part of your nail, letting the lighter shade show through near your nail base and on the sides.
As for the colors, any shades can work. Mismas says lavender and violet are office-friendly, but this would also be beautiful with taupey-brown shades as well. Or if you're feeling bold you can try this red/silver color combo.
Source: F*ck Yeah, Nail Art blog
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Sophisticated sparkle
Using a fine-milled, subtle glitter like this one makes the final look more adult. Misma says, "Doing glitter in tonal (as opposed to contrasting) shades makes it more subtle."
To do this look, apply a base color of polish, then take a piece of tape and cut triangles out of it. Place the piece of tape over your nail and do a coat of a complementary shade. When you lift the tape, you'll be left with the triangle design on your nail. (For a full tutorial, click here.)
Source: Quite Polished blog and Chloe's Nails blog
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Classy lace
These laced-tipped nails are just the right balance of cute, sexy, and polished. There are a few ways to get this look. If you're a whiz with a brush you could hand draw them (like this blogger did), or you could use nail glue to apply actual lace.
Our pick for an easier solution: Take the Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips in Lace, $7, and apply them only to your tips. Mismas says the fishnet and lace patterns of the nail strips are much better options for a subdued look.
Source: Womens Delight blog
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A subtle ombre
Ombre hair may not have been your thing, but it's hard to deny the subtle beauty of the ombre nail. Nonie Creme, Founding Creative Director of butter LONDON nail polish, loves this look. "It's sophisticated and artistic, but quietly so."
Creme shares her tips to get the look: Start by applying a base coat to clean nails, then do two coats of your lightest shade (the color that'll mostly show at the base of your nails) and let it dry. Then apply a blob of the second shade of polish to the tip of your nail. Wipe your brush thoroughly (so there's no extra polish) then drag the brush through the blob and towards the base of your nail so it feathers out. Repeat this step with a third, darker polish shade (use a smaller blob), but don't go as close to the base of your nail. Finish with a top coat.
Source: F*ck Yeah, Nail Art blog
Love it or hate it, nail art is a full-blown trend. There are literally thousands of blogs devoted to these souped-up manicures, and there are countless nail designs -- more than you could try in a lifetime of trips to the nail salon.
But while we love ogling the creative techniques and the how-did-they-do-that nail designs, let's face it: As adorable as pink glittered bows or neon stripes are, they don't exactly fly after a certain age.
This doesn't mean we're permanently relegated to boring nude or sheer pink manis. With a little digging and some help from a few experts, we found 13 nail designs that are perfect for grown-ups. It's all about "fine art for nails," says Nonie Creme, Founding Creative Director of butter LONDON nail polish.
What does that mean? Think sophisticated color palettes, simple (yet striking) geometric designs, and minimal glitter. But don't worry. Just because these nail designs are mature doesn't mean they're boring. Keep clicking to see the most amazing -- and wearable -- nail designs we could find.
