Has your kiddo been clamoring for pretty, painted nails just like her mom’s? There’s no harm in treating your little beauty queen to the occasional manicure, whether it be at a salon or in the comfort of your own home. Mother-daughter mani Mondays can be a fun bonding experience for the two of you (if your little princess can hold still long enough for the polish to dry). Plus, this way you get to explore the wacky world of (not quite age appropriate) nail art vicariously through her!
Here are a couple of adorable design ideas that are perfect for kids and much easier to execute than you might think thanks to our secret weapons: the dotting pen tool and the striper brush. Try your hand at either one of them (or a mani of your own creation) and send us the results of your experimenting for #minimanimonday! Instagram her fabulous fingertips and tag @elizabethstmom so we can admire your creativity.
Strawberry
Supplies:
Scotch tape
1 bottle of Revlon Multi Care Base & Top Coat
1 bottle of each: Essie Nail Polish in Forever Young (red) or Castaway (pink), Licorice (black), and Shake Your $$ Maker (green)
1 bottle of Seche Vite Top Coat
Pinking sheers or scissors
1 dotting pen tool or striper brush
Directions:
1. Paint each nail with one layer of base coat. Let it dry.
2. Paint one coat of red (or pink nail) polish on each nail. Let it dry. Repeat this step once more.
3. After the red (or pink) coat is dry cut ten strips of tape using your pinking sheers (or, if you don’t have pinking sheers, use regular scissors to first cut a repeating “v” pattern into the edge of a long length of tape).
4. Firmly apply one piece per nail, with the serrated edge facing outwards towards the tip of the nail to create leaves. Let tape hang off end of the nail for easy removal.
5. Apply the green polish on the area you left un-taped.
6. Grab the end of the tape that hangs off each nail and gently peel off while polish dries so tape doesn’t get stuck permanently. Let the polish dry completely. (Tip: Take tape off each individual nail immediately after painting instead of waiting until entire hand is done for better results.)
7. Using your nail art pen (or striper brush) and black nail polish randomly place polka dots on the red portion of nails.
8. Once the polish is dry, cover nails with one coat of quick-dry top coat for an extra kick of shine and a manicure that will last until…well recess at least.
Drippy
Supplies:
1 bottle of Revlon Multi Care Base & Top Coat
1 bottle of each color of your choosing (one for primary coat, one for drips)
1 bottle of Seche Vite Top Coat, Orly’s In a Snap, or INM’s Out the Door
1 dotting pen tool or striper brush
Directions:
1. Paint each nail with one layer of base coat. Let it dry.
2. Paint one coat polish of polish (color of your choosing) on each nail. Let it dry. Repeat this step once more.
3. Using a different color nail polish, (complementary/contrasting colors work best) paint a horizontal line at the top of each nail about the thickness of the brush itself, as if you were giving her a French manicure.
4. Using the same polish, paint 2-3 vertical lines of varying length from the original line (these will ultimately be the drips).
5. Using the dotting pen tool or striper brush, dot the ends of each drip line to achieve that “dripping wet paint” look.
6. Once the polish is dry, cover nails with one coat of quick-dry top coat. Since the previous step makes the polish take a bit longer to dry, be sure to use a quick-drying top coat. (Tip: Have some form of entertainment at the ready—the drying process is, well, a bit dry, and you want this activity to be a treat, not a chore!)