The procedure takes about 1 1/2 hours. You can ask the local pet store (or a friend with snakes) if they have shed skin from a molting snake. Medeiros says of the design, “The look is eye-catching, unique, and no one will believe that you have real snakeskin on your nails!"


1. Prepare the nail for acrylic and add white tips. Then size the snakeskin like you would a silk wrap and cut the pieces to your liking.


2. Apply a thin layer of clear acrylic and pick up a piece of skin using your wet brush and manipulate the skin until it is where you want. Press firmly with your brush to ensure it will stick to the wet acrylic. Do this for all five fingers on one hand, then cut off the overhang.


3. Using clear acrylic, fill the entire nail and cap the free edge. File and shape the nail and file off any snakeskin that might be hanging over the edges or sides of the nail. Gently file and buff the nail, then seal it with a gel top coat or just a clear top coat. You can enhance the look by adding glitter or rhinestones.

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