Contributing nail artists:
Melisa Bruce, Salon Riviera, Redondo Beach, Calif.
Sherri Traweek, The Nail Asylum, Redlands, Calif.
Lorri Silvestre, Nail Candy By Lorri, Grover Beach, Calif.

Tools
The good news is you don’t need an entire arsenal of fancy tools to create cute nail art. All of the designs done here were made with different sized dotting tools (three or less) and a striper brush.

Slanted Color Block

Melisa Bruce

1. Using the nail polish brush, swipe on a coat of color at a diagonal angle. Choose a second color and fill in the remaining space on the nail, polishing at the same angle.

2.  Apply a second coat of each color.

3. Use a striping brush to apply glitter over the center line.

Color Block With Stylus Dots

Melisa Bruce

1. Paint nail in desired color.

2. Paint over half the nail in a second color.

3. Use a dotting tool and make dots down the center.

Dot Gradient

Melisa Bruce

1. Paint nail desired color.

2. Swipe another color of polish across the tip.

3. Using different sized dotting tools, dot one side of the nail in various colors.

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Falling Confetti

Lorri Silvestre

1. Dot one side of the nail in one color.

2. Fill in space with different color dots.

3. Add smaller dots in a third color.

4. Use a small dotting tool to place white in the center of some of the larger dots.

Very Cherry

Lorri Silvestre

1. Use a striper brush to make a single stroke.

2. Add another stroke, connecting the two. Draw two leaves where the lines connect. You can make a leaf by combining two comma strokes and filling it in.

3. Add a dot at the bottom of each stem.

4. Dot the background and add white to the center of the cherries.

Branching Out

Lorri Silvestre

1. Create a slight wavy line with your striper brush.

2. Add more lines to form different sized branches.

3. Use a small dotting tool to form flowers. Three dots equal one flower.

4. Apply a white dot to the center of each flower.

Easy-to-Do Diamonds

Lorri Silvestre

1. Use the polish brush to paint a line down the center of the nail.

2. Add two more lines on either side of the first one. When dry, swipe a different color across the center.

3. Add two more bars across the nail.

4. Use a striper brush to paint lines across the nail diagonally. Cross over with more lines to form diamond pattern.

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