DIY – Easy Glitter Nail Designs
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If you believe in the power of glitter, you know there’s nothing better than sporting glitter nails! They are so pretty to look at and perfect for almost every occasion. If you want to nail the glitter mani trend, we’ve got a round-up of the easiest DIY glitter nail designs. Some of them are cute, and some are oh-so-sophisticated – because a little bling never hurt anyone. Want to know how you can achieve salon-like sparkly nails at home? Read on and shine on, you crazy diamond!
20 Best Glitter Nail Art Ideas
- Lavender Love Glitter Nails
- Gradient Glitter Nails
- Copper Blue And Gold Glitter Nails
- Milky Gold Gradient Glitter Nails
- Macaron Glitter Nails
- Ombre Glitter Nails
- Nude Glitter Nail Manicure
- Cocoa Gold Glitter Nails
- Royal Blue Jewel-Toned Glitter Nails
- Pastel Glitter Nails
- Half Moon Glitter Nails
- Christmas Glitter Nails
- Black Glitter Nails
- Chunky Gold Glitter Nails
- Grey And Silver Glitter Nails
- Party Glitter Nails
- Peach-Toned Gold Glitter Nails
- Holographic Glitter Nails
- Glitter French Manicure
- Purple And Silver Summer Glitter Nails
Tip: You can recreate these designs on your natural nails or on acrylics. Choose whatever you’re more comfortable with.
1. Lavender Love Glitter Nails
For all you pastel shade lovers, this lavender glitter nails design is perfect for spring or summer. With the emphasis on the ring finger, this simplistic design is very easy to recreate. You can also use other shades like mauve or baby pink if you want.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Start by painting all your nails, except for your ring finger, in lavender. Make sure you apply two coats for a smooth and even finish.
Step 2: For your ring finger, use a multicolored glitter nail polish like the Butter London Nail Polish in the shade ‘Bubbly Jubbly.’
Step 3: Apply a top coat on all your nails and let it dry.
Your nail art is complete! Wasn’t that incredibly simple?
2. Gradient Glitter Nails
This is a very versatile design, and you can use any color of your choice for this look. You want to pick a fine glitter polish that takes about 2-3 coats to be opaque. If you wish, you can also add another glitter polish with chunkier bits of glitter. This is a great design for special occasions, such as weddings or parties.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Paint your nails in a mint green shade of nail polish. We’ve picked American Apparel in the shade ‘Office.’ If you a prefer a darker shade, go in with the color of your choice. Make sure you apply two coats of your desired nail polish shade.
Step 2: Use the fine glitter polish first like China Glaze’s ‘Glistening Snow.’ To get a super thin coat, wipe most of the nail polish off the brush. Paint from your cuticle to around halfway up the nail.
Step 3: Gently dab at the finish line to make it look scattered and uneven. Let this dry.
Step 4: Use your chunkier glitter polish and dab the glitter over the first coat to add dimension to your gradient.
Step 5: Finish your manicure with a top coat!
Say hello to summery, sparkly nails!
3. Holographic Rose Gold Nails
This holographic rose gold nail design is all you need to glam up your hands and outfit. It’s super easy to recreate, and rose gold is in vogue right now.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Paint your nails with a base nail polish, so the glitter polish goes on evenly.
Step 2: Once your nails are completely dry, apply two coats of your holographic rose gold nail polish.
Step 3: Apply a high-shine top coat to finish the look.
You can also try other shades of holographic nail enamels like silver or gold to go with your mood and the occasion. These shades look extremely festive and fabulous on any skin tone.
4. Milky Gold Gradient Glitter Nails
This is a classy glitter nail design that’s super simple to do. It is perfect for the holiday season, and you only need about 10 minutes to achieve this chic look.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Start by applying two coats of your base nail polish and wait for it to dry. You can use a shade like OPI’s ‘My Vampire is Buff’ or Lime Crime’s ‘Milky Way’ for your base.
Step 2: Apply a thin coat of glitter polish halfway across your nail and dab at the ends for a scattered effect. Wait for it to dry.
Step 3: Apply a coat of chunkier glitter polish on the first coat.
Step 4: Add a top coat like the China Glaze No-Chip Top Coat to finish.
5. Macaron Glitter Nails
This is a gorgeous combination of chunky pink glitter with a mint green base. The glitter effect looks stunning against any base color, so feel free to choose a shade of your choice.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Start by applying two coats of your mint green base nail polish and allow it to dry completely.
Step 2: For your middle and ring fingernails, apply a coat or two of pink glitter polish.
Step 3: For the rest of your nails, use a silver glitter polish with either glitter strips or chunks of silver glitter.
Step 4: Once it all dries up, apply a high-shine top coat to secure your manicure.
6. Ombre Glitter Nails
Shine bright like a diamond with these ombre glitter nails. It’s easy to recreate this look at home, and you can also customize it with your preferred base color. This design will amp up your nail game and take it to a whole new level of glamor. Here’s how you can do this.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Paint your nails with two coats of your base nail polish and allow it to dry. We’ve used OPI’s ‘Sweetheart’ for our base.
Step 2: Apply a thin coat of fine glitter polish on all your nails.
Step 3: Once it dries, apply the chunkier glitter nail polish only from the edge to the mid-point of your nail, creating an ombre effect.
Step 4: Finish with a top coat.
7. Nude Glitter Nail Manicure
This half-and-half nude plus glitter nail design is super sophisticated and chic. You can use strips to achieve precision if you’re worried about messing up. It’s perfect for the holiday season. It will instantly jazz up a boring nude mani and can be created in under 10 minutes. Want to know how?
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Apply two coats of nude nail polish of your choice and allow it to dry completely. You can use Skinny Dip from Essie if you want to recreate this look.
Step 2: Now comes the interesting part! You have to apply a glitter silver or gold nail polish to half of your nail diagonally. You can do this with the help of nail art strips or even free hand by placing dots of polish on the upper left corner and the bottom right corner of your nail and simply connecting these two dots in a straight line.
Step 3: Once this dries up fully, add a top coat to protect your manicure, and you’re done!
8. Cocoa Gold Glitter Nails
Brown nail polish is a wonderful choice for fall or winter. This neutral color reminds us of warm chocolate fudge. When paired with gold, it screams classy. Doesn’t it? You need some scotch tape to recreate this look with a few simple steps.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Apply two coats of warm brown nail polish and allow it to dry completely.
Step 2: Place a piece of scotch tape diagonally across your nail on both sides to form a triangle.
Step 3: Fill this space up with chunky gold glitter nail polish.
Step 4: Carefully remove the tape.
Step 5: To secure the design, apply a layer of high-shine top coat.
9. Royal Blue Jewel-Toned Glitter Nails
These sapphire blue nails are all you need for a classy event. This design is really easy to do, and it has got just the right amount of glitter to dazzle up that blue. You can recreate this with a different color if you wish. Love it? Here’s how you can do this.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Apply two coats of sapphire nail polish and allow it to dry.
Step 2: Apply a fine glitter polish to the edges of your nails and dab lightly to spread the glitter.
Step 3: Once this dries, apply a thin coat of chunky glitter polish over it.
Step 4: Top it off with clear nail polish to secure the design.
10. Pastel Glitter Nails
This is one of the easiest glitter nail designs to recreate. All you need is your favorite shade of pastel nail polish and a silver glitter polish to nail this look. It’s our favorite spring-inspired manicure. Doesn’t it look dreamy?
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Start by painting all your nails in two coats of pastel blue nail polish, leaving the ring fingernails bare.
Step 2: Apply two coats of a fine glitter nail polish on your ring fingernails.
Step 3: Apply a high-shine top coat over your nails to seal the deal.
11. Half Moon Glitter Nails
The reverse French nails trend is so in right now! This modern twist to the traditional French manicure is very simple to do. All you need is a contrasting secondary color at the base of your nails, and it only takes about three steps to accomplish.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Push back your cuticles as the half-moon shape will rest near them.
Step 2: Apply two coats of your preferred nail color and allow it to dry completely.
Step 3: Use a rounded band-aid that’s not too sticky and place it over the bottom of your nail, so it forms a half moon shape at the base of your nail.
Step 4: Paint this area with a fine glitter nail polish, and once you’re done, carefully remove the band-aid.
12. Christmas Glitter Nails
There’s nothing better than gorgeous red nails for Christmas, right? Add a bit of glitter, and you’re left with swoon-worthy holiday nails that look utterly festive and will make you stand out. Want to know how to achieve this look?
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Apply two coats of classic red nail polish and let it dry.
Step 2: Use a fine glitter nail polish either in gold or silver and apply it on the edges of your nails.
Step 3: Use a brush to gently dab the glitter on the bottom half of your nails.
Step 4: Apply a glossy top coat and let your nails dry.
13. Black Glitter Nails
This black holiday nail design is way too pretty to pass up. It’s time you channel your inner nail junkie with this edgy design.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Paint your nails with two coats of black nail polish.
Step 2: Use a chunky glitter nail polish with copper, gold or silver glitter (whatever you like best) and apply it on the base of your nails. Dab the glitter, so it spreads and creates an effect similar to that in the picture.
Step 3: Apply the glitter polish on the entirety of your ring fingernails.
Step 4: Once it dries, finish with a top coat!
14. Chunky Gold Glitter Nails
This mani is pure dreamy art! Do you see how the nude base is complementing the gradient chunky gold glitter bits so flawlessly? If you’re into nude nail polish, you need to try this out because it’s classy, chic, and oh-so-fabulous – all at the same time. Right? Want to know how you can do this?
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Paint your nails with two coats of nude nail polish like Essie’s ‘Skinny Dip.’
Step 2: Now comes the fun part – adding glitter to your clean canvas! Use a bold and chunky glitter nail art polish. Try Essie’s ‘Summit of Style’ if you want a similar effect. Apply this to the bottom of your nails and dab at the glitter to create a gradient effect.
Step 3: Once this dries, finish with a top-coat so that your manicure lasts longer.
15. Gray And Silver Glitter Nails
Ladies, do not underestimate the power of gray nail polish. When done right, it can look as incredible as this design. You have to give this neutral shade some attention because it really does deserve it. Inspired? Give this mani a try!
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Start by applying grey nail polish on all your nails, except the ring fingernails.
Step 2: Apply two coats of a fine glitter silver polish on your ring fingernails.
Step 3: Use white nail polish and a thin brush to create the hearts on your middle fingernails.
Step 4: Once your nails are dry, apply a coat of transparent nail polish to finish.
16. Party Glitter Nails
This wine and gold combo is a classic that you absolutely have to try out for the next party you’re attending. It is all you need to complete your party outfit. It’s also perfect for cold, wintery days that are screaming for some color and sparkle. Here’s how you can accomplish this design.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Apply two coats of wine nail polish and allow it to dry.
Step 2: Use a gold glitter nail polish to create patterns on your nails like in the picture. This can be done freehand.
Step 3: Once your nails have dried, finish your manicure with a top coat.
17. Peach-Toned Gold Glitter Nails
This design looks straight out of Tumblr! If you’re a fan of soft colors, this nail art design is feminine and guaranteed to bag you a ton of compliments. This one’s so right for summer or spring. Here’s how you can recreate this design.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Paint your index finger and thumbnail with two coats of peach nail polish.
Step 3: Paint your ring and little fingernail with two coats of gray nail polish.
Step 4: Apply two coats of a fine gold glitter polish on your middle fingernail.
Step 5: Use scotch tape to create the triangle at the nail bed of your ring fingernail by placing two pieces of scotch tape diagonally across each other. Paint this area with your glitter polish.
Step 6: Finally, finish all the nails off with a top coat.
18. Holographic Glitter Nails
From fashion bloggers to runway models, everyone seems to be embracing the holographic glitter nails trend. You don’t have to break the bank to recreate this look, but you do need a UV lamp with some brands of nail polish.
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Apply a base coat.
Step 2: Apply two to three coats of Born Pretty holographic glitter nail polish in the shade of your choice.
Step 3: Finish off with a top coat.
19. Glitter French Manicure
If you’re bored of the traditional French manicure, you can jazz it up by adding glitter to this classic look. It looks so soft and Disney princess-like! It can also look perfect with your white wedding gown. Want to give it a shot?
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Apply a base coat to all your nails.
Step 2: Apply a fine glitter silver nail polish starting from halfway across your nails to the tips.
Step 3: Dab the glitter polish gently, so the glitter looks more like a gradient.
Step 4: Finish with a top coat, and you’re all set!
20. Purple And Silver Summer Glitter Nails
This design reminds us of all things nice! If you’re looking for glitter nail designs for spring or summer, this is a big hit with basically any pastel shade of nail polish. Isn’t it just so soft and pretty?
DIY Step-By-Step Process
Step 1: Paint all your nails (except your ring fingernails) in a pastel purple shade of polish.
Step 2: Apply the chunkiest silver glitter polish to your ring fingernail – two coats should do the trick.
Step 3: Apply a gel-finish top coat to secure the polish, and you’re done.
Doing your nails can be calming and therapeutic. Try spending a lazy Sunday afternoon giving yourself a gorgeous manicure and see for yourself. We hope this post inspires the nail junkie in you. With that, we wrap our round-up of the 20 easiest DIY glitter nail designs. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below!
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