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Sugar Skull Nail Art Tutorial

October 21, 2017 | How to ... & Tutorials, Nails | Leave a Comment

It’s nearly Halloween and I’ve been asked for a Sugar Skull nail art tutorial, after I posted my Halloween nail art wheels on social media last week.

For this Sugar Skull tutorial you’ll need:

* Nail polish remover
* lint-free wipes or cotton pads
* an orangewood cuticle stick or metal cuticle pusher
* 180-grit buffer or a buffing block (the ones with 4 different sides)
* a 180-grit nail file
* base coat
* white nail polish
* contrasting nail polish colours of your choice (to decorate your skull)
* top coat
* a mini striping brush (small paintbrush or clean eyeliner brush)
* a dotting tool (or straightened out bobby pin)
* fimo (optional)

Start off by prepping your nails; remove any old polish, push back your cuticles, file your nails into the desired shape and then buff them lightly with the buffer..

Cleanse your nails again with nail polish remover to remove any nail dust and natural oils that will have come to the surface of the nail. Apply a thin layer of base coat and cure it according to the instructions on your lamp (for gel polish) or wait for it to dry if you’re using traditional polish/lacquer.

base colour

Apply a thin coat of white polish to your feature nail, making sure to cap the free edge. Cure or wait for it to dry. Apply a second, thin coat of polish and cure or wait for it to dry.

adding fimo

I used two pieces of thinly cut floral fimo for the eyes, which I glued on using nail glue. If you don’t have fimo, you can paint simple 5-petal flowers for the eyes using a dotting tool. To do this, place a single dot in the centre, to create the middle of your flower. Cure or wait for this to dry. In a contrasting colour, place one dot at the top of each centre dot, before placing the side dots and then the bottom two dots on each flower. Cure or wait for it to dry before continuing.

heart on forehead

Paint a heart shape on the forehead (I used red polish for this), just above the centre of the eyes. The easiest way to paint a heart is to using a dotting tool. Place two small dots next to each other (with the edges touching in the middle of the heart, to create the rounded top of the heart), then use a small brush to quickly drag some of the polish down into a point at the bottom and fill this in.

heart for nose

Paint an upside down heart under the eyes, to create the nose (I used black polish for this). Cure or wait for the polish to dry, depending on the type you’re using.

dots for mouth

Next, take your mini striping brush or small paintbrush and place three tiny dots where your want the mouth to be. One dot in the centre, and one dot at each outer edge.

Join the dots together to create the stripe between the top and bottom teeth.

mid-line

Mark out the middle of this line, where you want the middle of the front teeth to be.

marking out teeth

Create marks for the rest of the teeth.

teeth

Start joining the lines together with curved arches in varying sizes to create teeth.

define mouth

Go over this again, if you need to, to create a slightly thicker line. Cure or wait for it to dry.

adding swirls

Start decorating your sugar skull with contrasting colours, by creating swirls with a mini striping brush or small paintbrush.

decorating

Add hearts, dots, flowers, stripes, or whatever you feel like, to decorate the rest of the gaps on your sugar skull. If you want, you can even add dots or stripes for eyebrows, extend the nose upwards with a few dots, or even add diamante and other embellishments, if you have them. Cure or wait for the polish to dry.

add eyebrows

Apply your top coat and cure or wait for it to dry, before finishing off your manicure by rubbing cuticle oil onto your nails, cuticles and skin around your nails. Cuticle oil applied daily will nourish your nails and help your polish to last longer by keeping it moisturized and flexible. Apply a nourishing hand cream and you’re all done.

sugar skull nail

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(gel polish mani with nail art = $85)

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Dry hands and uneven cuticles can be unattractive, Dry hands and uneven cuticles can be unattractive, uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, especially in winter when extremely dry skin can snag, crack and bleed. Looking after your hands and cuticles with a few simple tips can help to keep them soft, supple and nourished and make them look years younger!

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Or pick them up at your next manicure appointment. 

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Anyone keen for a set like this? They can be any Anyone keen for a set like this? 
They can be any colour you like.

$73 for a gel polish mani with this glitter design over natural nails, or
$93 for soft gel extensions with gel polish and glitter.

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Booking a manicure and/or pedicure appointment at Booking a manicure and/or pedicure appointment at Rambling Rose is simple, just head over to Fresha (the online booking system) and do it all online:

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Gel polish manicure with four feature nails = $73. Gel polish manicure with four feature nails = $73.

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Lip liners define the lips and help prevent lipsti Lip liners define the lips and help prevent lipstick from “bleeding” into cracks and fine lines, while helping your lipstick last longer. 

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'Sovereign' (royal blue) with a marbled feature na 'Sovereign' (royal blue) with a marbled feature nail and gold foil

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Revitalize your skin with Reniu Virgin Coconut Oil Revitalize your skin with Reniu Virgin Coconut Oil Lotion – the ultimate tropical indulgence. Crafted from pure, cold-pressed Virgin Coconut Oil, this lotion is your key to nourished, hydrated, and protected skin. Its fast-absorbing formula not only locks in moisture but also delivers a wealth of essential nutrients precisely where your skin craves them most. Experience the bliss of smooth, revitalised, and refreshed skin with every application.

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Available in the following scent infusions:
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- Coconut
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The Reniu range (by Pure Fiji) is available from Rambling Rose. Order online and have it delivered, or arrange a time to collect (please don't arrive without an appointment, even if it's just for collection).

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Can't decide between two colours? Have one on eac Can't decide between two colours? 
Have one on each hand.

Gel polish manicure with nail art = $85

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