The polka dot print always gives a special appeal to the fair sex. Light playfulness and mystery adorn a woman and make her attractive in the eyes of men. This task - to turn any girl into a beauty who knows her worth - is perfectly accomplished by a simple and modest at first glance polka dot pattern. Take a closer look at fashion pictures: it’s no coincidence that multi-colored dots and droplets are scattered across the dresses and skirts of supermodels and it-girls.
Painting polka dots on your nails is also a great idea. Nail art masters have long adopted this design. With its help you can liven up any, even the most boring office outfit, and make the rainiest autumn days brighter. If you learn how to successfully combine a dress and a polka dot manicure, you will always look stylish, original and attractive.
How peas came to us through the centuries
The history of the finely speckled print goes back so far into antiquity that today it is difficult to establish not only the year, but even the century of the appearance of the polka dot pattern on clothing and accessories. However, historians shared some information with us. So, in such seemingly gloomy Middle Ages, when everything beautiful and cheerful was banned, the fashion for peas still sometimes broke through, at once crossing out the dark, expressionless clothes. Even if this happened infrequently, such evidence has been preserved; written sources tell about it. In addition, this fun print can be seen in some pictures from those times.
After the Renaissance swept across Europe in a powerful wave, the polka dot pattern began to increasingly come to the attention of fashion designers of that time. Polka dots appeared on translucent petticoats worn by wealthy Swiss women. Then polka dots reached France, and noble ladies began to happily buy dresses with fluffy petticoats decorated with this colorful print.
In England closer to the 19th century. chintz with polka dots appears. Simple fabric was used by simple peasant women to sew their daily vestments. Thus, peas won the hearts of representatives of all segments of the population: from the nobility to the commoners.
Apparently, it was from Foggy Albion that the dotted print came to us. It still bears a purely English name: polka-dot.
After a short period of oblivion, when fashionistas cooled down somewhat on the interesting design, the time has come to conquer absolutely all hearts with it. At the beginning of the last century, Walt Disney dressed two of his cartoon characters - Mickey Mouse and Minnie - in bright suits with pea print. From that moment on, fashionable “speckles” began to appear everywhere: not only cute girls’ dresses, but also harsh men’s ties were decorated with “childish” patterns. In the 50s, polka dot colors became the latest fashion. And in the 80s it completely became an eternal classic. Among the famous adherents of the cute pattern are such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn.
It doesn’t matter whether you can boast that “blue” royal blood flows in your veins, or your ancestors were simple peasants - today the polka dot pattern is available to every representative of the fair sex who wants to emphasize her beauty and individuality.
About the advantages of polka dot manicure
A manicure with dots is very simple to perform - this can be considered one of its main “advantages”. In addition, this nail design:
- allowed when creating the most strictly “office” image;
- harmonizes with any style - from trash to vintage;
- does not require the purchase of various “tricky” brushes and other expensive tools; It is enough to have a dots at your disposal or even arm yourself with a toothpick;
- accessible to both experienced craftswomen and girls taking their first timid steps in mastering the art of nail art;
- looks great in any season - be it summer or winter;
- does not require “adjustment” of the length of the nail plates - peas are painted on both long and short nails;
- hides minor defects of the nail plate.
It is also important that your collection may not have a huge arsenal of bottles with multi-colored varnishes. All it takes is a couple of colors and you can create something amazing on your nails!
Few cons
Ideally, nails should be even, because although polka dots cover small “convexities” and “concavities,” they can, on the contrary, “stick out” large imperfections. Therefore, polish your nails well.
It is very important to have a sense of proportion. In no case:
- do not do a blue polka dot manicure with the same blue dress;
- do not combine polka dots on your nails and stripes on the fabric of your suit;
- Do not cover your nails with lots of sparkles and glitter.
Only ladies with impeccable taste can afford to break the above rules, who know how to maneuver between two prohibitions with such virtuosity that the solution they find is perceived not as bad taste, but as a new stylish interpretation of what has long been known.
As you can see, the polka-dot manicure has no particular disadvantages; you just need to apply it carefully, avoiding proximity to other active designs.
Pea variations
If you think that polka dots look a little boring and childish, think about how you can diversify and elevate them. For example, in late autumn, when sadness for the faded colors of spring and summer has crept into your soul, give yourself a “spring” manicure. Add to peas:
- flowers;
- twigs;
- leaves.
Don't take dark varnishes - opt for pastel shades. Mint, pink, azure, beige - what you need.
Do you love or are partial to the lunar? So who is stopping you from decorating your smile area or socket with shiny dots? You can take contrasting colors: black, white, red.
Polka dots and ombre? Why not? Polka-dot looks fascinating when from deep blue dots gradually turn into a bluish tint, from aggressive red to soft pink.
Try combining polka dots with lace, bows or hearts. Give free rein to your imagination, remember that polka-dot allows you to create countless different combinations. For inspiration, look at the pictures: surely one of them will give you the idea to create something interesting and repeatable.
A playful polka dot nail design is a great way to express yourself, look stylish and bold, and unusual photos of polka dot manicure will help you choose the most interesting nail art.
Features of polka dot nail design
There are many options for fashionable polka dot manicure - from simple and laconic to bright, made in the most unpredictable color combinations. In different designs, funny circles can be either an independent element or part of an entire composition. In the photo you can see original polka dot nail designs, where dots are successfully complemented by simple geometric shapes - lines, squares and triangles.
In various variations of the “polka dot” design, neat circles cover the entire nail or half of it diagonally, the dots are applied in a vertical line on the right or left side, the polka dots are drawn only from above, and fancy patterns are formed from them, while the circles can be large, expressive, or completely tiny. Peas are successfully combined with playful bows and other funny designs.
Manicure for short nails with polka dots
The fashionable polka dot design looks very stylish on short nails: in numerous photos you can see identical circles evenly distributed throughout the entire nail plate - in this case it is better to give preference to the rectangular shape of the nails. The effectiveness of the design also depends on the right color scheme: all sorts of pastel shades, a classic combination of black and white, a delicate French or bright red nails with white polka dots will be a win-win option.
Pea manicure on long nails
Beautiful photos of bright polka dot manicure on long nails are a current trend on social networks; such nail art looks incredibly feminine and sexy.
An interesting design with playful circles and a harmonious combination of colors on nails of moderate length is a good choice for brave girls.
Confident women will definitely like a slightly shocking red manicure with white polka dots, while romantic natures will appreciate the delicate combination of pastel shades with neat medium-sized dots.
Rules for combining colors in polka dot manicure
Initially, polka dot manicure was done in two contrasting colors, but today you can see photos with cute circles of all the colors of the rainbow - one design boldly combines three to five shades at the same time.
One of the simplest, incredibly popular and eye-catching polka dot designs remains the classic combination of black and white. The combination of soft pink and turquoise looks very advantageous - these shades are perfect for a romantic date. Colored polka dots on a black background are an excellent choice for a party; this manicure goes especially well with a little black dress.
Red nails with polka dots or a playful rainbow print will help you stand out from the crowd and lift your spirits on dull, gray days. Just a few drops of color applied to a white base look quite bright and positive. Even more unusual are dots of the same size, painted in different shades of the same color - both dark and light, and the transitions can be quite chaotic.
How to do a polka dot manicure at home
The simplicity of the design makes it easy to perform this manicure at home, and detailed photo instructions will help you avoid common mistakes. To create a beautiful polka dot manicure at home you will need a minimum of money and effort:
- two or more colored varnishes;
- transparent fixative;
- any thin rod or cotton swab.
It’s worth starting with giving your hands a well-groomed appearance - this rule should be remembered as an axiom. After creating a neat shape, polishing the nails and removing hangnails, it’s time for a transparent base, which will make their surface perfectly smooth and protect them from bright pigment.
The next stage is varnishing. First you need to evenly distribute the base tone, then, if necessary, apply a second layer and let it dry well. Now it's time to draw the peas.
Advice! For convenience, the selected shades should be dropped onto cardboard or foil, dip a stick into the varnish and carefully place even dots on the nail plate.
It’s okay if the pea turns out to be too small or uneven; you can fix it by dropping varnish on that spot again. The final procedure is to apply a high-quality fixative to the dried manicure.
Manicure under a polka dot dress
A cheerful polka dot print can liven up any fashion look, and this manicure option goes perfectly with polka dot dresses.
Important! This outfit is quite self-sufficient, so it’s better to stick to short nails in soft colors. A feminine speckled dress will complement well a delicate polka dot jacket.
Polka Dot Manicure Ideas
The photo below shows current ideas for manicure with a spectacular polkadot print - from light pastel shades to bold contrasting combinations.
Girls who want to make their image as unique and feminine as possible often choose a polka dot manicure. It emphasizes individuality while remaining truly gentle and beautiful. And it’s quite simple to do.
On short nails
Short nails are not a reason to refuse to get a design done. Moreover, polka dot nails look especially beautiful at a short length. This gives the image some childish spontaneity and romanticism, as in the photo.
To perform a spot manicure you will need:
- Red varnish.
- White varnish.
- Dots.
- Base and sealer (or clear varnish).
First, a regular unedged manicure is performed to give the nails a neat and well-groomed look, if necessary. The old coating is removed and a base or clear varnish is applied. When the first layer has dried, you can start creating a manicure with dots.
All nails are covered with white and red varnish, one at a time, alternating. First, one thin layer of color is applied, then, if necessary, again to make the shade deeper and more saturated. Each layer must dry well, otherwise the manicure will “float”, crumple and “slide”.
Using a dot with a thin small ball at the end, small dots are placed: white on a red background, red on a white background. So that the varnish does not spread, and the dots are neat and even, the first stroke is made on paper or a palette, and only then the pattern is applied to the nails. The finished design is covered with a fixative. The color scheme is selected individually, depending on the mood or occasion.
You can make dots yourself: tightly wrap thread or cotton wool around a toothpick or thick needle to form a ball. Then it is dipped in liquid glue and allowed to dry. A polka dot manicure turns out especially impressive if the dots are made of different diameters, as in the photo.
Tulips
Painting your nails yourself is quite difficult if you don’t have experience. However, some patterns and designs can be reproduced without taking any special courses or lessons. For example, tulips, as in the photo.
This design requires only a few materials and tools:
- Red varnish.
- Beige varnish.
- Black varnish with a thin brush.
- Nail polish remover.
Drawing tulips on the tips of the nails, instead of the usual French, is very easy. First of all, the nails are prepared and covered with a base, then with a base color (beige in this case). When all the layers are dry, you can start creating the drawing.
The petals of the future tulip are drawn with red varnish: there are three in total. Squeeze the brush well against the edge of the bottle so that the excess does not spread over the nail. When the petals are dry, draw an outline with a thin brush using black paint. The completely finished pattern is covered with a fixative.
By the way, you can add a polka dot manicure to it. For example, by placing dots as a finishing touch on or above the petals. The color scheme depends on the desire of the owner of the manicure. For example, tulips can be depicted as yellow and dots as orange.
For those who are good at nail art, another technology is also possible. First, a manicure is done with dots, and from these dots, before they dry, buds are drawn using a needle. You can practice on a piece of paper.
Delicate tulips
You can create a design like the one in the photo in two ways: using stickers or drawing by hand. Both options require a little preparation. You will need a small set of materials:
- Pink and white polishes.
- Fixer and base for manicure.
From the tools (using sticker technology):
- Stickers in the form of tulips.
- Scissors.
- Tweezers.
If the drawing is done by hand:
- Dots.
- Needle.
- Palette.
Both technologies begin in the same way: the nails are cut, filed, the old coating and oily shine are removed, and the cuticles are pushed back. A base coat is applied to all nails except the ring finger, followed by pink polish. For the nameless one - white or milky varnish. When all the fingers are dry, a chaotic smile line is drawn using white.
If the pattern is drawn by hand, then first mix pink and white varnishes in the palette to create a delicate and pleasant shade. Dots are used to perform a polka dot manicure. While the dots are still wet, use a needle or the thin side of a dot to stretch the varnish into the shape of petals. The colors are additionally mixed with each other, which gives them a special charm.
If the technology with stickers is chosen, then the designs are cut out and peeled off from the base, and then transferred to the nails using tweezers. This is all done using dry varnish. The more delicate and lighter the sticker flowers, the more romantic the manicure turns out.
Both technologies end in the same way: the finished design is covered with a fixative. If desired, you can complement the painting with sparkles or small glitter. Excess varnish is removed with nail polish remover. You can apply nourishing oil to the cuticle as a finishing touch.
To make polka dot nails look as gentle and romantic as possible, it is advisable to choose light and pastel shades. To create a bold and bright image, you can give preference to rich colors: red, yellow, green, orange, blue, cyan and others.
Video master class on creating an interesting polka dot manicure
Well-groomed hands and beautiful nails are the calling card of every modern woman. It doesn't matter whether your nails are short or long, an original, designer manicure can add elegance and charm to your look. Only in the dizzying pace of life, not every lady can spare two hours to visit a nail salon for a professional manicure. And this service is not cheap and not everyone can afford it. There is a way out; you can make an original and easy-to-perform polka dot manicure yourself.
Drawing polka dots on your nails is quite accessible to every woman; you don’t need to have outstanding artistic talents to do this. This manicure looks amazing, is easy to do, won’t take much time and will suit both a business style and a romantic one.
The fashion for peas came to us from France. It was in Paris in the mid-twentieth century that fashionable dresses and women's suits began to be sewn from circled material. Such clothing became very popular, as it created the impression of femininity and gave the image airiness and elegance. Then they began to transfer multi-colored peas from clothes to nails. Moreover, polka dot nail designs have not lost popularity to this day.
When it comes to nails, there are many options for polka dot designs. You can simply decorate and enliven the monochromatic nail coating with original dots, or you can arrange a real extravaganza of multi-colored circles. Polka dot nails are an opportunity to show your imagination and highlight your unique style.
Doing a pea manicure
In order to perform a polka dot manicure on yourself according to all the rules, you need special manicure equipment. To apply dots, you will need a dot-thin brush, with which you can easily apply dots to the base coat. The size of the resulting circle depends on the size of the dots. If you are making such a nail design for the first time, you can get by with improvised means: a toothpick or a ballpoint pen. To make polka dots on your nails you will need: dots, two or more colored polishes, nail polish fixer, and a clear base coat.
- You need to do it right away, since even the most interesting design will lose its attractiveness on unkempt nails. To do this, carefully file the nails, giving them the correct shape and the same length. Next, we get rid of the overgrown cuticle and lubricate it with oil to soften and slow down growth. When your nails have acquired a neat appearance, you can begin to do a speckled manicure. It won't be a hassle if you follow the step-by-step instructions.
- Applying a transparent base coat to the nail plate. This is necessary in order to protect your nails from the adverse effects of acetone or other not particularly useful components of colored varnishes.
- Covering the nails with the main base color. If the chosen varnish is not too intense in color, apply a second coat after the first has completely dried.
- Polka dot nail design. You need to take a varnish of a different color and drop it on a piece of parchment or foil. Gently dip into a drop of dots and you can apply the peas to your nails.
- When the polka dots on the nails are completely dry, you need to apply a transparent fixative to the nail plate to prevent chipping and premature deterioration of the varnish coating.
Pea nail design options
Undoubtedly, polka dot nails attract everyone's attention and interest. A polka dot nail design can be easily done with your own hands using a simple design without having any artistic education, but it looks elegant and catchy. This classic version of a manicure for a polka dot dress does not lose its relevance, because retro fashion is eternal.
Fashion designers and professional manicurists offer many ideas for such a design.
- You can experiment with a variety of colors and use three or more varnishes to paint polka dots.
- There is an option when polka dots are applied to only one nail, or you can cover each nail with different circles and dots.
- When a spotted manicure is planned for a strict office style, you need to choose classic colors. In addition, you don’t have to cover the entire plate with polka dots, but place small, non-contrasting accents. The ideal combination of colors to create a full-fledged business image is considered to be a composition of white and beige, light pink and white, sometimes contrasting black and white.
- To create a romantic look, the brightest and most unusual shades of varnishes are suitable. Experiment, unleash your creative potential, the only limit is your imagination.
- You can complement a manicure with circles with rhinestones, sparkles, various patterns and designs.
As you have seen, it is not difficult to perform a polka dot manicure step by step at home; if you use your imagination, you can create a unique look every day.
It is possible to create a beautiful and eye-catching manicure, but it requires a lot of time. The modern rhythm of life does not allow a woman such luxury. But there is a unique and convenient type of manicure that allows you to have chic nail decor without wasting more than half an hour of your precious time. This is about polka dot manicure - nail design and photos see below.
In the 18th century, an unusual print was born in France. Fashionistas of that time began to actively implement it on their nails. Later, in the 50s of the 20th century, there was a boom in polka dot dresses. Clothes strewn with dots made girls more feminine and graceful. And for the second time in history, the idea arose to use polka dot art on nails. Since then, it has not lost its relevance. Like any classic, polka dot nail art is unlikely to leave the fashion pedestal.
IDEAS FOR MANICURE WITH PEAS
There are a lot of ideas floating around the Internet on how to diversify and improve the classic vision of polka dot manicure design. Variety starts with playing with dot sizes. The next step is to use a variety of colors and change the size of the polka dots.
If you gravitate towards a strict style, then monochrome compositions will be the solution for you. As an option, use the decor of only a few nails. Thus creating an emphasis on originality. If you are not limited to office style and love rich nail art, we suggest experimenting with different colors and chaotic order. It is important to complement the picture with rhinestones and sparkles. Using a brush, combining peas and depicting flowers and snowflakes, you will certainly stand out from the crowd.
The next option for experimentation could be a classic French manicure, but the tip will be decorated with dots. This nail design will look as gentle and romantic as possible if you choose pastel colors. By adding color, a bold and vibrant image is created.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR CREATING A PEAS DESIGN
The simplicity of creating a nail design using a polka dot pattern allows you to decorate your nails at home. To decorate your nails with this nail design you will need a little:
- Two colored varnishes. Any shades of your choice, there are no restrictions on your creativity.
- Transparent base. It is designed to consolidate and merge the result.
- Dots. The device will help out not only with pea drawing. Dots are an indispensable thing for creating interesting decor on your nails. If desired, you can replace it with a knitting needle or even a regular ballpoint pen.
You should always start decorating the nail plate by giving it a well-groomed appearance. If your hands have hangnails, uneven nail plates and cuticles, even the most clear and flawless manicure will lose its beauty. After taking care of the quality of your nails, you can begin applying a transparent base. It is necessary to straighten the nail and prevent bright colors from penetrating into the nail plate.
After completing the steps described above, you can proceed to bright varnishes. Take one of the coatings and spread it on your nails. In order to obtain a denser color, you need to paint a second layer and let it dry thoroughly. Drop varnish of a different color onto a piece of foil or cardboard, this will make it easier to use. Dip the dots (or other device) into it using dotted movements and draw vertically from 3 to 5 peas. Place the next row opposite the spaces of the first row. Gradually fill the entire nail plate. If there is not enough space for a full dot, you can always put a half, the main thing is to complete the repetition on the nail and not leave large empty spaces. If due to inexperience you end up with a small pea, don’t be afraid to make a second one on top to give the peas an identity. From time to time, the dots need to be cleaned of varnish in order to remove its adhesion to the rod and automatically increase the polka dots. Unless, of course, this is your idea. After the drawing has completely dried, seal the result with a top coat. It will allow you to maintain your manicure for a long time.
Beautiful manicure - polka dot nail design:
TOOLS
To turn your creative nail dreams into reality, you'll need some tools. We briefly talked about dots or dotting tool in the previous section. It became obvious that dots are a convenient device for applying peas of the desired sizes from small to large. Not everyone has it in stock and not all cosmetic stores have the opportunity to purchase it. For peas, you can use orange sticks or even toothpicks.
If desired, you can also use a ballpoint pen, but only if there is no paste inside. A knitting needle will also be an assistant in decorating your nails. Creative individuals, in the absence of the above, have found use for lollipop tubes and hairpins.
A step-by-step description of the technique and means for its implementation shows that the implementation of pea design is not a complex technique. This means it is available for sale at home. Depending on the color scheme you choose, bring designs from retro to futuristic to life.
PHOTO OF POLT NAIL DESIGN
