Polka Dot Nails Tutorial Part 2 - The Manicures

Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed and found useful Part 1 of the polka dot tutorial, which covered the basics of dotting. This part will show how I did the actual manicure using a-england Camelot and Boots 17 matte topcoat instead of a colour. You can see the original look by scrolling down this post - a-england Camelot and Polka Dot nails. Here is a link to Part 1 covering the basics of dotting.

Using the same spacing as the 'staggered dotting method', we do exactly the same as in the previous tutorial but using a matte topcoat for the dotting instead of a colour. You'll find if using a matte topcoat it will be less liable to having runny streaks as the matte topcoat , well this particular one anyway has more of a gel like formula. This also makes it easier to go over a dot if you have made a mistake perhaps if it is too small.

Below shows the ring finger but don't forget to allow for the sizing of the little finger and thumb (see part 1) - you can click any picture to enlarge:

Stage 1 - Paint on your black base colour and add a clear shiny topcoat.

Stage 2 - Dot just off centre from tip to cuticle with the matte topcoat, keeping the dots evenly spaced.

Stage 3 - Complete one side of the nail first, don't forget it may be easier to turn the nail by 90 degrees to help with dotting.

Stage 4 - Complete the other side of the nail, and you are done!

You should end up with something like this (from original post):

I also did a quick try of a dark grey (middle) and light grey (left) to see how it looked with matte dots:

Why not try putting a matte topcoat over your base colour and then adding glossy dots such as in the example below for a different take on the look? (Personally I prefer the matte dots):

Dots can also be used to make other patterns such as flowers, as shown here:

Stage 1 - Base colour and using a dotting tool of some sort place dots in a circle, as little or as many as you like.

Stage 2 - Add more flowers if you like, across all fingers or just as an accent nail.

Stage 3 - Using a different colour add the centre to the flowers (or fried eggs as they look to me!).

 

Stage 4 - Add a topcoat to even out and prolong the manicure. 

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Those were just examples of a myriad of manicures you could undertake, now I am going to give you some links to some of my favourite manicures by other bloggers based around dots or using dotting tools. These are in no particular order, I love them all equally!

I follow Spektor's Nails who has done quite a few different dotty looks, here's one of them using big dots: Black and White Polka dot nails

One of the most unique and beautiful dotted manicures I've seen in a while from one of my fellow B&W challenge mates, Stephanie at Sincerely Stephanie: Sno-Caps 

Sammy from The Nailasaurus has done these cute flowers not unlike the ones above, along with a great little video tutorial: Simple Flower Nail Art. 

Every time I click on a link to AmyGrace at The Polished Perfectionist I want to do a Wayne's World style 'we're not worthy!' and here's a link to perfect dots combined with a skittle manicure: Polka Dots 

Rie for her amazing 31 day challenge effort (phew!!) did this bright and cheerful look with an accent nail ( I always want to do 'we're not worthy' with Rie too!):31 day challenge - Polka Dots 

Another of my B&W challenge buddies did this beautiful dot over dot manicure, from Cris at Let Them Have Polish: Blue Dots for Autism 


If you type into Google Images the words 'polka dot nails' or 'polka dot manicure', it will bring up so many different looks for you to be inspired by so now you are armed with the know how, do some dots and send me a link to what you've done in the comments box below! You KNOW I love dots so would love to see. Thankyou for reading everyone. xxx