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17 Easy Nail Art DIYs That Anyone Can Pull Off

No matter your skill level, you'll be able to pull off these easy nail art designs
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Easy Nail Art: Too-Cool-for-School Minimal Manicure
The look: This easy nail art look is both sassy and simple. To add a cheeky factor to your mani game, follow the tutorial below.

How to get it: Cut a half-moon circle at the top of a piece of washi or Scotch tape (or use the edge of a Band-Aid if your scissors are perpetually MIA). Stick it three-quarters of the way down your nail. Dab some highly pigmented black polish (like Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer in Little Black Dress) on card stock. With a size zero art brush (you can find one in this handy starter set), draw a curved line, using the tape as your guide. Paint on lashes, and repeat on your other nails. If you want to make an eye, cut out a football-shaped piece of tape to stick on your nail. Trace around the shape for a clean eye shape, then add a circle to the middle and fill it in. Finish with a top coat.

Photo credit: Honestly WTF

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Easy Nail Art: The Manicure That Belongs in a Museum
The look: This oh-so-graphic easy nail art look is the perfect pop of personality if your workplace is of the stuffy variety. Who can complain when you've got Kandinsky-approved digits?

How to get it: Start by applying the predominant color to your entire nail. We recommend something light, as it's more difficult to layer light on top of dark than vice versa. Once it's dry, use a hole punch reinforcement sticker (you can find them at office supply stores) to create a French tip on both ends of the nail base, using a different color for the top and bottom. When that is dry, criss-cross two pieces of Scotch tape to create a triangle at the top of your nail, filling it in with the darkest color you're working with. Repeat on the bottom and voila! You've got yourself a gorgeous yet easy nail art look

Photo credit: Refinery29

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Easy Nail Art: Inverted French Tips
The look: A chic, easy nail art look that's great for covering up chipped tips in a pinch.

How to get it: Start this easy nail art look with a base color like Essie Nail Polish in She Said Yes. Once it's dry, tape off an obtuse triangle at the tip of your nail by crossing two pieces of tape. Fill in the triangle with a contrasting color like Zoya Nail Polish in Willa. Peel off tape immediately, and follow with top coat.

Photo credit: Pinterest

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Easy Nail Art: The Two-Step, Two-Second Manicure
This negative easy nail art design makes it look like you put some thought into your nails, but it actually only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.

How to get it: Using a hole punch reinforcement sticker, tape off one side of your nail. Use Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Bridge and Tunnel to paint the exposed side of the nail. Remove tape immediately and you've got yourself an easy nail art look that is sure to turn heads.

Photo credit: PopSugar

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Easy Nail Art: Deliciously Distressed
The look: This multi-colored easy nail art look is perfect for the punk princess who is more interested in edge than elegance.

How to get it: Start with a white base coat like OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow. Then, grab three colorful shades like China Glaze Nail Lacquer with Hardeners in Rose Among Thorns, Too Yacht to Handle and That's Shore Bright to streak on top of the white shade. The secret is to eliminate virtually all polish from the brush before sweeping it on unevenly to nails. Finish this easy nail art look by applying moody streaks of polish -- try American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Hassid -- for a grunge-meets-glam finishing touch.

Photo credit: Chalkboard Nails

BY EMILY WOODRUFF | MAR 15, 2016 | SHARES
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