(click for larger images)

Products used: Orly Bonder base coat, OPI “Pink Flamenco”, Nailene Perfect Tips polish guides, China Glaze “Flip Flop Fantasy”, Revlon quick dry top coat.

In retrospect, I should have used different colors to demonstrate this manicure- the bright tips photographed too close to my skin color. I’m sorry about that! The beauty of this is that you can use any colors you want, and you need absolutely no nail art skills. I’m proof of that, because I can barely paint my nails, let alone do anything fancy with them. I’m all about a way to cheat, whether it’s these nail guide strips, paper reinforcements (see my half moon manicure here), or simple scotch tape. The trick to using these strips is to be patient and let the first color dry completely, and to remove the strip as soon as you paint the tips (or else you risk pulling up the polish). Have you ever tried this technique, before? Or do you prefer the free-hand route?