Our favourite nail art designs you can DIY this February

Love and prosperity

1/10

February is the month when you see a surge in prices on not just roses and mandarin oranges, but also manicures and manicures. Who doesn’t want a set of dazzling nails to show off during dinner dates and gatherings.

You may have found figure flattering dresses for Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, but your outfit wouldn’t be complete without a beautiful manicure. Get in the mood with shades of red, pink, sparkles and gem accents. Scroll through the gallery for some of our favourite nail art designs for the month of love and the season of festivities. If you are looking to get your nails done at a salon but don't want to break the bank, check out our list of some of the hair and nail salons with no surcharge for Chinese New Year 2018. 

Photo: Stylenanda/Facebook

ALSO READ: MINI BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO PACK IN YOUR MAKEUP POUCH THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR

The underdog

2/10

Here’s a design that is just in time for the Lunar New Year. As cool as it is to paint a puppy’s head on every nail, it would be a tedious process that requires an immense amount of skill, patience and time – something that most of us don’t have. A simple yet meaningful design to usher in the Year of the Dog is the paw print. To recreate this nail look, start by painting your nails with any colour of your choice. For your nail design to standout, we recommend going with a base colour that is of a pastel shade. With a dotting tool or the rounded end of a bobby pin, apply a liberal amount of black nail polish on the end press down against your nail to create three big dots, staggering them so they aren’t right next to each other.

To add interest, vary the sizes of the three dots. Next, with the smaller end of the dotting tool or the rounded end of a toothpick, dip into the polish in the black varnish and create four dots around each big dot to form a paw print.

Photo: nailsbyartcomeback/Instagram

ALSO READ: USHER IN YEAR OF THE DOG WITH THESE LIMITED EDITION BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Orient express

3/10

The floral pattern on this manicure look is so gorgeous, we wish they made a matching dress. Perfect for those who are not ready to take the full floral plunge, decorate an accent nail or two with delicate flowers and paint the rest of your nails with the same solid colour.

Instead of painting on flowers with a tiny brush, stick a nail decal over your nails (available at most beauty supplies stores) before finishing off with a coat of clear varnish. Alternatively, you can also apply tiny dried blooms to your nails instead of nail decals. Place some dried flowers over your nails and arrange them according to your preference before sticking them down with some nail glue and topping it all off with a clear top coat.

Photo: beuscurka/Instagram

ALSO READ: MINI BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO PACK IN YOUR MAKEUP POUCH THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR

 

Half of my heart

4/10

We can’t help falling in love with this classic French manicure with a V-Day twist.  Start by filing your nails into an almond shape with pointed tips. Next, apply a layer of base coat to each nail before painting a small diagonal oval from one side of your nail to the other.

Create the same oval shape, starting from the other side of the nail and join the two ovals together in the middle to complete the heart. Complete the manicure with a layer of top coat and you’re ready to break some hearts!

Photo: cgibson7337/Instagram

ALSO READ: USHER IN YEAR OF THE DOG WITH THESE LIMITED EDITION BEAUTY PRODUCTS

The glass slipper

5/10

If you’re not quite ready to dive into more festive colours like red and gold, layer a half moon over a neutral base colour to make it more festive.

For added precision, tape a piece of circle tape on the bottom half of your nail before painting over with a nail varnish.

Photo: prettyandpolishednailsbyrosie/Instagram

ALSO READ: MINI BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO PACK IN YOUR MAKEUP POUCH THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR

 

Lady In Red

6/10

Your nails can look as luxe as your jewellery. Pick your favourite shade of red and add a little embellishment for an elegant look. Instead of getting stick-on nails jewels that are made specifically for your nails, we recommend picking up a pack of loose rhinestones from the craft supplies store instead. There is a wider array of options of loose rhinestones available compared to stick-ons made just for the nails. The possibilities are endless.

To recreate this classic manicure, start by applying a base coat and nail polish of your choice. When your nail polish has dried fully, dip a toothpick into your base coat and use this toothpick to pick up a rhinestone from the top (the flat back should not be touching the stick). Next, place some base coat on the flat back of the rhinestone and stick it onto your nail.

Photo: nails.by.qdanina /Instagram

ALSO READ: USHER IN YEAR OF THE DOG WITH THESE LIMITED EDITION BEAUTY PRODUCTS

 

Sweet nothings

7/10

Keep things simple and sweet with pastel pinks, flower accents and the tiniest bit of gold. Recreate this romantic manicure and start by painting a pale pastel colour on your nails.

Once that has dried, with a colour of your choice, dab on some rough spots where you would like your roses to be with a small brush or dotting tool. Alternatively, you can also use the trusty old q-tip or bobby pin to create these spots if you don’t have a brush. Next, with a fine brush or toothpick, create a small dot inside each spot and let that dry before moving on to the next step. With a toothpick, create small curved lines spaced around the middle dots and the outer edge of each rose. As a finishing touch, create some leaves with a fine brush or toothpick.

Photo: thenailartelier/Instagram

ALSO READ: MINI BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO PACK IN YOUR MAKEUP POUCH THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR

Queen of hearts

8/10

To dupe this chic look, start by creating two small dots using the rounded end of a bobby pin or toothpick with the colour of your choice.

When the dots are still wet, drag the excess polish into a downward diagonal down each side until they connect to form a heart.

Photo: nailsdivineuk/Instagram

ALSO READ: USHER IN YEAR OF THE DOG WITH THESE LIMITED EDITION BEAUTY PRODUCTS

The golden triangle

9/10

Toughen up and add a little edge to this super sweet manicure look with metallic accents. To cop this look, apply a pastel hue for your base.

Next, place a piece of tape diagonally across both sides of the nail to form a triangle. Fill in the triangle with a gold glittery nail varnish and seal it all in with a coat of clear nail polish.

Photo: satisfyingnails/Instagram

ALSO READ: MINI BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO PACK IN YOUR MAKEUP POUCH THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR

 

Cherry on top

10/10

Sprout a few beautiful blooms from each nail with this lovely cherry blossom design that is surprisingly easy to recreate. With a millennial pink shade, cover your entire nail after applying a base coat. You want to make sure it’s opaque so you might need more than one coat. Once that has dried, create small jagged lines with black nail varnish using a toothpick or an old eyeliner brush.

Wait for that layer of nail varnish to dry before creating little circles around the branches with a white nail polish and a dotting tool or rounded end of a bobby pin. After which, with the same bobby pin, grab a tiny bit of fuchsia nail polish and dot it on the head and centre of each blossom.  

Now that you have your manicure sorted, here are some red dresses to go with your beautifully manicured nails. 

Photo: savingfaceskin/Instagram

ALSO READ: USHER IN YEAR OF THE DOG WITH THESE LIMITED EDITION BEAUTY PRODUCTS