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Glitter nail polish: so pretty to look at, such a pain to put on. Anyone who's used nail polish at least once in their life knows this struggle. Getting a perfect application that doesn't come out gloopy, patchy, uneven, or take hours to dry can feel nearly impossible. And let's not even talk about the removal process.
So it was like fate that I stumbled upon this glitter-nails video on YouTube. I wasn't expecting it to change my life (as so many tutorials promise to do), but after trying it, I'm pretty confident this sorcery will both shock and mesmerize you. Now, if you're a nail technician, you might already know this trick. But for the at-home-manicure-challenged, you're going to want to keep reading.
The secret? If you paint on glitter nail polish as you would any other color in your collection, you're doing it wrong. At least according to nail vlogger Kelli Marissa. But the good news is, if you want it to look as good and intensely glittery as it does in the bottle, she's got an epic tip for you.
Here's the breakdown from her video.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1. A base coat
2. Liquid latex (optional, but recommended)
3. Your favorite glitter nail polish (scroll down below for our favorites!)
4. A makeup sponge
5. A top coat
THE STEPS:
1. Apply your base coat as normal.
2. Line the skin around your nails with liquid latex so it won't get covered in polish.
3. Apply the glitter nail polish of your choice onto the edge of a makeup sponge.
4. Dab the sponge onto your nail. (FYI, this is where the real trick lies. The sponge soaks up most of the actual nail polish leaving just the glitter behind, so it goes on dense and opaque in one fell swoop.)
5. Peel off the liquid latex.
6. Apply your top coat so the glitter doesn't chip off as easily.
7. Admire.
Mind = blown. Watch the full (completely brilliant) how-to here:
Looking for the perfect glitter nail polish? Check out a few of our favorites below.
The Most Gorgeous Rose Gold
SHOP IT: Essie Luxeffects Glitter Top Coat in A Cut Above, $9, ulta.com
The Coolest Mirrored Silver
SHOP IT: Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer in Glass Souls, $18, amazon.com
The Perfect Chunky Gold
SHOP IT: OPI Nail Lacquer Collection in Gold Key to the Kingdom, $10.50, ulta.com
The Best Mermaid Glitter
SHOP IT: Base Coat Nail Polish in N'awlins, $20, amazon.com
The Best Shattered-Glass Effect
SHOP IT: Jinsoon Nail Lacquer in Soirée, $20, nordstrom.com
The Prettiest Muted Shimmer
SHOP IT: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Nail Color in Rock Candy, $2, walmart.com
Plus, see more of our favorite glitter nail polishes here.
And for more need-to-know nail stuff, don't miss:
-What the Most Popular Nail Polish on Pinterest Looks Like on 3 Different Skin Tones
-20 Cool Nail Polish Colors You'll Want to Start Wearing Now
-How to Get Holographic Nails at Home
