Do Lace Nails

A fast way to get lace nails is to dab polish on each nail with a makeup sponge, as you pinch a wrapped piece of lace around your finger. If you want to wear real fabric lace on your nails, you can adhere pieces of lace to a sticky top coat…there’s even a trick with contrasting base coats to conceal the edges! If you like using nail art tools and wearing gel manicures, you can create a dotted or fishnet pattern over sheer polish. Since doing lace nails requires some finesse, you may want to do just an accent nail or two, or do only the nails on the hand opposite your dominant (writing) hand.

Steps

Using Real Lace as a Template

1. Apply your base coat of choice. You can use a clear base coat, or any color you like. Just make sure there is a least some contrast between the base coat color and the shade you’ll use to paint the lace pattern. Allow the polish to fully dry.
   • For example, you may want to use a clear base coat if you’re doing a white lace pattern over a French manicure.
   • To use lace as a template, you’ll need to hold it tightly around your nail, so it’s important that your base coat is fully dry first. Otherwise, the lace can smudge or dent your base coat.
2. Wrap a piece of lace around your finger. Choose lace with holes that aren’t too big or small. With the hand of the nail you’ll be painting, hold the lace pinched behind that finger, so that the front of the nail is covered in lace. Hold the lace tightly and securely, so that the fabric pattern blocks polish from seeping underneath.
   • A piece of lace that will fit a dozen – or slightly more – holes from the pattern on each nail should work well.
   • You can buy lace in the ribbon section at local craft stores and some discount department stores.
3. Dab on the color for your lace with a makeup sponge. Use the nail polish brush to apply some color to a makeup sponge – this will be the color of the “lace” pattern on your nails. Alternately, you can pour a bit of nail polish on a disposable plate and dab the sponge into it. Apply the color by dabbing the sponge on top of the fabric.
   • The sponge should have color on it, but not be overly-saturated. It shouldn’t drip or have a buildup of polish, so use a light coating of paint.
   • If you have an airbrush machine for nails, you can use that over the lace instead of a makeup sponge.
4. Lift the lace straight upwards off the nail. If you dab the paint on thinly, you should be able to remove the lace right away without affecting the design. However, you can secure the lace around your fingertip with a bit of tape, if desired, and let it sit until dry. Use a new piece of lace for each finger.
5. Apply a topcoat and clean up any excess coverage. Allow the lace pattern paint to dry first. Once the topcoat is dry, use a nail polish remover pen, or wet a cotton ball with polish remover to clean up any polish that got on the skin around your nails.

Wearing Real Lace on Your Nails

1. Cut a piece of lace for each nail. Wrap the lace around each finger first to find a bit of pattern you like for that nail. Trim down the lace so that it will fit the width of your nail, and be slightly shorter than the length of your nail.
   • You can use small fabric scissors or nail scissors to trim down the lace.
   • You have should cut two bits of lace for each of your five fingernail sizes (thumbnail, pointer finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger) – ten in total.
2. Apply a base coat in a similar shade to your lace color. For example, if you’re using black lace, paint a black base coat. This technique will help to visually blend the edges of the fabric you’ll be putting on your nails. Let the polish fully dry.
   • This shade will only show in the “U” where your nail meets your skin. Aim for even coverage, but don’t worry about applying multiple coats if your nail plate isn’t uniformly concealed by the base coat.
3. Brush on a contrasting color to all but the inner edges. Leave the base coat showing in a “U” shape. The bottom of the “U” should rim your cuticle, with the sides of the “U” on the edges of your nail wall. Use the contrasting color – not the base color – for the free edge of your nail. Apply a second coat, if more coverage is needed. Allow the polish to fully dry.
   • For example, if your base coat and lace fabric are black, you may want to use taupe as your top color. That way the lace fabric will really stand out on top of the nail.
4. Apply a clear polish or topcoat. Wait several minutes, so that the topcoat is still tacky but not freshly wet. This time may be shorter if you’re using a quick-dry topcoat.
   • If you’re doing both hands, you’ll want to completely finish one hand at a time at this stage, so that your topcoat doesn’t dry on one hand while you’re placing the fabric on your other hand.
5. Adhere the lace to your sticky topcoat. Match the round end of the lace cutout to the half-moon of base coat showing near your cuticle. Use scissors or tweezers to press down the lace by dabbing the edges of the fabric lightly.
   • Small, curved nail scissors work well for pressing down the fabric.
6. Clean up any overhanging fabric with small scissors. Let your polish dry first. Then use the point of the scissors to carefully snip off any bits of thread around the edges of your nail.
7. Apply two to three topcoats. A quick-dry topcoat will work best, since you’ll need to let each topcoat dry completely before applying another. Make sure to cover all of the exposed lace with the topcoats.
   • If you prefer a matte look, finish up with a matte topcoat.

Painting Lace Freehand with Gel Polish

1. Give yourself a pre-gel manicure. Cut your nails, if needed, then shape them with a file. Use cuticle oil and/or remover, then push back and trim your cuticles. Lightly buff each nail.
   • Gel polish is more difficult to remove (and typically longer-lasting) than standard nail lacquer. Taking the time your prep your nails will help you achieve a nice, clean look you can enjoy longer term than typical polish.
2. Clean your nails and apply the foundation coat. Use a nail cleanser or rubbing alcohol on a lint-free wipe to clean your nails. Depending on the brand of gel polish you’re using, you’ll apply one or more foundation coats – they may be called a bond coat, foundation coat, and/or base coat. Follow the instructions for your brand of polish.
3. Use a striping brush to outline your entire nail with polish. Use the polish color you want for the lace pattern. This look works well with black polish, but you can use any color or shade you like.
4. Use a dotting tool, brush or bobby pin to create a pattern. Paint the pattern on your nail plate. You can make a pattern of all dots, or create a fishnet pattern with diagonal, criss-crossing stripes to imitate fishnet lace.
   • If you’re unsure how to create a pattern you’ll like, try looking at the pattern in a real piece of lace, or at lace images online.
5. Cure your nails. Gel polish needs to be cured with a special LED or UV lamp. Follow the instructions that came with your nail lamp for how long curing time should take.
   • For example, a UV lamp may take 120 seconds to cure a color polish, whereas an LED lamp may take 60 seconds. Some lamps have a built-in shutoff feature after the appropriate amount of time expires.
6. Paint a layer of color diluted with clear polish. Mix two drops of clear top coat gel with one drop of the polish color you used for your lace. This will give you a translucent shade to overlay your lace pattern. You can add more drops of clear if you want the overlay to be very sheer.
7. Cure the nail under your nail lamp. You can add a second coat of the diluted color, if desired, and then cure the nails again.
8. Brush on and cure a topcoat. Use a clear topcoat made for gel polish. Cure your nails under your nail lamp. If you want a matte look, either use a matte topcoat, or lightly buff the surface of your nails.
   • You may want to apply cuticle oil around your finished nails to rehydrate the skin. If you buffed your nails, remove any dust first with an alcohol wipe (or wash your hands).

Tips

• Lace nails can also be achieved by encapsulating lace fabric in acrylic nails.

Warnings

• Avoid using gel polish if you have weak or brittle nails.
• Don’t use a UV lamp if you’re highly sensitive to UV light due to a medical condition, prescription, supplement, or other reason.
• Frequent exposure to UV light can cause skin damage over time.
• In some cases, gel manicures (or their removal) may result in physical damage to the nail, such as separation of the nail plate from the nail bed.
• Make sure you use a gel polish that is compatible with your curing lamp.

Things You'll Need

Using Real Lace as a Template

• Base coat
• Lace fabric
• Makeup sponge
• Topcoat
• Nail polish remover

Wearing Real Lace on Your Nails

• Small scissors
• Lace fabric
• Base coat that matches lace color
• Nail polish that contrasts lace color
• Clear polish or topcoat

Painting Lace Freehand with Gel Polish

• Nail file
• Cuticle oil or cuticle remover
• Cuticle trimmer
• Nail buffer
• Nail cleanser or rubbing alcohol
• Lint-free wipes
• Gel base coat
• Striping brush
• Dotting tool or bobby pin
• LED or UV nail lamp
• Gel topcoat

Sources and Citations

See also

• Paint Owl Nails
• Apply Nail Tattoos
• Do Geode Nail Art
• Do Dandelion Nails
• Do Puzzle Nail Art
• Make Newspaper Nails
• Do Ladybug Nails
• Do Cheetah Print Nails
• Do Strawberry Nail Art
• Do Ombre Nails

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