Airbrush Nail Design:
Loud Hearts

For this airbrush nail project I will show you how I painted the nail shown above.

For this project you will need the following:

• your airbrush equipment
• a selection of paints
• a fake nail (or a willing model)
• stiff paper
• exacto knife
• clear nail polish
• mechanical pencil

Scroll down when you are ready to start!

Step 1

I am using a fake nail to demonstrate this airbrush nail design - here I have adhered it to a piece of scrap paper with, of all things, bubble gum (hee hee hee)!

I skipped ahead here (again!!) and painted the nail white. Painting the nail white helps the colors really stand out on the surface of the nail. If you start with a base color your colors will be distorted (sometimes this works out well, and other times, not so hot).

Step 2

Here I have painted the whole nail yellow...I know it looks garish now - but most of the yellow will be wiped out with darker colors.

Step 3

Use the exacto knife to cut a small heart shape into the stiff paper as shown.

Step 4

Use some red transparent paint and the stencil to dust in a few little hearts on the nail as shown. Try to keep the placement random.

Special Note: Your in luck!! I screwed up - and that is when the most valuable lessons can be learned! See all the marks on the nail? Those are caused by rough spots on my stencil. As I move the stencil, any little slivers of paper sticking up scratch the delicate paint exposing the nail beneath... I am not too worried, cuz I can cover up the damage done with a design over top!! Make sure your stencils are smooth on both sides!

Step 5

Using the same red, paint all the way around the perimeter of the airbrush nail fading into the center, but leaving some yellow exposed. Remember that the cool thing about airbrush is the color gradients - so make sure you use them to your advantage.

Step 6

Using dark purple transparent paint, go around the edge again being careful not to "kill" your red completely.

Step 7

Now for the big hearts!

You will need to make another stencil - this time with a bigger heart shape. Once it is cut, use white paint to place a few hearts onto the airbrush nail design. (remember the white will make the color placed over top brighter).

Side Note: Mine are a little purple because I didn't clean my airbrush out well enough - oops!

Step 8

Fill your airbrush with purple transparent paint and place the big heart stencil over the white hearts you just made.

Dust purple paint on the edges of those hearts leaving the centers a little lighter.

Step 9

Lastly, when you are happy with your airbrush nail design apply a thick coat of clear nail polish to protect all your hard work!

Note: If you are doing this on a real person, they will have paint all over their cuticles and finger tips...just apply the clear polish, let it dry and use soapy water to remove the excess paint - PERFECT!

Step 11

And here it is all finished!!! Still a little ghastly in my opinion - but I know some women who love this design!