Last Minute Holiday Mani – As Easy as 1, 2, 3!

We’re officially in the homestretch until Christmas!  For many of us, there’s still last-minute shopping, gift wrapping, and do-it-yourself crafting to do.  Not to mention, whatever holiday and Christmas Eve parties this week may bring. Amidst all this hustle and bustle, however, one thing that you won’t have to worry about is your current mani situation.

The last thing you need is a laborious mani that takes up too much of your precious time.  Here’s a holiday-inspired manicure that is not only super easy to achieve, but that’s also sure to leave a lasting first impression!  Not to mention that it will add just the right touch of holiday spirit to any ensemble, be it your tackiest ugly Christmas sweater or your finest LBD.

What You’ll Need:

All you need is a seasonal color of your choosing (I went with Maybelline’s “Go Go Green”), a sparkly lacquer (I used Kate Spade’s “Guilty Pleasures”), a base coat, and a fast-drying top coat for extra good measure.

How-To: 

1.  First, prepare your nails by applying a clear base coat (I swear by Essie’s all-in-one color adhesive + primer).

2.  Select a color that best represents your holiday mood, whether it be forest green, mint, candy apple red, or winter wonderland white.  For full coverage, I applied two coats.

3.  Once your base color is dry, use a glittery lacquer to lightly brush onto your fingertips (this should take up 1/3 to 1/4 of your nail).  The glitter doesn’t need to be applied perfectly in a straight line, it should subtly blend in with your base color.  Continue to add glitter until the desired effect is achieved (I applied 2-3 coats of glitter, making sure to spread the glittery bits across the entire width of my nail tip).

4.  Voila!  This step is optional, but I finished off with Essie’s rapid dry top coat, just to be safe.

This glitter-infused manicure was a refreshing change from my typical sparkly accent nail. Next week, I may even switch out the retro shade of green for a more holiday-esque shade of green or red! Enjoy your #athomemani, and happy holidays!

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