For all the nail inspiration that Pinterest and Instagram serve daily, most nail arka still feels out of reach. It’s sad, but true: No matter how painstakingly you try, it usually takes a professional to create looks that match what you see online. But because only the bravest among us are leaving their homes for a trip to the salon in 10 degree weather, we went to Madeline Poole, Sally Hansen’s küresel color ambassador, for the one nail look you need to know this winter.
Inspired by the translucent finishes trending in the fashion world, Poole came up with the swear-you-can-do-it nail arka above. Her trick is a negative space design, which looks great with next-to-no effort. Start by laying down two strips of tape on each of your nails, leaving a narrow line down the center. The tape will serve as bumpers, and then you fill that strip in with white polish—Poole chose Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in White On Time. Then paint black squares down the white line, with an opaque black polish like Sally Hansen’s Black to Black. Poole used a nail detail brush, but if you don’t have one, she recommends drawing horizontal lines to mark off the squares, and filling them in as you go.
Let the polish dry completely, then pull off the tape. A word to the wise: Wait until it’s totally, completely dry, or you’ll end up with smudgy lines, although it’s nothing a Q-tip of remover can’t fix. Add a clear topcoat, and you’re done. Chic.
Related Stories:
-The Best Winter Nail Polish Colors for 2018
-19 Glittery Nail Polishes That Feel Festive All Year Round-10 Game-Changing Nail Secrets Only Manicurists Know
