31 Day Challenge: Day Eleven, Polka Dots: Zoya Stunning Dots + Gradients

Hi everyone! After my design for day ten of the challenge - gradient nails - I've been wanting to do more gradients, and specifically taped gradient nails. So when figuring out what to do for today's challenge, it came to me that I could combine polka dots and gradients, while practicing my tape mani skills.

Zoya Stunning dots + gradient nail art

It also was a chance to use the polishes from the Zoya Stunning collection before I start getting really distracted by the fall colours and collections. Aside from the base colour (OPI My Vampire is Buff), all polishes used for this design are from the Zoya Stunning collection: Zoya Darcy (yellow creme), Thandie (orange creme), Micky (light pink creme), Yana (darker pink creme), Josie (green creme), and Rocky (sky blue creme). The contrast to the cream-coloured base really makes the colours more vibrant and bright, at least I think so.

Zoya Stunning dots + gradient nail art

To get this look: The process is a bit complicated to explain so I'll do a step-by-step:

Step #1: Paint all nails with a base of OPI My Vampire is Buff. Let dry and use a quick dry top coat but only on the ring and middle nails.

Step #2: On your pinky, index and thumb do a two-colour gradient using a makeup sponge. For my pinky and thumb I used Josie and Rocky, while my index nail is a combination of Micky and Thandie. Seal those nails with a quick dry top coat.

Step #3: Let your nails dry completely, about 30 minutes, before moving on to the taping.

Zoya Stunning dots + gradient nail art

Step #4: Press pieces of tape on your skin to remove most of the tact. On your ring and middle nails tape off the bottom portion of the nail and do a two-colour gradient on top. I used Yana and Rocky on my ring fingernail and Darcy and Josie on my middle.

Step #5: Tape off the bottom portion of the fingernail on your pinky, index and thumb. Paint the exposed part with two coats of OPI My Vampire is Buff. Don't let it dry too much, you just want to do two quick coats - one right after another - and pull off the tape before the polish starts to dry.

Step #6: Finish with the dots using a tiny dotting tool, and seal design with a quick dry top coat.

Zoya Stunning dots + gradient nail art

I hope the step-by-step was clear. I feel like this design is not my usual type of work, but I rather like it. I like the bright, cheerful colours, and I like that it is different from what I normally do.

What do you think of this design? Would you be interested in a tutorial?

---

An InLinkz Link-up