Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Marta Nagorska. Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition.
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Marbling is a beautiful way to update your nails. It's not the quickest or the tidiest way to paint your nails, but it's certainly fun and creative. Follow this tutorial to learn how to create some fabulous nail art!
Steps
Apply a base coat to your nails. As usual, apply a clear base coat to prevent staining and keep your polish lasting longer. A couple coats of solid white polish over that will brighten your colors. Wait until the last coat dries before you continue.
Protect your fingers. Your fingers are going to get messy, so make sure the nail polish won't stick to them. You can cover them with petroleum jelly, Elmer's glue, cuticle oil, or scotch tape.[1] Cover your fingers at least up to the first joint, and the underside of your nail as well.Advertisement
Choose a small cup. A shot glass or a mini paper cup are about the right size. There's a chance this is permanently stained, so pick something you can throw away or keep as a permanent "nail polish cup."- Nail polish is toxic, but small quantities are not extremely dangerous.[2] If you use a glass bowl and wash it thoroughly afterward, it's probably safe to use for other purposes.
Put down newspaper. Cover your table with newspaper to catch spilled polish. This gets messier than nail painting.- Fill the cup with room temperature water. This should keep the nail polish together without making it set too quickly. You might need to try a couple times, with water slightly warm or cool.
- Keep it about 3/4 full, to prevent spilling.
- Filtered water seems to slow the drying of the nail polish, giving you more time.
Choose your nail polish. Choose at least two colors that stand out from each other. Have a few backup bottles in different brands just in case, since not all polish works as marbling. The marble effect uses a lot of nail polish, so stay on the cheaper side.- Use relatively new polish if you can. Old polish tends to set too quickly.
- Unscrew all your lids and leave them loose, so you can do the next steps quickly.
- Drip one color onto the water. Hold the wand over the water surface and wait until a single drop falls. It should spread out a little across the surface. If it stays clumped in the center, rotate the glass until it thins slightly.
- Some nail polishes sink. You might have to try a couple before you get a nice, floating circle.
- Repeat with other colors. Pick up a second color and drop a new drop right in the center of the first circle. You can stop here, or keep going with more drops. Three or four drops is usually a good amount, but you can use up to 12.
- If you only have two colors, use your first color again for the third drop.
- Move a toothpick through the circles. Carefully place a toothpick tip in the center of the inner ring. Drag it through the colors to create patterns. Don't take too long: you'll need to dip your nail in before it dries.
- For a simple but beautiful pattern, draw lines outward from the same point, like sun rays.
- For a tie dye look, move the toothpick in a spiral pattern.
- Hold your nail on the pattern. Slowly lower your nail onto the pattern on the water surface. Set it down straight on top. Hold it there long enough for the nail polish to stick. This can take a few seconds, or up to a full minute — you might have to experiment.
- Lift it out carefully. Make sure you don't drag your nail through the polish on the way back up. The pattern should be on your nail.
- If the nail polish around your finger has solidified, use a toothpick to break it apart before lifting your finger.
- Flick away the water. Too much water can leave bubbles or gaps on your nail. Flick away the water droplets onto your newspaper.
- Clean your fingers. Wipe away the polish around your nail using a cotton swab. If you coated your finger thoroughly at the beginning, it shouldn't be too hard to clean. If the polish sticks to your skin, dip the swab in nail polish remover.
- If you used tape, leave it on until the polish dries.
- If you're not satisfied with the design, wipe it off and try again. You'll get better with practice.
- Start again with the next nail. Spin a toothpick in the water and the nail polish will move to the edge of the cup, leaving you space to start on your next design. Repeat for as many nails as you like.
- If there are still flecks of color on the water surface, add another drop of polish. Spread it out with your toothpick, let it dry for a few seconds, then pull it up. It should drag the flecks away with it.[3]
- Apply a top coat once dry. Seal it in to prevent chipping, and enjoy the beautiful patterns.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhy won't my nail polish spread in the bowl?
Community AnswerThis can be for a lot of reasons. It may be the temperature of the water, or it may be the nail polish. This technique does not always work well with glittery colors. - QuestionDoes the water have to be room temperature or can it be really cold?
Community AnswerThe water should be room temperature. - QuestionCould water based nail polish be used?
Community AnswerIt can but the result is a lot less brilliant because the nail polish dissipates in the water a lot faster, so you have to use it quickly.
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
- If the nail polish sets too quickly, try using slightly colder water. If the nail polish is too runny, try slightly warmer water.Thanks
- Complementary colors create a bold effect.Thanks
- Small differences in the water can make a big difference. If you can't get your nail polish to float, try switching the type of water: bottled, filtered, or tap.Thanks
Warnings
- Do not use a disposable foam bowl as the fingernail polish will dissolve the plastic.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Bowl
- Polishes of different colors
- Cotton buds
- Nail polish remover
- Base coat
- Top coat
- Cuticle oil, tape, or petroleum jelly (to protect the skin)
- Water at room temperature
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about nail art, check out our in-depth interview with Marta Nagorska.
References
About This Article
To create a marble nail effect using water, start by filling a cup with room temperature water and dripping 1 drop of nail polish onto the surface of the water. Once the polish spreads out into a circle, place a drop of polish in another color on top, and swirl a toothpick through the circle to create the marble effect. Then, lower your nail onto the marbled polish and hold it there until the polish sticks to your nail. Finally, lift your finger carefully off the water’s surface and flick away the excess water droplets. To learn more, like how to remove the excess polish around your nails without ruining your design, scroll down!
Reader Success Stories
"While the tutorial videos are fun and get you interested in water marble nail art, they don't tell you the secrets and what it took to start the video.Thanks for the great tutorial and tips."..." more
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