By Katie Heffernan
Contributor

What better way to celebrate a black tie affair than to arrive with tuxedo nails? It’s a trend seen on celebreties like New Girl star Zooey Deschanel at this year’s Golden Globes. These nails are fun, creative and versatile and can make a great conversation starter at your next party.

The trial

1) Begin by painting a thin base coat to strengthen nails and provide a solid foundation for the polish to stay.

2) Select a white nail polish. I recommend any French White found in a French manicure kit. Apply the polish and make sure to do two to three coats to achieve solid coverage.

3) After letting the white colour dry, apply a clear top coat. This is important to seal in the polish for the next step.

4) Before painting the black strip on the tip of the nail, apply a small strip of scotch tape across the nail, leaving the tip exposed.

5) Select a black polish and paint only the exposed tip. The tape will help to create a barrier between the white and will also leave a clean line.

6) After allowing the black tip to dry, the artistic portion begins. Carefully peel away the tape and begin the design. The easiest way to achieve the tuxedo look is to use a black nail art pen, available at any drug store. Simply make the two dots and draw a bow as you would using a pen on paper (you can also use a toothpick and simply dip it in the black polish to create your own paint tool).

7) It’s important to let the design dry completely before trying to add anything or apply another top coat. A different nail art pen or the dip of a toothpick in the white polish allows you to embellish the bows and add your own personal flair to the design.

The verdict

The style looks professional, chic and fun at the same time. I would suggest getting a friend to help with the design on your opposite hand as the detail was difficult to accomplish alone. With so many different layers, the top coat was the most significant for making sure the polish from a previous step wouldn’t peel off. Although applying many coats of one colour can be tedious, the end result is worth the wait.