50+ Watercolor Nail Art Ideas

Have you seen those pretty watercolor inspired nail art? Looking at them would make you think that they were difficult to do and would require some sort of expertise. But all it takes to create a really beautiful nail art is creativity and a bit or patience. Most of the time you would want to pick a nail art design that is smooth, shiny and easy to do. Little details and such would be scary where you need precision when painting tend to throw you off from doing the more complicated nail art designs. However, watercolor nail art isn’t as hard to do as you can imagine. You simply need to know the techniques and then practice on nails soon like a pro.

Basic Watercolor Nail Art

The first step you should do is to secure a top coat plus four nail polish colors that you will need to create the watercolor effect. You can choose contrasting colors or you can choose colors that complement each other. If you have one, you can go with the colors in your theme. For a quick and simple choice you can go with a white base and pastels for that soft and cute look. Also try to prepare a nail polish remover along with a plastic bag.

Start with painting on your base color which in this case is white. To make sure that the base color does not fade too quickly double coat your nails. Then this is the fun part, you can start picking what color to add on your black white canvass. Pick a color and paint on some dots and blobs on the white base. Make sure that the base color is dry when you do this. There are special paintbrushes that help you in dot painting your nails. If you want to be more economical, you can also use simple things such as toothpicks.

When you are done with that this is where the plastic bag enters the picture. Use the plastic bag to smudge the colors on the nails. Be sure that the blobs of nail polish that you placed are still wet. This is so that they can spread freely with the help of the plastic bag and this gives the splashed on effect of the watercolor paint. Let the first coat of watercolor splashes dry and choose another color for another set of splashes. Continue until all of the colors you desire are there and top it off with a clear coat.

The clear top coat helps preserve watercolor designs to make it last for a longer period of time. This is only one type of watercolor design that you can do yourself. Another style you can go for is the summer watercolor nail art. You simply need your favorite set of polishes and a creative hand. This really depends on what theme you are working on and how simple or dramatic you wish your layers to be.

The great thing about this design is that you can show the overlapping colors on your nails which resemble the thin strokes of watercolor on canvas. To finish the design, add the final coat which is the clear polish on top. As usual, this layer helps preserve the design of the nails. It also makes the nail art last longer and shielding it from physical effects such as that of water and chipping.

Summer Watercolor Nail Art

Start with your chosen base coat. Make sure that you place this evenly on your nails as it protects your nails from the added layers on top. Base polish also helps protect your nails from turning yellow or being brittle from too much nail polish applied. Then you can begin coating your first coat of colorful polish, there are special tie dye polishes nowadays that help add volume to the color combination of your nails.

After making sure that the first layer is dry create a gradient effect with another color of polish on top. To do this, paint the polish from the middle of the nail outwards. Unlike the base and first coat, apply this layer as thinly as you can so that the coat beneath it can be visible. For more drama you can also add a third gradient coat.

Have practice to make it perfect. It will also help if you go and watch tutorial videos on some of the watercolor nail art you want to recreate yourself. There are also plenty of blogs out there that you can read on to get some tips on this type of nail art. Even if it doesn’t go perfectly on the first try, you can always try again. Remember that this is a fairly easy nail art technique that you can quickly learn and apply yourself.

More watercolor nail art idseas

Check out this pretty watercolor nail art. Bring in colors of blue and red and combine them into a wonderful looking gradient. The design also forms a leaf like design.

Channel your inner artist by making your nails as your canvass. Use a white base coat and start painting on dripping polish from the base of the nail to the tips. You can also add tiny silhouette figures with an umbrella to protect them from the watercolor rain.

Draw abstract figures on your nails using a variety of fun colors. Paint an entire garden with different polishes that easily complement each other.
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Nothing like a classic clean looking watercolor nail art. Use a white base color to show off the light watercolor style strokes on your nails.
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Get to draw beautiful watercolor flowers on your nails. Use cool colors such as blue and violet and even add cute details such as little small snails crawling around.
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Make use of the white base color to paint on wonderful looking watercolor flowers. Use soft pastel colors to bring out the silky texture that you wish to depict on the flowers. Add line details on top for effect.
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Get to draw washed out and watercolor inspired flowers on your nails. You can also push to be more artistic by adding a watercolor themed bird. Paint on with a sky blue polish and add beads for accent.
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Lavenders are beautiful flowers and you can capture their softness with watercolor nail art. Use periwinkle polish as the color of the flower as well as add a matte color for the rest of the nails. Begin with using a white base polish as your canvas.

Abstract designs will surely look great with watercolor nail art. Start with a plain white polish as base and choose three or four colors that you can use for the design. You can also add random paint droplets for effect.
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Create pretty looking watercolor splashes on your nails with this watercolor nail art references. Work with a white base color and start adding polishes in different colors. You can also add intricate details on the nails to make a good accent.

Create watercolor flowers on your nails with this watercolor nail art for reference. To add to the effect, you can also put on silver dust on top to further accentuate the flowers. Use a light combination of colors for a more profound effect.
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Accessorize your watercolor nail art with help of tiny character accents such as butterflies and dragonflies. Start by painting your very own watercolor garden on your nails and choose cute accents to add on top.

Watercolor flowers nail art design. Use baby blue and yellow colors to complete your watercolor flowers. The faded stems and leaves also gives a wonderful effect on the painting like nail art design.
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Gradient and tribal inspired watercolor nail art design. Give a twist to your watercolor nail designs by creating a gradient effect. Add more effect by painting a tribal design in black polish on top.

Paint drip with diagonal stripes watercolor nail art design. Begin with a white base polish as your canvas and add paint drip like polish on top. Add more attitude to the nails by painting black diagonal stripes on top.

Shower your nails with lots of pretty watercolor flowers. To get this effect use a white base color so that you can freely choose colors for the flowers to go on top. With help from a black polish bring out more details on the flowers.

Bring the sunshine into your nails with this pretty watercolor nail art. Combine sunny colors such as yellow, orange, blue violet and green. Use the faded effect of watercolor nail art to give life to the background.

Use watercolor nil art to paint tranquil pictures on your nails. Draw the mountain background in watercolor style and add silhouette figures of animals and trees on top.

Watercolor marble nail art. Marble nail art uses the motion of water to create its shape; you can also use to paint watercolor style on your nails. Add more drama by giving a paint drip watercolor effect on the polishes you use.

A very cute and candy colored watercolor nail art. Let yourself go and paint on various pastel colors on your nails in watercolor style.

Simple and clean looking watercolor nail art design. Despite popular paint drip themes looking messy you can also recreate it in this way where it looks like a clean canvas with minimum paint dripping.

Combine gradient and flowers into your watercolor nail art design. Use light colors for the gradient so that they easily blend in the background. Add more flower details on the top coat using a black nail polish.

Hues of blue inspired watercolor nail art. Using white as your base color paint on various hues of blue on the top layer. The design looks calm and cool perfect for just about any occasion.

Add adorable watercolor flowers unto your nails. Use a combination of red, pink, blue and orange flowers with green leaves to create the sweet illusion.

A cuticle watercolor nail art design. This design starts off with a white base color which also serves as a French tip. The watercolor polish is then painted as close as possible from the nail cuticle towards the middle of the nail.

Leaf like watercolor nail art design. Very pretty and creative. Use rainbow hues for this design to make it look enticing and continuous.

Black paint drip watercolor design. Paint on light watercolor pastels as background and complete the look by adding black polish paint drips on the top layer.

Cuter flower themed watercolor nail art design. Mix up green colors as background in watercolor style. Add more details of flowers on top using thin black polish.

Blue green themed flower watercolor design. Use white and blue green polish as the alternating base color of the nails add blue green flowers on top and sprinkle sliver dust for added affect.

Watercolor checkered nail art design. Paint on checkered print nails in light strokes to achieve the watercolor style. This nail art tends to look very pretty and detailed.

Another set of cute watercolor themed flowers. Use white as your base color and paint on twigs and flowers on top n melon, red and baby blue polishes.

Immaculate in white and blue watercolor nail art design. Use white as your base color and paint it as matte on your nails. Add details in various blue polishes and a touch of lavender for effect.

Flower and dragonfly watercolor nail art. Tap into your artistic mode and create watercolor style scenarios on your nails. You can even add random beads on top to enhance the magical effect.

Watercolor garden themed nail art. Paint several pretty flowers on your nails in watercolor style. Use white as your background and washed out colors for the flowers and leaves such as yellow, orange, blue and pink.

Elegant and soft looking watercolor nail art design. You can use nude colors for the matte parts and light pink, blue, yellow and violet for the soft watercolor gradient parts.

Red, gold and white inspired watercolor nail art. Use the watercolor style in painting the flower petals on your nails. Add dust of gold and beads to enhance the regal effect of this nail art.

An out of this world, galaxy nail art. Use a burst of colors to create the galaxy sky in this nail art design. Add a dramatic effect with silhouettes of trees in black nail polish.

Very cute cherry blossom flowers in watercolor effect. Paint on big and bold cherry blossom flowers on your nails in watercolor style. This creates a soft and calming look for your nails.

A soft and charming watercolor nail art design. Paint on that light hearted breezy look on your nails with this cozy and warm looking nail art.

Fun and creative looking nail art design. Make use of clear coat as your base while panting on top various colors of nail polish.

Violet and blue watercolor nail art design. Paint violet and blue polishes on your nails while adding various diagonal white lines forming a pattern on top. For effect you can add violet silver dust.

An adorable panda inspired nail art. The checkered print designs of the nails are done in watercolor style. Combine light colors such as green, blue and yellow and top it off with a detailed cute panda French tip.

Elegant and fun looking water color nail art design. Add life to your nails with white, red, yellow and violet colors forming flower like shapes on your nails.

Mosaic style watercolor nail art design. Those church window designs can now be recreated unto your nails. Use bold watercolor shades and black polish to separate one color from the other forming the mosaic look.

A well detailed and elegant blue flower watercolor nails art design. Paint the grand blue flower in watercolor style while using white as your base color as well as the color of the other flowers. You can also add silver beads on top for effect.

Cute feather themed nail art design. Paint your nails in white as base color and add multi colored feathers falling on top of the nails. You can also add details such as a necklace of feathers using black nail polish.

A very pretty and almost frosted like nail art design. Put together attractive colors such as pink, red, violet, and blue to create this wonderful overlapping color combination.

Simplistic and gorgeous looking watercolor nail art. If you want the watercolor effect on your nails but in a minimal fashion then this design is perfect for you. The design keeps the watercolor paint in small and soft edges.

Cotton candy themed watercolor nail art design. Use cotton candy hues such as light pink, periwinkle, blue and yellow to create this soft and charming watercolor ensemble.

A tie dye inspired watercolor nail art. Create various tie dye designs using watercolor style. The brighter the colors, the better and the more colors you combine the more interesting the combination looks.

A very pretty flower inspired watercolor nail art design. Use blue, white and yellow polishes to complete the look and carefully paint on the flower details.

Yet another cute flower inspired nail art. This style uses various nail polish colors for the many flowers painted on the nails. It looks perfect for the warm summer season.

Comic themed watercolor nail art design. With only using white as your base color and a minimum amount of watercolor design, you can achieve eths rather simplistic but fun looking comic inspired nail art design.