Hand drawn nail art using colored pencils blend the charm of doodles with the beauty of nail fashion. This nail art technique creates a style that feels delicate, raw, and nostalgic resulting in nails that look like pages pulled straight from a sketchbook for full personal creative expression. If you are looking to create nail art that is personalized and unique, this nail art technique is a must-try.
Using colored pencils to create nail art known as “colored pencil nail art” or “drawing nail art” has become a popularly used technique in nuance nails and creating unique designs, especially seen in recent Korean modern nail art trends. You may have already come across this style of nails on your personalized feed. The allure is no mystery, as this technique is a great way to add fine details and create nail art that stands out.
If you’ve ever kept a sketch diary, done art journaling, or just doodled in a notebook, you can create drawing nail art. Unlike hand-painting details with gel, using colored pencils is less messy and clean up. It’s also more accessible and beginner-friendly compared to other nail art techniques. The raw and imperfect fine lines of hand drawn pencil lines create a playful, fun, and whimsical vibe. If you offer nail services, colored pencils are a great medium to create personalized nail art for clients, such as mood board nails or omakase nails–nail art inspired by images. With colored pencil nail sketches, you can really evoke a feeling, create a mood, capture an emotion, or convey a story with nails.
For colored pencil nail art, you’ll need a suitable nail surface that can be drawn on and bring out the colors of the colored pencils. Matte gels specially formulated for drawing nail art such as Mae Mode Matte Gel, JINI X MAYO YUMMY Art Matte Top Gel, MORE Art Matte Top, The Favori Matte Top Gel create an ideal surface for drawing using colored pencils and other drawing mediums. Simply apply this matte gel over your desired gel color and cleanse the surface with an alcohol wipe after curing (always refer to product instructions for how to use). After cleansing the nail surface, the nails are ready to be a canvas for sketches and drawings.
Mae Mode also offers two natural nail color gels. MC-01 is a beige-toned natural nail color and MC-02 is a red-toned natural nail color that can be used in a gradation or overlay application to conceal the nail free-edge for a natural nail color base. After curing, wipe the nail surface with a cleansing or alcohol wipe for a matte surface ready for drawing. These matte gels can also be used for powder isolation designs, simplifying the process for different nail art techniques that typically require multiple steps.
Can any type of colored pencils be used? Not quite. We tested four colored pencil brand types and one pen type with three different matte gels. Here are some pointers for drawing nail art based on the results:
- Richly pigmented colored pencils with qualities such as smudge-proof, fade-resistant, and usability on dark paper work best on all matte gel brand types. Colored pencils with these qualities show up and apply better.
- Water-soluble or watercolor pencils can be used dry. Although a damp cotton swab can be used to blend water-soluble or watercolor pencils, this is not recommended on nails. For a similar watercolor-like effect, nail inks are more suitable for use on nails.
- If you make a mistake using colored pencils, a cotton swab dampened with cleansing alcohol can be used to remove unwanted marks. For bold colors, an acetone wipe may be needed for removal. Sakura Pigma pen marks will be resistant to alcohol or acetone removal.
- Don’t forget to apply a top coat after drawing art.
Pull out your colored pencils, and try this nail art technique for something fresh and different. It’s a fun way to turn nails into little pieces of art that feel both personal and playful. Whether you convey a mood or tell a story, colored pencil nail art is for anyone who values originality and expressive detail.
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