How to paint ombre nails - step by step

Want to learn how to create the ombre nail art effect?

It's easy! :)

Just see my step by step tutorial below. 

What you need is a few different nail polish colours, as well as a sponge. I chose to go for a white, a light blue, and a dark blue polish, topped with a glitter polish. The sponge I'm using is just a cut off corner from a washing-up sponge.

1. Start by painting your full nails in your lightest colour - in my case it's the white one. 

Wait until it's dry before you move on to the next step.

2. Get your next polish out - your medium coloured one. In my case it's the light blue polish. 

Add a drop of it to the tip of one of your nails, and gently start dabbing your sponge on it to spread it out over the nail. 

Go about 2 thirds down on your nail, with the focus on the middle of the nail (you don't have to care too much about the edges.) Don't try to do them all at once, but take your time and focus on one nail at the time.

3. You don't have to wait until the medium coloured polish is dry, but you can start with the darker polish pretty much straight away. Do the same thing; add a small drop (smaller this time!) to the tip of your nail and start dabbing. 

Go about 1 third down your nail. If you think the ombre effect isn't even enough you can correct it by adding a tiny bit of your medium colour again, but try not to mess with the lightest colour. 

It will look messy at this point, as you will have accidentally dabbed some nail polish onto your skin, but you can easily get this off with some nail polish remover on a cotton swab. 

4. Finally, apply a coat of either clear top coat, or like I did - a clear polish with some glitter in it. This will keep your nail polish from flaking off too easily, and if you go for a polish with some glitter you disguise all the uneven bits. 

Clever, huh!? ;)