Nail Art: Diy Newspaper Prints

how to make a newspaper print on nails

Newspaper nail art is a fun and easy way to spice up your manicure. This technique can be used to transfer various shapes, text, or even cartoon characters onto your nails. All you need is some light-coloured nail polish, small strips of newspaper, alcohol, and a top coat to finish. The process is simple: paint your nails, dip them in alcohol, press on the newspaper, and peel it off to reveal the ink transferred onto your nails. You can also experiment with different types of paper, such as sheet music or maps, to create unique and quirky designs.

Characteristics Values
First Step Wash hands with mild soap and water
Second Step Apply a base coat of light-coloured nail polish (white, grey, nude, or light pink)
Third Step Cut small pieces of newspaper with the desired font/style
Fourth Step Dip nails in alcohol or use a cotton ball/tissue/cotton swab dipped in alcohol and place the newspaper segment on the nail
Fifth Step Press the newspaper firmly on the nail for a few seconds
Sixth Step Peel off the newspaper carefully
Seventh Step Apply a top coat to seal the text and add shine
Alternative Use sheet music, a map, or mouthwash instead of alcohol

nailicy

Prepare your nails by washing your hands and applying a base coat

To prepare your nails for a newspaper print, start by washing your hands with mild soap and water. This step will ensure that your hands and nails are clean and free from any dirt, germs, or bacteria. After washing your hands, dry them thoroughly.

Next, you'll want to apply a base coat to your nails. The base coat serves as a protective layer for your nails and helps the colour show up better. It is recommended to use a light-coloured nail polish as the base, such as white, grey, nude, beige, silver, or light pink. You can apply a single coat or two thin layers, allowing each layer to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

It is important to choose a light colour for the base coat because it enhances the visibility of the newspaper print. The light shade provides a contrasting background, ensuring that the text or design from the newspaper stands out clearly. Additionally, the base coat acts as a barrier between your nails and the nail polish, preventing discolouration, and protecting your nails from staining.

Make sure to give the base coat adequate time to dry before proceeding. If you're in a hurry, you can gently blow on your nails or wave your hands in the air to speed up the drying process. However, it's crucial not to move on to the next step until the base coat is entirely dry to avoid smudging or uneven results. Once the base coat is dry, you can continue with the next steps of creating your newspaper print nails.

nailicy

Paint your nails with a light colour, such as white, grey, nude, or pink

To create newspaper print on your nails, the first step is to paint your nails with a light-coloured nail polish. This could be white, grey, nude, pink, cream, silver, or beige. You can also use a base coat of white or light grey. The light colour is important because it allows you to see the full effect of the print. Paint two layers of your chosen light colour and let them dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step. You can use a cotton swab or a cue tip dipped in nail polish remover to wipe off any excess nail polish outside of your nails.

Once your nails are painted and dried, you will move on to transferring the newspaper print. Cut out small pieces of newspaper, making sure that the shape and size of the pieces fit your nails. You can also rip the newspaper into pieces if you prefer, as the shape does not have to fit your nails exactly. Choose a font or style of type that you like, and cut out or rip the sections of the newspaper that you want to use.

Next, you will need some alcohol. Any type of alcohol will do, and you can use mouthwash or vodka as an alternative to rubbing alcohol. Pour a small amount of alcohol into a jar or an egg cup. Dip a small piece of newspaper into the alcohol, or use a cotton ball or tissue to apply alcohol to the newspaper. You can also dip your nail directly into the alcohol, making sure that your nail polish is completely dry first.

After your newspaper piece or your nail has been soaked in alcohol, press the newspaper firmly onto your nail for a few seconds. The ink from the newspaper will transfer onto your nail. Carefully peel off the newspaper, and you will be left with the newspaper print on your nail.

nailicy

Cut small strips of newspaper with your desired font or design

To create newspaper nails, you'll want to cut small strips of newspaper with your desired font or design. The strips should be slightly larger than the surface of your nail. You can cut out the words or designs you want, or simply tear the newspaper into pieces if you prefer. The shape doesn't have to fit your nails exactly.

Look for a font or style of type that you like. You can also use sheet music or a map instead of a newspaper. For example, the NYC train map would look great on nails.

Once you've found the perfect font or design, cut out small strips of newspaper that contain your chosen words or images. You'll need one strip for each nail, so make sure you have enough before moving on to the next step.

If you want to be precise, you can cut out the newspaper strips while your client's finger is soaking in alcohol. This will help to ensure that the nail is fully coated and that the newspaper will transfer easily.

nailicy

Apply alcohol to the newspaper using a cotton ball or tissue, or dip your nails in alcohol

To transfer the print from the newspaper to your nails, you can either use a cotton ball or tissue, or dip your nails in alcohol. If you're using a cotton ball or tissue, soak it in alcohol and hold it on top of a small piece of newspaper that's placed on your nail. You can also dip your nails directly into the alcohol and then press them onto the newspaper. Either method will transfer the ink from the newspaper onto your nails.

When using the cotton ball or tissue method, it's important to let the alcohol-soaked tissue or cotton ball rest on the newspaper on your nail for around 15 to 20 seconds. This will give the alcohol enough time to react with the ink and transfer it to your nail. You can use any type of alcohol, such as vodka or rubbing alcohol, as long as it's saturated the newspaper.

If you choose to dip your nails directly into the alcohol, make sure your nail polish is completely dry first. Dip one nail at a time into the alcohol, fully coating each nail. Then, press the newspaper onto your nail, making sure to cover the entire surface to get crisp lines. Allow the alcohol to soak through before carefully peeling off the paper.

You can also use a small glass dish or jar instead of an egg cup to dip your nails in. Remember to cut out the newspaper design beforehand, making it slightly larger than your nail surface. This ensures that the entire nail is covered when you press the newspaper onto it.

Experiment with different types of alcohol and papers to find what works best for you. Regular printer paper can be used, but some people find that newspaper or paper with a similar texture works better for transferring the print effectively.

nailicy

Press the newspaper onto your nails for a few seconds, then peel it off carefully

Once you've prepared your nails with a base coat and a light-coloured nail polish, it's time for the fun part: transferring the newspaper print! Take a small piece of newspaper and press it firmly onto your nail for a few seconds. It's important to make sure that the newspaper piece is slightly larger than your nail so that it covers the entire nail bed. Hold it there for around 15-30 seconds. Be careful not to move the newspaper around too much, as this can affect the crispness of the print.

Now, here comes the magic! Carefully and slowly peel off the newspaper from your nail. You should see the ink from the newspaper left behind on your nail, creating a unique and quirky design. If the text is too faint, you can always repeat the process by dipping the newspaper in alcohol again and pressing it onto your nail a second time.

After you've peeled off the newspaper, take a moment to admire the transfer. You should see the words or designs clearly imprinted on your nail. This technique works because the alcohol helps to transfer the ink from the newspaper onto your nail, creating a temporary tattoo-like effect.

Finally, seal in the design by applying a top coat to your nails. This step is crucial because without it, the newspaper print may rub off. A top coat will also give your nails a nice shine and help protect them.

Frequently asked questions

Paint your nails with a light colour nail polish and let them dry. Cut out small pieces of newspaper and dip them in alcohol. Press the newspaper pieces on your nails for 15-30 seconds and then slowly peel them off. Finish with a top coat to seal the text.

Any alcohol will do, but rubbing alcohol is most commonly used. You can also use mouthwash or vodka.

A light colour such as white, cream, grey, nude, or light pink works best so that you can get the full effect of the print.

Press the newspaper onto your nails for at least 15 seconds. Some sources recommend holding it for up to 30 seconds to ensure the text will stick.

If the text won't show up, try pressing a piece of paper dipped in alcohol onto your nail again. You can also try letting the paper soak in the alcohol for longer before pressing it onto your nail.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment