2 Adorable Valentine’s Day Nail Ideas You Can Do at Home

As a general rule, I’m pretty much over intricate nail art. But something about a holiday always makes me reconsider. So when super-awesome nail artist Fleury Rose came to demo Illamasqua’s new polish colors a few weeks ago (she’s a brand ambassador), I knew I had to get her how-tos for a few of the more festive Valentine’s Day looks on her nail ring. Take a look, and if you replicate either of these, I want to hear how it goes!

“I Heart You” Nails
You’ll need a small pointed brush and bright red polish like Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Throb to create the look.

Step 1: Clean, shape, and buff nails. Apply base coat. Choose your accent nails; one or two on each hand looks cute!
Step 2: On each finger, paint a chevron French tip with your red polish; this will form the point of the heart.
Step 3: Outline the nail in red, and add a point directly above the deepest point of the chevron French tip. This will form the heart’s bow.
Step 4: Carefully add more varnish to form the heart.
Step 5: Paint nails without hearts solid red, apply topcoat, and let dry.

“Glamorous Love” Nails

For this embellished ombre effect, you’ll need three colors. Fleury used Illamasqua Nail Varnishes in Trilliant, Marquise, and Fire Rose.

Step 1: Clean, shape, and buff nails. Apply base coat.
Step 2: Apply two coats of Trilliant to all nails. Let dry for five to 10 minutes.
Step 3: Next use the Marquise. Wipe all excess polish off the brush and push and drag polish two thirds of the way up the the nail. Repeat on all nails. Let dry for another five to 10 minutes.
Step 4: Now use the Fire Rose. Wipe excess polish off the brush and apply to the bottom third of the nail. Repeat on all nails.
Step 5: Apply topcoat and add pink crystals to tops of nails if desired. Seal with another coat of topcoat and let dry.