Color Blocking Nails

Color blocking nails ideas

• Diagonal split: run tape across the nail from corner to corner and paint each half a different color.
• Half and half: a vertical or horizontal line through the middle. Vertical lines make short nails look longer.
• Checkers: tape off quarters and alternate two colors, then press a small stud where the lines meet.
• Block plus pattern: fill one block with polka dots, stripes or water marbling and keep the other solid.
• Skittles blocking: a different solid color on every nail, all from the same color family.

How to do color blocking with tape

• Paint the lighter color over the whole nail and let it dry completely. Tape laid on tacky polish will pull it up.
• Press a strip of tape where you want the line and seal its edge with a fingertip.
• Paint the second color over the exposed area.
• Peel the tape away while the second color is still wet, pulling away from the fresh paint.
• Repeat for more blocks, then finish with top coat to smooth the ridge between colors.

Ordinary clear tape works. Thin striping tape can also be left on to cover the seam with a metallic line, a look you'll find in striping tape nails.

Choosing colors that block well

Pick shades with clear contrast: a light and a dark, or two brights from opposite sides of the color wheel. Black and white with one bright accent looks graphic, while pastels feel soft. Neon pairs strongly with black or white, as you'll see in neon nails.

Questions people ask

What are color blocking nails?

A manicure where each nail is divided into solid areas of different colors with clean, straight edges, inspired by color-blocked clothing.

Can you color block without tape?

Yes. A small flat brush and a steady hand can paint a straight edge, and a thin stripe of a third color hides any wobble along the seam.