Striping Tape Nails
Striping tape nails use thin adhesive tape to add sharp lines that would be hard to paint by hand. This gallery shows finished striping tape designs, from simple metallic lines to taped-off patterns.
Look for 4th of July Patriotic Nails, Chevron Gold Medal Nails and Metallic Striping Tape Nails Tutorial in the grid, and open any one to see how it was made.
4 in Striping Tape Nails
4th of July Patriotic Nails
Chevron Gold Medal Nails
“X” Ombre Nails
Metallic Striping Tape Nails TutorialStriping tape nail ideas
Nail striping tape gives you two looks from one roll: a metallic line that stays on the nail, or a crisp edge you create by painting over the tape and peeling it away. The designs here use both.
- Crossed lines: lay two strips in an X across each nail, over a solid color or a gradient. For gradient bases, browse ombre nails.
- Outlined tips: paint a V-shaped chevron tip, add a gold dot at the point and trace the edges with gold tape for a medal-like finish.
- Flag stripes: tape off bands to paint red and white stripes, as in the 4th of July nails.
- Pinstripes: a single metallic line down the center of a dark nail looks sleek and takes minutes.
Getting the look right
Gold and silver tape show up strongly on black, navy, deep green and red. Keep the base fully dry before taping, press the tape flat, trim it just short of the free edge and seal the ends under top coat. The tape itself is listed under striping tape, and you can preview a base shade with try it on.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between striping tape and painted stripes?
Tape gives a perfectly even width and a slight metallic shine; a striper brush gives softer, hand-drawn lines that can curve. Many designs combine the two.