How to Make Cartoon Character Nail Art for Kids
Even little girls can appreciate a good mani-pedi for a little fun and some mother-daughter bonding time. Nails don't have to be done to the height of fashion. The point is just to have fun and be creative. Even amateur fashionista mammas can add some nail art to their daughters' manicures to have fun and give them a little personality. Cartoon characters are good subjects since they are usually drawn in a simplistic style and are a bit easier to replicate. You just need a nail art pen, your favorite polish, a steady hand and a sense of humor.
Things You'll Need
- Nail polish
- Nail art pen
- Nail stickers
Instructions
Determine which character you would like to paint, and whether you want to paint the design against a background or use the whole nail as the character's face. Keep it simple. You don't have to draw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Instead, you can paint the nail green and add details that are suggestive of the characters, such as simple bands of red, orange, blue and purple for the eye masks. A single swipe across the center of the nail is enough for this accent, and you can add two little dots of white with black dots in the center for the eyes. Similarly, you can paint a yellow nail for Winnie the Pooh and accent it with eyes and a mouth, or paint a white nail for Hello Kitty and draw on whiskers and eyes. Let each of your layers dry before adding an accent. Focus on something suggestive of the character. Your nail art doesn't have to be a mini portrait of the character. Instead, think of something that would evoke an image of the character. For example, you can paint a brown nail with black asymmetrical spots for Scooby-Doo, or you can paint a simple pink or red bow at the tip of the nail for Hello Kitty. Use geometric shapes. Again, your nail art does not have to be precise. It need only suggest the style of the character. Using geometric shapes can simplify the process. For example, represent Mickey Mouse with three black dots. Create Batman with a circle and two triangles. If you wish, you can add accents with a nail art pen. Draw your design using a nail art pen if desired. If you are artistically inclined and have a steady hand, you can get into more detail by using a nail art pen. The pen has a fine point that allows for greater control in creating your design. For even more creative options, you can use fine brushes intended for artistic paintings to create your design. Apply nail art stickers. If you are hopeless with a nail polish brush, or your little girl wants a character with too much detail, you can buy some nail art stickers and apply them directly. Apply a base paint of polish and when it's dry, apply the stickers.
