Basic Tree Nail Art TUTORIAL!

If you can make straight lines with a striper, you can make a tree!  Even if you can't make straight lines, you can make a tree!  Trees aren't flawless and consistent in nature, so they don't have to be on your nails!  Once you have mastered the basic straight line tree, you can branch out (HAHA) and make your trees more curvy and creative, or add texture for leaves!  I've included some examples of that in the tutorial below!  Here we go!

The Lacquerologist's Straight-Line Tree Tutorial

You will need:

• Base coat and top coat
• A base polish color
• It's So Easy StripeRite striper in black OR a thin nail art brush and black polish or black acrylic paint
• Any polish or supplies to add "texture" if wanted, but if you're just starting out, I'd say just do the tree!
• Acetone and clean-up brush

Note:  My favorite stripers are definitely It's So Easy StripeRite stripers!  I use my black and white ones all the time!  You can get them at Sally Beauty or at BigDaddyBeauty [here]!  You could also use a striping nail art brush, like the ones available [here] on BornPrettyStore (10% off with my code RUL91).

1.  Apply base coat to your nails

2.  Apply your base color to your nails.  You can also add texture.  Dots or sponging or plastic wrap texture applied to the upper 2/3 of your nail closest to your free edge can look like leaves!  For this tutorial, I am showing you several options!  On my ring finger, I have a base of Essie Where's My Chauffeur? and sponging in OPI Live And Let Die.  On my middle finger, I simply have a base of OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts (START WITH THIS ONE IF YOU'RE A BEGINNER!).  And on my pointer finger, I have a base of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls with dots in three of the new Zoya Lovely shades: Zoya Gie Gie, Zoya Piaf, and Zoya Julie.  These are all options you could do, depending on the season you are trying to represent! =)

3.  Once your base color/texture has dried for 5-10 minutes, use your black striper to create two straight lines up from your cuticle.  These lines should run paralell to each other and go up about 1/3 of your nail from the cuticle.  These form the sides of your trunk.

4.  Add roots to your trunk by adding too small lines at an angle to the trunk near your cuticle.

5.  Fill in your trunk and roots using long strokes of your striping brush.

6.  Create your first two branches.  I like to make sure that they aren't quite perpendicular to the trunk, a little above horizontal.  You can make them thick if you want.

7.  Add your last two branches.  I usually don't like to make one pointing straight up, if that makes sense.

8.  Fill in your first branch by adding small branches on either side.  You can add them wherever you want and at any angle.

9.  Complete your tree by adding small branches to your other three branches.  These can overlap!  Also, you can add smaller branches on to your small branches, and so on and so on to make your tree larger and/or fuller.  Once your tree is complete, you can add more texture, if you'd like.

10.  Clean-up with acetone and clean-up brush.

11.  Finish with your favorite top coat once dried.

And that's it!  Once you get a pattern down that you are comfortable with, you can spice up your trees in many ways!  Share your trees with me on my Facebook page!