Nail Art with Copic Ink

23-09-2021

#intermediate
#tutorial

Enjoy coloring nail tips

using Copic Ink!

You’d be surprised to know how easy it is to make your own nail tips using Copic Ink!
You can choose your favorite colors and have fun designing your very own nails!

This article introduces two techniques:

1. The basics for making nail tips with Copic Ink
2. How to achieve a “watercolor” look to your nail designs

Supplies:

Transparent fake nails (Please do not color your actual nails!)
Copic Ink (colors of your choice)
Metallic ink (we recommend using Piñata “Rich Gold”)
Gel nail polish (White and Transparent)
UV light for gel nails
Melamine Sponge (cut into small pieces)
Gloves

Please read before you use Copic Ink:

Copic Ink is alcohol ink. It's flammable, so please do not use or store it near a fireplace. Also, please avoid direct sunlight when storing.
Please use Copic Ink in a room with good ventilation as the ink volatilizes while using (or wear a mask). If you feel sick, we recommend drinking water so the alcohol that was breathed into your body can be broken down.
Copic Ink is a dye ink and does not come off easily when you get a stain on your skin or clothes. Please wear something that can get dirty, and please protect your workspace. (Click here to see FAQs of Copic Ink)
Please keep Copic Ink out of reach of young children.

1. Basic Nail Art Technique

(R32 and V04 are used in this example.)

Step 1:

Apply white gel nail polish on one of the fake nails and cure it with a UV lamp. If there’s any nail polish remaining uncured, make sure to wipe it off.

Basic Nail Art Technique Step 1

Step 2:

Apply a few drops of Copic Ink directly onto a small piece of sponge. To avoid contact of the ink to your skin, we recommend wearing gloves.

Basic Nail Art Technique Step 2

Step 3:

Gently pat the sponge and apply the ink to the fake nail. If you want to redo or blur the color, apply 0 Colorless Blender using a sponge in the same way.

Basic Nail Art Technique Step 3

Step 4:

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 and apply other colors as you like!

Basic Nail Art Technique Step 4

Step 5:

After you finish coloring, apply metallic ink for a decorative accent using the same sponging technique.

Basic Nail Art Technique Step 5

Step 6:

Let the ink dry completely. Finally, apply a top coat of clear/transparent gel nail polish and cure the nail with a UV lamp. Repeat this process for all of the nails you have created using Copic Ink (which will most likely be 10).

Basic Nail Art Technique Step 6

Congratulations! You have made your very own custom nails! Well done!

Please share your creations on social media, tagging us at @copic_official_us.

Custom Nails with Copic Ink

WOW! your friends with your very own customized nail tips! You can make stunning nail art by applying a tiny amount of Copic Ink with a sponge. Also, they pair well alternating with single-color fake nails just like the picture below.

Basic Nail Art Technique Materials

2. How to achieve a watercolor look to your nail art

(B66, R35 and Y08 are used in this example.)

Step 1:

Using a sponge, apply Copic Ink as if you’re drawing a line with the sponge upward from the bottom to top of the nail.

Watercolor look nail art Step 1

Step 2:

Before the first color dries completely, apply the second color the same way. The coloring tip here is to apply the second color on the edge of the first color so that the colors overlap and blend together along the edge.

Watercolor look nail art Step 2

Step 3:

Once the ink appears to your liking, apply a top coat of transparent/clear gel nail polish and cure the nail with a UV lamp. Repeat this for all nails that are colored using Copic Ink.

Watercolor look nail art Step 3

Congratulations! You’ve made your very own nail art using the watercolor technique with Copic Ink!

As a helpful tip, different color combinations will result in different effects. Enjoy experimenting and creating your own unique nail tips with Copic!

Watercolor look nail art