easy ombre nails

Nap times are a precious thing. My little Reggie hasn't yet got the hang of a nap 'routine' in the day and seems to just like to be wide awake with pockets of sleep which last just long enough to make a cup of tea (and then inevitably drink it cold). However, if he does look like he might be down for about about an hour - I try and use that time wisely. The other day I decided to use the time to make myself feel better with a quick and easy but oh so effective manicure. 

The whole process took about 45 minutes - including drying time! A true miracle in the form of a really good top coat. 
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You will need:
A good base coat - (I used nails inc but any will do)
Dark blue - (I used Essie Midnight Cami)
Bronze metallic - (I used Barry M bronze bae)
Seiche Vite top coat
Cuticle oil - (I used Sally Hansen)
Hand cream - (I used Crabtree&Evelyn)

Before you start - make sure your nails are clean and filed. I have a nail file in the car so if Will is driving us somewhere then I can quickly file my nails. This means it is easy to keep the shape and doesn't mean putting aside a lot of time to do a huge amount of filing. I also read somewhere this makes them stronger - kind of like getting your hair trimmed regularly - keeping it looking lovely and healthy. 
Use a base coat - it might seem tempting to skip this step - but it is a really important one as it helps stop your nails from staining. Then apply your dark blue, this may need two coats depending on the opacity of your nail varnish. 

Here is the clever bit - honestly people will think you have spent hours on this manicure! With a make up sponge, paint on a blob of nail varnish, apply this to your nail focusing on where a french tip would usually be. When most of the nail varnish has gone from the sponge, dab the sponge further down to the cuticle - this will help create the ombre effect. You may need to add some more polish and go over the french tip again to give a good solid colour. 

To make your manicure dry quickly and give a really glossy finish you must use Seche Vite. Use this generously and make sure you cap the end to help stop any chipping. This will make your nails dry to the touch within about five minutes but don't do anything too strenuous. After about 15 minutes your nails will be beautiful and ready for the day. Make sure you use cuticle oil and hand cream for an extra bit of pampering!