3.15.2013

How To: Shamrock Shake Nails (4 Ways!)


Hey you! St. Patrick's Day plans? I'm still not 100%, so I probably won't be celebrating St. Patrick's Day, but at least my nails will be festive! These nails were inspired by the McDonald's Shamrock Shake, a minty and green milkshake, sold in America (and a few select places) every year. I'm sharing four different techniques that make this classic nail design easy to do. Enjoy!


1--Really Easy

  • Paint nails a base color and allow to dry.
  • Apply a small shamrock sticker to nail(s). 
  • Peel off sticker and remove polish when you're done wearing the design.
2--Easy-Medium
  • Paint nails base color and allow to dry.
  • Using a permanent marker or paint pen, draw a shamrock on your nail(s).
  • To easily draw a shamrock, draw 3 hearts or 3 triangles.

practice makes perfect

3--Easy-Medium
  • Paint nails base color and allow to dry fully.
  • Pour shamrock color of polish onto a bendable piece of plastic or a plastic sandwich bag.
  • Use the dotting tool to draw shamrock(s). Allow to dry and then apply another coat or two.
  • Carefully peel away the shamrock(s) and place on the nail(s). Bendable plastic works best.
  • Seal with a top coat.
TIP: If you have trouble drawing shamrocks, 
Google pictures of shamrocks on your phone or Ipad. 
Place the plastic on top and trace/fill in the design.

4--Medium-Advanced
  • Paint nails a mint base color. Allow to dry. I added a clear top coat to make it easier to draw the shamrocks, but it's not necessary.
  • Using a dotting tool (or toothpick, pin head, nail head, etc.) create shamrock(s) on you nail(s) with green polish. Try 3 hearts or 3 squares for easy shamrock designs.
  • Add a clear coat.
I need a mint-ervention

Ideas
  • As always, just try an accent nail!
  • Instead of mint base, try white.
  • Instead of mint base and green shamrocks, try it in reverse.
  • Paint nails a dark green and create shamrocks using gold polish or paint pens.
  • When all else fails, add glitter.
Have a great weekend! Be safe, behave, and be well. Love, Elle


39 comments:

  1. Great post for st Patty's day!! And I agree, add glitter when all fails:-) Hope you are having a wonderful day!
    -Jyoti
    Style Delights Blog

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  2. I can't believe you're still feeling under the weather, Elle - I hope the end is in sight very soon! In the meantime, this is such a cute tutorial; I don't think we do Saint Patrick's Day here in France, but maybe I can put shamrocks on my nails just for fun and see what kind of bizarre reactions I get ;)
    xox,
    Cee

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  3. Wonderful! It's great that you gave so many techniques.

    http://mandycrandell.blogspot.com/

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  4. I loved this picture on Instagram and am so happy you're sharing how to make our nails St. Pat's festive! I don't own a lot of green, so I'm looking for ways to not get pinched (especially since I'm going to a HUGE St. Pat's celebration where it's going to look like leprechaun-ville).
    Feel better soon, love! I'll have a pint in your honor <3

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  5. Love these shamrock nails, Elle! Very cool:) And I hope you feel better soon.

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  6. Oh wow, I am definitely not that talented with nail art. I'm doing well if I keep the nail polish on my nails. ;) Seriously, though, I'm loving the mint color! I've been looking for one that I really like. :)

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  7. Wow these nails are amazing for paddys day
    http://elledeesbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. Cool nail design! I need to get Shamrock Shake this weekend!

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  9. What a fun design! Have a good weekend dear and I hope that you are feeling better!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  10. Really impressive blog, love your style. If you want check mine and we could follow each other:-)
    Kisses
    Aga

    New post
    Tiger and gold in attack!
    www.agasuitcase.com

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  11. Your four leaf clovers came out better than mine lol I love that you were inspired by the shamrock shake :p I got one but tasted like crap. Honestly doesn't compare to Jack in the Box's mint shake but they're only on the West Coast :/

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  12. Got to love McDonald's Shamrock Shake!

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  13. I would never have thought to interconnect hearts to make a shamrock...I'll totally try this next year!! Hope you feel better soon!!

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  14. You're so creative - I love it. I just painted my nails green. Plain old green - I feel so lame compared to your awesomeness :)

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  15. These turned out cute! I like the inspiration behind it as well. Great job!

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  16. happy st pats day!

    xx.M
    www.bellesandrebelles.blogspot.com

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  17. Holy CR@P this is awesome! I'm so lame at doing nail art on my right hand - but this takes the ambidextrous element out of it!

    ♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
    http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.uk/

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  18. So cute for St. Patrick's Day! Now I'm in the mood for a shamrock shake!

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  19. It's adorable hun!!However, I must be clumsy because I don't find the sub by email button :-((
    Love, Coco

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  20. Happy St Patrick's Day, cute nails, your dedication and patience is always amazing! xoxo.

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  21. Ugh...I'm sorry you're still sick!

    What polish did you use for the base? It's a great minty color.

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  22. Love this. SO fun! Hope you're having a great weekend. xo, Julie

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  23. I am obsessed with mint, too! Also, I had a shamrock shake for the first time yesterday and am in LOVE. It was delicious!

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  24. Very clear instructions. The design looks fun and the plastic idea is something I have never tried so I'm curious. Seems safer than drawing straight on nails. Thanks for sharing :)

    xx
    Heel in Mint

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  25. This is such a cool idea for a manicure! Definitely gonna try this out even though St. Patty's day is over haha. Thanks for stopping by my blog as well, I truly appreciate it :)

    xoxo
    My Blog, Crystal's Beauty Corner

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  26. omg girl this is super amazing! I feel like I would only make blobs..ha!
    xx
    b

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  27. I was in Italy this weekend, we completely forgot about St. Patrick's!

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