Valentine’s Day Nails – 4 Red Hot Manicure Ideas

Valentine’s Day Nail Art and Manicure Ideas

The countdown to Valentine’s Day has begun and, while I don’t really celebrate it, I like dressing up my nails for the occasion. Creating hearts was one of the first nail art techniques I mastered so I take advantage of any reason I can whip out that talent. And even if nail art isn’t your forté, I have some fun Valentine’s Day nails for you.

Crystal Hearts and Glitter

I have a bunch of nail art wheels filled with colored crystals and I don’t use them nearly enough. If you’re in the same boat as me, it’s time to drag them out. I used round, red crystals to create a little heart on my index finger. The nail colors are Milani Color Statement Crimson Jewel (sparkly red) and Bombshell (baby pink).

How-To:

• Pour out the crystals and form your pattern on a desk or piece of paper to make sure the shape is right before placing on the nail.
• Add a layer of top coat or nail glue and start placing the crystals while wet.
• Dip an orange wood stick, toothpick or dotting tool in clear polish and use it to pick up and place the stones.
• Start with the top middle crystal and work your way out and down, placing one crystal on each side until you get to the bottom middle.
• You can add a top coat but make sure you really coat it well around the crystals to get an even finish.

Valentine’s Day Crystal Heart Nail Art

If nail art isn’t your thing, try a Mixed Media Manicure by combining different colors and textures, like glitter. For the look below, I used Essie Lacquered Up and Maybelline Color Show Wild At Heart over Essie Blanc below but I have more red polish and glitter top coat options for you HERE.

Valentine’s Day Manicure

Negative Space Sweetheart Nail Art

One of my fave editorial manicurists, Jin Soon Choi, created this negative space abstract look for us.

Jin Soon Valentine’s Day Nail Art Tutorial

How-To:

• Apply a base coat like JINsoon Power Coat
• Apply a pale pink nude (Jin gives a sneak peak of Doux from her upcoming SS15 collection!) by drawing a zig zag line closer to the center of the nail and filling it in to the tip. (You should end up with what looks like two rectangles of different sizes joined together)
• Using JINsoon Coral Peony, trace over the zig zag above the first one. (Make sure to leave enough negative space at the cuticle line)
• Using JINsoon Coquette, draw hearts at the pale pink layer
• Apply a glossy top coat like JINsoon Top Gloss to finish the look

Valentine’s Day Nail Art by Jin Soon

Nail Art Heart Tutorials

If creating nail art hearts is something that intimidates you, I have three tutorials for you, breaking down different techniques, HERE.

3 Heart Nail Art Tutorials

Do you dress up your nails for Valentine’s Day? What type of designs or colors do you like to wear? What are your favorite heart-stopping reds?