Autumn Sprig nails
A fine Terracotta Hour stem with leaves pressed either side of it on Milk Glass, and one warmer Ochre Sun leaf breaking the run.
3 bottles: Milk Glass, Terracotta Hour and Ochre Sun. Milk Glass and Terracotta Hour sit a comfortable distance apart: the motif is clearly legible without shouting, which is the easiest range to freehand in. The bottles are not all the same finish (sheer and crème), so the pattern picks up light differently from the ground.
It sits on a round nail, filed to follow the fingertip, which is the shortest shape here and the one that chips least, so the motif gets a soft frame rather than a pointed one.
Make it yours
Bottles for this nail
Tap a bottle to open it on the shelfWhat you need
How to paint Autumn Sprig nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Two coats of Milk Glass for a milky ground.
- 2 Draw a fine Terracotta Hour stem, then press leaves off it either side with the flat of the brush.
- 3 Add one Ochre Sun leaf to break the run, then top coat.
Questions about Autumn Sprig
Is Autumn Sprig hard to do at home?
Yes, with a steady hand. The motif is freehand, so the first nail is usually the worst one. Budget around 45 minutes for a full set, and three colours means three chances for something to bleed, so cure between each one rather than working wet on wet.
What polish do I need for Autumn Sprig?
3 bottles: Milk Glass (sheer), Terracotta Hour (crème) and Ochre Sun (crème). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Autumn Sprig work on short nails?
Round is already the shortest shape here, so yes, this is one of the designs that works at almost any length.
How many coats does Autumn Sprig need?
More than you would expect. Milk Glass is translucent, so the colour builds over three thin coats rather than covering in two. Stop wherever you like the depth — that is the point of a sheer.