One shade over the whole nail: Cobalt Gloss, with no motif to hide behind, which is why the prep matters more here than on anything patterned.
2 bottles: Cobalt Gloss and Midnight Cobalt. Cobalt Gloss and Midnight Cobalt are close in tone, so the design is tonal rather than graphic. It shows up in daylight and softens indoors. All of it is crème, so the whole nail takes light evenly and the shape of the motif is doing all the work.
On a round shape the pattern has a shallow, even canvas and nothing to snag, which is why the small repeating motifs tend to end up here.
Make it yours
Bottles for this nail
Tap a bottle to open it on the shelfWhat you need
How to paint Cobalt Gloss nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure.
- 2 Two thin coats of Cobalt Gloss, curing each one. Thin twice always beats thick once.
- 3 Gloss top coat, cure, then cuticle oil once it is out of the lamp.
Questions about Cobalt Gloss
Is Cobalt Gloss hard to do at home?
Yes. There is no freehand work that has to be accurate. Budget about 30 minutes for a full set, and two colours keeps it simple: cure the first before the second goes near it and nothing bleeds.
What polish do I need for Cobalt Gloss?
2 bottles: Cobalt Gloss (crème) and Midnight Cobalt (crème). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Cobalt Gloss 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.
Can I paint Cobalt Gloss in different colours?
Yes. Swap Cobalt Gloss or Midnight Cobalt under "Make it yours" for any of the 103 shades on the shelf, and the bottle list, the steps and the description above all change with it.