A french tip in Cobalt Gloss over a milky Milk Glass base, with the smile line painted in one pass from sidewall to sidewall.
2 bottles: Milk Glass and Cobalt Gloss. Milk Glass and Cobalt Gloss 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.
On an almond shape the canvas narrows toward the tip, so the design reads as slightly elongated. Usually flattering, occasionally something to compensate for.
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Bottles for this nail
Tap a bottle to open it on the shelfWhat you need
How to paint Cobalt Tip nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Milk Glass over the whole nail, milky rather than opaque.
- 2 Paint the Cobalt Gloss smile line tip to tip in one pass, sidewall to sidewall.
- 3 Top coat over the free edge itself, or the line lifts within a week.
Questions about Cobalt Tip
Is Cobalt Tip 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 two colours keeps it simple: cure the first before the second goes near it and nothing bleeds.
What polish do I need for Cobalt Tip?
2 bottles: Milk Glass (sheer) and Cobalt Gloss (crème). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Cobalt Tip work on short nails?
Almond needs a little length to hold its taper. On a short nail the shape reads closer to round, and the design still works, it just stops elongating the finger.
How many coats does Cobalt Tip 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.