Olive Sprig nails
Sprigs of Olive Grove foliage on Milk Glass, stem first and then leaves off it, with a single Clay Pot leaf for warmth.
3 bottles: Milk Glass, Olive Grove and Clay Pot. Milk Glass and Olive Grove 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 Olive Sprig nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Two coats of Milk Glass for a milky ground.
- 2 Draw a fine Olive Grove stem, then press leaves off it either side with the flat of the brush.
- 3 Add one Clay Pot leaf to break the run, then top coat.
Questions about Olive Sprig
Is Olive 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 Olive Sprig?
3 bottles: Milk Glass (sheer), Olive Grove (crème) and Clay Pot (crème). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Olive Sprig 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 Olive 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.