Teal Sprig nails
A fine Deep Teal stem with leaves pressed either side of it on Milk Bath, and one warmer Burnt Orange leaf breaking the run.
3 bottles: Milk Bath, Deep Teal and Burnt Orange. Milk Bath and Deep Teal 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 squoval, meaning square walls with the corners filed off, which gives the flattest and widest canvas here and the least distortion at the edges.
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Bottles for this nail
Tap a bottle to open it on the shelfWhat you need
How to paint Teal Sprig nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Two coats of Milk Bath for a milky ground.
- 2 Draw a fine Deep Teal stem, then press leaves off it either side with the flat of the brush.
- 3 Add one Burnt Orange leaf to break the run, then top coat.
Questions about Teal Sprig
Is Teal 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 Teal Sprig?
3 bottles: Milk Bath (sheer), Deep Teal (crème) and Burnt Orange (crème). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Teal Sprig work on short nails?
A squoval works short: you lose canvas width rather than length, so the motif just sits closer together.
How many coats does Teal Sprig need?
More than you would expect. Milk Bath 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.