Chilli Lacquer Checkerboard nails
A checkerboard of Milk Bath against Chilli Lacquer, painted with a square brush so the grid stays hand-drawn.
3 bottles: Chilli Lacquer, Milk Bath and Brick. Chilli Lacquer and Milk Bath 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 (crème and sheer), so the pattern picks up light differently from the ground.
The almond taper pulls anything vertical along with it, so swirls and sprigs suit it and evenly spaced dots need allowing for.
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Bottles for this nail
Tap a bottle to open it on the shelfWhat you need
How to paint Chilli Lacquer Checkerboard nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Two thin coats of Chilli Lacquer, curing each one.
- 2 Block alternating Milk Bath squares with a square brush, four or five to a row.
- 3 Two top coats — the first fills the grid, the second flattens it.
Questions about Chilli Lacquer Checkerboard
Is Chilli Lacquer Checkerboard 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 Chilli Lacquer Checkerboard?
3 bottles: Chilli Lacquer (crème), Milk Bath (sheer) and Brick (crème). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Chilli Lacquer Checkerboard 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 Chilli Lacquer Checkerboard 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.