Chilli Lacquer with Milk Bath bands that vary in width and never run parallel for long.
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 stiletto taper means the design has width at the cuticle and almost none at the point, so anything spaced evenly needs to be spaced by eye instead.
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How to paint Chilli Lacquer Zebra nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Two thin coats of Chilli Lacquer, curing each one.
- 2 Draw each Milk Bath stripe from thick to thin in one stroke, varying the widths as you go.
- 3 Gloss top coat, cure, then cuticle oil once it is out of the lamp.
Questions about Chilli Lacquer Zebra
Is Chilli Lacquer Zebra 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 Zebra?
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 Zebra work on short nails?
Stiletto needs length, because the point is most of the shape. On a short nail it files down to something closer to almond, and the design still reads, just less sharply.
How many coats does Chilli Lacquer Zebra 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.