Dreaming Nails

Mocha Mousse Rainbow Arches nails

Almond · Rainbow Arches

Salon or steady hand

Nested rainbow arches in Vanilla Cream and Cocoa Bean stepped inward from the free edge over Mocha Mousse.

3 bottles: Mocha Mousse, Vanilla Cream and Cocoa Bean. Mocha Mousse and Vanilla Cream 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.

Make it yours

Pick a part of the nail, then a shade
Base: Mocha Mousse · Crème Open the bottle

Bottles for this nail

Tap a bottle to open it on the shelf
Mocha Mousse Base · Crème
Vanilla Cream Motif · Sheer
Cocoa Bean Accent · Crème

What you need

Base colour one coat
Two gel paints contrast pair
Liner + dotting tool shapes and curves

How to paint Mocha Mousse Rainbow Arches nails

  1. 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Two thin coats of Mocha Mousse, curing each one.
  2. 2 Paint the outer Vanilla Cream arc following the free edge, then step inward with Cocoa Bean, curing between colours.
  3. 3 Gloss top coat, cure, then cuticle oil once it is out of the lamp.

Questions about Mocha Mousse Rainbow Arches

  • Is Mocha Mousse Rainbow Arches hard to do at home?

    It is the hardest tier on the site. It is doable at home, but the technique is the point rather than the colour. Budget an hour or more 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 Mocha Mousse Rainbow Arches?

    3 bottles: Mocha Mousse (crème), Vanilla Cream (sheer) and Cocoa Bean (crème). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.

  • Does Mocha Mousse Rainbow Arches 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 Mocha Mousse Rainbow Arches need?

    More than you would expect. Vanilla Cream 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.

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