This tutorial is inspired by the music video for Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” AKA the most hipster thing you’ll ever watch in your life. No, really, there’s naked people with stringy hair, close-ups of random body parts, stop-motion camera work, and abstract body paint. I don’t even like the song all that much (now that I’ve heard it 5,014 times), but something about the colors and shapes in the video stuck with me. Also, it’s hilarious to watch Gotye go from sexy and attractive with his mouth closed to hideously ugly when he starts singing the chorus. Tuck that shit in, bro.

For this tutorial you’ll need three different colors and nail strip number 1. You can also use regular-’ol tape if you don’t happen to have fancy, specialized stickers like the nail freak you are.

I forgot to take the “Here are all my polishes and supplies” picture, so just imagine some colors and stickers and shit. Place the stickers (or tape) on each nail haphazardly. Some should be going diagonal, some vertical, and some horizontal. Abstract is random and imperfect so roll with it.

Before we move forward, I need to tell you that my nails are NOT yellow. I applied a basecoat before I laid down my stickers. I repeat, I do not have jaundice. Now, paint the larger exposed part of each nail. Alternate the colors as you go so that everything is nice and varied.

Wait until this coat is tacky and then peel off your first set of stickers (or tape). Next, using smaller pieces of tape (or mutilated stickers), bisect the remaining area. You want the edge of your tape/sticker (staper!) to split the remaining section evenly in two.

Gently free-hand paint the exposed section, being careful not to paint over your other colors. It’s ok if you don’t do such a great job on your right hand (or left, if you’re a lefty). The only people that can do their own nails perfectly are the ambidextrous and incredibly skilled (and nail robots). Again, once your polish for this step is tacky, peel the stapers off. Finally, paint the remaining section the last color. You’ll notice I already started this with my middle finger below.

Wait 10-ish minutes and then use your Seche Vite to seal all the layers together. If need be, clean up your edges with some nail polish remover and Q-tips. You should be left with a sense that somebody cut you off, but that they didn’t have to.

“Why do you guys always hold shit?” my boyfriend asked me as I snapped this photo. For nail reasons that you wouldn’t understand, OK, Sam?! Feel free to give this tutorial a shot in your own time and let me know how it turns out. I’d love to see it done with different colors and maybe even more sections!

Also, comment with suggestions for nails for me to try. My work has kept me super busy these past couple of weeks and so I spend more of my time chain-eating Crybaby candies and less of my time brainstorming creative nail ideas. BE MY MUSES.

Written by Taylor Blakin
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