Whats Up Nails Nail Art Challenge | Water Marble Veil Technique

Hey everyone! I’m back with another entry for the Whats Up Nails Nail Art Challenge.

The third prompt is water marbling. Water marbling has never been a technique that has interested me much, but I recently heard about the veil technique, so I decided to give it a try! There are different transparent shapes that you can create with this technique but simply dropping one drop of nail polish into a bowl of water, and manipulating the shape with wetted cotton swabs. I went for some petal-like ones, but it turns out my favourite shape was the one on my ring finger, which looks more like flowing chiffon. Regardless, it was fun to create an abstract design for once.

1. For this manicure, I started by applying my favourite base coat, Orly Bonder, to all of my nails.
2. First, I painted all of my nails an alternating purple creme and shimmer (Cirque Colors A Fiori and Could Nine). Before moving on to the next step I let my nails dry completely.
3. To reduce mess clean up I applied a liquid latex (Edge Perfection Easy Peel Polish Barrier) generously around my cuticles and around the tip of my finger under the nail. Water marbling is notoriously messy so you can’t be careful enough. 
4. Using a small bowl of water that is room temperature, I pre-wetted two cotton swabs that would help manipulate the polish in the water. Wetting them prevents them from sticking to the polish. 
5. I dropped one drop of a white creme nail polish (China Glaze White on White) into the water. To help it spread out on the surface of the water, and dry a small amount, I blew on the polish. Almost immediately I started manipulating the polish shape with the two wet cotton swabs, attempting to make petal-like shapes. I repeated this step until I was happy with the number of shapes and the composition on each nail. There were plenty of times where I wasn’t happy with the shape that I created in the water, so I simply didn’t use them and tried again! You have to be patient.
6. After cleaning up around my nails with acetone, I added a little silver glitter (ILNP Tinsel) to the water marble parts of my nail with the UberChic Beauty Detail Nail Brush.
7. I finished off the mani by applying my regular glossy top coat (Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat).

I think this first attempt at the veil technique turned out alright! What do you think of this technique?

Watch my video tutorial below to see how it was done!