How To Do Newspaper Nails

Newspaper and rubbing alcohol can give your tips and toes a typographic edge—who knew? Hither's the full how-to.

What Yous'll Need:

Base & Top Coat (we're using Duri and Seche Vite)
Chanel Vernis Polish in 'Khaki Vert' (from the Les Khakis De Chanel-Fall 2010 Collection)
Any paper (utilize a foreign language paper for an even more abstruse design!)
lxx% or 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol

Step 1

BASE Coat AND COLOR

In broad, fifty-fifty strokes, apply a thin layer of your favorite base coat. Then, apply two coats of any smooth in a light to medium shade. Choose a creamy, not-shimmery texture for all-time results.

Step 2

Fix Newspaper

While your nails are drying, detect any newspaper on-hand (or get a foreign-linguistic communication newspaper for a cooler, abstruse design!). Cut ten 2" x 1" strips (1 for each smash), and set aside.

Step three

Newspaper Awarding

Begin applying the newspaper but after your nails are completely dry. Dab rubbing alcohol on the nail bed with your finger or dip the whole nail into a small bowl of rubbing alcohol. We're using 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Booze but 70% works only as well. Then, dip one newspaper strip into your small bowl of booze and shake it out. Overlay that newspaper strip direct on the smash bed and don't move! Most newspapers are double-sided anyway, just brand sure yous position the strip ink-side downwardly. Take an booze-dampened paper towel and apply light force per unit area on the nail like a temporary tattoo. After 10 full seconds, slowly peel off the strip and you lot'll run across the ink imprint. Repeat this process for each blast.

Step four

TOP COAT

Allow nails to dry out again for five total minutes, then seal the deal with your favorite tiptop glaze. The glossiness of the clear lacquer will raise and intensify the lettering—a truly i-of-a-kind typographic effect!