TUTORIAL: Distressed Nail Art (Punk/Grungy Effect)

Sometimes you want to do awesome nail art but you just don't have the time to sit down and do something complicated. Or maybe you're just starting out in the world of nail art and feel a little intimidated by all the techniques and tools (understandably!). Perhaps you just like edgy nail art that can be swiped on in seconds. No matter what your situation, I hope this nail art tutorial speaks to you.

You don't need any special tools, and imperfections are totally encouraged. Pick a few colors, grab a black polish, throw caution to the wind, and let's get started!

I originally debuted this effect during the 31 Day Challenge and later did another version in neons. Today, I'm tackling the style in bright, girly shades, and this is my favorite version yet!

As I mentioned, you don't need any special nail art tools for this effect. You will, however, need a few colors of polish. For this particular manicure, I'm using:

OPI Alpine Snow
China Glaze Rose Among Thorns
China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle
China Glaze That's Shore Bright
American Apparel Hassid


The gist of this technique is that you wipe almost all of the polish off of the brush and then use the almost-dry brush to apply uneven swipes of polish. Be sure to watch the video tutorial to see it in action!

I really like this style. It's so fast to do, creates really eye-catching results, and looks great in all sorts of color combinations.

I've had a couple people mention that it creates a look that is similar to the effect you achieve with a shatter polish. I totally agree, but I think this technique has the upper hand! Doing this distressed effect by hand lets you control how much black polish goes on top and where it ends up. Shatter can be inconsistent and will oftentimes cover up all the beautiful color work that you put underneath it! Think of this as shatter for a more refined audience.

So what do you think? Will you be giving this beginner nail art technique a try? Come share your results on my Facebook page or by hashtagging #hellochalkboardnails on Instagram/Twitter!