With nail art being an ever-growing trend, it seems like everyone is trying their hand at creating intricate fingertip designs. (Here at CF, we even have a Nailspiration Pinterest board to keep track of our favorite nail art looks!)

However, if you’re not exactly steady-handed or skilled with a detail brush, glitter polish can offer a super easy way to create a fantastic nail art look in a flash. Below, we’ll share our four favorite ways to use glitter for simple nail art.

Table of Contents

Before We Begin, a Word on Glitter Polishes:

In my experience, I’ve found that most glitter polishes work best against a dark base color (pretty obvious, right?), but the beauty of the glitter polish is that you can use any shade you want to create lighter, more ethereal looks, or darker, moodier aesthetics.

The most popular glitter polishes out there right now are Deborah Lippman’s Glitter Polish and the Sephora by OPI Jewelry Top Coats, but for girls on a budget, I recommend hitting your local drugstore for Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear, NYC or Wet N’ Wild polishes.

Also, make sure to use a good top coat to seal your polish once you’re done!

1. A Glitter Statement or Accent Nail

Just by painting glitter over one of your nails (I find that chunky glitter polishes give a better effect), you can create an interesting, yet sophisticated design without overloading on the glitter.

Personally, I use the Sephora by OPI glitter polishes for this, as they combine both chunky and fine glitters into one bottle.

2. Glitter-Tipped Nails

This look is super easy and really impressive once you’re done! You can either layer on a base coat of polish before using the glitter, or do the gradient effect with bare nails – it’s up to you.