Nail art is one of those things that you either like or you don’t. Many people prefer to choose just one color of polish to accent their outfits. Creating even simple nail art certainly takes more time than swiping on one shade, but it’s also a great way to add more personality to your look!

Nail art doesn’t have to mean sequins and stickers, either. There are plenty of simple designs out there for a wide range of styles and interests.

To help you get started with nail art, I’ve found four unique yet simple nail art tutorials. I’ve also found all of the nail polishes and tools that you’ll need to replicate these designs.

Oh, and a note to beginners: Don’t worry about following the tutorials exactly or getting it perfect the first time; just enjoy the process of decorating your nails!

Happy painting!

Related reading: The 50 Hottest Winter Nail Trends to Try This Year

Table of Contents

Tortoise Shell Nail Art (without gel!)

Products: Essie Strong at 1% Polish – Target, Like Spice Lacquer – Paintbox, Wet n Wild Black Creme Polish – Walgreens, Nail Polish Thinner – Sally Beauty, Base Coat – OPI, Top Coat – OPI

These tortoise shell nails were so popular in the Fall, and I think they’d look great in summer as well.

Some tutorials use special polishes and materials to achieve the smooth tortoise shell look, but for this one you’ll just need polish and polish thinner or acetone. You may want to have an extra brush on hand, as there is some polish blending involved.

This is one of the most elegant-looking nail art tutorials I’ve seen, and it’s perfect for those who don’t want the bright colors and sparkly polishes often involved in other nail art tutorials.

Leopard Print

Products: FingerPaints Well-Cultured Pearl – Sally Beauty, Exit the Void Polish – Smith & Cult, Blue My Mind – OPI, Wet n Wild Black Creme Polish – Walgreens