Create a pretty peppermint stripe manicure

Christmastime means sugary goodies are everywhere. From ribbon candy to gingerbread houses, those sweet temptations are bound to inspire creative holiday manicures. Because indulging in the real thing can lead to unwanted pounds, skip the treats and give yourself a candy cane manicure instead.

This cute peppermint stripe design includes a dusting of iridescent glitter for extra sparkle. You can paint a full set of candy canes or limit the design to just a few nails. Either way, the manicure will be fun and festive, and your waistline will thank you.

Materials
- White gel nail polish
- UV or LED lamp (not shown)
- Red gel nail paint
- Fine detail nail art brush
- Clear gel base coat
- Loose white iridescent glitter
- Small dish

Instructions
1. Apply two coats of white gel polish to the nails, and cure them in between coats with the UV or LED lamp.

2. Paint lines of varying thicknesses from right to left across three nails with the red nail paint and the fine detail brush. Draw a thin line first and add a thicker line below it before curing nails with the lamp. The tutorial shows five different shaped lines on a single nail, but you can vary this to suit your preference.

3. Apply a single layer of clear gel base coat to the nails, and sprinkle the iridescent glitter on top while the polish is still wet. This will help it adhere and will make the nails look like they've been topped with sugar. (Place the small dish underneath your nails before applying the glitter. It will catch the excess and keep your work space clean.)

4. Cure the nails with the lamp once more to seal in this festive design.