Create fuzzy heart nails with flocking powder

If you've hit a creative dry spell and can't think of anything new to try for your next manicure, then this tutorial will cure those artistic woes. Velvet nails offer vibrant color with a fuzzy texture similar to fabric. Flocking powder, also known as velveteen powder, comes in small jars and can be used to color an entire nail or just a single design.

Since love is always in the air, this tutorial shows how to create a fuzzy design with a heart in the center. The flocking powder sticks to the nail polish underneath, and the finished design looks best when the paint and powder match. The tutorial shows how to complete each step because time is of the essence when working with this powder. If you decide to create a heart on each nail, do one at a time. You don't want the polish to dry before the flocking powder is added.

Materials
- White gel nail polish (not shown)
- UV or LED lamp (not shown)
- Dotting tool
- Pink gel paint (or traditional nail polish)
- Fuchsia, pink, rose and white flocking powder
- Plastic or paper plate (not shown)
- Nail tweezers
- Fluffy makeup brush (optional)
- Non-wipe gel top coat

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

2. To make a heart design, use the dotting tool to paint two large pink circles on one nail, then join them together in the middle and on the sides with the fine detail brush. Tip: Gel paint is used in the tutorial, but it is not necessary when using flocking powder. Traditional nail polish will work as well.

3. While the polish is still wet, hold your hand over the plate, then pick up some fuchsia flocking powder with the tweezers and place it on top of the pink heart design. Tip: Lightly press the powder against the paint to help it stick, then tap the excess powder off onto the plate so it can be transferred back to the container for another use. Repeat this step on each individual nail with the other colors as desired.

4. Use the fluffy makeup brush to remove any loose fibers so that the edges of the heart are neat.

5. Apply a single coat of non-wipe gel top coat to the white portion of the nail.

6. Apply white flocking powder over the clear gel polish, press slightly, then tap off the excess onto the plate. Tip: Do not apply a top coat over the flocking powder because it will ruin the surface and make the fibers clump together.

7. Use the fluffy brush to remove any fibers from the cuticle area.

Enjoy your fuzzy manicure!