Jump on the animal print trend with a surprising cow print manicure

Flip through a fashion magazine, and you’ll find animal print clothing, purses, shoes and even nails. From zebra stripes to cheetah spots, animal print is always in fashion. If you’re looking for a way to make a different kind of statement, give this cow print design a try when you’re in a whimsical moo-d. The neutral colors make it perfect for every outfit and especially memorable for a country-themed event.

The manicure begins with basic white polish. Creating irregularly-shaped spots looks hard, but a simple sea sponge dipped in brown or black gel paint makes this design a breeze. For the best results, make sure you use a clean, dry sponge. Snip off two pieces so they’ll be easier to control.

Materials
- White gel polish (Elite99)
- UV or LED lamp (Lumcrissy)
- Scissors
- Natural ocean sponge
- Brown gel polish (Young Nails Mission Control, Clutch)
- Tweezers
- Black gel polish (Young Nails Mission Control, Over Drive)
- Sealer nail gel (Gelish Top It Off)

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

2. Cut two small pieces off the sponge with the scissors.

3. Hold a small piece of the sponge with the tweezers, and dip it into the brown gel polish. Lightly dab the sponge against the nail five or six times to create an abstract dotted design. Cure the wet paint with the lamp.

4. Repeat step three using a clean piece of sponge and black paint. Dab the paint onto different areas of the nail, so both colors are visible. Overlap the brown lightly in a few places to create a more realistic effect, and then cure the paint with the lamp.

5. Protect the design by brushing on a coat of sealer nail gel. Cure the wet gel with the lamp one last time.

Stay pretty!