How to Make Zebra Stripes on a French Manicure

If you don't like black zebra stripes, use any color you like to complete this manicure.

The French-tip manicure is a common — yet very chic — manicure that involves painting the very tips of the nails a solid white to emphasize their length. However, it is possible to spice up a French manicure by painting the tips a different color, or even by adding black zebra strips to the already white base. Zebra stripes and other animal prints are fashion staples and your newly manicured zebra nails are sure to match almost any ensemble.

Things You'll Need

• Acetone
• Black nail polish with fine-tipped brush
• Top coat

Instructions

1. Shake up your bottle of nail polish and hold your hand in a slight fist so all the nails are exposed.

2. Use the other hand to paint the first zebra stripes. Draw a line that extends from upper right side of each French tip, just towards the center of the nail. Repeat this so each nail has one stripe on it.

3. Draw another identical stripe from the top left corner of each French tip and drag the stripe towards the center. Make sure the lines do not meet in the center. Repeat so each nail has a second stripe on it.

4. Draw a third stripe on each nail, starting at the bottom of the French tip, extending from the right side towards the center. Repeat so each nail has a third stripe on it.

5. Complete the zebra design by painting a fourth and final stripe extending from the bottom left side towards the center. Repeat this step on all remaining nails.

6. Wait until the stripes have dried and apply a clear top coat to complete the design.

Tips & Warnings

• If the nail polish is too thick to paint really thin zebra stripes, add a few drops of acetone into the mixture to thin it.

References

• Youtube: Zebra Print French Tip Nails Tutorial