Valentines Day is nearly upon us, and whether you're into it or you think it's a big no no, it's a good excuse to mix things up a bit beauty-wise. The day is cheesy enough without turning your nails into a full blown homage to Saint Valentine but, you know, a little nod to it never hurt anyone. That's why we've enlisted the help of nail expert Michelle Humphrey to come up with some non-cheesy Valentine's Day nail art that you can do on yourself without looking like a V Day obsessive.
Negative Space Queen Of Hearts
Step 1
Always use base coat to begin. Michelle loves the Essie First Base Care Base Coat, £8.99, Boots.com.
Step 2
Start by creating the chevron shape. 'I always draw an outline using a black nail art pen,' says Michelle, like the WAH London 01 Black Nail Art Pen, £7, Boots.com. Then fill in the edges with a black nail polish like L'Oreal Color Riche in Black Swan, £4.99, Boots.com.
Step 3
Time for the heart! Pour a small amount of your chosen red nail polish onto a piece of foil or old newspaper – Michelle used Nails Inc. The Hurlingham Nail Polish Colour, £11, Boots.com. Next use a dotting tool or a bobby pin (like Boots Essentials Tipped Waxy Hairpins, £1.89, Boots.com) to create the top part of the heart. Drag these down to meet at the bottom, and touch it up with a fine nail art brush and the red polish, if necessary.
Step 4
A top coat like SEVENTEEN Nail Xtras Double Gloss Top Coat, £2.99, Boots.com, will make it last longer and give extra gloss.
Valentines Ombre
Step 1
Start with a base coat like before, then paint your nails with 1 or 2 coats of bright pink polish like Barry M Nail Paint in Shocking Pink, £2.99, Boots.com.
Step 2
Once dry, paint 2 thirds of the nail with a deeper shade of pink, like Essie Nail Lacquer 27 Watermelon, £7.99, Boots.com then whilst the nail is still wet, use No7 Cosmetic Applicators, £4.95 for 10, Boots.com to soften the line. 'Make sure you do each nail one by one so the colour doesn't dry into a solid line,' says Michelle, otherwise it won't be ombre.
Step 3
Once the second shade is dry, finish off with the final red polish, making sure to blending each line with a sponge whilst it's wet. We used Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Power Red, £3.99, Boots.com. 'This is a great colour to do a gradient or ombre nail as it's semi sheer,' says Michelle.
Step 4
You're done! Time to go in with the SEVENTEEN Nail Xtras Double Gloss Top Coat, £2.99, Boots.com.
Monochrome Hearts
Step 1
Use your base coat, then paint nails with two coats of white polish like SEVENTEEN Gel Colour in White Lady, £3.99, Boots.com.
Step 2
Once that's dry, paint one half of the nail black using Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Black Out, £3.99, Boots.com.
Step 3
Paint the outline of the heart using a nail art pen like WAH London 01 Black Nail Art Pen, £7, Boots.com, on the drier side (so the black on the white), then fill in the middle of the shape. Repeat this with the opposite colour using WAH London 02 White Nail Art Pen, £7, Boots.com.
Step 4
Once it's dry, finish with your top coat. 'If your outline goes wrong, simply cover your mistake with the opposite colour to even it out,' Michelle suggests, 'As long as you have a good top coat it should smooth out at the end.' Plus, you could just do an accent nail if you cba to paint them all.
Treat yourself! Order at boots.com or in-store today by 8pm and collect free from 12pm tomorrow at a store near you.
See boots.com/ordertodaycollecttomorrow. Monday – Saturday. Geographical exclusions apply. Subject to availability.
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.