When I sat down to do my Valentine’s Day-themed Manicure Monday, I had big ideas to do a different pattern on every nail.  Glitter, hearts, polka dots, flowers, matte polish, everything. I started to do the manicure, and I realized that my nails started to look like a tacky Valentine’s Day card. Obviously that’s not the look I was going for, so I decided to keep it simple.

I started with clean nails and a coat of Seche Natural.  For my base color, I used Butter London’s Teddy Girl, a beautiful opaque ballerina pink. This shade is honestly flattering on any skin tone.  Since it’s winter, I’m pale as a ghost, but this color makes even me look like I just stepped off a beach!

Apply two coats of your base color and let it dry. To create the perfect heart, you’ll need to use tape, so you definitely want to make sure your nails are totally dry so you don’t ruin them.

Take a piece of tape – I like to use ScotchBlue Painter’s tape – and fold it in half.  Cut a heart into the tape by cutting out half the heart a la your first grade arts & crafts days.  Open up the tape to reveal a full, perfect heart, and place it over your nail.  Simply paint your glitter over the heart.  I used Wet n Wild’s Wild Shine Nail Polish in Sparked, an almost-full coverage pink glitter.  Peel back the tape to reveal your perfect heart! Finish with a top coat – my favorite is Seche Vite – and you’re done!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all our Collaboreight Valentines! What manicure are you sporting today?

Check out more great manicure tutorials:

• Manicure Monday: Matte & Glossy Polka Dots
• Manicure Monday: Gone Gingham
• Manicure Monday: Monochrome Matte French