EIGHTIES PARADISE | NAIL ART TUTORIAL
Eighties Paradise was one of my most popular designs.
The design was originally inspired by a freestyle set I created for a client. It draws from that bygone era of status, indulgence, excess, and prosperity.
Everybody had a cool aunt.
You know the one.
The cool condo. The car phone. The mauve leather sofa and wicker coffee table. The aunt who totally let you watch Dirty Dancing even though your parents wouldn't allow it. Maybe she took you to get your ears pierced and taught you one of the most important lessons of growing up:
It's better to apologize than ask permission.
While I definitely have some cool aunts, I kept envisioning our next-door neighbor, my mom's friend Rosalind Talarico, while I was creating this set.
I was a pretty sheltered kid, so it was always fun to escape to her house, watch cool movies, and pretend I was a teenager. She was stylish, tan, and had big hair.
Her house was always perfection because her husband traveled constantly for work.
I even got a perm in her garage.
Yes, I already had curly hair.
Yes, I wanted that perm SO BAD.
Oh man. The 80s and early 90s.
What a time to be alive.
The Nail Art
This look is colorful, dynamic, and surprisingly wearable. Even clients who are a little hesitant about nail art tend to gravitate toward it.
For this tutorial, I created the design on a full set of press-ons so you can see how I approach composition across all ten nails. The video also gives a peek into my process when it comes to product selection, composition, and balancing seemingly random elements to create a cohesive final design.
I can't wait to see your take on it.
Feel free to leave any questions in the comments below.
Products Used
Presto Gel JC-3
Kokoist E-127 Strawberry Latte
Kokoist E-196S Tulip Petals
Orly GelFX Builder-in-a-Bottle
Aprés Non-Wipe Topcoat
Princess Nails Rainbow Mylar
Young Nails Gold Foil
Riccagel Color Gel Brush
Young Nails Gel Sculptor Brush
Disclosure: This post was originally published before I became a Kokoist USA educator and affiliate partner. All products featured were purchased by me. Affiliate links or discount codes may be included. For additional information, please visit my Disclosure Policy at rachelmessick.com/disclosure.
