Fuzzy Tennis Ball | Nail Art Tutorial

I've been having a lot of fun playing with textures and flocking powder over the past year. While creating a sweater nail look for the holidays, an idea lodged itself in my brain. This fuzzy texture would be perfect for a funky set of tennis ball-inspired nails.

The moment the idea popped into my head, I started making a game plan. The only problem? Where was I going to find neon yellow flocking powder?

I tried layering the white KOKOIST flocking powder I already had over a neon yellow gel, but I just wasn't getting the exact look I wanted. I tried again with a pastel yellow flocking powder I'd had for years from Daily Charme and never got around to using. Still no dice.

A few Amazon orders later, I'd somehow managed to collect what felt like every color of flocking powder except the one I actually needed.

Then I was visited by the ghost of my makeup artist past: Kryolan. I knew the special effects makeup brand had an extensive collection of UV-reactive products, so I went digging. Sure enough, they had exactly what I was looking for: an electric yellow flocking powder that looked almost identical to the fuzzy felt covering a real tennis ball.

To make application a little easier, I transferred the powder into a squeeze bottle with a fine nozzle so I could have a bit more control.

Would I wear these nails for four weeks? Probably not.

But was it a fun creative project that let me flex my creative muscles? Absolutely.

Products Used

• Nail Thoughts NT-67 Pickleballer

• KOKOIST Excel Color Gel E-56 Bluey White

• Nail Thoughts Detailer Brush

• Kokoist Velvet Matte Top

• KOKOIST Non-Wipe Accessory Bond

• KOKOIST Pointed Brush

• Kryolan Flocking Additive Powder in UV Yellow

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Game, Set, Flock.

Here's how to create the look:

1. Apply two coats of NT-67 Pickleballer (if you’re working on top of a milky white base or tip, you may only need one). Cure between cots.

2. Using the Nail Thoughts Detailer Brush and E-56 Bluey White, paint the curved seam lines. Cure.

3. Apply matte top gel and cure. The matte finish keeps the flocking powder from sticking anywhere except the fresh gel you'll apply next.

4. Leaving the white seam lines exposed, use your pointed brush to apply a thin layer of Kokoist Non-Wipe Accessory Bond to the neon yellow portions of the nail. Do not cure yet.

5. Generously sprinkle Kryolan UV Yellow Flocking Additive Powder over the uncured gel. Don't worry about being precise; the flocking powder won't stick to the cured matte top coat. Once the nail is fully covered, cure.

6. Using a soft brush, dust away the excess flocking powder to reveal your fuzzy tennis ball finish.

Save 10% on your next Nail Thoughts or KOKOIST purchase at KOKOIST USA using code RACHEL10.

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