Party tartan nail art – shimmer style tutorial

Jiak party tartan nails

Autumn/Winter, Seasonal & Occasions, Step by Step, Themed

Scratch 2025 columnist & Scratch Stars Ultimate Gel Polish Stylist, Jiak Hing, shares a step-by-step for this twinkling tartan look.

“This tartan shimmer nail style is fun, elegant and pairs beautifully with a black tie event outfit,” she says. “The colour contrasts make the design pop, and tartan is a timeless autumn/winter pattern.”

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You will need:

• Champagne-coloured or white cat eye gel polish.

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• Jelly gel polishes in teal green, lilac-pink and blue.

• Gel polishes in green, blue and yellow.

• Glossy gel polish top coat.

Top tip: Vary the placement of the stripes across the nails for an eye-catching finish.

Step 1
Prep the nails and apply a coat of Champagne-coloured or white cat eye gel polish. Cure, apply a second coat and use a magnet to gather a line of shimmer in the centre of each nail. Cure.
Step 2
Using a teal green jelly gel polish, paint two vertical lines in different thicknesses near the sides of the nails and cure.
Step 3
Paint over the remaining stripe of Champagne-coloured or white cat eye gel polish on all nails using a lilac-pink jelly gel polish. Cure.
Step 4
Use a blue jelly gel polish to paint a horizontal line across the nails. Cure, and witness the tartan pattern beginning to take shape.
Step 5
Paint a fine line above the blue shade using a green gel polish. Cure.
Step 6
Paint thin, vertical lines either side of the lilac-pink stripe using a blue gel polish and cure.
Step 7
Use a yellow gel polish to paint two lines – one vertical and one horizontal – across the nails and cure. This will complete the tartan pattern.
Step 8
Apply a glossy gel polish top coat and cure to finish.
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