Dotting Tool Basics
I love wearing polka dots over colored tips because it’s a cute design that gets a lot of compliments, and it’s not very difficult to do.
The easiest way to make small, uniform polka dots is with a dotting tool. You can purchase a dotting tool from Sally’s Beauty Supply or Amazon for only a few dollars.
I use French manicure guideline stickers for an even smile line. Orange, blue, green, pink - any nail polish color looks great with white polka dots, so try your favorite.
After your tip color dries, (peel off your guideline sticker if you used one) and coat your entire nail in a nude/pink-tinted clear, a glittery clear, or a plain clear nail polish.
Take your dotting tool and dip the metal ball tip into white nail polish or white acrylic paint. I prefer to use acrylic paint with my dotting tool because in my experience it’s easier to get consistent polka dots than with nail polish. Either will work however, so try whichever is readily available to you. (Keep in mind that acrylic paint is cheaper and won’t dry out as fast with the top off while you dot all your nails.)
Press your dotting tool against your nail. As long as you don’t hold the dotting tool at an extreme angle, you should be left with a perfect little polka dot. After every few dots clean off the tip of your dotting tool with a wet paper towel, or your dots will continue to get larger as the paint builds up.
Continue dotting in an even pattern. Make a line across your tip, then make the next line’s dots in between your first line’s dots. Repeat for a well structured polka dot pattern.
After your acrylic paint dries make sure you coat your nails with a clear topcoat for a lasting design. Never skip this step because acrylic paint is water-soluable.
Don’t have a dotting tool? No problem. Try using a toothpick, an uncooked spaghetti noodle, a bobby-pin or an unbent paperclip. :)
Tags: Acrylic Paint, French Manicure, Polka Dots, Tips
November 5th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Cute! I might give this a go sometime. What glittery top coat do you use, it looks great, I love the glitter. I think I want one too :)
November 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I’m going to be honest with you - my glittery clear isn’t actually very good! It’s a cheap company I got from a little Japanese stationary store for $1.50, so I’m not even sure where you’d find the brand. I recommend you purchase something longer lasting.
However, here is a picture of the bottle so you can try to match the shade as closely as possible: http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm179/asamiramirez/GlitteryPink-TintedClear.jpg
November 6th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Oh wow, they look pretty though, thanks anyway Asami, I’ll see if I can find something similar.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I’m in the process of upgrading my cheap polishes for better brands, so when I find a good replacement for this bottle I’ll let you know. I just replaced my cheap purple with a nice Zoya today. :)
February 26th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Asami, I love your website, and I’m dying to try this, but I can’t seem to find one in any of the stores I look in! =[ Do you mind telling me where you got yours from? And do you know where I could get a riggers brush? THANK YOU!!! This is an awesome site!
February 26th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Oops. I meant to say that I couldn’t find a dotting tool. Thanks. =]
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Mercy,
You can find dotting tools at Sally’s Beauty Supply. Let me know if you don’t have a Sally’s and I’ll give you other resources.
March 15th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Thanks for this small tutorial. I just bought a 5 set dotter tool set because of how perfect your dots were. The tooth pick does not get this close to perfection.
Sometimes it is best just to go ahead and buy the tools.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Ingrid,
I agree completely, sometimes all the trouble is caused by the wrong sort of tool. Being from Wisconsin though, I can understand the frustration that comes from not having access to any proper tools so I like offering possible alternatives for readers in that situation. :)
I wish I had a 5 set though, I’ve been looking for a fat dotting tool forever! I want a big one for making larger dots, as the one I have now is cute but not exactly something you’d want to dot your entire nail with. Thanks for the comment, Ingrid. I hope you’ve been having fun with your new dotting set. :)
April 5th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Wow thanx sooooo much for this tutorial, I am going to try it tonight!! :D With your permission I’d also like to put a link to you on my blog, I think it’s such an amazing tutorial!
May 5th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Lina-Elvira, absolutely, I would really appreciate that! Thank you very much. :)
June 15th, 2009 at 8:35 am
I like how u did your green nails and polka dot ones
June 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Thank you, Ashlee! It’s OPI’s “Gargantuan Green Grape,” a fantastic color. :)
June 30th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
how i will remove false nail. After i remove the false nails some glue get stuck with the nails which i cant remove without scratching the nails but i want to remove without scratching, so is there any remover for it…..