Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Surely this is the strangest nail design request I’ve ever received. Regardless, here it is:
Start with any green nail polish. Ideally, I would have gone with something darker but for now this bright green is the only green nail polish I own.
Paint a colored stripe across the nail to represent the Ninja Turtle’s eye scarf. Technically, for your nails to be true Ninja Turtles your colored stripe must be one of the following colors: blue, red, orange or purple. Any other color and it’s not really a TMNT, but feel free to wear all the turtles at once on different nails. :)
Using either acrylic paint or white nail polish, create a small dot on the colored stripe.
Like so. I find acrylic paint and a rounded paintbrush easier to make circles with than using a nail polish brush. Repeat on the other side to create your Ninja Turtle’s eyes.
Using either black acrylic paint or black nail polish…
Create dots in the center of your Ninja Turtle’s white eyes. (The finished product is at the top of this post.) Thanks to Jamie for modeling. :)
I wanted to keep this design as simple as possible because if anyone is going to be wearing it, it’s probably younger girls. It’s a pretty cute turtle when it’s done, I must say. Don’t forget your clear topcoat.
Tags: Acrylic Paint, Colorful, Paintbrush, Stripes
February 9th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
So cute!! I love this.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:07 am
is acrylic paint safe for nails..? Because we do a lot of things with our hands from cooking, eating, etc.. please let me know..
February 10th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Jen,
Great question!
If you coat any acrylic paint you’re wearing with a clear topcoat, it won’t be touching anything you’re eating or your mouth, etc. Acrylic craft paint is non-toxic and water-based, however it can stain nails yellow, (just like some nail polishes) so you should only apply it on TOP of nail polish and never on your bare natural nails. You’re completely safe with your acrylic paint locked in between a layer of a colored base and a clear topcoat.
Thinned acrylic paint is what’s used for airbrushed designs at nail salons.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:02 am
OMG!! My son would love this. He would want me to wear this on my nails all the time (he probably would ask me to paint one on his, lol)
Great job and easy tutorial :)
February 10th, 2009 at 10:01 am
That is a great, simple design, and could be adapted for so many things (I’m thinking Halloween)! Very cool - thanks!
February 10th, 2009 at 10:46 am
ha haa, so funny :-D I’ll have to show this to my children!
February 10th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Uwah! That is so cute! I saw “Ninja Turtles” and I immediately thought it would be hard but this is so accessible and simple! Awesome creativity, Asami :D
February 11th, 2009 at 10:43 am
AAAAAHH! SO CUTE! Just wondering, what brand/color is the green you used, Asami? It seems like the perfect color and shade for this. The only greens I have are sparkly/glittery and like lime :( I’m so gonna do this this weekend! ^_^
February 11th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
thank you for answering my question. It’s just I have never heard of using acrylic paint before.. just recently got into nails.. =) also, how do you take it off if you use it.? thanks .
February 12th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I love this! haha.
February 14th, 2009 at 4:21 am
Hi babe, I gave you a triple award. I’m not sure what it is (maybe like a pyramid scam but without the money), but it means I lurve your blog :)
February 15th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Thank you all so much, your comments are very sweet! I’m a little behind on replying to them right now but I’m trying to catch up while preparing a checkered nails tutorial and my own nails are in need of a manicure for sure! Thank you all for the blog-support and compliments on this Ninja Turtle look. :)
To answer some questions/comments:
Annalyn, it’s OPI’s “Gargantuan Green Grape” and it is awesome. I got mine at ULTA and I definitely recommend this color for spring/summer.
Jen, regular nail polish remover will take off your acrylic paint nail art. Sometimes a bit of extra rubbing is required, but it’s not anymore stubbon than some glittery nail polishes can be.
Jinnzor, thanks so much, I love your blog too! You own such pretty polishes and always add to my polish wish list whether you know it or not. :)
February 19th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I love your tuts and I love your nails. I’d love to see more of them more often and more tips of growing nails. You know your tip on biotin? In Australia here we can get it in only 300 mcg (0.3mg)! Which means I’d have to take 16 1/2 tablets to get 5mg. Costly. I want nails like yours! Mine split :(.
So def, please, post more advice!!
XO Jess
February 24th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
i love your blog and designs. i am currently into nail art and find your blog inspiring.
how much was the price of the nail polish? i love that shade of green!
February 24th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Jess, Thank you! Ugh… 300 mcg? That’s nothing! Are you able to order from Amazon.com? I’m sorry, I’m not sure if that’s worldwide or not. If it isn’t, I’ll try to help you find a website that ships to Australia. As far as tips go, Biotin is really the best way to go. If you can’t get a hold of it there are a few other things you can do. Check back and I’ll type up some advice for you.
P, Thanks! I paid $8 for OPI’s “Gargantuan Green Grape,” which I know is a lot but OPI is the best nail polish I’ve ever worked with. It takes MUCH longer to chip off and the brush is heaven; very streak-free. They sell OPI at ULTA and http://www.head2toebeauty.com/ which is a website where you can buy “Gargantuan…” for $4.75 - keep shipping in mind though. I hope that helps. :)
March 6th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Cowabunga! It’s totally tubular! I’d wear those nails while eating pizza at Chuck-E-Cheese (i know that pizza’s pretty gross and pricey).
I couldn’t help but notice that there are four turtles and a lot more phalanges…. what would you suggest for the rest if you were to consider this design for a day?
March 7th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Marcus, hi! Thanks for the comment, but come on - I know you don’t really care what you should wear on your remaining finger. ;)
I’ll see you on MySpace.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
This design idea is so adorable, I tried it. Mine came out a little messy because I was rushing it(as usual, lol) but everyone mentioned something great about it. Thanks for all the great nail advice and tutorials. :D
I too find your blog very inspiring and I’m considering a career in nail care.
<3
March 21st, 2009 at 12:24 am
Ashley,
That’s great! There are so many out-of-shape nails out there… help is needed! I’m glad to hear you enjoy the blog; hope to hear from you again. :)
May 26th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Um - each of the turtles had different coloured masks. Maybe doing 4 nails in each colour would be cool.
May 26th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Adorable :). I wonder how you’d do that rat guy!
And Stephen, nothing’s wrong with a boy wanting painted nails… I’m pretty sure there’s nothing in nail polish that infects them with the gay virus.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Funny nails! Brings back memories.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I suppose it takes quite a bit of imagination to see this design as a TMNT design. Looks more like a bug to me.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
nat’n,
It was a strange request that I tried to simplify as much as possible so an appropriate age group would be able to apply the design. Let’s see you do better. ;)
May 29th, 2009 at 6:16 am
wow! this so cute! lol
June 11th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Oh my god, this is the best post I have seen all week! I am totally doing this and showing everybody, lol!
June 17th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Thanks, Cassie and Jane!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Question..
I haven’t EVER used acrylic paints to add details to my painted fingernails…..I bought some the other day.
How do you clean your brushes? Will Acetone work?
also, I heard that if you are using acrylic paints on a on a painted nail, if you make a mistake you can remove the acrylic paint detail without damaging the nail polish below..is that true? if so, how?
thanks
sommer
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
This is so cute! Ok now i gotta buy some nail polish~
June 27th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Haha!adorable!i couldnt find my green anywhere!I KNOW i have some in that shade,just couldnt find it!so i used light blue.its not a turtle now thou,its just a blue nija!
cute!i love it!
~brianna
July 1st, 2009 at 8:29 pm
How cute and fun! I love that … totally brings me back to the 80s when I used to watch TNTM with my brother.
Just stumbled upon your blog and I love it! I’ll definitely be reading more!
September 26th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
cool