Nail art tutorial: Camouflage nails (and giveaway!)

Today I've got something special: in collaboration with Lust Have It! and The Natural Source, I've made this easy tutorial for camouflage nail art - it looks complex, but it's actually really easy, and difficult to screw up. Lust Have It! have also kindly sponsored a giveaway for my readers - scroll to the bottom of the post for details :)

I haven't done a nail art tutorial in a while, but since I have a lot of nuggle (i.e. not polish-mad) friends who don't own nail art tools and brushes, I thought I'd demonstrate a look that can be accomplished with common household items and relatively little experience! 

You'll need:

- 3-5 colours which look nice together (I'm using some autumny purples and neutrals - Camouflage Colour Naturale, Purple, Purple Plum and Blackened Brown)
- A bobby pin
- Top and base coat (optional) 

1. Apply your base coat (if using) and base colour (using your colours from lightest to darkest will make the design "pop" - I used Naturale first). It doesn't have to be perfect - you can cover up any mistakes with the camouflage pattern.

2. Open up your bobby pin so the ends aren't too close together. Put a generous drop of one of your colours on a piece of card (Purple for me) and dab your bobby pin into it. Don't take up too much colour - remember it's easier to add more than to take off excess! 

3. Using the bobby pin, dab irregular blobs onto your nail. You don't want to make it too even - spread the colour around so it covers any streaky bits or dents in your first layer. Wipe off your bobby pin onto a tissue and let the colour dry on your nail for a minute so it won't smudge. 

4. Repeat with the next colour (I used Purple Plum). Again, once you're happy with the design, wipe off your bobby pin and let the polish dry slightly. 

5. Continue sequentially with the other colours. This is my fourth and last colour, Blackened Brown.

6. Once you're happy with the final look, let it dry for five minutes then carefully apply top coat if you're using it - I'd recommend it for a more professional look (top coat flattens out the bumps in the design and makes it last longer). And you're done! 

The design is quite versatile - you can have camouflage print on a few nails only as an accent, or use the design on all your nail. For an easy way to achieve a different look, you can add matte top coat. 

Accent nail:

All nails:

Matte (I added Rimmel Lycra Pro Mattifying top coat over the design):

Camouflage Colour is a nail polish line which prides itself on using only natural colourants. If you get Lust Have It! sample boxes, you might have gotten one in your February box. I love the unique paint-style bottles! It's available from The Natural Source, which also stocks a range of naturopathic-based skincare and natural cosmetics (if you're into this, please like their Facebook page for all the latest updates!). At the moment they're having a sale on nail polishes, with 25% off and free delivery (this makes them $7.50 each), plus a free mirrored storage tin if you order 8+ bottles (use discount code lhi).


Giveaway!

Lust Have It! are also giving one lucky Australian Lab Muffin reader a 3 month LHI subscription! For your chance to win, you need to:

- Subscribe to Lab Muffin via GFC (widget lives on the left sidebar)
- Leave me a comment answering the question: What's your favourite nail art design and why?
- Leave me a way of contacting you (Twitter, email)

If you don't win, don't fret! Use the code LABMUFFIN when you sign up to Lust Have It! for $5 off your first box (valid for any length subscription) - but hurry, the discount only lasts til March 31st! Sign up for a box of premium beauty samples delivered straight to your door here.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial! And if you decide to try out this design, let me know by tagging me on Instagram (@labmuffin) or leaving me a link :)


Camouflage Colour polishes were provided for review, which did not affect my opinion. Giveaway is sponsored by Lust Have It! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.

Giveaway terms and conditions: This giveaway is run by Lab Muffin. Entry is open to Australian readers only. Competition begins March 5 2012 and ends March 11 2012 at midnight. To be eligible to win, entrants must follow Lab Muffin via the GFC widget and leave a comment containing a means of contact and an answer to . Incomplete entries will be ineligible. The prize will be 3-month Lust Have It! subscription to the value ot $44. This cannot be exchanged for money. Entries will be judged purely on merit within 48 hours of closing. The winner will be notified via the nominated means on March 13 2012. The prize must be claimed by responding within 3 days of the notification being sent. The prize will be forfeited if it is not claimed by the stipulated date.