18 Creative Gradient Nails Tutorials

by Rose Walker

Gradient nail art is quite a trend amongst nail art lovers. Gradient nails look beautiful, especially when you give your nails a seasonal mani. Autumn is fast approaching and there is no better way to make your nails look great other than using gradient nail mani. However, if you are finding it difficult to pull off the perfect gradient nail art, here are 18 most creative gradient nails tutorials for you to learn and apply.

1. Blue Striped Gradient Nail Art

18 Creative Gradient Nails Tutorials

This is one of the simplest gradient nail designs that you can recreate. All you need is scotch tape and three shades of blue of your choice. Start by applying the lightest blue polish on your nails as base color. Once dry, apply a scotch tape covering one-fourth of your nail, creating a cross stripe. Apply the second blue polish, which is slightly darker than your base color and let dry. Again apply a scotch tape covering three-fourth of your nail to create a second cross stripe and apply the darkest blue shade till the tip of your nails. Remove the scotch tape and there you are with tri-colored blue striped gradient nails.

Gradient Nails Tutorial
Gradient Nails Tutorial

Image Credit: cdnpix

2. Ombre Gradient Nails

Following this gradient nail tutorial will help you recreate this nail design very easily. First, wash your hands and nails thoroughly and let dry. Apply a base coat on your nails before you start applying your polish colors. Choose two polish colors of which you will apply the lightest as your base color. Let the base color dry completely. Then, pour small amounts of both your polish colors onto a sheet of wax paper or plastic. Using a toothpick, blend the two colors at the edge to form a new solid color. Next, dab a makeup sponge into the new polish color and apply on your nails. Apply the new contrasting color in several layers, working them slowly up to the tips of your nails to create the gradient effect. Finally, apply a top coat once all the layers have dried. Remove the excess polish off your skin surrounding the nails with a thin nail brush or cotton swab around a toothpick dipped in nail remover. And there you are with those gorgeous ombre gradient nails.

Gradient Nails Tutorial
Gradient Nails Tutorial

Image Credit: wikihow

3. Blue Sponge Gradient Nail Tutorial

Choose two shades of blue, one dark and the other light. To recreate this gradient nail design, start by applying a clear base coat. Then, apply the darker shade of blue on your nails as the base color, and let it dry. Pour some of the light blue polish onto a plastic sheet, a sheet of wax, or a paper plate. Take a makeup sponge and dab it into the light blue polish taking up generous amount of polish onto the sponge. Next, dab the sponge over your dark blue shade from halfway through your nails up to the tip of your nails. When you dab the sponge starting halfway through your nails, it creates a gradient effect, with the lighter shade being a perfect solid color by the tips of your nails. Finish off the look with a top coat.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: nailsfornickels

4. Pastel Blue Glitter Gradient

Start by applying a clear base coat. Next, choose a pastel blue polish and matching glitter. Apply the pastel blue polish over your nails and let it dry. Then take a makeup sponge and apply your glitter nail paint on it. Dab the sponge with glitter polish over your nails starting at the bottom and bringing it up halfway through, creating a gradient effect. If you want to enhance the glittery effect, you can also mix two different glitter polishes. Let it dry and apply a top coat to finish off the look. Follow this easy nail art tutorial and recreate that gorgeous glitter gradient design.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: glamourable

5. Emerald-Gold Gradient Nails

To get these gradient nails, start by applying a clear base coat and let it dry. Next, apply a glitter emerald green as your base color and let it dry. Then, on a plastic sheet, pour your base color and gold glitter at a distance of few millimeters. With the help of a toothpick mix the two colors until a completely new color is formed. Once you’ve formed the new color take a makeup sponge and dab it into the new color. With generous amount of the new polish color on the sponge, dab it on to your nails. See to it that you dab the sponge on only half your nail, which creates the gradient effect. Apply a top coat once dry and you’re done!

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: nailmove

6. Black-Red Gradient Nails

Gradient nails tutorials such as this one helps you recreate some of the best nail art designs. To get this gradient design, start by applying a clear base coat. Once dry, apply opaque black as your base color, and let it dry. Then take red polish color on a plastic sheet. Dab a makeup sponge in the red polish and apply over half your nails. Dab the sponge to create that grainy effect over your nails. Once it dries, apply a top coat and you’re done!

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: nailmove

7. Pink Glitter Gradient Nails

Pink is a favorite with almost every female. For pink glitter gradient nail designs such as this, start by applying a clear base coat. A base coat helps protect your nails from the chemical formulations of the polishes you use. Next, apply light pink as your base color and let it dry. Then you apply a glitter polish on all your nails. While it is still wet, sprinkle some glitter powder over half to three-fourth of your nails to create that gorgeous gradient effect. Apply a top coat and you’re done!

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: shopify

8. Silver-Blue Glitter Gradient Nail Art

This nail tutorial will help recreate this beautiful gradient design. Start by applying a clear base coat and let it dry. Next, apply an opaque silver polish color as your base color. Once dry, apply blue glitter polish over half of your nails which creates that gradient effect. Apply a top coat and there you are with that gorgeous nail art.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: nail-art-101

9. Fire-Inspired Reciprocal Gradient Nail Art

The nail art may appear a bit difficult to execute but this nail art tutorial will surely erase all your difficulties. Start by applying a clear base coat and let it dry. Take three polish colors to recreate this gradient nail art – banana yellow, orange, and red. Next apply an opaque banana yellow polish color as your base color. Next, take a makeup sponge and apply the three polish colors in stripes and dab it onto your nails. Give a finishing touch to your nails with a top coat and let it dry completely. Cut scotch tape for each of your nails in the shape of fire flames and tape them on your nails. Then, again apply the three polish colors on the makeup in the direction opposite to your previous application. That is if you first applied yellow, followed by orange and red, then you start by applying red, followed by orange and then yellow. Dab the sponge onto your nails over the scotch tape and let it dry. When you peel off the scotch tape you will find the shape of fire flames on your nails from both sides. When dry, apply a top coat and there you are with those gorgeous fire-inspired gradient nails.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: ytimg

10. Striped Gradient Nail Design

Recreate this nail design by first painting your nails light purple. Now for the gradient stripes, stick tapes on both sides of your nails in a way that a little space is left in the middle. Apply dark purple polish on a makeup sponge and mix a little of the polish with nude polish color to create a gradient. Dab the sponge over your nails and let it dry a bit. Then remove the tapes from your nails. If you’ve spoiled the area around your nails then clean it using nail polish remover or pure acetone. Next, using a stripper brush, paint blue stripes on both sides of the gradient stripe on all your nails. Then, use an image plate to stamp the design with blue polish on both sides of your nails leaving the gradient stripe. Finally, apply a top coat over the nails to finish off the look.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: nailsofhelena

11. Gold Glitter Gradient Nail Art

This is one easy nail tutorial for you to follow. Start by applying a cream polish color as your base coat and let it dry. Next, apply a coat of gold glitter up to half of your nails from the bottom and let it dry. Then, apply a second coat of gold glitter from the bottom covering three-fourth of your nails. This will create a gold glitter gradient effect with the bottom of your nails having solid gold glitter fading into the base color as you go towards the tip of your nails. Apply a top coat and you’re done!

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: coplusk

12. Night Sky Gradient Nail Design

This gradient nail tutorial will help you recreate this awesome night sky gradient nail art. Start by applying grey and black nail polish over a makeup sponge and apply on your nails. This will create the night sky gradient effect. Next, to create the starry effect, apply a clear glitter coat on your nails. Finish off the look by applying a top coat.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: stuffpoint

13. Fire Colors Gradient Nail Art

To recreate these gradient nails, start by applying a base coat and let it dry. Next, apply a yellow polish color on your nails as your base color and let it dry. Then pour a little of red polish color on a plastic sheet and dip a makeup sponge in it. Dab the sponge on to your nails in a way that half of your nails are painted red. This will create a contrasting gradient effect. Finish off your nail art with a top coat.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: nailsxo

14. Pink-Blue Gradient Nails

Nail tutorials such as this will help you recreate the easiest of the gradient nail art. Start by applying a clear base coat and let it dry. Next, take a makeup sponge and apply pastel blue and light pink colors on the sponge. Apply them in a way that they get mixed up a bit. Then, dab the sponge onto your nails, creating that beautiful pink-blue gradient effect. Apply a top coat and you’re done!

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: coolnaildesign

15. Neon Tipped Gradient Nail Art

This gradient nail art has been accomplished using Sally Hansen’s Xtreme Wear Mint Sorbet, Essie’s Bikini So Teeny, and Sinful Colors Professional’s Pink. However, you may use colors that are available with you or any other colors of your choice. Start by applying a base coat of the Mint Sorbet on your nails and let it dry. Then, take a makeup sponge dampened with water and apply all the three polish colors onto the sponge such that each polish overlaps each other to the slightest. Dab the sponge on your nails till you get the perfect gradient on all your nails. Next, apply a top coat. Here the top coat used is Northern Lights’ Holographic Topcoat, but you can use one you are comfortable with. Then, clean up the mess of sponging around your nails before applying the final top coat. Here, the final top coat used for the neon look is Seche Vite’s Ultra V Top Coat. You can, however, use one that you are comfortable with. So follow this gradient nails tutorial and recreate those gorgeous neon tipped nails.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: blogspot

16. Ombre Gradient Nail Art

Start by applying a clear base coat and let it dry. Then take a makeup sponge and apply the three polish colors in way that they are slightly overlapping each other. Dab the sponge onto your nails till you are satisfied with the gradient. Apply a top coat on these gradient nails once dry and you’re done!

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: naildesignmagz

17. Textured Gradient Nails

Recreate this nail art by first applying a clear base coat. Then pick two shades of blue of your choice, one light and one dark, and apply on a makeup sponge. Make sure that the two polish colors overlap each other creating the gradient effect. Dab the sponge on to your nails till you get that perfect gradient effect. The dabbing of sponge creates a grainy effect on your nails giving it a textured effect. Clean up the mess created by the sponging and you’re done!

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: blogspot

18. Fiery Ombre Gradient Nails

This fiery ombre gradient can be recreated using polish colors of yellow, orange, and red. Start by applying a clear base coat and let it dry. Then, on a makeup sponge, apply all three colors such that one overlaps the other and dab it onto your nails. Continue for all your nails till you get a satisfactory ombre gradient. Apply a top coat and there you are with those perfect gradient nails.

Gradient Nail Tutorial
Gradient Nail Tutorial

Image Credit: womandot

Tags: , , , , ,

About Rose Walker

Rose Walker has worked as a nail artist for over 10 years. She's gained a lot of experience and developed her own unique style during that time. When she was working at a famous nail salon, she met Shirlyn. The two of them quickly became friends, and eventually decided to start their own website together. Naildesignideaz is the result of their collaboration - it's a website where they share their experience and offer tips on how to create beautiful nails.

Thoughts on "18 Creative Gradient Nails Tutorials"