I was brainstorming fun ideas for a Halloween inspired manicure when my friend Kelly posted about yellow nails. Yellow nail polish? HOW had this never occurred to me? It’s so fun and fresh and unexpected. I love the idea of wearing it on its own as an homage to the season, but it’s also the perfect backdrop to incorporate into something a little more special.
I initially thought I might like a jack-o-lantern set of nails, but it didn’t seem quite right. So I scanned some of my favorite costumes from the past. Present nails? (Yup, I was a present one year when I was about eight, complete with a crepe paper bow hat.) Cleopatra nails? (Not obvious enough.) ELPHABA NAILS? 
SOLD.
For this manicure, you’ll need:
– yellow nail polish (Mine is Sally Hansen’s Mellow Yellow. Was mostly ok, but not completely opaque.)
– green nail polish (Mine is Zoya’s Neely.)
– black nail art polish (This one is Sally Hansen’s I <3 Nail Art Striper in Black which works super well, but there is also a pen option you might like.)
– cotton swabs/nail polish remover (in case you need to take care of any mistakes)
Start with some clean nails and polish with a few coats of yellow, to your desired opacity.
Once dry, use your black nail art pen to draw on your witches hat (a triangle with a horizontal line across the bottom) onto the nails you wish to accent, like so:
Let dry for just a minute or two. Then, add a dot of green polish just below to create the witch’s face.
Repeat for as many nails as you like (I added a mini witch to my thumb, middle finger and pinky.) You may wish to go over the top of your witch’s face (green dot) with a quick swipe of black for a more realistic hat-wearing look.
Let dry for a few minutes and you’re ready to go! (If you’re looking for the mani to last at least a few days, swipe your favorite top coat on top.)
When I look at my hand right side up, the design almost has an art deco feel and I love it. It’s extra fun when someone asks me what the design is and I get to let them in on the secret of the tiny witches!
(Writing this post makes me want to be Elphaba again. Without the crazy amount of time involved with putting on that darn green makeup. Anyone offer one minute green spray tans?)
OMG CAN YOU PLEASE WEAR THIS COSTUME WHEN YOU COME OVER NEXT?! I should mention that all future sarahandcarla.com engagements are costume-themed.
<3 the Halloween inspired nails! I was an otter pop one year – can you paint those on my nails?? Louie Blue Raspberry.
HAAAA. On board with costumes FOR SURE. (Incidentally, I DO have a Louie Blue Raspberry inspired idea: blue nails, white beret blob and a jaunty mustache?)
I can’t even tell you how much love and joy this post brings me. I’m so impressed that you can do things like that to your fingers. My current strategy is something like this – paint nails at bus stop. Let dry on the way to work. Run hot water over nails to coax as much misplaced nailpolish off of my hands (not just fingers) as possible.
Classy.
Haaaa, well, I have certainly had THOSE nail days. This was just a good one! 🙂
Elphaba!! Oh my word yes. Can we have a manicure party please??
xx Katie
A manicure PARTY?! That’s BRILLIANT! Yes!!
I just wish that photo of you were going viral right now. that’s really all I need.
But it could be happening! RIGHT NOW!
This is really adorable! I have not attempted any nail art since I can barely paint on a solid color, but maybe I could do this.