I was sitting in my nail room staring at my dotting tools, striping brushes and stamping plates feeling completely uninspired when I saw sitting off to the side of my desk a dress making pin. I had used it a few days earlier to do some swirl art and between sips of my cranberry vodka slushie I pondered what else the pin was capable of....and the side swipe mani was born!
At first I thought I might try a really tiny polka dot design but it didn't take long to realise that the tapered end of the pin couldn't pick up enough paint to make any kind of dot. So in an effort to get some kind of dot on my nail I started to adjust the angle of the pin and instead of dabbing it I started to drag/flick it along or "side swipe" my nail. The swipes all came out different sizes but together they started to look like a cross between an animal print and paint splatters....I loved it instantly and knew I was onto something new and different.
The side swipe technique is incredibly simple, if you can use a dotting tool you can side swipe. I made a flip vid on IG but really there wasn't much to show as its as basic as dipping a pin in polish, laying the pin on its side and then lightly dab/drag the polish onto your nail. For little swipes stand the pin more upright, for larger swipes lay the pin down. Adjust the amount you drag the pin, if you are getting lines you are dragging too far, its more like a quick flick then a full drag....as much as I LURVE full drag, less is more here! *wink*
The polishes used in this mani:
- OPI - My boyfriend scales walls
- China Glaze - For Audrey
- China Glaze - Liquid Leather
- Zoya - Dahlia
- Silver spikes - available here
If you decide to give the side swipe mani a go please tag your pic with #sideswipemani, I am dying to see how you guys take this idea and run with it.
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