How to Apply Nail Tattoos

Applying Water Slide Tattoos

Apply a base coat and nail polish. Brush on a clear base coat. Once it's fully dry, brush on at least one to two coats of nail polish – allowing it to dry between coats – until you achieve satisfactory coverage. Because the edges of temporary tattoos often have a translucent, filmy border, opt for white or light-colored polish. This will also make a canvas for good contrast with your tattoos. Some water slide tattoos made for nails can be used with any color.

Cut the tattoos with small scissors to fit on your nails. Try using sewing scissors or nail scissors; a curved blade will work well. Pick the pieces of the tattoos you like best, and make sure each piece will fit on one of your nails without any overlap. At least part of your nail plate should show around each tattoo piece. Choose tattoos with dark or colored shades and/or details, to contrast with your nail lacquer. You don't need to cut perfectly around the tattoo: you can cut small squares that fit onto your nails. Wait until your nails are fully dried before doing this step, so that you don't accidentally smudge your polish.

Wet the tattoo face-down on your nail. Remove the plastic sheet from the tattoo. Place the tattoo so that it touches your nail only, not your skin. Use a wet cotton swab, paper towel, or cloth to dampen the back of the tattoo. It's fine for the tattoo to hang over the free edge of your nail. Some water slide tattoos for nails require you to soak them first for five to ten seconds each. You can remove tattoos from a bowl of water with tweezers, after soaking them.

Hold the damp cloth against your nail for 30 seconds. Press down firmly and evenly. If the tattoo has instructions that recommend holding the moist tattoo for a longer amount of time, follow those instructions. Avoid dabbing or moving the tattoo while it sets.

Remove any excess, if needed. If the tattoo overlaps the edge of your nail, snip it off with scissors. For a look that lasts longer, apply a topcoat. If you're applying a topcoat, try dabbing a tiny bit of top coat onto one of the tattoos first, to make sure it doesn't smudge.

Applying Nail Stickers

Clean your nails. Use a cotton pad with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol to clean on and around your nails. Don't apply a base coat for this look – it can prevent nail stickers from properly adhering.

Prepare the nail sticker. Find a sticker that is the closest match to the size of your nail. If you can't find a sticker that matches the size of a nail well, choose a sticker that's larger than your nail. Then trim it down with small scissors to fit the nail. Rub the sticker in your hands to warm it up a bit – this can improve its flexibility and longevity.

Apply the nail sticker. Remove the backing from the strip. Place the sticker on your nail plate, close to – but not overlapping – your cuticle. Smooth the sticker down from your nail bed to the tip.

Use a blow dryer on the nail for several seconds. Use the warm setting on your blow dryer. If your blow dryer runs quite hot at close range, hold it back far enough that it doesn't hurt your skin. Heat helps nail stickers smoothly adhere to the nails.

File off any excess decal. Hold a large-grit file perpendicular to the nail. File the nail downward to detach excess strip from the free edge of your nail. Start out with a rough file, and finish up with a finer grit. Try using a glass file to smooth the edges once you've removed excess stickers.

Maintain your nail tattoos. You can add a top coat for gloss, if desired, but it isn't needed for longevity. Treat your nails gently, avoiding pressure and moisture. Avoid using lotion or oil-based products on your nails, which can cause separation of the stickers. Keep your nails away from heat, unless a decal starts to come off. If so, use a blow drier on your nail as you smooth the sticker back down. For example, wear gloves to protect your nails when doing dishes or other wet or messy tasks.