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6 Tips On How To Mix Colors For Nail Art

Posted by Ren Wu

Color Wheel How To Mix Colors

Nail art is one of the best ways to practice genuine self-expression. And showing the outside world a bit about yourself is more powerful than you can imagine!

Key Takeaways

  1. Nail stamping is the perfect way to let your creative visions come to life while practicing artistic self-expression
  2. Analyze the color wheel to discover the right colors to mix
  3. Use primary colors to add a bold and dramatic look to your style
  4. Create a look using analogous shades to rediscover a sophisticated style
  5. Mix complementary shades to create a stunning and trendy color scheme
  6. Use neutral shades to give your nail art a grounding base and ensure your style can truly pop

There's a reason why self-love is so vital for our mental health and overall well-being. After all, being in tune with your passions, feelings, and emotions is the best way to find the peace of mind you deserve.

So, when it comes time to style some new nail art, how can we ensure we mix colors correctly? Keep reading, and we'll share our best tips and tricks!

See Related: 12 Winter Nail Art Designs For Chilly Season

#1. Nail Stamping Is The Best Way To Get Gloriously Stunning Nail Art

Mixing colors for the perfect nail art design isn't just about selecting a couple of trendy colors and popping them onto your nails. Instead, it's about creating an entire look and style that complements your natural beauty and helps you feel confident!

Of course, a certain level of color theory and science goes into it all. After all, we want to make sure the colors we decide on are pleasing to the eyes.

But your nail art won't be as stunning as it should be without the means to execute your vision. Finding the right way to create an artistic masterpiece and satisfy your innate desire for self-expression is critical.

Color wheel primary colors yellow green primary colors secondary colors tertiary colors purple green

The Power Of Artistic Self-Expression

Self-expression is a powerful tool that has countless benefits. In fact, almost any hobby we find enjoyable is a great way to improve the connection we have with ourselves.

Emotional intelligence and the freedom to understand our own emotions are incredibly powerful skills. Our minds are mysterious and intricate places, but no one can understand our thoughts better than ourselves.

That's why self-expression is so critical. This fundamental tool allows us to tap into our hidden passions and feelings. Without it, we would never have a strong foundation for processing and understanding our emotions.

Research shows that artistic self-expression can improve our moods and helps us more easily relate to those around us (that's where emotional intelligence comes into play). So don't underestimate the true potential of artistic freedom.

Color mixed human eye cadmium red violet yellow orange color scheme blue green blue violet

Creating The Perfect Nail Art Has Never Been So Easy

Get the right tools to execute your vision to ensure you're set up for nail art success.

That doesn't mean you have to find the nearest nail salon. After all, those places are pretty expensive, and you never end up with the design you had in mind.

The best place to explore authentic self-expression and watch your nail art dreams come to life is at home. After all, the best results happen when we are comfortable and thriving!

But your at-home nail art doesn't need to be disastrous like those times in the past. Let's face it - free-handing intricate lines and dots will almost always turn out horribly.

That's why here at Maniology, we designed our iconic nail stamping kits. In five easy, quick, and simple steps, your nails will adorn the season's most beautiful and trendy designs.

Color mixing colors cadmium yellow green evenly spaced shade shades color schemes secondary color blue green

A Beautiful Masterpiece On Your Nails In Five Simple Steps

Whether you want help making a simple french tip or you're ready for a stunning holiday design, we can help you with it all. We made it our mission to give everyone the power to create gorgeous nails easily at home. But we also want to help you see your creative vision come to life.

From countless polish colors to endless plate designs, our products work with you to help you truly express your style. And when it comes time to narrow down the colors you want to mix, we want to help you out there too.

#2. Use The Color Wheel

Now that you have the perfect tools for bringing your nail art vision to life, it's time to mix colors. And the best way to begin this journey is with the color wheel.

The color wheel is used by designers, artists, and anyone looking to utilize color in their craft. And the methodology for analyzing the color wheel is known as color theory.

Color theory considers factors such as hue, value, and opacity to determine which colors pair well together and which don't. And so, for someone looking to practice nail art, it's vital to understand this fundamental aspect of design.

Color wheel color shades primary color mix grey color chart tertiary color secondary color red violet cool colors color mixing primary colors

Understanding The Aspects Of The Color Wheel

The color wheel can be broken down into different categories to make sense of the various colors. For example, blue, green, and purple can be classified as cool colors while red, orange, and yellow are known as warm colors.

But it doesn't stop there. The color wheel also helps us understand how to use colors to complement our natural features such as skin tone or feature contrasts.

Take, for example, someone with a warmer skin tone. Applying a warm, soft pink color on the nails (such as Maniology's Cinnablush) would be a great way to complement this gorgeous feature while beautifully providing a monochromatic look.

Remember that the color wheel is more complicated than what meets the eye. So, let's go over the second most integral aspect of the color wheel - primary colors.

Primary and secondary colors blue violet blue green split complementary color scheme mix red orange blue green color mixing warm colors blue

Bonus: 7 Ways To Fully Embrace The Winter Aesthetic This Year

#3. Don't Be Afraid Of Bold Primary Colors

When we think of the color wheel, we often think of primary colors. This is because the three primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) are the three tones that are mixed to create almost all other colors.

When creating your nail art, it's good to understand how these three colors are used to assemble the rest of the color wheel. For example, we can mix two primary colors, blue and yellow, to give us green. Or we can mix red and blue to get violet.

But too often, we get caught up crafting trendy and mysterious colors and forget about our roots. Red, yellow, and blue are stunning hues in and of themselves. So why not use their power to cultivate a genuinely captivating nail look?

Utilizing bold and impactful colors with little to no muting is a great way to draw upon emotions. That's because colors can significantly influence how we feel due to their powerful psychological effects.

Use Maniology's Essentials Primary six-piece stamping art polish set to set your color collection up correctly.

Primary and secondary colors yellow green tertiary colors yellow orange color chart secondary colors blue purple yellow blue orange

#4. Utilize Analogous Colors For A Sophisticated Look

Using similar colors is the best way to get a put-together and fulfilling look. The more technical term for this is analogous colors, which sit close to each other on the color wheel.

Many stunning trends utilize the same colors for a sophisticated and refined look. Similar colors are the way to go if you're not trying to make a bold statement.

You can craft your entire look with shades like cherry red, burnt orange, and rosey pink for an analogous color scheme. And when it comes to your nails, you can do the same thing.

A great place to start is with Maniology's Snowflake Waltz six-piece stamping art polish set. The soft collection of purples and pinks gives you the perfect foundation for creating similar color combinations.

Primary colors secondary colors tertiary colors cool colors warm and cool colors secondary colors color mixed mixing color orange

#5. Don't Forget About Complementary Colors

Don’t worry - we didn't skip complementary colors. After all, there's nothing more trendy that finding a way to match two opposing colors into one synonymous look!

Complementary colors are hues that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. And even though they may be technically opposites, they complement each other. Hence the name.

The Simplest Way To Create A Stunning Look

A few popular complementary color combinations are red and green, purple and yellow, and blue and orange. And mixing complementary colors is a surefire way to make your look engaging, exciting, and thrilling.

Complementary colors also allow you to mix warm and cool shades to find color tones that truly bring out your personal sense of style. After all, the most stunning nail art is made with shades that step out of your comfort zone!

Feel free to pair Maniology's Serenity purple metallic stamping polish with the Lasso duochrome yellow stamping polish to bring out your trend-setting side.

Pro Tip: If you really want to leave things up to fate and explore your creativity, check out our subscription boxes for a fun new surprise every month!

Tertiary colors red orange primary color mixing other colors shade green color shades purple green blue yellow green

#6. Use Neutrals To Their Fullest Extent

When it comes to mixing colors, we can get carried away when rediscovering the beautiful shades of the color wheel. But let's not forget about one of the most reliable places to begin this journey.

Neutral shades are some of the best colors to use in nail art because they give your look a dependable foundation to express your style. Whether you're a fan of the all-black aesthetic or want to incorporate a touch of white, neutrals can make your nail art look complete.

A Soothing And Sophisticated Way To Bring Your Nail Art To The Next Level

If your look is riddled with bright shades or pastel pops, try incorporating a light color such as white or ash grey to soothe the vibe. Or, add a dark color such as a warm brown (yes, browns can be considered neutrals) or charcoal gray to add some intrigue and mystery.

There are truly countless ways to incorporate neutrals into your nail art. And it's always a great idea to have as many neutral polish shades in your arsenal as possible. Use Maniology's Naturel six-piece stamping art polish set if you're ready to harness the sophisticated power of neutral tones.

But when it comes down to it, mixing colors is about what works best for you! Style is about self-expression and discovering the colors and tones that help you feel confident.

And nail art is no different. Nail art gives us the ability to represent our inner feelings and passions in the most intricate way possible. As you embark on your nail art journey, we'll be right next to you!

Keep Reading: Understanding The Importance Of Color Theory

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At Maniology, we believe your nails are opportunities for adventure, fun, and unrestrained artistic expression. Our nail stamping plates and nail accessories are here to help foster your self-expression in the hopes of building a community of individuality. For more nail tutorials, subscription box updates, and designs, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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