DIY Caviar Manicure

Champagne wishes and caviar dreams? Now the luxe lifestyle immortalized by Robin Leach comes to your nails, in the form of a caviar manicure. This novel roe-reminiscent texture is the talk of the town, and it looks ultra-opulent! Unfortunately the extravagant finish comes with an equally steep price tag, so we went in search of some low-cost alternatives. Lo and behold, we discovered a way to recreate the baubled effect without denting your wallet.

YOU'LL NEED:

• Base coat
• Opaque nail polish (no shimmer)
• Clear micro beads (available at most craft stores—we snagged our jar for three dollars!)
• Top coat

STEP 1

THE BASICS

First, apply a clear base coat on completely bare nails. Next, apply one coat of no-shimmer white polish (a thinner formula is best) onto your nails and let them dry. We chose white, but you can use any color with the clear beads.

STEP 2

COAT AND CAVIAR

Apply a generous second coat of color to one hand, and let the polish get tacky for 10 seconds. Then, over a sheet of paper, a cup, or a plastic tray, pour the microbeads over your nail bed, ensuring you coat the entire surface of your nail bed like glitter over glue.

STEP 3

IM-PRESSED

When each nail is entirely covered, use the pad of your finger to press and secure the caviar beads. Repeat this on your other hand.

STEP 4

THE LEFTOVERS

Pour the excess beads back into the jar to save for later, then apply a tiny drop of top coat along your nail tip to seal the caviar. The look should last two or three days before the beads start to fall. Black-tie nails at a bargain price—you can’t beat it!