Peppermint Mocha Nails

Yummy chocolate, festive sprinkles, and a creamy whipped topping—what's not to love about the peppermint mocha? We were so inspired by this seasonal drink that we transformed it into a glittery marbled manicure that even Scrooge would approve of! Here's the step-by-step.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

1. Your favorite base and topcoat

2. Essie Nail Polish in Brooch the Subject (winter 2011)

3. OPI Nail Polish in Alpine Snow

4. Toothpicks

5. Sally Hansen Gem Crush Glitter in Cha-Ching (winter 2011)

6. OPTIONAL: A needle or sponge applicator

Step 1

BREW YOUR FIRST AND ONLY COAT

You’ll be marbling your nails without water, so this look requires only one coat of base color. After prepping your nails with a clear base coat, apply a heavy, opaque layer of Essie's Brooch the Subject onto your nails. Remove polish bubbling on the sides by rocking your index finger back and forth on the edge of the nail. This cleans up any excess varnish but keeps the thick layer you need to marble.

Step 2

ADD WHIPPED CREAM

Before the base color dries, apply a small dot or line of OPI's Alpine Snow onto the surface of each nail. Be sure not to make too large of a shape. If your brush keeps dispensing excess polish, use a toothpick for application instead. Placement and shape depend on the look you want—we kept our designs toward the base of the nails since we're covering up the tips.

Step 3

SWIRL BARISTA-LEVEL DESIGNS

Unleash your inner barista by replicating frothy cappuccino designs on your nails! Take a toothpick or needle and lightly swirl the surface to marble the white polish into the beige. Our shapes are more abstract, but you can practice making swirls, hearts, and geometric patterns! Let your nails dry for 15 minutes before you move on to the next step.

Step 4

SCATTER THE SPRINKLES

To simulate the festive peppermint sprinkles on a holiday mocha, top your nails with ruby and silver glitter. Build up the texture on the nail tips first, then gradually fade the sparkles to the middle of the fingernail. Use your ring finger or a makeup/eye shadow sponge to help diffuse the pigment.

Step 5

CLEAN THE EDGES AND DRINK UP!

Your nails probably look like a glitter bomb at this point. Don't worry! After an additional 10 minutes of drying time, clean up the edges with a cotton swab and nail polish remover. With a layer of lacquered topcoat and extra drying time, you'll have the holiday's most beloved beverage at your fingertips, without the added calories.