Crocodile Print Nail Design: Nailing the Trend with Exotic Elegance
Welcome to the wild side of nail art. A new trend has clawed its way to the top. Crocodile print nail designs grace the fingertips of Blake Lively and Hailey Bieber. Now, this scaly sensation can be your next look.
Crocodile print nails are super versatile. They can be elegant, like French tips with subdued tones. Or they can be colorful and bold.
Moreover, it’s easy to paint nails with crocodile scales at home. All you have to decide is how far you want to take them.
Crocodile Print Nail Design
3D Crocodile Print French Tips
These velvety green tips have a 3D crocodile print texture that you can achieve in various ways. The most straightforward route is to look for press-ons with a similar design. You can also create the look with acrylics, builder gel, or dip powder. Keep things matte, or add a sprinkle of sugary glitter for sparkle.
Colorful Square Tips with a Crocodile Print
This manicure is ideal when you can't decide which color you want most. The stylish square tips feature various shades that work surprisingly well together.
How can you get the soft-edged crocodile spots spaced so perfectly? One trick is to use blooming gel. We’ll provide more details on that technique in a bit.
Chrome Crocodile Nails
Chrome makes everything better. This sophisticated manicure has a luxurious look thanks to the white and gray crocodile prints on a silver chrome base. If you don’t have a brush tiny enough for these details, try using a dotting pen to remove the white polish and expose the gray underneath.
Chrome Nail Powder
The Croc Within
Here’s a fun design where it appears the reptile skin is flaking off, revealing the sheer base underneath. The goal glitter around the edges keeps it playful.
Black Matte Crocodile Nails
Matte nails have an innate elegance. These are dressed up even further with black crocodile scales. The airbrushed design is an advanced technique, but beginners could emulate it with a stencil and a makeup sponge.
LAVIS Matte Top Gel
Hot Pink Crocodile Print
What’s one way to make pink even bolder? Include it in a textured crocodile print design on ballerina nails!
DND DC Gel Polish - 157 Hot Pink
Snake and Crocodile Prints
Hey, reptile fans, get back to nature and pair the crocodile prints with a snake pattern. Don't worry if your nail art skills still need to reach this level. You can try stickers or decals for similar results.
Crocodile Christmas
When you've been looking at crocodile nails long enough, you'll start to see the pattern everywhere. It even inspires Christmas designs like this snowy tree.
Line Art Gel
Glow in the Dark Croc
Here’s the ultimate quest. Make your croc nails glow in the dark!
LDS Glow In The Dark - 12 Colors GW01-12
How to Do Crocodile Print Nail Designs
There are at least three ways to DIY crocodile print nails. We’ll describe the supplies and steps you need for each method.
Gel Polish and Blooming Gel
This is one of the quickest ways to get crocodile print patterns on your nails. It requires:
- gel base and top coat
- blooming or blossom gel
- colored polish, one or two shades
- nail lamp and manicure tools
- thin nail art brush
Prep your nails as you usually would for a gel manicure. Apply and cure the base coat, then add the bottom colored polish if desired. You can also leave your nails with a natural look and add the colored crocodile scales on top.
It’s best to do one nail at a time now. Brush on the blooming gel, but don’t cure it. Instead, use a thin brush to place dots of color separated by a little distance. The blooming gel will make the colored polish spread out. You can also guide the colored polish instead of waiting for it to blossom across the nail. Cure the nail as soon as you’re satisfied with the crocodile print look. Then remember the top coat.
Subtracting Gel Polish with a Dotting Pen
Here's where you can explore one of the benefits of gel polish. It won't dry until cured, so you can strategically remove it to carve out a crocodile pattern. You’ll need:
- gel base and top coat
- colored polish, one or two shades
- nail lamp and manicure tools
- dotting pen or toothpicks
After prepping your nails and applying the base coat, brush on the bottom color and cure that. Wipe off the inhibition or sticky layer. When you apply the primary color for the crocodile print, don't cure it. Instead, use a dotting pen or toothpick to remove the wet polish and "draw" the scales. This is tricky as the polish tends to flow back to where you've removed it, so be prepared to work quickly and to each nail individually. Finish with the top coat of your choice.
FYI: This method also works with nail lacquer but is tricky as each new layer of polish may combine with the one underneath and make a smudgy mess. Our trick is to apply a quick-dry top coat over the base color to prevent the top color from combining with it.
3D Crocodile Print Nails
You can create textured croc print nails with acrylics, builder gel, polygel, and dip powder. The first three products require skill in using a brush to shape the scales. The latter only requires a bit of brushwork to repeatedly go over the print before dipping it in the powder to build up the texture.
If you're unsure that the 3D look will turn out like you hoped, try it on an accent nail before doing a full manicure. You can also practice on an old set of press-ons. Make a nail stand with thumbtacks stuck in a box and mount the fake nails with sticky tack.
Conclusion
Now, it's your turn to let your creativity run wild with crocodile print nail designs. Snap up bargains in our clearance section to save money and enjoy free shipping on orders over $100.
