If you’re tired of the news, then let’s step into a better world. Why not bring magic and heroes to life on dreamy fantasy nails? Find inspiration in your favorite stories. Ride a dragon, tour an enchanted forest, have a legendary romance, because anything you can imagine can be yours!
Through the Wardrobe
Escape to Narnia and watch as Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus by the lamp post. It’s frosty weather because the White Witch has the land under her spell. Grab one of the furry coats before you follow them through the snow.
When you plan your storybook nails, focus on the tales you love the most. Then, narrow it down to your favorite scenes or symbols. In this case, the key element was the lamp post, but it could have just as easily been the faun, Mr. Tumnus. (He was the inspiration for the entire book)! Fans of the story will instantly recognize the iconic post in a snowy landscape.
Fairyland Nails
This mythical location is the home of the Fair Folk or fairies. You might also call it Otherworld or Tír na nÓg, the land of youth, where the ancient gods of Ireland live. It’s a gorgeous place but be wary of staying too long. You may find the world has moved on without you.
If you wanted to design fairy nails, what would you imagine? Would there be vibrant flowers and crystal butterflies or tiny pixies with translucent wings? However they appear, we hope they help you take a little break from reality every time you look at them.
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The Court of Dreams
Here’s a representation of the hidden City of Starlight, Velaris. It’s described in A Court of Thorns and Roses books by Sarah Maas. The image stretching across these nails captures the dreamy aesthetic perfectly, starting with the rich blue base of the night sky. The glowing lights and starry elements recall the magical ambiance of this faerie place.
What are your favorite tools for drawing intricate nail art like fantasy scenes? Do you use line art gel, regular polish, or acrylic markers? Or do your masterpieces thrive on artfully placed stickers or charms? There are so many ways to create imaginative manicures that tell a story.
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Harry Potter Nails
Even Muggles have heard about The Boy Who Lived, so someone is sure to recognize the Golden Snitch, the Patronus, the Marauders’ Map footprints, or Harry’s scar and glasses. These emblems stand for various parts of the story and remind us of specific scenes from the books or movies.
Moonlit Night
Fans of urban fantasy know what a full moon means! We love how the artist used chrome powder to make the atmosphere magical. And although it’s straightforward to paint the silhouetted branches, it’s just as easy to stamp them.
In reality, it’s challenging to do portraiture on nails. Therefore, it’s not easy to represent our favorite storybook characters. If you don’t mind using nail stickers, that can solve the problem. Otherwise, it’s fun to set the stage with an enchanted ambience and let your mind fill in the rest.
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Here There Be Dragons
No article about fantasy nail art would be complete without mentioning dragons. This set was inspired by Onyx Storm, the third book in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series. The artist posted them saying, “When you know, you know”.
This is another instance when just a few well-known symbols tell the tale, bringing back memories of the plot and the characters. We won’t go into details so as to not give away spoilers!
Cinderella
Did you know that Disney’s retelling is just one of thousands of versions of Cinderella? The earliest folktale of a mistreated girl whose life magically improved dates back to 7 BC. Later in Europe, one of the most famous Cinderella stories is in Grimm’s Fairy Tales and only recommended if you have a strong stomach. It’s quite a bit more violent than the sweet animated version.
There’s also the Chinese story of Ye Xian. She has an abusive step-mom and finds comfort in her friendship with a fish, who is her mother reincarnated. Sadly, very bad things continue to happen, yet Xian manages to attend a festival where she loses a shoe. A king is intrigued by the footwear and begins searching for the owner. Thankfully, everything eventually works out.
Sleeping Beauty
If you don’t have the time, patience, or skills yet for drawing detailed scenes, here’s a tip. Use silhouettes. They are dramatic and capture the essence of the story just fine.
Sleeping Beauty is another one of those tales where the older adaptations are astonishingly violent. It might be best to stick to modern versions if you prefer dreamy romance.
Beauty and the Beast
You guessed it – Beauty and the Beast exists in many different forms, too. Thanks to Disney’s catchy tunes, the best known version these days is a lot less tragic than the original tales. Plus, it makes for beautiful nail art! Can you find the enchanted rose?
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Lord of the Rings
This article is supposed to be about dreamy scenes on fantasy nails, so the Eye of Sauron was not welcome here. Instead, wouldn’t it be fun to spend time in Hobbiton? You could have second breakfast and enjoy the fresh air in the garden. Show off your nails while you’re there because this manicure was inspired by the adorable hobbit home doors.
Conclusion
What storybook scenes will you wear on your nails? To what lands will you travel with your fingertips? We wish we could see all the nail art tales you’ll tell! If you post them on social media, please tag us so we can celebrate your creativity.
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Sources:
Lewis, C. S. (1982). On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature. p. 53. ISBN 0-15-668788-7.
https://magicalclan.com/the-original-sleeping-beauty/
https://web.archive.org/web/20171215135835/http://journal.oraltradition.org/files/articles/25ii/10_25.2.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast
