Zebra nail designs are easy to adapt to any nail shape or season. The bold stripes make a manicure more remarkable, especially since they can look elegant or entertaining. It's a rare thing that makes everyone happy, even people who agree on nothing else!
Zebra Nail Designs
Zebra Nail Accents
Are zebras black with white lines or white with black stripes? And does the answer matter for zebra nail designs?
In case you’ve always wondered, the scientific consensus is that zebras have black skin with white stripes. Every zebra has a unique set of markings just like every human has unique fingerprints. The stripes are a convenient camouflage that confuses horseflies to keep them from biting the animals.
Although most artists create zebra nail designs using a black on white setup it honestly doesn’t matter. What’s more important is distinguishing zebra stripes from tiger stripes and similar animal patterns.
Here’s a set with zebra accents that shift from tip to cuticle. The elongated almond shape and rhinestone highlights give them a luxurious feel.
Before we go any further, we’d like to share two of the best tools for creating zebra designs: LAVIS Super Black and Super White gels with one-coat coverage. The intense color is perfect for intricate designs when you don’t want to go over lines.
LAVIS Gel Polish Super Black
LAVIS Gel Polish Super White
Short Zebra Nails on a Sheer Base
Nude nails have been especially trendy over the past year, and short nails are also experiencing a surge in demand. But as beautiful as sheer nails look, sometimes we just need a little extra something. Zebra stripes literally fill in the blank. Here the pattern enhances the lush overall feel of this soap nails set.
Did you know that there are three species of zebra living in Africa? Each one has different stripe patterns.
Plains zebras live in the grasslands and have wider-set stripes. Meanwhile, Grevy’s zebra, which is the largest species, lives in woodland areas and has close set stripes. Finally, there are mountain zebras, which are the smallest, only as tall as the average 5th grader.
Zebra Stripes and Cat Eye Gel for a Shimmery Combo
If actual zebras could only see how pretty their stripes look on a cat eye base! However, it might not be the best choice to help them hide from predators. But on human fingertips, the combination is mesmerizing.
You probably knew that zebras only eat plants. What’s interesting is that their powerful teeth allow them to snack on small trees and shrubbery and that makes room for grasses to grow that feed smaller animals. They’re like nature’s weed whackers.
Never fear, zebras aren’t completely helpless even when hunted by lions, crocodiles, and hyenas. Not only are they fast and agile, but they also band together to defend group members when they are attacked.
LAVIS Cat Eyes C13 - 13 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Hallowed Solstice Collection
The Difference Between Zebra and Other Animal Stripes
Although zebra stripes are black and white and tiger stripes are usually black on orange or brown, there are visual differences beyond the colors. Tiger stripes tend to be more irregular and narrower, for example.
If you look at the photo of the plains zebras below, you can see they have broad, distinct stripes. However, Grevy’s zebra and ones living in the mountains have more densely packed stripes.
Just a Few Stripes, Please
Honestly, the accent nail here could lean either way: tiger or zebra stripes. Since they are on a coppery background, we’ll consider it artistic license.
Two Easy Ways to Do Zebra Nail Designs
It seems easy until you just can’t seem to get the zebra stripes just right. Maybe you don’t have the right brush handy or you’re trying too hard. Don’t feel bad, we all have days like that. That’s when we turn to simpler tools for creating zebra nail designs.
The first example uses LAVIS Magic Base Gel plus the black Magic Gel shade. Here are the instructions for using it for easy zebra nail art:
- After you prep the nails, apply and cure the gel base coat and base color. Here the base shade is white.
- Brush on the Magic Base Gel, which is a clear product and cure it for 60 seconds. This is an essential step.
- Apply a generous coat of colored Magic Gel, in this case the black shade. Then use a cuticle stick or dotting pen and draw the lines where you want the stripes. Since Magic Gel is a fluid tool related to blooming gel, the skinny lines will start to expand.
- Once you’re happy with the pattern, cure the magic gel for 60 seconds and seal it with a top coat, or add other embellishments.
LAVIS Magic Gel 11 - 0.5 oz
Otherwise, get the perfect zebra nail design using spray paint stickers or stencils.
- After applying the base coat and base color, peel off one of the squares from the backing and press it into place on the nail. Rotate it in any direction you like or apply it to just part of the nail instead of the whole surface.
- Then use a regular brush or airbrush to apply the second color for the zebra stripes.
- Before letting the stripes air dry or curing the polish, remove the sticker. This may seem counterintuitive, but once the polish sets, removing the sticker could lift up part of the design. It’s best to remove it carefully before.
- Add more embellishments or finish with a top coat.
It’s that easy to complete a zebra nail design!
Nail Stickers
Conclusion
Just like every zebra has its own one-of-a-kind stripe pattern, your zebra nail design will be uniquely yours. We didn’t even get into Lisa Frank-style zebra-striped looks or any of the other incredible ways people customize this animal print for nail art. It’s versatile enough for any nail length or shape, casual or dress up occasions, and any season. Shop our store for all the nail art supplies you need to create remarkable manicures year-round.
Source:
https://www.ifaw.org/international/animals/zebras
