#QuarantineNails Is the Instagram Nail-Art Trend We Didn't Know We Needed

We'll never take a trip to the nail salon for granted ever again. Salons and independent nail artists across the country have ceased operations, some for weeks now, leaving the state of our nails entirely in our own hands. Social distancing, however, has given us plenty of time for at-home manicures, in turn igniting the new hashtag #quarantinenails. There, self-taught and professional nail artists alike are sharing the manicures they've created in the comfort of their own homes, giving the rest of us enough nail-art inspiration to last a lifetime.

We've rounded up some of our favorite #quarantinenails for you to copy the next time you're itching for a manicure. Keep in mind that some of these looks were achieved by professionals with gel polishes and extensions. And while we wouldn't recommend using either of those at home, we do encourage you to imitate the colors and patterns with whatever polishes and tools you can find.

The neon-pink print on this manicure by English nail technician Julie-Anne Larivière is basically what would happen if the Cheetah Girls all of a sudden got really into nail art. She posted her own tutorial for the look, but if you don't have a nail-art brush at home, you can re-create it with a bobby pin or toothpick.

Jamaican nail artist Amara offers an updated take on the French manicure with negative space and rounded tips that extend all the way down to the nail bed. Don't feel intimidated by the thought of freehanding those curves. For a similar effect, you can cut small, oval decals out of blue painter's tape and lie them near the nail bed before painting your nails.

Imitating these tips by New York-based manicurist Minique Theresa is a breeze on long nails. All you need are a few different metallic nail polishes that you can paint in random patterns. Dip a small brush in acetone and swirl them around for more distortion.

You don't need super-long claws or a whole lot of supplies to re-create these spotted accent nails from @gels_by_helena. Grab a white polish, a black polish, and three bright accent colors. Apply the accent colors and the white polish in random splotches and dots using a dotting tool or the head of a sewing pin, if you've got one. Then, finish it off by dipping a bobby pin in the black polish to create small, even dots all over. Finally, use a thin nail brush or a toothpick to draw the white branches in any blank spots.

Instagram user @nicolepapadimitriou added dreamy watercolor accents to a few nails in her lavender manicure. You can create a similar effect by painting on small blobs of polish and diluting them with a dense nail-art brush dipped in acetone.

New Hampshire-based nail technician JacQui Parzych added a single gold star to her neon-orange nails, creating a statement with very little effort. If you don't have jewels or nail stickers like these, you can use a small dot of nail polish in a contrasting color.

More at-home nail care and nail art:

• The Best Nail Strengthening Treatments for Brittle Nails
• Everything You Need to Know About Applying Press-On Nails, According to Experts
• How a Beauty Editor Uses 3 Household Objects to Create Endless Nail-Art Designs

Now, watch us try every method of nail polish removal:

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