Cute Dip Powder Design on Short Natural Nails

Are you struggling with dip powder on short natural nails? Then today’s project is for you!

I’m going to do a glitter peekaboo manicure on super short nails.

I’m doing a full glitter dip on three of my nails and a peekaboo on my pointer and middle fingers.

2. Glitter dip (first coat)

Immediately press your nail into the glitter powder.

Tap your finger lightly and use an orange stick to clean up the edges.

3. Peekaboo (first coat)

Apply the base coat as before.

Use a brush to tap the glitter powder over the lower part of your nail.

Tip a small amount of the pink dip powder over your whole nail and tap it off.

Dip your fingertip directly into the pink powder for more coverage there.

Clean up the edges with the orange stick.

4. Second coat (full glitter dip)

After applying the first layer to all your nails, brush them lightly with a soft nail brush to remove the excess powder.

Apply a second coat of base coat and full glitter dip to your nails as before.

If there’s an area without enough chunky pieces of glitter for your liking, put another dab of base coat there. Then pick up individual pieces of glitter with your orange stick and press them into place.

5. Second coat (peekaboo)

For the second layer of the peekaboo nails, I put the base coat only on the lower section of my nails and then placed the nail flat into the glitter powder so I picked up a lot of the chunky pieces.

I used my orange stick to move the glitter around so it kind of cascaded into the plain area at the tip and added more glitter pieces individually where I felt I needed them.

Then I brushed the dip base over the tip of my nails and part of the glitter section, so I could create an ombre effect.

I used my brush to tap the pink powder over the tip and partially over the glitter, so it blended the two sections.

6. Clear layer

I always apply a layer of clear dipping powder over all my nails before I brush on the top coat, as it makes the manicure last much longer.

So I brushed on another layer of dip base over my nail from base to tip. I poured the clear dip powder over the whole nail and tapped off the excess.

Once it’s dried, remove any loose powder with your nail brush so your nails aren’t too thick.

7. Activator

Apply a coat of activator to all your nails and allow it to dry completely, which will take about 5 minutes on average.

8. Buff and file

I buffed over each nail so they were all approximately the same thickness.

I used a hand file to shape the edges of my nails, because dips add bulk.

Then I went in with my E-file with the extra fine pen barrel to clean up around my cuticles so they look nice and smooth.

9. Activator and top coat

Before the finishing coats, I wiped my nails off with isopropyl alcohol and lint free wipes or a paper towel and then pushed my cuticles back again.

I read the instructions for these liquids and it told me to apply an activator to all five nails and then wait exactly one minute before adding the top coat. So that’s exactly what I did.

I went in with the first layer of the top coat and applied it in two to three quick, even strokes. I wiped the brush off on a lint free wipe in between each nail, as the instructions said.

Once I’d put the first layer of top coat on all five nails, I immediately went back and applied the second coat more precisely.

Dip powder on short natural nails

I’m really loving the short nail look right now. As a bonus it means that my manicures go much faster!

Let me know what you think of these dip powder nail ideas, nail crew. I’d love to read your comments below.

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