Skeleton Nails: How to Paint Bone Details on Black Gel

Halloween nails · 6 steps · white on black

Skeleton nails are a black nail with simple white bones on top. Bones are a long thin shape with a round end, so a steady brush and a dark ground do most of the work.

You will need

Super Black gel
White detailing gel
Fine detail brush
Dotting tool
Base coat
Top coat
LED lamp

Prep and base

File, buff, wipe, and dehydrate with pH Bond. Add a thin coat of base coat, cap the free edge, and cure.

TipPrep once, carefully. The best skeleton designs sit on a clean, flat nail.
Lay the black

Apply two thin coats of Super Black and cure each one. Wipe with a lint free wipe and check for dust.

TipMatte top coat later looks best over a flawless black.
Sketch the bone

A bone is a long thin shape with a small bump at each end. Plan one bone per nail, running tip to cuticle, or a few short ones for a hand-bone look.

TipKeep the bones slim. Thin bones look more like a real skeleton hand.
Paint the bones

Load a fine brush with White detailing gel and paint the shaft first, then touch a small dot at each end with a dotting tool. Cure.

TipTwo thin coats of white keep the color crisp over black.
Add shadows and outlines

Run a hairline of Black detailing gel along one edge of each bone to give it depth, or add a thin 3D line for a raised feel. Cure.

TipShade the same side of every bone so the light seems to come from one direction.
Seal and finish

Seal with Super Matte Top Coat for a dusty bone look, or Diamond No Wipe Top Coat for glossy. Cure and finish with cuticle oil.

TipGloss over black, matte on the bone nails, is a quick two-finish mix.