4 Steps to Easy, DIY Nail Art

If you're sick of wearing plain ol' nail lacquer, try layering it on. It's the easiest way to create decorative nails, and a thrifty way to embrace the animal print trend — no art school diploma required.

Here's how to get the look:

1. Start with two thin layers of Summer Peach by American Apparel (opens in new tab). The colors are surprisingly rich and long-lasting.

2. Next, make thick, tiny dots with SpaRitual's Chocolate Oasis (opens in new tab) (We swear the brand's polishes can last for weeks!) so that when you apply the next layer, the spots will smear.

3. Follow with OPI Black Shatter polish (opens in new tab)(found in the March issue of MC!), creating a unique crackled effect on every single nail.

4. After your nails dry, slick on a layer of Some Enchanted Evening by Deborah Lippmann (opens in new tab) to make nails slightly girlier. Most importantly, top it all off with a thin layer of Rimmel London's Top Coat/Base Coat Pro (opens in new tab), which will give nails at least 10 days until the chipping becomes unsightly.