| Bionic How-To: Parisian Map Nails Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:27 PM PDT Do you remember those strange pamphlets of folded paper covered in tiny type and bright lines that were a necessity before any car trip? Maps! These analog accessories are now usually passed over for our GPS-laden smartphones, but some strange people (like me) hold a fondness for paper maps. And I’m saying this right now… Nail Polish + Map of Paris = Super Awesomeness! 
Want to know how you can create your own radical map manicure? It’s actually pretty easy-peasy (Especially since I did a gazillion tests and worked out most of the kinks. Bonus to you!) with these steps: - Paint your nails as usual. I used a base coat; 2 coats of a very light pastel blue nail polish (“Havana Dreams” by OPI for Sephora); and a cheapy top coat. A note about color: I recommend using any light color for your polish ~ white, off white, cream, and pastels all work wonderfully!
- Flip through your magazines or printed materials for a map, words, design, logo, or pattern you like! DIY if you have a laser printer at home, or have your map/other copied/printed at the local print shop ~ you basically need a laser or toner printed image. Inkjet won’t work. For the magazines ~ look for ones with pages that are *not* the super shiny. I used a Paris tourism ad page from the French version of Elle.
- Cut little 1 inch by 1 inch squares from your chosen map.
- Fill a shallow saucer a bit of rubbing alcohol. I used the 70% Isopropyl Alchohol from the drugstore. I tried the other concentrations and they didn’t work as well, but your mileage may vary. I also tried Vodka… and didn’t have much luck but you could drink it while doing your nails *wink*.
- Dip a square into your alcohol until it is fully damp. Just a few seconds should do it.
- Press the paper square, with the design side facing your nail, onto your finger nail.
- Mush the paper against your entire nail. Be sure to press it down into the edges too!
- Keep pressing for a good 30 seconds. Be careful not to move the paper! Otherwise your design will double print or you’ll get smudgies.
- Slowly peel away the paper from your nail.
- And there’s your design!
- Finish your other nails. Let the final nail dry for 5 minutes after you finish.
- Apply a nice thick top coat! I use Seche Vite.
If you mess up, just wipe the design off your nail with a alcohol soaked cotton ball. And then start with a new square of your map! It might take a bit of practice, but the comments I got were SO totally worth it! I hoping to do a set with QR Codes soon to show off my geeky side. Can you imagine? “Lookie! Scan my nails to visit Bionic Beauty!” Wishing you many long and happy car trips,
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