After several rainy days in Los Angeles, we were craving something bright and cheerful. While the rain is welcome, a sunny smile on your nails feels just as uplifting. Alex of Beautilitarian returns with a playful smiley face manicure that’s easy to recreate and guaranteed to bring a grin to anyone who sees it—especially fans of that classic 90s smiley.
This manicure is simple to do with a steady hand and basic supplies. Ready to try it?
DIY Smiley Face Mani
Total Time: One hour
Supplies
Base coat
Yellow nail polish (two coats recommended)
Black nail art pen or black polish with a fine nail art brush
Top coat
Directions
1. Apply a thin base coat to protect your nails.
2. Paint two thin coats of yellow polish, allowing each coat to dry fully.
3. Using a black nail art pen or a fine brush and black polish, draw two small dots for eyes slightly above the center of each nail.
4. Beneath the eyes, draw a gentle curved line for the smile. Add a short dash at each end of the curve to complete the classic smiley expression. Allow the design to dry thoroughly.
5. Finish with a clear top coat to seal the design and add shine. Let dry completely.
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Manicure by Beautilitarian
Those cheerful smiley balloons have been showing up in the studio a lot lately, and they make the space feel instantly festive. They were a highlight in a recent mini party we hosted and remain one of our favorite playful props.
P.S. There’s also a cute DIY for smiley face favor pouches if you want to keep the theme going.