A snowflake is six strokes from a centre with three short marks near the end of each. That last part is what makes it a snowflake rather than an asterisk, and it is the part people skip.
A snowflake that fills the nail loses all its detail at arm length. One small flake off-centre reads better than one large one in the middle.
One small flake
Off-centre on the ring finger only.
Two flakes
Different sizes on one nail.
Scattered flakes
Small, at different angles, across all ten.
Flake on a French tip
One flake where the tip meets the base.
White on navy
The highest contrast combination.
White on deep red
Festive without being literal.
Silver on black
Metallic detail on a dark base.
White on sheer
The quietest version.
Gold on cream
Warm rather than icy.
Flake outline only
Drawn but not filled.
Chrome flake
Metallic powder brushed into the strokes.
Flake with a crystal centre
One small stone at the middle.
Negative space flake
The flake left bare, everything else painted.
Flake over glitter
White detail on a sparkle base.
Frosted background
Flakes over a soft white aura.
Flake and dots
One flake plus scattered snow.
Snow-tipped French
A blurred white tip with a flake on it.
Flake accent, two nails
The rest in one plain colour.
Blue flake on white
Pale blue detail.
Flake on matte
Gloss detail on a matte base.
Flake with foil
Torn silver leaf around the design.
Tiny flakes at the cuticle
A row along the base.
Flake ombre
Flakes fading out towards the cuticle.
Flake on a chrome base
White detail over mirror.
Snowflake and pine
A flake with a small sprig beside it.
Flake on toes
Big toes only.
One flake, one hand
A single nail across the whole set.
For the season, winter nails and christmas nails.
Questions people actually ask
How do you paint a snowflake on a nail?
Six strokes from a centre point, then three short marks near the end of each. The short marks are what stop it looking like an asterisk.
What colour snowflakes look best?
White on navy has the highest contrast. Silver on black is the most dramatic.
How big should a nail snowflake be?
Smaller than feels right. A flake that fills the nail loses all its detail at arm length.
