** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

So a couple of days ago, I did a nail design for the Canadian flag. My patriotic love doesn’t end at Canada. I was born in Hong Kong where I studied until grade 2 before my family moved to Canada to avoid 1997. We didn’t know what would happen when Hong Kong was returned to China, so we upped and crossed the ocean with everything we owned. I think moving to another country is the change that has affected me the most in my life. It was hard because the cultures and practices are so different. But since I was young, I was able to adapt more easily than the rest of my family.

I miss Hong Kong, but the one thing I don’t miss is the heat there. I’m sorry to all the summer lovers out there – but I can’t stand the heat (so I got out of the kitchen). The sweat, the stickiness, the stench, the sun in your eyes, the dehydration, the feeling tired, the… you get the idea. It doesn’t help that my car’s A/C died and is spewing hot air. BTW, does anyone else ever wish that you could change your car’s color like you change your nail polish? So many times I’ve wondered what my car would look like with a certain polish on.

WOW. I digress. Sorry! Here is my design for Hong Kong Flag nails. It also looks like a cool floral design, doesn’t it? I really like it (not to pat myself on the back or anything :))!

Hong Kong Flag Nail Art Swatches & Pictures

How to Create Canadian Flag Nail Art Tutorial

Step 1: Get your supplies ready!

Here’s what I used/you need:

• White: L’Oreal French Tip White (I got this because it’s thicker in consistency, which I like for nail art.)
• Red: elf Medium Red
• Base & top coats of your choice
• Nail art brush

Step 2: Paint your nails with the base coat, then your red.

Hm. This is the 3rd time in a row that I’ve used elf Medium Red. For the American and Canadian flags, it’s the perfect color even though it’s super sheer. I shouldn’t have used this for the HK flag because 1.) the red is too deep and 2.) the sheer is OK when it’s just a highlight, but as the base color, it’s no good since you need 3 layers.

Step 3: Paint a leaf-shaped petal using your white.

The Bauhinia blakeana flower in the middle has 5 leaf shapes, so make sure to leave enough room. Also, the petals spin in the same direction, like a windmill.

If you’re not used to using a brush for small details that are more than just  a circle, try just using the very tip of the brush to draw the shape of the tiny leaf. Or if you have a little more experience, you can put a little pressure and press down on the brush during the ‘fat’ part of the petal for curvature.

Step 4: Do 25 times for each hand! 😛

What I do is put a little dot of polish on parchment paper so that I don’t have to dip my brush into the polish bottle. I suggest your dot to be very small, because if you take out too much polish, it’ll dry before you’re done using it. A little polish on your brush goes a long way since the petals are small! Another suggestion is to clean your brush or use another one frequently – it doesn’t have to be spic-and-span clean, but just so that the dried polish doesn’t clump the bristles. I clean my brush after every nail.

 

Step 5: Go back & fix your petals.

If you see any leaves that are out of shape or have a squiggly outline, go back and fix after you’ve done all your nails. This would allow your white to dry a bit, so that it’s easier to retouch.

Step 6: Apply a top coat to add shine & protection.

Self explanatory! Hahah 😛

Tips on Creating Hong Kong Flag Nail Art

 

• Make sure to eyeball enough room for 5 petals on each nail.
• The leaves look a little like a windmill, turning in one direction.
• Clean your brush frequently so dry polish doesn’t clump the bristles.
• Use the tip to create the tiny leaves if you’re not used to using a nail-art brush.
• It’s easier to retouch any petals after the white has aired a bit.
• Wait until everything is dry before applying a TC.

This Hong Kong flag nail art design is actually quite easy to do. It took me about half an hour only. It’s just the repeated task of painting the leaves that makes it seem hard. And if people can’t guess this is a flag, then it still looks like a flower! 🙂

Do you think this looks like the flag? Is the red too dark? What flag do you think I should attempt next? 🙂

Related Country Flag Nails:

• American Flag Nail Art
• Canadian Flag Nail Art