How to make your own nail polish glitter top coats

Frankenpolish's are my new obsession. Especially the glittery top coat kind. They're so stupidly easy to make and they add a personalised touch to your manicure.

The hard part is sourcing the supplies. Online shopping is most definitely the easiest way forward but you can recycle old bottles and brushes if you really need too.

Nail Polish bottles (empty, with brush)
Clear nail varnish
Cosmetic or craft glitter, loose (available in craft shops or try Barry M etc)
Bottles of glittery topcoat
Mixing pots or bags
Paper
Ball Bearings 5mm
Spatula or Spoon
Cocktail Sticks

First of all set out a paper sheet to work on (and help collect fallen glitter) and choose your glitters. Mix about a third to half a nail polish bottles worth of your glitter concoction in a mixing bag or bowl. I found a bag easier. For me, this equated to about a teaspoon of finished glitter blend for my 6ml bottles.

Using a paper funnel, (created by making a paper cone and cutting off the bottom) feed your glitter into your dry, empty nail polish bottle.

Then slowly start pouring in your clear varnish until it fills the bottle, but not the neck. Stir the glitter into the polish with your cocktail stick and this should make the polish sink to the bottom and give you more room to top up. Fill the remaining space in the bottle until it reaches the neck once more, add two ball bearings to help distribute the glitter in future, put on the lid and give it a good shake.

Your polish should be ready to use immediately. Mix it up a bit more with your cocktail stick if your glitter is being stubborn and not blending well.

A good way to try out your polish before wearing it is on one of those nail wheels.

All that's left to do is make some names up for your new collection and show them off or give them as gifts. Here are some swatches from my own DIY nail polishes. I'm tempted to offer them up for sale so let me know if you're interested.