Trial and Error: Half Moon Manicure (sticker method)

Although I'm not really one to follow trends, I love the half moon manicures that are pretty much everywhere.  I first learned about them a few years ago via Vintage Hairstyling by Lauren Rennells. (If you are a fan of  pre-1970s hairstyles but are stumped on the basics, I HIGHLY recommend this book)  This tutorial is a variation on Miss Rennells's technique, using French manicure stickers to shield the moons from nailpolish.

To try this out, you'll need:

• Rounded French manicure stickers
• Base coat
• Nail color
• Top coat
• Patience

Step 1: Place the stickers as the bases of your bare nails.

Step 2: Apply base coat- let dry

 Step 3: (sorry for the lack of pictures for this) Apply nail color.  It's ok if you get the color on the sticker, as long as it's not giant globs.  If you get a thick coat of polish on the sticker, try to clean it up because this could end up ruining your manicure when you pull the stickers off (the polish will come off on the sticker and then you'll have to start from scratch).

Step 4: Peel off stickers when nails are almost dry.  Allow to dry and then apply top coat.

The moons can be made rounder/more cleaned up with acetone (regular nail polish remover will smear your hard work) and a small brush or even a flat-headed Qtip.  Considering how un-rounded my moons came out, I didn't touch them with acetone since it would be a huge headache to make a half circle out of a half square.

I feel this method is best for those who have wider nail beds.  The curve of the French manicure stickers is so gradual that those of us with smaller nail beds will end up with semi-straight lines (see that last picture as evidence).  

Do you have any tips and tricks for this method of the half moon manicure, or any methods you've invented? Please share in the comments below!