I don’t know why, but much like brooches and expensive shoes and scented candles, I collect nail polish like an crazy woman. So given I own enough pastel polishes to wear a different colour each day of the week, obviously the only thing for it was to embrace my crazy woman tendencies and put them all on at once.
This is the easiest manicure there is, and it earns bonus points in my book for making me feeling like a kid in art class (in a good way). Here’s how to do it:
1) Choose your pastel rainbow. Although all the colours should contrast, you want them to be of the same whiteness/brightness (mine are all milky, sugared almond tones) so that one doesn’t stand out more than the others. You can use anywhere from 3 to 10 colours (I used 5 with the same order repeated on each hand). 
2) Prep your nails. Buff, smooth and file nails so that they are all short and neat. Apply a base coat so the colours go on smoothly.
3) Paint in a graduated rainbow so the most similar colours are beside each other. Because pastels tend to be quite streaky and opaque, paint between 2 or 3 coats of each colour so that they look even and flawless. The key to pulling off girlish trends is to ensure everything looks perfect, so finish with a clear topcoat and clean up any edges with a polish correction pen. 
(L-R: Orly Lemonade, Essie Fiji, Nails Inc. Cambridge, Nails Inc. Oxford, Essie Mint Candy Apple)
Et voila! The perfect sugared almond nails. Best paired with bicycle rides, picnics and a big scoop of strawberry ice cream in the sunshine.
What is your favourite nail polish colour at the moment?
Love, Miss B xx
Very pretty. I love Chanel May at the moment but I think I’m going to wear Miami Peach or Orange Fizz next in anticipation of sunnier days to come (hopefully)!
I love it!! 😀
I wish I had this collection of nail polish – such cute colours 🙂
xo Joana
At the moment I love metallic colors very much !
Looks beautiful, I’m loving pastel shades at the moment, especially Chanel May & June x
Lovely colors. At the moment, I have a new found love for Chanel’s Orange Fizz.
Chanel’s Miami Peach! I love it so much, it’s on my fingers AND toes right now 😀
great idea 🙂 so cool.
xoxo
Paula
blush-paula
Ah the pastels! Too pretty to be true and so in time for this post-Easter season. Check out these top trends to combine such colours at my blog http://good-day-gorgeous.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/nail-her-down-gabrielle-boland.html
Now off for a manicure!
This manicure makes me so happy, will be trying it out immediately 😉
All my favorite colors for spring!
http://www.designers-artists.com
B honey, that is divine! I love the look of the graduating pastels! xxx
P.S. I was just thinking about you and our blog when your comment came through last night. How funny is that?
So pretty, your fingers look like a perfect box of macarons.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! Pastels are my favourite thing at the moment (ok… in general) and this mani is perfect! I’m going to pin the images when I get home so I remember to do it this weekend 🙂
Loving the mint green! I’m addicted to Chanel Orange Fizz right now but trying to find a really soft coral shade … any suggestions? 🙂
Vanessa x
Right, now I know what I’m doing tonight. Love it!
Love this, they look good enough to eat, I did the same with bright colours, call mine the “skittles manicure” xx
This looks great and is perfect for spring.
Lou
thekeypieces
I love these nailpolish! So pretty!
xoxo
secretsofmissdaisy
What pretty colors! Loving all of Essie’s new spring colors! The mixture of them on your hands looks great!
lindseyyoung
Just LOVE your nails they look good enough to eat. fab photos as always
It’s soooo super cute.
been meaning to try this..love it!
madebygirl
Loving all the candy colored nails. I’m looking for a soft cotton candy pink right now.
LOVE pastels. These nails are perfect for spring!
I looooove different colored nails. Also makes me feel very playful and “out there” heheheh.. and it probably is a bit of a departure from my usual pink nude, nude, pink, natural and blush I use (yes, I have about 7 nail polishes in an almost identical color :-))
I do the same thing but then I finish it up with a matte coat–it changes everything!
This is a bit of a silly question since it’s not even pictured on your post, but can you tell me what the name or model number of your Michael Kors rose gold watch is? I have been admiring it from afar for a while now and I am dying to get one for myself. The model number is usually something like MK####. Thank you!
I love the sugared almond description. That’s exactly what they remind me of. Or teeny tiny pastel easter eggs. I’m going against the trend for Chanel May and I’m loving Chanel April. Which is perfect for the transition between Winter and Spring I think. I’m tempted to give a pale yellow a whirl now though! x
I love the yellow!
hopethislasts
What a precious mani!!!! I love it!
xo,
Lindsey
caviartaste
I have been loving the the metallic foil shades from Barry M at the minute – the matte metal shades are so classic.
I do love this sugar almond manicure – I may just have to give it a go, even though I’m hopelessly crap at painting my nails.
Gems x
Fashion, Well Done
Hi! I love your blog, so I tagged you in the Beauty Tag! Check it out!
http://secretsofmissdaisy.blogspot.com/2012/04/beauty-tag.html
xoxo
So cut! And perfect for Easter.
My favorite nail polish at the moment is Pearl Drop by Chanel for its pearly gold color. I also discovered the RGB brand at my nail salon that has no harmful ingredients in it, and it turns out to have a very long-lasting quality too.
B your beauty tips are amazing – and like me I collect nail varnishes. I have just come across the neon shades at Nails Inc that I think I am going to need to try this rainbow manicure. Great tip on the nail corrector pen I think I need to invest, which brand do you use?
So fun! Going to try it! LOVE!
xo, sam
I love the lemon color! So fresh!!)
Thank you for sharing!
Great post! I’ve seen quite a few street styles where people wear different colored nail polishes on their nails and i gotta say, it’s soo chic=) Although, i’ve not seen this nail trend in pastel colors so this is a great inspiration!!!
You already got me hunting for pastel nail polishes that i can match together, lol….
Cinz
http://cinzee.wordpress.com