Tutorial: Mummy tape mani

Hi everyone, my second tutorial! This time it's another simple, easy-to-achieve look: the mummy pattern. The mummy tape pattern is basically just placing tape strips of any size underneath each other, preferably a bit diagonally. This creates a funky design which looks a lot like wrapping ribbons, hence 'mummy'. So the good thing about this look is that you don't have to be precise in cutting your strips or placing them, but also it's perfect if you want to keep that lovely shade that's grown out or has tipwear.

So start with the base color you like (if necessary with a basecoat underneath) and let it completely dry. This can be one that's yet to be applied or one you're already wearing.
On the picture I'm wearing OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui that I applied the day before I shot this picture, as you can see there's a tiny bit of tipwear.

Now take a little piece of tape and cut it in strips lengthwise. You can make very wide strips, or thin ones, parallel or divergent, just cut a bunch of each to create a playful design.
After you're done, place the strips one by one on the nail, each time using a different size or shape. You can leave space between two strips for a continuous stripe, or let them touch each other slightly at the side of your nail to create triangles.
To solve the outgrow or tipwear of your old mani, leave those parts uncovered like I do on the picture. Later they'll be revarnished, which will make them disappear. This trick will also work with VNL! Just leave your tips uncovered.

Then apply your top color and remove the tape strips as soon as possible, do these things at one nail at a time to prevent the top color from sticking to the tape, otherwise it could get peeled off when removing the strips.
And if you plan to cover up the worn-out spots of your old mani, I'd recommend to use an even more opaque top color, or the spots will still be visible.

Finally apply some topcoat, clean up, et voilà!

Finally some useful tips:

• For my tape manis, all I use is regular stationery tape. But you might prefer something else, so just experiment with different sorts of tape to figure out what works best for you.
• For your base color you can use any polish you like, however one-coaters will allow you to place the tape much sooner because those are usually fast drying. Of course you can also quicken the drying of polishes that require several coats to cover, by applying a fast drying topcoat. (I use Seche Vite). 
• Your layering color(s) can be either a one- or two-coater. Because you've already applied a base color, most polishes that usually take two coats to cover now will do with one.
• Though I mention cutting the tape strips as step 2, I admit it is safer to cut before applying the base color. However, if you've learned how to cut the tape without having it touch your polished nails, it can save you a lot of time.
• You might want to leave the cut strips somewhere else than the edge of your desk/table, to prevent them from getting stuck to the surface while you're busy. You do not want to have to peel them off with your freshly painted claws!
• Apply your top color in one thin (but opaque) coat, this will create crisper lines.
• When you're removing the tape strips, try to remove them individually, if you can, because most of the time your design will come out neater this way
• Using tweezers to remove the tape strips can prevent your freshly painted nails from getting smudged.
• It's not always necessary to start all over if you've messed up your design, often a little touch-up with a nailart brush can solve the problem.
• If you want to use a matte topcoat, use a regular one underneath. My experience with matte topcoats is that they smudge the design very easily, even when it's completely dry. Applying a normal topcoat first will prevent that.
• Moisterize your cuticles afterwards, because the tape can really dry out your skin!
• You can practice this tutorial on your old mani that you applied a day (or more) before. If you succeed, you've got yourself a fresh mani, otherwise you were going to remove it anyway!
• If you feel like this design is too time-consuming for a full mani, you can also use it for an accent nail (or two).
• Have fun and practice makes perfect ;)

I would absolutely love to see your attempt on my design, so feel free to leave a link to your creation in the comment section!

Polishes I used in this post are OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui and China Glaze Adore.