David Lynch Inspired Nails

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Last month I finally watched ERASERHEAD for the first time, and was inspired to do my nails based on some of David Lynch's most iconic imagery.

Thinking of David Lynch, immediately red, black, and white come to mind - all of his work has a very distinct aesthetic to it (something I absolutely love), from the rich blues and reds in BLUE VELVET to the stark and crisp black and white Eraserhead was filmed in.

For the TWIN PEAKS inspired design on my index finger, I turned to "The Red Room" for inspiration - I painted the nail white, cut tape into thin strips, arranged them in a zig zag pattern, and painted over the tape with black polish.

On the middle finger, I painted the nail a blue color that resembled sky, cut more thin strips of tape, arranged them like so, and painted white over the nail. After this new coat had dried, I used a toothpick to carefully drop three small dots to suggest roses. My inspiration for this was the infamous opening scene of Blue Velvet.

I painted my ring finger white, cut tape into rectangles, arranged them into a checkerboard pattern, and painted over the nail with black polish to suggest the floor design in the dream(?) sequence in Eraserhead.

And finally, I painted my pinky and thumb nails a simple red to evoke all the blood that is spilt in his work! For a rough example of how I assembled the tape to achieve this design, click here!

If you want to do this yourself and have any questions, feel free to comment, email, or tweet me them to me!

What color are your nails right now?

♥, Kailey

47 comments:

  1. This is such a cool idea! And I love the way it matches your magnificent shoes:)

    How was the film? I might check it out too, though later on as I postpone all mindfuck films till after winter haha;)

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  2. Really cool idea ! they look so unique :)

    www.heelsandhair.blogspot.com

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  3. I like it! You are vey creative.

    Mine ae dark red shellac. Unfortunately, shellac only has 26 (?) colours to choose from so i wander from red to red... sometimes veer off to pink.

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  4. Oh my gosh! This is so, so amazing. Will definitely have to give it a go sometime.

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  5. Thank you this is pure wonder!
    I have to try sometimes, I really can't live without nailpolish on my nails, I have a weird feeling about it as if I'm half naked!
    I'm very lucky to have a friend who runs a shop and my favorites are from chanel: dragon red and nouvelle vague baby blue, but now I'm wearing the 'iconic' rouge noir, they last longer than any other product!

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  6. Wow these are so cool - must watch the movies and then paint my nails. I must! SO pretty)

    >'.'<

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  7. WOW! This is absolutely inspired! I'm always looking for unique things to do with my nails and I've been meaning to do a Twin Peaks inspired nail with a little cut out of a letter on one of my nails in homage to the corpse of laura palmer but this is a whole other level. I might just go watch Blue Velvet now!
    Emma x

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  8. Fantastic post. I love the photos and the nails. I wouldn't have the patiece or skill to pull this off sadly. My nails are ruby slipper glitter red at the moment. About as creative as I get! I must get around to finally watching Eraserhead
    Lucy x

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  9. Hey this is SO cool! :D I love David Lynch, I must make time to rewatch Twin Peaks :). My nails are currently red with glitters, it's a polish by Orly!

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  10. This is pure GENIUS.
    I absolutely love love love this!! Looking forward to trying it out :)

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  11. I've never seen that movie but I'm on it NOW!
    cool nails!!

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  12. Well now that I've successfully picked up my jaw from my desk, I will be trying this very soon!! This is AMAZING.

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  13. Ahhh! First of all, I love everything about this. It looks completely perfect. Secondly, thank you for proving my theory that you can get a chevron pattern with tape! I've only done vertical stripes with tape but I'd been dying to do chevron nails and now I'm thinking I possibly can! I'm so excited to try.

    My nails are plain right now, I had nude with black tips but I felt like I'd done it a bit sloppy so I took it off after a few days. I've been meaning to paint them again but I haven't had the time!

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  14. wicked cool idea. I still have not watched Eraserhead. I need to put that film in que!

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  15. david lynch is a god. i love the twin peaks' black lodge nails!

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  16. o..m..g... this is insane. I don't have the patience myself. This looks great! I LOVED Eraserhead. I must be a psycho for crying during the scenes where they showed the monster baby. I really did feel for it.

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    Replies
    1. I still have to get Aubrey's shoes. I kept saying she had on the same shoes most of the time in the show, and nobody else from my circle really noticed it. Hmmm.

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  17. I have not seen the film, but must! Those nails are freakin' awesome! I paint my nails every three days or so. Last night I painted them a pastel purple, but looking at them today in class I decided to add polka dots to them as soon as I got home. :) I love DIY nail art. I wish I could do mine like yours, but I seriously don't think I have a steady enough hand to do even the chevrons.

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  18. Thank-you for the comment my lovely,
    I neeeed to see Twin Peaks! Also! My parents had some scallops and kept the shells, it reminded me of you immediately and the dress below!

    <3

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  19. woah, just browsed hellocotton and the first thing I saw from you was David Lynch nails.... amazing!

    http://helloterrilowe.blogspot.com

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  20. kailey this has totally inspired me to be more creative with my nails!! wonderful ^_^

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  21. i really like david lynch movies so i had to love your nails, what an amazing design darling! they are really cool! and i love your shoes too!
    kiss,mary

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  22. WOW this is fabulous! I love David Lynch, his films are like a friggin rollercoaster.

    Drea xo

    dreasjunkyard.blogspot.com

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  23. You nails look FABULOUS. I really like them, but I'm 100% sure I won't try them 'cause I'm just too lazy :D my nails right now are green, with no drawings :)

    Life is a romantic poem

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  24. toatally love your nails.. and shoes :) and plus.. I love David Lych too..

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  25. These are incredible! They look great.
    I watched Eraserhead a few years ago during an art history class, and it kinda creeped me out...

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  26. These are incredible! The best nails I have seen in a long time xx

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  27. You and your nail idea are too cute! Twin Peaks is the best! :) One New years, many moons ago, my fella and I spent a new year's eve snuggled up infront of a log wood fire, watching every single Lynch movie and it was the best new year's I have ever had! :) Have a lovely weekend! x

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  28. Aaaah, these are so lovely! Gorgeous shoes also!

    Catherine, XO.

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  29. I love the thought that went into each nail! Awesome!

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  30. i loved eraserhead, it was so full of weird goodness! your nails look amazing :)

    The Gaslight Jungle

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  31. I love David Lynch and his movies, great inspiration for your nails ! x

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  32. Eraserhead is such an ingenious movie. David Lynch is incredible! I love your idea, it's darling.

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  33. Love your nails, super pretty. (:

    Check out my blog & follow? (:
    onceuponasprinkle.blogspot.com

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  34. Wow, you're so creative! I'm not sure I have the patience to do something like that with my nails. I hate waiting for them to dry, but mine are always painted. Currently they're a bright red color. :)

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  35. Those nails are fabulous, I adore the checked style <3
    http://cupcakesandtreacle.blogspot.com/

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  36. what a nice idea :) your nails look great :)

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  37. It must've taken a lot of work and patience to get your nails to look so fabulous!

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  38. Oh, I've missed your blog! I watched Eraserhead for the first time last month; can't say it's my favourite of his films but the cinematography certainly is brilliant -- gorgeous nails. X

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  39. Holey mackerel! These are so great!

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