Start With The Basics

Olive and June’s Gel Mani System

Olive and June

The simplest way to get into nail art is to start with a gel nail polish kit that includes a UV light. Gel allows for so many different techniques and designs but it does require the light to set.

Olive and June’s Gel Mani System is a good option for a kit like this, and includes all the basics that you need, including a UV light, base and top coats, nail color, cuticle care and nail tools.

If you’d like to get a more polished look or extend your natural nails length, you’ll need a kit for builder tips. This Orly GelFX Builder Tip Starter Kit includes glue on tips and everything you need to put them on.

Both sets have instructions on how to use the products successfully.

If you plan to use tips, put them on before beginning any of the steps below. Nails (tips or natural) should always be prepped with a base coat right before being painted.

For detailed linework, the right brushes are a must. Having a thin liner like V Beauty’s Liner Brush L will make your work much easier.

For a Cat’s Eye effect, a magnet is also needed. Go with something like this Strong Magnetic Stick with Magnet Ball from Born Pretty.

Glow In The Dark with Weed Sparkles

One fun option is to use glow in the dark polish for your nails. Start with two thin layers of a solid colored glow in the dark gel polish like Citron LB Glow in the Dark from iGel (always setting with the light in between coats).

Then add a little sparkle with Function of Vex’s After Party Cateye Gel – Round 2 in Electric Moss. The polish glows in the dark, sparkles in flash and is magnetic for Cat’s Eye effects. Use a magnet at the base of the nail to activate a french tip pattern and set immediately.

Next add a thin layer top coat on the center of the nail, and carefully arrange some weed leaf nail sequins like iGel’s set of Nail Art Cannabis Leafs.

Set for a few seconds, and then use a piece of plastic wrap around the finger to press the sequins down flat while it sets the rest of the way.

Add a few more layers of topcoat, until the nail surface is smooth. Use a nail file to even out any bumps before adding the last layer of topcoat.

Jelly Layered Leaves

Jelly nail polish allows for some fun effects given its transparency.

This look is so easy using a jelly polish like those in V Beauty’s Noodle Yess Gel Set.

Start by adding a layer of the green jelly polish and set it.

Next, use a white liner like this White Gel Liner from V’s Beauty to add some white cannabis leaves.

An easy trick for this is to use the built in liner brush to dab dots down wherever you want the base of a leaf, and then use your liner brush to extend the sharp tip out.

After a few leaves, set and add another layer of jelly on top.

Next add some more leaves, and again, add a layer of jelly.

You can play with this to see how many layers you want to add on and leave it simple or make it more complex.

Finish with a jelly layer followed by a final layer of topcoat.

Ombre Clouds

Clouds are another classic symbol of cannabis culture. So if you don’t feel like painting leaves, try an ombre cloud instead!

Start with two coats of an opaque pale blue like Olive and June’s BP Gel.

Next set a thin layer of Function of Vex’s Ceramic Matte Topcoat. To create an ombre effect, spread some pink ombre powder like the Aura Melt Ombre Powder from Function of Vex on the tip of the nail and gently blend down. Use a purple between the pink and blue to add more depth to the blend. When you are happy with the ombre, set it with a layer of glossy topcoat.

For the clouds, use a pat kit like the Young Nails’ Bright Ombre Pat Gel Bundle. Start by using a white gel liner to trace where you want the bottom of the clouds.

Then use the patting tool to pat the clouds. Set and then use some of the pat pat kit colors to add pinks, blues and purples to the bottoms of the clouds, patting them out as you go.

When complete, set and cover it with a layer of topcoat.

Embedded Weed Nails

Another popular 4/20 nail art trend is embedding actual cannabis in your nail.

All you really need for this is a top coat and a few crumbs for weed from your last joint, but you can make it even cuter with some sparkly flakes like Luxapolish’s Medusa Flakes.

To achieve this look, cover your basecoat with a thin layer of top coat. Sprinkle your flakes near the tip of the nail, and make sure they are where you want them.

Set and add another layer of topcoat, this time sprinkle cannabis crumbs, but a bit lower than the flakes.

Set and add more topcoat, layering topcoat and filing any bumps until the nail is smooth and the cannabis and flakes are encased within.

Golden Canna Cat’s Eye

For a more ornate look, try blending a golden cat’s eye gel with subtle leaf details. Start with setting two coats of a vibrant green gel like Time to Reapply by Olive and June.

Then add their Golden Velvet Cat’s Eye Gel. Run the magnet along (but not touching) both sides of the fingernail to activate a velvet effect. Set immediately.

Next, use the liner brush and a metallic green art paint like V Beauty’s Chrome Gel Pod in Green, to paint a few small leaf tips peaking out on each side of the nail. Set and finish with topcoat.

Nail Art Without Using Gel

If you’re more comfortable using air-dry nail polish, you can still create beautiful nail art without using gel. Mooncat has a wide array of all-in-one nail art polishes that have magnetic features, change color with temperature, glow in the dark, or have other fun effects.

Mooncat’s two new UV reactive shades from their Spring 2026 Collection would both be an excellent choice for 420.

Launching today, the collection is based on nature’s most deadly flora and fauna, which is not a category cannabis could be placed in. Still, Manchineel Tree’s neon green to burnt orange solar color shift mirrors the green of fresh cannabis and the little orange hairs that speckle it’s buds. The purple tones of Death’s Trumpet bring to mind the purple color prized in some sedative varieties of cannabis. Both shades change color in response to sunlight and would be a fun accessory if you plan to be going in and out of doors all day for smoke breaks in the sunshine.