INCLUDED IN KIT:

NT-12 TORTOISE SHELL

The first step to creating a tortoiseshell pattern is applying a base coat color that can range from various shades of caramel-y to a bright, burnt orange and using a clear polish in between the color layers for that glassy blur. Mixing two colors to get just the right shade can be... tiring, to say the least.

But with this sheer glassy orange, you’ll be able to hit two birds with one stone! You can buy this color Tortoiseshell by itself as well, but I recommend getting the whole kit for maximum tortoise-ing.

E-148 BLACKEST BLACK

Finally, onto creating the tortoiseshell pattern.

For the final touch, use Blackest Black to amp things up.

This pitch-black color will give the brown hues more depth. Place the small black patches randomly over the entire pattern. Fill in any empty spaces with the black, too.

E-223 MIDNIGHT CHOCOLATE

Compared to Marrone Brown Glass, Midnight Chocolate is a deeper, more opaque shade. It definitely adds a little more oomph to your layering.

Apply it in random blobs as well.

Some would even call the blobs "haphazard", and there's really no need to be too careful with it. Don't overthink about where to position the blobs and their sizes. Once those blobs are placed, cure again!

Again, just remember to overlap the layers, not cover them. The main feature of tortoiseshell, after all, is that each color should be peeking through so that they’re not overshadowed or hidden beneath the other layers

E-240S MARRONE BROWN GLASS

The Marrone Brown Glass has a deep espresso or chocolate color with hints of orange. You will want to artfully splotch it over the cured orange base. Again, there’s no specific technique or pattern to it — just go with your gut and let your artistic side take over!

No pressure on perfection, either. The thing about tortoiseshell is that it’s all about layering rather than precision, so you can’t really mess up. Just be careful not to cover up any of the base orange.  Once you’re happy with it, cure it!

SMOOSH BRUSH

Treating those intricate blobs that define tortoiseshell wouldn’t be possible without the right brush.

Thankfully, the Tortoise Shell Gel Design Kit includes this smoosh brush!

Due to the nature of the products we sell, ALL SALES ARE FINAL.