There is one ’70s beauty trend I’m game to try this spring when, apparently, we’ll all be dressing like Charlie’s Angles. That is the marbled fingernail. Goes well with platforms, roller skates, high-waisted flares and a retro baseball tee sans bra.

Marbled nails might look easy now that the likes of WAH are on the scene, but it’s not a project to be undertaken with little time or patience. The first time you do it, be prepared to spend a couple of hours — at least — toying around with process until you get it to work just right for you.

Factors that you’ll have to take into consideration — and tweak accordingly — when doing this:

***Nails done by: Hair by Megan B. https://www.facebook.com/HBMB123

Water type: hard or soft water? Figure it out. I found filtered water is best.

Nail polish types: Some brands of polish work better than others. Some won’t work together, some will. Trial and error with your set of polishes helps.

Nail polish colours: Keep color theory in mind and how pigmented your polishes are. Caramel on greige looks pretty smokin’ ’70s, but I don’t like pearlised pastels nor am I a fan of high-contrast colors.

What you have on your cuticles: You’ll spend more time cleaning up than varnishing if you don’t prep right. Oil works the best to make the polish on your cuticles and fingers wipe up easily.

Tools: You need to set up your kit before you start. You need:

Must-have
1. A small bowl or cup of tepid water and extra water (or nearby tap) to refill after each finger.
2. Orange sticks (Lots. Of. Them.)
3. Cottom balls/pads (Lots)
4. At least two nail varnish colours
5. Remover
6. Scotch tape
7. Newspaper

Nice-to-have
1. Concealer brush
2. Other colours
3. Remover pen

Steps:

1. Clean up nails and cuticles so you’ve a good base. Marbled nails don’t give any wiggle room to poorly groomed hands.
2. Clean nails with remover.
3. Put the tepid bowl of water atop newspaper on a surface close to refilling source and near a bin to discard orange sticks and cotton as you go.
4. Shake varnishes to mix and place atop newspaper, unscrewing caps.
5. Alternating varnishes, drip a large-ish drop of varnish on the water’s surface and let disperse. Repeat with next color for concentric circles.
6. After several rings of varnish are on the water’s surface, use tip of an orange stick and gently pull it across the surface of the concentric nail varnish circles, creating patterns. Play with timing and pressure so the varnish doesn't cling to the stick.
7. Put tape around the nail area on sides of the finger to protects the skin from varnish.
8. Then, finger nail flipped towards the varnish, immerse finger and hold it submerged without touching the bottom.
9. After removing finger from water, quickly pull away the tape from your finger that was  protecting your skin from the varnish.
10. Let it dry and then apply a top coat.
11. Repeat on each nail.

It’s not a quick process but the more often you do it, the quicker it gets. It’s more an occasional activity than an every day must-do beauty treatment.

But the 1970s were all about lavish excess, weren’t they? Consider this a 70s-style excess you can easily work into your post-millenium beauty routine.

And there’s not a stroke of blue eyeliner or feathered, frost hair in sight.