From runway inspirations to one-of-a-kind designs, our picks are sure to keep you up on your nail game while giving you the 411 on how to recreate many of the looks yourself. This week, EBONY.com caught up with nail artist Nhi Phung of Fashion Nail Salon in San Ramon, California for her golden striped mani.

The Trend: Add a touch of glimmer to your neutral manicure with this simple DIY nail art. What’s great about this nail design is, when done over a set of clear gel nails, you can switch up the colors as often as you like. Feel free to mix-and-match your favorite shades for a sophisticated look that’s all your own! Check out the details below.

EBONY: How did you create this with this design?

Nhi Phung: First, I gave a client a manicure and then applied and cured a sandy gel color. For the accent nails, I buffed the nail’s surface, then used a thin liner brush with black and brown acrylic paint to make the block sections. Lastly, I used my gold strips to accent the colors. I let everything dry and reapplied another layer gel top coat. [Editor’s Note: to recreate this look, head to your nearest Michaels craft store to purchase gold striping tape and acrylic paint. The creative possibilities are endless!]

EBONY: What trend would you like to see stick around?

NP: I like pointed shaped nails. To draw designs, I find that using acrylic paint works a lot better than nail polish.

—Minajah Scott