Multiple Style Nail Applique

Abstract

A nail appliqué and a method for decorating a natural fingernail or toenail. The nail appliqué generally has a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end, a distal decorative portion disposed adjacent the distal end and a proximal decorative portion disposed adjacent the proximal end. The nail appliqué has a length greater than the length of the fingernail or toenail to which the appliqué is to be attached. The distal end has a convex curvature substantially matching the curvature of the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail to which the appliqué is to be applied and the proximal end has a convex curvature substantially matching the curvature of the distal end such that either the distal end or the proximal end of the appliqué can be applied to the same fingernail or toenail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for ornamenting a fingernail or a toenail comprising the steps of:
 providing a nail appliqué having a distal end, a distal decorative portion disposed adjacent said distal end, a proximal end opposite said distal end and a proximal decorative portion disposed adjacent said proximal end, wherein both said distal end and said proximal end have a convex curvature substantially matching the curvature of the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail, and wherein said nail appliqué has a length defined between said distal end and said proximal end, said length being greater than the length of the fingernail or toenail;   aligning one of said distal end or said proximal end with the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail;   applying said nail appliqué to a top surface of said fingernail or toenail, wherein an excess portion of said nail appliqué extends outwardly beyond the end of the fingernail or toenail; and   removing said excess portion from said appliqué such that at least one of said distal decorative portion or said proximal decorative portion remains on the fingernail or toenail.   
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said nail appliqué further includes a central decorative portion disposed between said distal decorative portion and said proximal decorative portion, said central decorative portion visually contrasting with said distal decorative portion and said proximal decorative portion. 
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said distal decorative portion has a length defined between said distal end and said central decorative portion and said proximal decorative portion has a length defined between said proximal end and said central decorative portion, both said length of said distal decorative portion and said length of said proximal decorative portion being shorter than the length of the fingernail or toenail to which the appliqué is to be applied, such that said step of removing said excess portion results in at least a portion of said central portion, together with one of said distal decorative portion or said proximal decorative portion, remaining on the fingernail or toenail. 
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said length of said distal decorative portion is less than said length of said proximal decorative portion. 
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said distal decorative portion has a length defined between said distal end and said central decorative portion, and said proximal decorative portion has a length defined between said proximal end and said central decorative portion, said length of said distal decorative portion being greater than the length of the fingernail or toenail to which the appliqué is to be applied and said length of said proximal decorative portion being less than the length of the fingernail or toenail to which the appliqué is to be applied, such that said step of removing said excess portion results in at least a portion of said distal decorative portion covering the entire surface of the fingernail or toenail if said distal end is aligned with the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail, and such that said step of removing said excess portion results in at least a portion of said central portion, together with said proximal decorative portion, covering the entire surface of the fingernail or toenail if the proximal end is aligned with the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail. 
     
     
         6 . A method as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said distal decorative portion is separated from said central decorative portion by a distal dividing line and said proximal decorative portion is separated from said central decorative portion by a proximal dividing line, said distal dividing line having a curvature corresponding to said curvature of said proximal end, whereby said distal decorative portion is defined by opposite convex sides, and said proximal dividing line having a curvature corresponding to said curvature of said distal end, whereby said proximal decorative portion is defined by opposite concave sides. 
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said distal decorative portion is separated from said central decorative portion by a distal dividing line and said proximal decorative portion is separated from said central decorative portion by a proximal dividing line, said distal dividing line having a curvature corresponding to said curvature of said proximal end, whereby said distal decorative portion is defined by opposite convex sides, and said proximal dividing line having a curvature corresponding to said curvature of said distal end, whereby said proximal decorative portion is defined by opposite concave sides. 
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said distal end of said appliqué is aligned with the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail, such that said step of removing said excess portion results in at least a portion of said distal decorative portion covering the entire surface of the fingernail or toenail, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 applying the removed excess portion over at least a portion of said distal decorative portion covering the entire surface of the fingernail such that an excess portion of the excess portion extends outwardly beyond the end of the fingernail or toenail; and 
 removing the excess portion of the excess portion such that at least a portion of said central decorative portion is applied over at least a portion of said previously applied distal decorative portion. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said distal decorative portion visually contrasts with said proximal decorative portion. 
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said distal decorative portion has a length defined between said distal end and said proximal decorative portion and said proximal decorative portion has a length defined between said proximal end and said distal decorative portion, said length of said distal decorative portion being greater than the length of the fingernail or toenail to which the appliqué is to be applied and said length of said proximal decorative portion being less than the length of the fingernail or toenail to which the appliqué is to be applied, such that said step of removing said excess portion results in at least a portion of said distal decorative portion covering the entire surface of the fingernail or toenail if said distal end is aligned with the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail, and such that said step of removing said excess portion results in at least a portion of said distal decorative portion, together with said proximal decorative portion, covering the entire surface of the fingernail or toenail if said proximal end is aligned with the cuticle end of the fingernail or toenail. 
     
     
         11 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said distal decorative portion is separated from said proximal decorative portion by a dividing line, said dividing line having a curvature corresponding to said curvature of said distal end, whereby said proximal decorative portion is defined by opposite convex sides.