Mad and Crazy Plaid

I am so excited to show you this nail art! It's a bright and colorful plaid that's perfect for warm weather. The best part is that it looks complicated, but is super easy to do!

Here are the polishes I used: I started with a base of OPI Alpine Snow. It usually takes about one and a half coats, but you'll be covering most of it up anyway. Then I used a new Kiss Nail Artist pack I got waaaay back in winter but have never used. It has blue, purple, and pink. Then I finished it off with some Seche Vite.

So here's how you make the pattern (which I do completely on one hand and then do the other). Paint on you base color and allow it to completely dry. Then choose your first color, which will be under all of the others. I chose the purple because it was the lightest. Then take the brush and paint two vertical lines with plenty of space in between. I also made slightly off-center and then close to the side. Do this on all of your nails on one hand.

Wait a little bit for the color to dry (it won't take long), and paint two horizontal lines with the same color. Basically, you make a tic-tac-toe box. Once it is completely dry, you do the same thing with your next color (I chose blue).

This last part was where I deviated. For the final color, which is usually the most eye-catching (the hot pink in this case), I normally do a big cross, with the vertical line near the side of the nail and the horizontal across the middle. But this pink was too good to waste! I added another vertical line and got an amazingly busy nail art.

If you want to do this mani yourself, I highly recommend the Kiss Nail Artist sets, or something like them. If you don't want to buy those or don't have a striping brush (a really super thin brush), then I suggest using a dotting tool. Remember, you can make your own with sewing and bobby pins!

Manicure Blues (Or Should I Say Purples?)

This manicure is one that turned out much different than I expected. I had a lot of plans for it when I started, but my polishes had a mind of their own.

I originally wanted to do a reverse glitter gradient on my middle and ring fingers. But as you can see, that didn't happen. The glitter was harder to manage than I expected because the clear base is so thick. I had a lot of trouble moving the pieces around. They somehow formed into a point / diamond shape that I really liked.

 

I thought about doing the ring finger with this same design, but decided against it. I wasn't sure I would be able to replicate the shape, and it looked really awesome on the one finger.

My base color is Essie Play Date. I had been wanting another purple for a while, and this one caught my eye. I used A Cut Above from the Essie Luxe Effects top coat collection as a accent on my middle finger. It has metallic pink hex glitter, as well as some small dots of the same color. Finally, I finished with a top coat of SV.

After a few days, I really wasn't happy with this mani. I didn't like how the purple looked (it was much darker than I expected) and it just seemed wrong. At one point I looked at the color and thought, "It's not Easter. I can't wear this now." I took it off after only three days despite minimal chipping.

I decided that A Cut Above is great if you want to cover your whole nail, but if you want to manipulate it you're out of luck. As for Play Date, I think we need some space. Looking back, I think I was just in a bad mood. I felt extremely stressed while I was wearing and may have taken it out on nail polish. Healthy, right?

Striped Chic

Last week I received a very special academic award. It's called the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award, and it's a pretty big deal. You have to have at least a 3.85 to even be considered, then faculty recommendations and personal qualities determine whether you get the award. This year, only seventy-five students (my university has just under 15,000 undergraduates) were honored.

Anyway, I was one of those students and I thought that deserved some special nails. I decided to go with a look I've been wanting to do for a while: stripes.

To create this mani all you need is scotch tape. First you paint your base color, which should be the lightest. I used OPI Tutti Fruti Tonga. Let it dry, add a top coat, apply the tape, and paint on another color. My second color was Essie Master Plan, a gray I absolutely adore (thumbs up if you heard that in an Olsen twin's voice).

I am very excited to tell you about the top coat I used. It's called Seche Vite and I've been trying to get my hands on it for months. You know that I've been searching for a good top coat and this is the one that a lot of nail bloggers flock to, and I can see why. I bought two tiny bottles because they were only $2 and the big bottle was $10.

I really like how this mani turned out. It feels young, but sophisticated. I also can't help but think of elephants when I see the pink and gray. I just love elephants (along with cats, of course).

The striping wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. You just have to make sure that you're precise with your tape. Cutting out all of your tape strips ahead of time helps, too. If you want to try this technique, try this tutorial that I used.

Metallic Dots

I did my very first manicure using a dotting tool, and I have to say, I'm pretty happy. I am also proud that I came up with this idea on my own, instead of looking at other manis for inspiration.

The base color is OPI's I Have a Herring Problem, from their Holland collection. Let me tell you, it is so gorgeous! It's a lovely blue-gray with little, itty-bitty shimmers in it. For the dots I used Sally Hansen's Time to Shine, a bronzey-gold, which I also adore.

To make the dots I actually used a sewing pin! I mean, why buy a professional dotting tool when you have things around your house that do the same thing? I just rubbed the rounded end of the pin on the brush, tapped the excess polish onto a piece of paper, and then pressed the polished pin to my nail.

For the design I did four dots in a vertical line on each nail, with five dots on the thumbs. Since I'm new at dotting, they're not all equal, but I still like it. They ended up reminding of jeans because the blue looked like denim with brass buttons. Talk about a fashion mani!

Manicure Challenge: Reverse Manicure

I did this a while ago, but I never posted it even though I absolutely love this look. Better late than never!

A lot of people like to use black for their half-moon reverse manicure, which is similar to how the trend started in the 1930s. I decided to use a silver glitter because hey, who doesn’t love glitter? The base is Essie Smokin’Hot. While Essie’s website says the color is a “stone-cold fox gray” I’m pretty sure it’s purple. 

To create the half-moons, I used the thin Kiss Nail Artist brush to draw the half circle and then filled it in. I've seen people use paper reinforcers (you know, those stickers that you place on three-hole punched paper) to make the half moons, but that seemed more difficult for me. Besides, isn’t it more fun to say you did it all by yourself? 

I love this look because the dark color, reminiscent of a jewel tone with sparkles is perfect for winter. Have you done the reverse manicure? What are your favorite color combinations?

Spring Nail Trends

I was perusing through Seventeen.com and found this article on this year's Spring nail trends. Of course, I had to check it out. Here are just a few:

Blinged-out. Gluing rhinestones to your nails is going to be a big trend in a few months.

Individual ombre. Instead of having each nail a different shade of the same color, the gradient will all happen on one. 

Nude. Having polish that is almost the same color as your skin tone is becoming quite popular after appearing on a ton of runways.

Python/Lace/Fishnet. Basically, having that kind of criss-cross pattern on your nails.

Will you try any of these?

Image Source Image Source Image Source Image Source

Sparkle Rays Challenge (Finally!)

Two weeks ago I presented my next manicure challenge, the sparkle rays. Then my nails broke down to stubs and I had to cancel. They grew back to a sad, but acceptable length and I was finally ready to do this manicure.

For my base color, I used two coats of Essie's Dive Bar. This is an interesting polish to say the least. Essie describes it as "a mysterious blackest blue with shimmer," but in the bottle you can pick up greens and purples so that it almost looks like a holo. It's kind of like a mermaid got caught in an oil spill.

However, I found that once I put it on all I saw was black. Now that it's dry I can see some of the blue-green when it's reflected in the light, but not much. I'll have to try it on it's own again later.

 For the designs, I took my Kiss Nail Artist in the silver glitter and painted easy lines. I started in the middle of the base and pulled out each of the various directions. I did each nail in sections.

To finish, I put on two coats of Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails Strengthening Top Coat. Overall, I like this nail art. It's a great way to liven up your winter nails without going bright. The design was also very simple and easy, but the effect is awesome.

Image Source

The Trouble with Nail Stampers

I used to be under the illusion that nail stampers were only for beauty gurus who had a very comfortable bank account. A recent stop to Amazon.com (yes, that's all it took) convinced me otherwise. As it turns out, you can get stampers for less than five dollars, and 25 plates for fifteen or twenty.

So guess what? I'm hoping on the nail stamping train.

The more I look at the manicures these tools produce, the more I fall in love with them. I have at leave five ideas swimming around in my head right now, and I'm drooling over the possibilities. The price is right, I want them, and I'm excited about them, so why haven't I already placed my orders? I have no idea what to get.

The brand Konad keeps coming up as one of the best, but also one of the most expensive. Then there are ones with reviews saying that they work as well as Konad without the high price, only the price isn't that far off from that of an Amazon Konad.

And then there's the conflict of getting a kit (which has a stamper, scraper, plate holder, and plates) or buying everything separately. Can you mix brands? I imagine everything works universally, but is it worth it to save a few bucks?

Do you have a nail stamper? What buying method worked best for you?

Image Source

Change of Plans

I have some sad news, you guys. My fingernails all broke to the point of hopelessness, so I cannot do this week's manicure challenge. It's not just that they're short, it's that I basically have no free edges. I'm going to let them grow out and get stronger, and then do the sparkle rays next week.

To make up for it, I painted my toes and did a fun little design. I used Jade in the Shade from Nicole by OPI for my base color. It's a beautiful color that reflects the light wonderfully. The design is Kiss Nail Artist black (of course).

I applied two coats of Jade in the Shade. The second coat had to be a bit more generous due to the odd fact that my toe nails aren't exactly flat/smooth. The color photographed a little darker than it looks in person, but you still get the idea of what it looks like.

For the design, I chose this simple star shape. I didn't want it to look perfect, so I painted it with little flicks of the brush instead of smooth, careful lines.

Let's hope that my nails recover so I can do the manicure challenge. Please feel free to comment with any suggestions for building longer and stronger nails!

Reader Manicure Challenge

We have another reader response to a manicure challenge! Check out Katie's glitter gradient!

She used Rimmel London French Manicure Pro in French Rose for her base and Essie's A Cut Above for her glitter. I recently purchased A Cut Above myself, and this makes me very excited to use it. You can check out Katie on her blog The Polish Project.

Image Source

Manicure Challenge: Sparkle Rays

I've been searching high and low for a nail art to do this week, and I finally found it. Allow me to introduce you to this week's challenge: sparkle rays!

I know they don't look too difficult right now, but I plan on doing more than just the ring finger. I'm also going to use my Kiss Nail Artist brush to make the rays. I'm hoping that I can achieve a similar level of awesome-ness and precision doing it freehand as Chloe of Chloe's Nails did with this mani.

Image Source

Simple Mickey Mouse Nails

As you may have noticed, there was no manicure challenge post this week. Instead of attempting someone else's nail art, I decided to do my own, themed with my trip. I knew there was no way I could paint characters on my nails like some people. That's how I wound up with my own, simple, but cute, design. I present my Mickey Mouse Nails!

I started out with two coats of Essie Lilacism on all of my nails but one. It's a super light and creamy purple, very innocent. I usually like to retire this one for winter, but because Florida is warm, I decided to break it out.

On my ring fingers, I did two coats of a polish I picked up at Delia's a while back. It doesn't have a name, but in the bottle it looks like a light periwinkle. But on, it's a deeper purple.

Now onto the nail art. I took my white Kiss Nail Artist (can you tell I LOVE this stuff?) and tried to paint a circle in the middle of my nail, down towards the free edge, and fill it in. It was hard! As it turns out, these brushes are much better at painting lines. For the ears and other nail, I did paint dots/drops and expanded them.

I then finished off with a top coat of Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails Nylon + Retinol Strengthener. I don't really have pictures because I didn't have time to do a clean up. I only have a single digit number of hours before I leave.

Here's hoping I can show my nails off to someone in the park!

Curtain Nails Challenge

My manicure challenge this week was curtain nails. The result was a cute and graphic mani that I cannot stop looking at.

The picture I reference used a seafoam/mint green, I had considered using a similar color combo, until I picked up Essie's Bachelorette Bash. It's a bright fuchsia, hot pink. The color isn't quite matte, but it doesn't shimmer. I suppose that makes it a standard shine. For the design, I used Kiss Nail Artist in black.

I painted on two coats of Bachelorette Bash and let them completely dry. Then, I took the the black and drew a line from the side of my nail, starting the free edge and curving up like the top of a heart to the middle of the nail. I filled it in, and then did the same on the other side.

I finished with two top coats. The first was Nail Tek Quicken and the second was Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti Chip Top Coat. I have to say though, I'm not liking either one. Nail Tek is good for building strong nails, but it's lacking here. If anyone can recommend a good top coat that doesn't make the color run, please let me know.

I really have fallen in love with this nail art. It was fairly easy (though using my left hand presenting difficulties as always), and it just looks so sharp. The design almost has a mod feel.

Manicure Challenge: Curtain Nails

I saw this nail art for the very first time on Chalkboard Nails, who saw it on Nail Stories. I instantly fell in love and now I'm dying for it to be on my own fingers. So curtain nails will be my next manicure challenge.

I absolutely love the color combination. I will be using Kiss Nail Artist in black for the curtains, but I'm still contemplating the base color. Since this is the middle of January, I'm not sure that I mint green would be the best choice. I have until Thursday (or Friday) to make up my mind.

What color would you use for the base?

Image Source

Glitter Gradient Challenge: Success!

 Earlier this week I told you that I would be attempting a glitter gradient manicure. Last night I busted out my polishes, and not only was it was a success, I'm in love!

For my base color I used Royal Flush Blush by OPI. It's a glossy color that goes between pink and peach, depending on the lighting. For the glitter, I used Extra-Va-Vaganza. I was worried that the two wouldn't go together, because in the bottle, the glitter looks like a red-brown with some gold.

 But oh was I wrong. Extra-Va-Vaganza actually has gold, red, and green flecks with a bit of light blue and purple throw in. Surprisingly, I love the green. It looks (ironically) fabulous against the pink.

I applied two coats of Royal Flush Blush and let them completely dry. Then, I made sure that the Extra-Va-Vaganza brush had very little glitter on it. Instead of going from the middle of the nail up towards the tip, I went the opposite way and started at the tip. This ensured that the most glitter was at the end of my nail. Then I just kept adding more glitter and working my way back.

This glitter polish was wonderful for this type of manicure, but if you wanted to use it for your whole nail, you'd have to apply a base color first. It's basically just glitter in clear polish.

To finish, I added two different top coats. It's a bit unorthodox, but lately my OPI Start to Finish Base & Top Coat has been making my colors run, so I applied Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails first.

This is now my favorite nail art.