Teal & Blue Colour Block French Manicure

Good morning loves & happy Thursday. It’s almost the weekend!

I hope everyone’s week is not too crazy. I’ve just been wistfully sitting here, wishing for Spring. Every time I look at the dresses in my closet, I can’t help but wonder… how much longer? So I decided another bright & colourful manicure was in order. But… I’ll be honest. I’ve been very wrapped up in all the Vanderpump Rules drama going on, so I also needed something not too involved.

So naturally I decided a bright & colourful colour block French design would be perfect. Quick, easy, & gorgeous!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel X FRIENDS The One With The Teal (PR/gifted)
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Beatnik

Okay, so I did this look completely 100% freehand, & even I can’t believe how clean & straight I managed these lines. Also, I really like the kind of asymmetrical look of this design, as opposed to my usual (similar) colour block looks. But the colours — the colours are definitely my favourite part. This pop of colour is exactly what I needed, & I didn’t even realize it. I’m obsessed.

It’s just a really fun, easy look with an endless possibility of colour combinations. I’m so happy with how they turned out.

What do you think about this colour block French manicure look? Do you think this is a great design & pop of colour for Spring? I’d love to know what colour combination you would choose for this look, so let me know down in the comments below!

Have a lovely Thursday! ♥︎

Blue Groovy Flowers

Hello loves & happy Thursday! & happy March 2nd. February is now behind us, & this year is already speeding by. How is it possible we’re 3 months into 2023 already?

But you know what it does mean? That we’re only 18 days away from Spring! I’ll enjoy that fact while I munch on my storm chips & prepare for another 20-25cm of snow to fall here in Halifax. I’ve also decided to distract myself from the impending snowstorm with some floral on my nails. If there is one thing that can distract me from the fact that Winter has really just started here, it’s a cute simple floral nail art design.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
  • Essie All the Wave
  • Essie Cocktail Bling
  • Essie Sweet Souffle
  • Essie Set in Stones
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush
  • Dotting tool (NailStuff.ca — Dotting Tool Trio)

I’m a little rusty on my flower painting, as you can see, but I still think these turned out cute. I went much more simple for this look, aiming — kind of — for like a 70s wallpaper design. Not my most favourite floral ever, but still a fun look to wear. I have no doubt there is going to be a lot of floral on my nails in the near future, so I hope you’re ready.

All floral, all the time.

Well maybe not all the time.

What do you think about this simple easy groovy floral look? Is this a good nail art design to usher in the new month, & hopefully Spring? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & let me know what Spring nail art trends you’re loving right now.

SWATCH SUNDAY — China Glaze Dorothy Who?

Hello beauties & happy Sunday! I hope everyone’s week was lovely, & not too cold. Our weather has been very up & down — one day it’s sunny & feels like Spring, the next day we get freezing rain snowstorms. Winter is so much fun.

But I’m actually really excited for today’s post, because I’m sharing a polish that has been in my stash for long, long time, but in all honesty I don’t think I’ve ever actually worn it: China Glaze Dorothy Who?

2 coats + Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat

This beautiful jelly blue is packed full of blue & silver micro glitters. Because of the jelly base, I was worried about how many coats I would need for opacity, but two was the perfect amount. The glitters are definitely densely packed, which helps with creating opacity easily. I applied top coat though, because I did find that it had a rough finish from the glitter, & I just really wanted more of a smoother finish.

Look how beautiful. Based on the name, I’m guessing this is like the sister shade to China Glaze Ruby Slippers & they were both released as part of the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection circa 2009 but then became part of the China Glaze Core collection. I’ve worn Ruby Slippers a lot over the years — in fact my bottle is getting pretty empty — & I can’t believe I let this beauty slip by for so long!

There are a few places I’ve found online (through Google) you can purchase this beauty:

As well as a whole bunch of others that pop up when you type “China Glaze Dorothy Who?” into Google. I would imagine China Glaze’s website would be the best option as it’s the most legit, but I’m not sure where their shipping reaches.

What do you think about this beauty of a polish? Do you love this beautiful sapphire sparkle? Let me know down in the comments below, & if you own this shade in your stash. Also let m know if you enjoy seeing this older released polishes! I definitely have a ton from over the years, & I’m realizing how many I’ve never swatched, so I’m having fun documenting them.

Have a lovely Sunday!

Nail Art Warriors for Maria (@so_nailicious)

Hello lovelies.

Today’s post is a special one for a very special member of the nail art community. Maria, aka @so_nailicious, has been a huge inspiration in the nail art world for a long time, & a personal nail art inspiration to me since I really started painting my nails. Over the last year, she has been facing some really tough health battles as she was diagnosed with MS, & as a result been forced to stop doing things that once brought her joy… like painting her nails. So Magda (@redheadnails) banded a group of us together so do some very special manicures in her honour, & I absolutely had to jump at the opportunity!

The colours orange & blue were chosen — orange, which is the colour for MS awareness, & blue which is a colour Maria loves. We also went with a “power” theme, to inspire & show off the strength that Maria is showing in her fight against this heart wrenching disease.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Pacific Blue (the original formula)
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure One in a Melon
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Pump-kid
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • Nailstuff.ca clear stamper & scraper set
  • Essence “Stamp It!” plate
  • Unknown stamping plate (bought as part of a set of Dollarama in my early nail art days)

As I mentioned, I was super proud to do these nails in honour of Maria, as her nails & nail art has been an inspiration of mine for a long time, & I wanted to show even though she may be struggling right now & unable to do one of the things she loves, she’s still inspiring her friends in the nail art community everyday!

Check out #nailartwarriorsformaria on Instagram to see all the other beautiful & empowering manicures!

Negative Space & Pastel Abstract Stripes

Good morning loves! I hope everyone is having a great start to their Thursday so far. Mine is involving coffee, so that’s always a good start. Plus I have the whole day off to do my laundry & fold it, & put it away — so I’m pumped.

Today I’m sharing a recent manicure I did in the hopes of summoning Spring. Real Spring, not the fake “oops-just-kidding-it’s-still-Winter” Spring we get teased with around the end of March. I know, it’s January, & we’ve barely even had Winter…. but I’m over it. So how about some pastel?

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Royal Hue
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple
  • Color Club Art Club Striper Pink Pastel
  • Color Club Art Club Striper Passion Flower

First off, let me acknowledge that my cuticles are looking rough. I’m trying my best to keep up with my nail art regime, but the last couple months have had some struggles, & the weather has been full of extremes, & it’s taking me a while to get my nail health back to where it was. But I’m going to save that for another post, because I know you’re all here for the nail art today!

This look was really easy to do, mostly because it takes zero skill. You just need to draw the initial swoop, & then use your other colours to trace the same lines. It sounds more complicated than it is, but I swear it’s really easy. Which is why I love this kind of look so much. I decided to go with a negative space base, because I’ve been struggling with using my bottle of Seche Vita & I wanted to avoid the weird shrinkage at my cuticle line.

What do you think about this nail art look? I know it’s probably a smidge too early for Spring nails, but you know what? Yesterday it was like 11 degrees (Celsius) & that is Spring weather. I could have worn a dress with only one pair of tights it was so warm. So I guess these nails are kind of fitting.

What do you think about this manicure? Let me know down in the comments below!

♥︎