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Blue on Blue Polka Dots 💙

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend, & for my fellow Canadians, a relaxing long weekend! It’s finally starting to feel like Summer now, which I am absolutely here for. I mean, I could take a few more 20+ sunny days, but I’m a whimp when it comes to cold, so anything less than 12 degrees feels like Winter to me.

Today I’m show off some simple blue polka dot nails. As I mentioned in my last post, I’m rocking some serious shorties again, so my nail art inspiration is a little lacking right now. But polka dots always make me feel better!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Avon Vintage Blue
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art pen Blue

Oh wow, these nails are short. & just when they were really starting to get long again. It’s always my middle finger, on either hand, misbehaving. Ah well, I’d been thinking about a short return to square nails, so this is the perfect excuse.

& now I just need some serious nail art inspiration. I have a few days off coming up, so I’m going to try & come up with some fun & funky nail art looks to share! Time for a deep dive through my Instagram saved folder & Pinterest.

What do you think about this simple blue on blue polka dots? Are you feeling this kind of look? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below! & share what nail art looks you might want to see coming up, perfect for short nails!

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Dainty Purple Polka Dots

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday! The weekend is quickly approaching. & I don’t know where you are, but the weather here is starting to really, really feel like Spring. I might even wear a dress to work today!

But in the mean time, I’m showing off some simple & dainty polka dot design. Purple makes me happy, & I always love a dotticure whenever I need a quick, simple look.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • L’Oréal Color Riche Violet Vendome
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art Pen in Purple

Such a simple look, but a classic polka dot look just makes me happy. There is something about a simple look like this that is just so pleasing to the eye. Plus I feel like you can make it match any outfit or occasion—go wild with your colours, or keep it simple.

Also my favourite way to do simple dotticures like this is with my Sally Hansen nail art pens. I discovered these in the early days of my nail art journey, but I still own them, & still use them, especially for a look like this. Makes creating evenly placed polka dots, that are all the same size, so quick & easy. I kind of wish I had more colours, to be honest. I’m not even sure if they still exist to buy anymore!

What do you think about this dainty dotticure? Would you like to see me feature more of these easy manicures? What colour combination should I share next? Let me know in the comments below!

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Spring Gradient Dotticure

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday!

I’ve very much been enjoying the warmer days around here—I even wore a jumpsuit the other day, & it was really exciting. & that means I’ve been enjoying all the pretty spring nail polishes in my stash. Although, I’m not going to lie… I feel like I’ve been grabbing the same Spring-y shades over & over. Haha.

But I was really feels some sanity polka dots, & I decided that some pretty pastel gradient polka dots would be perfect!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • Sally Hansen In The Sheer
  • L’Oréal Colour Riche B01 Pistache Royale
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Orchid-ing Aside
  • Essie Check Your Baggage
  • China Glaze Shocking Pink
  • Essie Bikini So Teeny
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

Oh man, this was such an easy look to do, although a bit time consuming.

It gives you that gradient effect without having to go through all the time consuming effort of sponging on colour & cleaning up around the cuticles. Because, I won’t lie, even though I absolutely love gradients, I just don’t always have the time (or energy) to go through all the effort of doing one. But this totally makes me happy & feels like a perfect gradient alternative!

What do you think about this pretty pastel gradient dotticure? Would you wear this look? Do you think it would work for Easter? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

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#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Mandala

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! Hope everyone’s week is off to a good start. We had another stormy day here in Halifax yesterday—lots of freezing rain. Seriously ready for it to be Spring already!

Today I have another new design for #GlamNailsChallengeFeb! Today’s prompt is Mandala. & I’ll be honest—this was not an easy prompt for me. Originally I tried stamping because I have a plate that has a few mandala patterns, but that did not work out, so then I tried free handing a pattern, which was also a fail. But when I typed “mandala nails” into Pinterest, I saw a few beautiful looks using dots, so I decided that would probably be my easiest (& least frustrating) option!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • L’Oréal Vintage Vinyl
  • Sally Hansen CSM So Much Fawn
  • Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure. Almond Tan
  • Essie Mosaic on Down
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)

As you can see from my close up, this isn’t the most perfect mandala pattern, but I’m still happy with how it turned out. I was originally inspired by this Pinterest post, but obviously I need more practice (& maybe not to start at 11pm) to get mine to look as beautiful as that! But you know, doing this challenge is all about testing myself, & that means even those manicures I’m not 100% comfortable with!

What do you think about this “Mandala” look? Is this dotticure version something that you would try yourself? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

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#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Polka Dots

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! Today marks Day one of GlamNailsChallengeFebruary, which I’ve been planning for since the prompts were released last month! I’m really excited, because there is a good mix of prompts that can be for Valentine’s Day (which I love doing nail art for!) & some non-holiday prompts as well.

First up, we have Polka Dots — & naturally I was feeling a pink inspired Valentine’s Day dotticure. You can always use more pink in your life. Plus I had this Quo by ORLY set that had been sitting around for absolutely ever that I bought & never used, so I figured why not pull it out & use it a pretty gradient dotticure!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie Strong Start
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen CSM Nail Primer
  • Quo by ORLY Holiday 2014 collection — “the Pinks” (none of these mini bottles have names associated, so I can’t give you specifics sadly.)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)

Oh man, I love a good gradient dotticure, especially one that is as vibrant & pretty as this! I’ve done a few versions of this look over the years, especially for Valentine’s Day, which makes it a classic in my books! Especially great if you’re short on time, but want some pretty & standout nails! & you don’t even need tools to do it — a hair pin works just as easily as a dotting tool.

What do you think of my gradient dotticure for the first prompt of #glamnailschallengeFeb? I’m so exciting to be participating again this month, & can’t wait to play around with all the prompts to come!

It’s going to be a really good month for nail art so stay tuned!