Category: Easy

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Red Pink & Purple Sparkly Glitter Gradient ✨

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! It was feeling like Spring here this weekend, but now we’re officially back in Winter mode with about 30cm of snow that fell yesterday. I’m just so over Winter. It’s cold, & slushy, & I miss wearing cute dresses. I can’t wait for us to officially defrost.

But in the meantime, I guess I’ll distract myself with some pretty nails.

It’s been a long while since I did a gradient on my nails that wasn’t just some glitter. Honestly, I find the clean up–even with liquid latex!–a pain, & I don’t have time for it. But I was really, really feeling a sparkly gradient after putting on my Swatch Sunday pick Essence Me & My Lover, so I decided to give it a try.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essence Me & My Lover
  • Aco by Ardene Boudoir
  • Aco by Ardene Wish
  • Latex free make up sponge

Check out those layers of glitter! It’s been a long time since my last gradient like this with lots of glittery shades, but I’m obsessed with how it turned out.

Instead of doing the classic gradient sponging where you apply all three colours onto the sponge & then apply it to the nail, I sponged each layer of glitter on the nail instead… which still gave me the same effect without having to worry about the clean up! I find it’s easier to do that with glittery shades like these, because they blend into each other easier, & you don’t have those unblended lines you might get with a cream polish. & of course, sealing it all in with top coat also helps blend things.

What do you think of these glittery gradient nails? Would you wear a super glittery gradient like this on your nails? Let me know what you think down in the comments below, & what colour combination you would wear!

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Valentine’s Inspired Leopard Print 💗

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday!

Less than a week until Valentine’s Day, & I feel like I haven’t really done any related manicures this year. Usually there is at least one pink/red dotticure, haha. Kind of crazy! So I thought I would share this fun Valentine’s Day inspired leopard print design that I did recently.

& yes, this is another new holographic Color Club shade I recently picked up from Walmart because I’m obsessed.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essie Ballet Slippers
  • Color Club Trick of the Trade
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in Black
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

So turns out, trying to draw heart shapes & turn them into leopard spots is not as easy as I thought it would be — or as clear as what it’s supposed to be. But I think I was semi successful? I really like the pop of holo pink on the smooth, slightly milky base of Ballet Slippers. It really makes the holo pop!

I like that this look is Valentine’s Day, but swap out your pink for basically any other colour & it’s a good everyday look too. I always forget how much I love Leopard print on my nails, until I do it again.

What do you think about this Valentine’s Day inspired nail art look? Are you a big fan of this holiday? Honestly, I’ve never really been a huge fan, but I do love cinnamon hearts, Love Hearts, & any excuse to paint a theme on my nails.

If you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day nail art inspiration, I do have this post from a few years ago: 5 Cute Valentine’s Day Designs (inspired by Pinterest).

Have a great Tuesday!

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Blue Abstract Swirly Stripes

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! & happy February. One month of Winter down, only a few more to go. & we’re officially into another favourite month of mine for nail art — bring on ALL the Valentine’s Day nail art.

However, before I jump full tilt into all pink all the time, I thought I would share this fun blue swirly look I recently did on my nails. I’ve talked endlessly about my love for these swirly abstract stripes, so when I’m stuck on inspiration I always turn to this look. & yep — went with blue again! I was feeling some fun Essie blues, & I feel like they pulled everything together so well.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essie Ballet Slippers
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Suite Retreat
  • Essie Bell Bottom Blues
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple
  • NailStuff.ca 16mm Striper Brush

The best part of this style is how easy it is to muck it up. You just add more layers, & (usually) it’ll bring everything together. The sheer base of Essie Ballet Flats, which I haven’t worn in a really long time, just helps the colours pop out a bit. You see the lines a bit better, I find, with a more sheer, or naked base.

I also did a cute version on my daughter who loved mine so much she wanted to match. I shared a Reel on instagram of them, if you’re curious. Also, this is a surprisingly easy look to do on a two year old, if you can get them to sit still long enough haha.

What do you think about these blue swirly stripes? Are you still a fan of this style of nail art — I know they’ve been really, really popular on Instagram lately, but I don’t think I’ll ever be sick of them. They just are too easy, & too cute! They make me very happy.

Have a lovely Tuesday, & stay warm!

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Jewel Toned Drag Marble

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday. This week is almost over (& this month!) Of course, there is a crazy Winter storm headed our way this weekend, so we’re not as close to Spring like weather as one would like. & I am so over Winter! Case in point: the super short nails that I’m now rocking thanks to crazy temperature fluctuations.

I won’t like: I’ve been struggling with what to paint on my extra short nails — my inspiration is lacking. I used to be so good at this! I decided on some pretty jewel toned drag marble nails, which is something I haven’t done in a while. Plus I thought it would be a nice way to “pretty up” my super short little nubs.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essie Kimono Over
  • Essie Getting Groovy
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Late Night Lilac
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio — I used the smallest tip to get the cleanest drag.

It’s been a while since I attempted a drag marble, & my ring finger is a little rough thanks to bumping it before it had a change to dry enough. But I think all 9 other nails turned out really gorgeous. The trick I’ve learned to drag marble is less movements turn out better than a ton. You really want to keep them down to a minimum, otherwise you end up getting a swampy look.

I’ve actually been turning to drag marbles more than I’ve even been photographing — they look complicated, but with the exception of dry time, they don’t take that long. & I love love love how they look — plus I always get a ton of compliments!

What do you think about this drag marble look? Is this something that you would wear on your nails? Let me know what colour combinations you would love to see!

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Blue Valentine Nails 💙

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday!

Today I have a fun early Valentine’s Day look to share with you I did before my tragic nail break last week. I was feeling something Valentines-y, but not pink, so I decided to recreate a look similar to one I did last year.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Blue Blitz
  • Essie All the Wave
  • Dimension Nails Great Blue Heron (gifted c/o: NailStuff.ca)
  • China Glaze Secret Peri-wink-le
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod!
  • Color Club On The List
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

How pretty did these turn out? I love the blues all together, & it’s a fun alternative to your usual pink on pink Valentine’s Day designs. Also I’m pretty proud of how my hearts turned out.

I even took a picture of both hands, because people always ask me if I paint both hands when I do my own nails. My apologies for the potato quality photo, I took these in not the greatest lighting.

What do you think about these blue Valentine nails? Do you like untraditional colours when it comes to holiday nails?

Let me know all your thoughts on these nails down in the comments below, & let me know what untraditional colour scheme you would do for a Valentine’s Day look!