Category: Nail Art

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Embracing the Abstract accent nails.

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The other day, while starting to do my nails, I wasn’t sure what exactly to do. I wanted to create some kind of accent nail, and so I just started doodling and ended up with these. Totally random and abstract. But considering I had  no real plan going in, the end result actually looks like maybe I planned these all along. They were so fun I actually ended up wearing them for two whole days–which is a big accomplishment for me.

The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essence Beauty Beats Collection Baby Ooh Ooh.
  • OPI I Snow you Love Me.
  • OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls.
  • Sinful Colors Hip to be Square.
  • Sinful Colors Cold Leather.
  • China Glaze What a Pansy.
  • Art Club Striping Polish in Paisley Paradise.
  • Stripe Rite Striping Polish in White.
  • Seche Vite Top Coat.

 

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So what do you think of these abstract nails? They were fun to wear for my fabulous adventure around the city with my favorite gay boyfriend. And even though it was full on summer heat, I still had to get myself a Pumpkin Spice Latte because they are officially back! Pretty nails, fabulous company, and a delicious drink. What more could a girl ask for? =)

 

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Chasing Waterfalls… again.

Today’s manicure is almost kind of aredo to one I did a few months back. I really love the look of waterfall manicures, and so the other night when I was struggling with nail art ideas I decided why not create another one. I had already painted my nails using Revlon’s I’m Electro, which is a beautiful blue duocrome from the Amazing Spiderman 2 collection, so I grab a bunch of my blue polishes and went to work.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Revlon I’m Electro — base color.
  • Revlon Superpowered.
  • Icing Starlight.
  • Sinful Colors Hip to Be Square.
  • Art Club Nail Art Duo in Baby Blue
  • Quo by ORLY Falling Star.
  • Essie Good to Go Top Coat.

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Pretty, aren’t they. I wasn’t quite happy with my waterfall nails the last time I attempted them–and with a couple tweeks I think I’ve made a vast improvement. It doesn’t hurt my nails have quite a bit more length to them now, as opposed to last time. I think using a darker base color (but not too dark) also helped make them pop as well.  =)

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So is anyone else as excited as me about Starbucks releasing their Pumpkin Spice Latte’s today. You apparently need a special code to unlock the drink, so I’ve got mine already to go. I have a Halifax Adventure day planned with my best friend, which always means COFFEE! We’re going to soak in the last of Summer before he goes back to finish his degree and it gets too chilly for our adventuring.

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Grey and Silver and all taped up.

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Finally! I’m feeling nail art again after a good short while of being uninspired. Does anyone else ever get like that? You want to paint your nails with something pretty, but every time you try you just hate everything? (I hope it’s not just me… I’ll feel silly!) Today’s nails were just me really, really wanting to do some nail taping, as I don’t often do it. I also really, really wanted to wear Cashmere Bathrobe by Essie, as I adore it for Fall and I don’t think I’ve worn it since last fall.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essie Cashmere Bathrobe.
  • Maybelline Color Show Lavender Luster.
  • Mariposa Striping Polish in Pink.
  • Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat.

As you can see, I managed to do semi straight taping. I think I’ve figured out it’s the tape I’ve been using that’s made me not want to do tape manicure. I have a roll of very thin painters tape, which I bought because I thought it would be perfect. Unfortunately, for some reason, it just doesn’t like sticking to my nails well enough and–because it’s green–I can’t see if I’ve made my lines straight enough. Oops. I think I’ll be switching back to just regular old scotch tape for manicures like this from now on.

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So what do you think of this manicure? I must say–I really, really like how it turned out. I’ve been feeling so blah nail art wise for a while, but now that I’ve broken out of that funk I’m hoping I can get back to playing with my polish as it makes me so happy. =)  Hopefully I’ll have a fun new manicure to share with you coming up.

 

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Rose-y bridesmaid nails.

 

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So my sister came over the other day for me to do her nails for a wedding she is in this weekend. She was telling me how all the other bridesmaids had gotten their nails professionally done, and she was bummed because she just couldn’t afford to do that. I didn’t want her to feel left out, so I told her she should come over because I wanted to make them pretty for her! =) So while the boyfriend distracted my nephew, I got her to sit down, and came up with some gorgeous nails for her to rock. She told me the wedding colors were rose pink, white, and black so I brain stormed for a while and figured that roses would be the most perfect bridesmaid nails. =)

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Icing Beach Barbie — thumb and middle finger.
  • Bourjois Cendres de Roses — pointer and pinky fingers base color (and roses).
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Grey Area — pointer and pinky fingers polka dots.
  • OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls — ring finger base color.
  • Bourjois Le Rouge fidele — roses.
  • Bourjois Mais Oui! — roses.
  • Mariposa shimmery pink — roses.
  • ACO by Ardene Green Peace — leaves.
  • ACO by Ardene Techno Green — leaves
  • LA Colors Palm Tree — leaves.
  • Seche Vite Quick Dry top coat.

 

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I thought the end result turned out really pretty. It just so happened I had a dusty rose pink (Bourjois Cendres de Roses) that perfectly matched the pink in the wedding colors! I went with dark grey polka dots, instead of black, just because I thought it would be a little more subtle–and would compliment the rose color. My sister was really excited for her nails, which made me so happy. =) I also lent her my Icing Beach Barbie so she could paint her toes sparkly to match, since they have opened toe shoes. So she’ll look pretty from head to toe. =)

 

So what do you think of this rose and polka dot manicure? Do you ever do other people’s nails? I’m still not 100% used to doing them, but it is fun playing around on someone else–even if she has the tiniest little nails compared to my own.

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Glitter Gradient with Gwen’s Crush.

Still in my nail art rut, so simple manicures it is. Today’s manicure was a spur of the moment decision. I painted my nails with Gwen’s Crush by Revlon, but I wanted to make them a little more fancy so I decided a glitter gradient was the perfect solution. I pulled out a blue jelly Mariposa polish that my roommate gave me for Christmas, mostly because it complimented the blue shimmer in Gwen’s Crush.

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The polishes I used for the manicure were:

  • Revlon Gwen’s Crush (from the Spiderman collection.)
  • Mariposa unnamed blue gelly glitter.
  • Color Institute silver glitter.
  • Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat.

 

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I quite like how these turned out. Plus, the blue jelly in the Mariposa glitter darkens the tips of Gwen’s Crush. Plus the Glitter has great holographic glitters which looks great. Also this Revlon polish is going to be very well used this fall, I’m guessing. I love the dark purple-pink color, with the subtle hint of blue.

And a blurry shot of my nails below, that captures the holographic glitters  in both glitter polishes. So pretty!

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