Tag: Freehand

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Spring-ish Chevron Moons

Good morning lovelies & happy Saturday! Today I’ve got a brand new design to share with you because I was finally able to do some real nail art. I know… I’ve been lacking in the nail art blogging work. Work & winter have been killing my nails so I’ve got some serious shorties to contend with & no real motivation to do my nails other than a single colour.

But I’ve started using Nail Envy (again…) so hopefully that will bring my nails to life again! & I’ll actually feel like creating some lovely nail art looks again.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Essie High Class Affair
  • Essie Peach Daiquiri
  • Essie Cashmere Bathrobe
  • Essie Where’s My Chauffeur
  • The Base Coat Nail Vinyls Stacked Chevrons Vinyls.
  • NailStuff.ca small 7mm liner brush

Ooooh this look reminds me why I love chevron moons so much. Also, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this colour combination — I wanted to try & do something that channeled Spring but also worked with all the snow we currently have — & I’m actually just so in love with how these colours compliment each other.

It makes me so sad that they chipped like an hour into work. Like, why is it always the nail art looks I love? I mean, it gives me an excuse to paint my nails again, but then I also need to get the energy to do them again, & that’s the true struggle.

Does anyone else struggle with nail art slumps? How do you cope? Let me know down in the comments below!

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Dark & Simple Dotticure

Good morning lovelies & happy Wednesday! Today’s look is one of my favourite easy nail ideas–a simple dotticure. Seriously, is there any easier way to add a little fun to other wise boring nails then with a few carefully placed dots? (Especially when you stay up too late binge watching Netflix & forget all about doing your nails…)

For this manicure, I pulled out one of my beloved Sally Hansen nail art pens. I’m not sure if you can still purchase these (I haven’t looked in a while) but a few years ago I picked them up & they’re one of my favourite & easiest ways to create polka dots! There is something so easy about using a pen instead of a dotting tool for creating teeny, tiny polka dots.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • OPI Cosmo With A Twist
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art pen in Silver

What I love about this look is how easy it is. Paint nails. Let dry a few minutes. Dot with nail Art pen & seal with top coat. Bam, done! No tools even needed. & you don’t even need to worry about cleaning off your dotting tool & then re-dipping it into the polish, so finishing your nails is a whole lot faster. & the dots seem to end up being more similar than when I try to do the same look with a dotting tool.

so what do you think of this look? Are you a fan of dotticures? Share your thoughts down in the comments below! ♥️

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Subtle Winter Ruffian ❄️

Good morning lovelies, & welcome to the second week of 2019! How crazy is that. Has everyone kept up with their New Year’s resolutions so far? I’m trying to keep up with mine & I have brand new nails to share with you.

Today I’m showing off this subtle ruffian design I wore last week. I was still feeling the darker moody shades & I really like the combination of these two polishes. Originally I thought about a dotticure because they’re so easy, but after stalking Pinterest (my favourite late night activity) & ended up being inspired to go with a ruffian.

For this design, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat
  • Essie Cashmere Bathrobe
  • Essie Suite Retreat

I love how this looks! The blue with the grey has that moody January vibe I think everyone is feeling after the holidays. I don’t know about anyone else, but I find it so difficult trying to come up with nail art looks this time of year… Christmas is over, it’s too soon for Valentine’s Day.

Also please excuse my weird lighting… I’ve been taking pictures at work haha. But I have my light box all set up again so I should be able to get some better pictures soon. I just have to remember to take them before I leave for work.

What do you think of this nail art look? What is your favourite January nail art look? Share your ideas down below on what you go-to this time of year!

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Matte Floral over Coral 🌸

First nail art of this brand new year… & obviously I had to go with floral! Who says you can only wear flowers on your nails in Spring & Summer… floral is an all year nail art trend for me. Also, I have to admit, it feels really nice to be feeling up to doing my nails again. & even though I’m a wee bit rusty, it’s like riding a bike how easy it is to get back into the routine again.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat
  • Matte Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Matte Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Malibu Peach
  • Essie 5th Avenue
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Sweet Tea
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Red It Online
  • Essie Suite Retreat
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Sugar Fix
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Essie First Timer
  • Essie Fashion Playground

    I love how this turned out & how the red & blurple flowers pop over the coral polish. This was definitely one of those manicures I went into with no real “plan” but kind of kind winged it… & it turned out so pretty to me! Also it was so exciting to finally get to test out my new nail art tools from NailStuff.ca.

    what do you think of this look? What nail art looks are you excited to try out this year? Maybe I’ll give watermarbling another try!

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    Christmas Penguin accent nails!

    Good morning lovelies! I’m back again, & I have another Christmas-y design to share… after all it’s only 3 more days until Christmas. (When did that happen?) Today’s look is a surprisingly easy look that I’ve done & redone over the years & always come back to.

    I actually did this nails last weekend, but anyone else who works in retail this time of year probably understands the craziness which is my life right now… barely any time to breathe, let alone write a blog post… just counting down the days to my two days off over Christmas. It’s going to be GLORIOUS!

    For this look, the polishes I used were:

    • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
    • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat
    • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Sprinkled With Love
    • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Make It N-ice
    • Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Black Heart
    • Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Let’s Snow
    • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Good Cheer-y
    • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Fiery Island
    • Small dotting tool
    • Small nail art brush (obsessed with my collection from www.nailstuff.ca

    First I started off by laying Make It N-ice over Sprinkled with Love for a little extra sparkle…. because tis the season. & then I freehanded my little penguin over top on both my ring fingers to make my look more festive. I first saw this look on Pshiiit Nails (via Pinterest) & just loved how it looked so I needed to recreate. & obviously I had to add a little a festive Christmas-ness with some Santa hats!

    My only complaint is that my top coat smeared my penguins a little. I’ve been testing out the Essie Gel Couture Top Coat & while the lasting power is amazing, it’s not my favourite top coat for putting over nail art because it does seem to smear designs. Guess I’m still on the hunt for the perfect one!

    what do you think of this penguin design? Have you figured out what you’re wearing for Christmas? Let me know down below!