(More) Freehand Tribal Print Accent Nails

Hello lovelies! Hope everyone is enjoying their week so far. I’m super excited today because not only did I get the chance to do some nail art, but I managed some freehand nail art!

It feels like absolute ages since I had any time for anything more complicated than polka dots on my nails, but I had a quick minute the other night to do my nails & you better believe I took it! I had been scrolling through my Instagram feed after my Swatch Sunday post, & obsessing over some tribal/Aztec inspired designs from the past & decided I wanted no, needed to do some accent nails! So I grabbed one of my custom engraved detail brushes from nailstuff.ca, & went to work.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Strengthening Base Coat
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat
  • OPI Gelato on My Mind
  • Essence You & Me?
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Beatnik
  • Essence Black is Back
  • China Glaze Friends Forever Right?
  • Nailstuff.ca 7mm detail brush {PR SAMPLE}
  • Nailstuff.ca dotting tool {PR SAMPLE}
  • Straight nail vinyls

So my line work is definitely sloppier than previous designs, but I feel like I’m just out of practice. Plus I didn’t grab my thinnest detail brush, which definitely made a difference in my freehand work. Also I totally cut a few corners & used vinyls for my blocks of colours, just to save me a bit of time. But over all, I really like how this turned out. Obviously I wish I could have done this look on all my fingers, sometimes all you have time for is an accent nail (or two.)

Also trying out this Essie Gel Couture Top Coat again to see if the lasting power is good. I’m really on the hunt for something that will help my manicures last longer, as I’m just not able to do my nails every night like I used to. Maybe someday when my nights are more free, but right now I need something that will keep my nails from chipping after a day.

Also plan on picking up a bottle of Orly Bonder Base as I’ve heard that it can really improve Manicure lasting time as well! & that is what I need in my life!

so what do you think of these accent nails? Do you think tribal/Aztec nails look better as accent nails or a full hand design? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Black & White Chevron Accent Nails

Good morning lovelies& happy Tuesday!

I know things have been quiet on the blog, but I have a good reason: baby #2 has made her arrival! Madeleine Lena was born very early last Tuesday morning, so I’ve had a busy week of readjusting to newborn life. & I’m still wearing my blue drag marble nails which ended up being my labour nails!

However, going through my phone I found a few nail art looks I haven’t yet posted, so until I’m able to actually paint my nails–which is hard when you’ve got two little ones keeping you busy… no surprise there!–I have a few nail polish & nail art looks that I can post for you!

First up I have some stacked chevron accent nails–this is a look I’ve done before a few times because it’s super easy to do & is such a cute look!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Bamboo & Green Tea Strengthener
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • China Glaze Too Yacht To Handle
  • Quo by ORLY Platina
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Blacky-O
  • The Base Coat Vinyls Stacked Chevron

First off I love love love how blinding China Glaze Too Yacht To Handle is! Such a great Summer Polish to wear for a serious pop of colour. It’s just so good! I thought the simplicity of black & white accent nails worked really well because it added some art while still letting my polish shine.

what do you think of this look? Share your thoughts down in the comments below.

Blurple Holo Chevron Moons 🌙

Good morning lovelies & happy Tuesday. It is Tuesday, right? Now that I’m off work & on baby watch, I’m struggling to remember what day it is haha. All I know is it is a beautiful sunny day, & I have some more holo nails to share!

If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen my Instastories teasing this design. I was in the mood for some chevron half moons & some holo, so I combined the two into an awesome design!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • China Glaze 2Nite
  • China Glaze OMG
  • Kiss Nail Art Striper in Black
  • TheBaseCoat Stacked Chevron Nail vinyls

Seriously, look at that holo beauty. I feel like warmer days & sunshine are reinvigorating my love for holo. Now I just need some neon holo polishes (are those a thing? We need to make them a thing) & I will be all ready for this Summer.

& just for fun, I got an awesome sunshine shot of this manicure which just makes me love it even more. There is nothing better than holo in the sunshine. Look at that rainbow shift 😍

What do you think of these holo Chevron moons? Let me know in the comments below!

Now I’m off to paint my nails… but the question remains: holo or neon?! I need both!

Mix & Match Spring Nails

Good morning lovelies & happy Wednesday. It’s a new day & I finally have new nails to share. This look is what I created over my Swatch of Julep Alyssa from my previous post & I’ve been wearing it since Sunday! I really wanted something bright & Spring-y for my Easter festivities, & I loved the look so much I could bare to take it off yet!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Julep Alyssa (It Girl)
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Peach Side Babe
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Orchid-ing Aside {PR sample}
  • NailStuff.ca Gold Mixed Decoration Nail Wheel {PR sample}
  • TheBaseCoat Drag Marble Nail Vinyls

Seriously loving the mix & match look of this design. The colours are Spring-y but not too Easter Egg-esque & the studs just give it a little something extra. Really, really loving the whole combination. I’m sure in a few weeks I’ll be all about neon (when I’m really craving Summer) but right now these semi-pastel shades are giving me life.

what do you think of this design? Share your thoughts down in the comments below.

Neon Coral Chevron Claws

Good morning & happy Wednesday. Although we had a freak snowstorm Monday night, so my April is feeling more like a blah January. Never less, I decided that I needed to brighten up my day (& my nails!) & some neon coral chevron claws felt like a good start.

Anything to shake these snow day blahs. Seriously, it’s April. I need to be able to wear dresses on a daily basis.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Quo by ORLY Breathable Aloe, Goodbye
  • Claire’s Nail Polish Sorbet Coral
  • Snailvinyls Deep Chevron Vinyls (discontinued)

As you can see, there are a few bubbles around my coral chevrons, but that’s a result of the matte polish drying before I had a chance to remove the vinyls which left the polish lifted slightly, hence the bubbles. But oh well! I just love how these turned out! The pop of coral over the grey base really makes them stand out.

I seriously love this look & I love how easy it was. I used to use straight vinyls & line them up on my nails in order to make my claws, but these deep chevrons are so much easier & faster! Sad that SnailVinyls has moved on, but I do know What’s Up Nails & TwinkledT also have some deep V vinyls to make this look super simple.

what’s the weather like where you are? Is it feeling like Spring? What are you wearing on your nails right now? Share in the comments below!