Tag: Fingernails
Super Nails
After my spectacular Nail Fail, I had to think of something quick. While I was screwing around with nail caviar, I also did Lily’s nails – she is a fan of the 20 plan. The 20 plan is picking 20 polishes – 10 colors and 10 glitters – and doing a different combination on each nail. I had a pile of 20 polishes on my bedroom floor and picked the best combination she came up with…
I started with Sally Hansen Diamond Shine for the base coat (gotta use it up somehow). I then did two coats of Sally Hansen “Marine Scene” – I’ve had this polish for YEARS – long before my current obsession started. I then topped it with one coat of Sally Hansen Glitter Effect “Rogue Red” and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash to seal it. A fully Sally manicure…
I feel kind of like Superman…um, I mean Supergirl? Superwoman? Supersomeone…
Nail Fail
Never EVER trust a $3 Nail Art Set from Walmart.
I thought I would have a little fun last night, trying out some different nail art from the set I picked up from Walmart a few weeks ago. I was most excited to try the “caviar” – tiny beads that stick to the nail to form a beaded finish.
Let me first explain how HORRIBLE the polish included in the set is – thin and streaky – I couldn’t get good coverage of the light colors with 3+ coats.
I did each nail individually – painted, then chose a dip or decal to go with it.
The polish was so horrible that none of the dips would stick all the way. As you can see from the index finger on my left hand – the caviar wouldn’t even stick. The index finger on my right hand was supposed to be covered in diamond glitter, but it flew off my fingers every time I moved…it flew off my fingers like I was casting fairy spells. When I washed my hands, it all peeled off…leaving a leprous white surface. As a matter of fact – polish began peeling off of several of my fingers – just like that Tinkerbell polish we all used as kids…well that explained a lot.
The one part I liked about the kit was the cute little mustache decals. I will actually use those again – they went on smoothly and stayed put. A coat of Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat helped the hideous streaky polish…a little.
After an hour or so of leaving various glitter trails all over the house, I finally gave up and took it all off. I was defeated…
Big Citrine Taxi
I’m not a big fan of Joni Mitchell…but I sure am a fan of Julep “Joni” – Citrine for November!
The picture (hastily taken earlier today, in the last dying light filtering into my office parking garage) doesn’t do it justice. Along with the gold flecks in the citrine shimmer, there are also flashes of pink. PINK!
I used Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat, but I didn’t use a top coat – I wanted to feel the texture. I was expecting a sandy texture like “Claudia”, but it was smoothly pebbled.
Coincidentally, “Joni” is what I expected NYC “Fashion Queen” to look like.
The Red Room
I’ve got loads of new polish to try out, but I keep coming back to the Twin Peaks Collection by Hare Polish. This is “The Red Room”, a red jelly base with hexes and squares in black and white, plus white flakies and shimmer. The Red Room is one of the most iconic locations in Twin Peaks, with the sweeping red velvet curtains and black & white floors. “Where we’re from, the birds sing a pretty song…”
I used Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat and Top Coat. The polish stuck quite well to the base coat and I don’t have any chips.
It kind of reminds me of this copycat paint job from a few months back, but a lot less work!
I’m a Pepper!
Don’t you want to be a Pepper, too?
Julep “Maryam” (from this month’s “Chrysalis Collection”) looks like a Dr. Pepper Can. Julep may say its dark merlot shimmer, but I don’t drink merlot. Actually, I don’t drink Dr. Pepper either – it’s too sickly sweet for me. I actually steer clear of any dark maroon liquids. Ever since that incident with the Grape Mad Dog 20/20 in High School…blech.
You’ll notice that my thumb and ring finger are more mauve – I used Julep “Tilda” Metamorphic Top Coat on those nails. The result was very subtle – just a little lighter and more purpley. I’m thinking it will look good over blues.
Someday, I’ll actually find a quick dry top coat that plays nice with Julep polishes. Orly Bonder works with no issues, but Sally Diamond Flash seems to create bubbles no matter what. Grrrr…
Can’t…Stop…Looking
I can’t stop looking at this polish. It’s just so shiny.
I’m a few months late – this is Julep “Julie” – Pink Tourmaline for October. It’s named for Mary Poppins herself – Julie Andrews. It wasn’t the consistency I expected. It’s textured, but not the fine texture of Julep’s other microglitters. “Julie” has a thicker, metallic base. It also has huge pink shards and tiny holographic rainbow glitters. I can’t stop looking…
I used Orly Bonder for the base coat and no top coat – I wanted to feel the magic.
Damn Fine Coffee
Maybe not so much like a cup of damn fine coffee, but a pile of damn fine coffee grounds?
That’s because I used Zoya Matte Top Coat – it really brings out the gold flecks in “Damn Fine Coffee” from the Twin Peaks Collection by Hare Polish. I kind of wish that I had used Orly Bonder instead of Sinful Colors Base Coat. I got a chip within an hour of application….because my husband made me load the dishwasher. Just because he cleaned the kitchen, made dinner and baked me cookies. He’s so MEAN!
Lael & The Zoya Color Lock System
Since I was off on New Year’s Day, I had time to relax and try out the full Zoya Color Lock System, which I received in Zoya’s Cyber Monday Mystery Bag.
I started with Zoya Anchor Base Coat. It quickly dries absolutely clear and smooth. I then tried out 2 coats of Zoya “Lael” – described by Zoya as a deep, saturated red-toned plum purple with a shiny creme finish. It’s not quite as dark as Julep “Padma” or “Logan”, but it’s pretty dark. It’s shiny on its own, but once I added a coat of Zoya Armor Top Coat, it was almost a mirror finish. I did NOT try the Zoya Fast Drops – even though Armor isn’t a fast dry, I felt like it dried really fast. After 30 minutes, I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher and scrubbed some dishes and they were still flawless. Unfortunately though, I managed to get some sheet impressions and slight dents in my nails while sleeping last night. *sigh*
I also did my toes. My toenails were getting so long that they were hurting my feet! I cut em back and painted away. My toes will be the real test of how well the Color Lock System holds up…
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
My son demanded that I do fireworks on my nails for New Year’s Eve. I couldn’t leave him disappointed.
After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I started with 2 coats of Sinful Colors “Starry Night” for the night sky. I made the fireworks with a few quick swipes with one of my dotting tools. I chose my shimmeriest shimmer polishes for the fireworks: Nicole by OPI “On A Gilt Trip” (this one has been seeing a lot of action lately), Zoya “Bobbi”, Julep “Dahlia”, Zoya “Cassedy” and Julep “Tin Man”. Sally Hansen Diamond Flash made my nails super shiny.
Logan was very proud of my nails and was sure to tell everyone last night that he was my inspiration. Love that kid!
She’s Dead – Wrapped in Plastic
Here it is – the first of the Twin Peaks polishes.
This is Hare Polish “Wrapped in Plastic”. The base is a translucent blue, the color of Laura Palmer’s skin. Inside the polish are white, aqua and iridescent gold glitter. The polish is a bit thick. I could have gone for a sheerer look and used one coat, but I had to go for two coats, so it got really thick around the edges. I got a few chips in less than 24 hours, but I was sloppy with the top coat, so it might not be the polish’s fault. I think it would also look fantastic with a matte top coat.
As usual, Orly Bonder on bottom and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash on top.
See the first collection HERE…and OMG, they just came out with a second Twin Peaks Collection HERE. I NEEEEED the Garmonbozia!