Monday, October 29, 2012

31DC Day 10: Gradient (Ombre + Tutorial)

The prompt for day 10 of the 31 day challenge is gradient. I was having trouble trying to decide what exactly I was going to do for this mani, but I remembered Sarah's (at Chalkboard Nails) gradient mani she did last year, and I loved it! It's an ombre gradient using all 5 nails.

I only used one base color for this look: OPI From A To Z-urich from the Germany collection. It's a pretty dusty red.
(This shot was taken after a few days of chipping and peeling!) With flash
Supplies to use:
  • Piece of blank white paper
  • Cotton swabs (Q-tips)
  • Base color (From A To Z-urich)
  • Mix-ins in black and white (Wet N Wild Black Creme and NYC French White Tip)
  • Acetone/polish remover
Note: I used the same brush (base color brush) to mix the different colors, but you have to be careful to thoroughly clean it several times throughout the process if you choose to do it this way. Using a clean, separate brush is recommended. Also, try not to ever get any acetone in your polish bottles, because it can ruin polish!

Now let's begin!

Start with a nice base coat. I usually use the Seche Vite base coat, but I tried one I got from Claire's, it worked pretty well!

Paint both of your middle fingers the base color of your choice. (For this manicure, make sure to do both hands at the same time.)

Drop some base color onto the paper, and mix in only ONE DROP of black. The color gets dark very quickly so start with one drop and take it from there. Mix it in and paint onto the nail next to your middle finger. Repeat by adding about another drop of black and paint onto the next nail.

Clean off your brush, as we are going to mix lighter colors now.

Pour some more of the base color onto the paper, this time mixing in white. You need a lot more white to make the color lighter than you needed black to make it darker. Mix in enough white to make the base color a tint lighter. When you are happy with the color, paint it on the other nail next to your middle finger.

Repeat by adding more white to your already-lighter mix, and paint on your final finger.

Top with your favorite topcoat! (Seche Vite is mine ☺ )

(No flash)
Hope you like it & try it out!! :)

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

31DC Day 9: Rainbow

I was excited for day 9 of the 31 day challenge, since the prompt is rainbowI had a hard time thinking of what I would do for this, but then I came across Jane's 31DC Day 9  from Nailside. It's so cute, and I loved it so much that I had to try it out.

What I used over China Glaze Snow:
Sally Hansen Diamonds & Rubies
petites #34 Mango
Claire's Yellow Brick Road
Mix of Claire's Yellow Brick Road + L'Oreal #530 now you sea me
L'Oreal now you sea me
Wet N Wild Sapphire Blue
Sally Hansen HD  Hi-Definition #01 Cyber
China Glaze Fuchsia

Thursday, October 11, 2012

31DC Day 8: Metallic

Today's date = 10-11-12 ! ☺ Cool, right? 
The Jonas Brothers are performing their first show in YEARS at Radio City music hall in NEW YORK City TONIGHT!! ♥
I'm sorry, I've just been such a huge fan of them, and I am SUPER excited for their comeback. Remembered the date because it's a cool date, huh? 

Anyway, the 31 day challenge Day 8 prompt is Metallic.
I went with a simple mani for today. I used a metallic nails polish I had bought on sale from Claire's (Spoiled Rotten | Point the Finger in "Pink"). I think this was about two layers.



I had it just like this for a couple of days after I decided to add the finishing touch on my ring finger, a cute little pink holographic heart sticker! :) 

Monday, October 8, 2012

31DC Day 7: Black & White

For day #7 of the 31 day challenge, the prompt is Black & White. I really wanted to do tuxedo nails for this, but I opted for a more simple design and I figured I'd save the tuxedos for another time. 

I started with 2 coats of NYC French White Tip and let dry.


Then, my friend (she really wanted to do my nails ☺ ) took a toothpick, dipped in Wet N Wild Ebony Hates Chris, and let me say I love this polish! I recently bought it to replace my other black nail polish and it goes on so smoothly and dries really quickly. She just started drawing on squiggly lines and they turned out much better than I expected. They remind me of Sarah's 31DC Day 7 nails at Chalkboard Nails! (Of course, hers are much more fabulous ♥ )


...And here are my other cousin's nails! My friend who did mine also did hers. :)