tutorial: galaxy nails

I know I haven't posted in a while. This will make up for it, right? Right?


...right?


 I think so. I mean, just look at these. I could get lost just staring at all the little differences and subtle colors and overall sparkly-ness.

Goddamn. Give me a couple of minutes. I'm just going to stare at that picture.

Okay, I'm done. Let's get to the tutorial.

You'll need a gaggle of colors. Inspired by the stock photo of the galaxy above, I tried to choose colors similar to it that varied in finishes. From left to right: Orly Matte Vinyl, China Glaze Metallic Muse, OPI I'm Indi-a Mood for Love, Color Club Lazer Pink, China Glaze Bermuda Breakaway, Color Club Wild at Heart, Revlon Galaxy, China Glaze Fairy Dust.

Phew!

You'll also need a base + top coat, plus a [dry] makeup sponge. If you use sponges for other things (like I do, for gradient nails) cut it in half so you don't waste it. The half is enough for these nails, and it's easier to work with. But if you're lazy, leave it whole. What do I care?

Apply your base color. you can really use any almost black polish here, but I'd try to stick with a purple or blue based one. I chose just a plain black matte because it's opaque in 1 coat and dries fast. But use what you want!

Take your base color and dab it in one corner of the sponge. Dab the excess off on a piece of paper. I love how the chrome finish of this polish looks underneath all the finished layers -- it adds an extra dimension and sparkle. Or maybe I'm just delusional.

Take your sponge and randomly sponge blobs on your nails. Re-saturate the sponge after each nail, to ensure the color is consistent on all nails. And try to make each blob look different or place them in different areas of your nails!

Take your next color, and dab it on a different corner of your sponge. Repeat steps 2-3, but try to make these blobs a bit smaller so they are contained within the previous light blue blobs. Make sense? Like, I want the pink color to be in the center of the light blue.

Like this!

With my light pink, I repeat steps 2-5. Once again, make these blobs smaller than the previous ones.

Next, I use my dark blue to make linear blobs (is that a contradiction?) outside of the pink centers.

And then I do the same with my dark holographic purple. Ooh, sparkle!

Apply a thin layer of one of your glitter topcoats. I try to use 2 different kinds -- this one has a variety of glitter shapes. I tried to get a few hexagonal glitter pieces on each nail. 

Then apply the other glitter. Dimension is important, and using multiple types of glitter will help achieve that!

Put on a quick dry topcoat and clean up your nails. Look at these gorgeous specimens! Each one is unique!

Sigh. I feel like I'm in space. 

Thanks for reading!