glitter gradients

I've been obsessed with these manicures lately. It's perfect for when I feel that wearing one color is too boring, but I'm too lazy to delve into the world of freehand nail art: striping brushes and rhinestones (and 3 hours of my time). Glitter gradients can take a boring color and turn it into something awesome. And when I already start with a gorgeous color like this OPI, a sprinkling of glitter makes it look magical.

It's also perfect for when I want sparkle, but don't want to paint all my nails in a glitter and then spend 30 minutes removing it (or peeling it off, but please don't tell anyone that I actually do that).

OPI Every Month is Oktoberfest

Orly Mermaid Tail

How gorgeous is Every Month is Oktoberfest?  It looks wine red at some angles, then a plum shade, and sometimes you can see the orange duochrome/sparkle. It's definitely a sexy shade, but a little more fun than a traditional vamp polish.

God, this Orly really is like a mermaid's tale captured in a bottle. Almost worth the extra buck I had to shell out for it at my local nail supply just because it's a LE glitter, not a regular shade from the Orly line. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Related to my last post, I went to Sally Beauty Supply last night and picked up a of Ion Color Brilliance in 8RC (light copper blonde) and 20 volume developer. And after saturating my head in ammonia and chemicals, I can gladly say it's the exact Lana del Rey shade I was aiming for! A light strawberry golden brown. Do you guys want pics?

Anyways, sorry if this post if kind of bottle rambly. I start my spring semester of school tomorrow, and I really don't want to go back after being able to be lazy for over a month. On the plus side, after these couple of months, I only have 2 years to go until I get my psych degree. But.... I have to wake up early every day this semester. shudder.

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!

notd spam

Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Americans!

Who's excited that True Blood is back?! I know I am!! This season is going to be crazy... Eric and Sookie... mmmmm...
To represent my excitement, I chose one of my sexiest nail polishes to wear...


Zoya Sooki
Now, the name is purely coincidence.... just kidding! Of course I bought it for the name. And after seeing how sexy it looked on me, plus an amazing buttery one-coat formula sent this one straight to the Top 20!

OPI Teenage Dream topped with Black Shatter

China Glaze Bermuda Breakaway topped with Pure Ice Heart Breaker

OPI Dulce de Leche


Lippmann Across the Universe
Sorry for the craptastic pics -_- absolutely does not do this polish justice...


If you don't already, follow me on Twitter! I promise I'm more exciting on there.
My Twitter!

Thanks for looking!

glitter all over the room

I've been looking forward to OPI's Katy Perry collection forever! I'm not a big fan of her, but the polishes in this collection were to die for! Here's my favorite.


OPI Last Friday NightThis is 2 coats of LFN over 1 coat Sally Hansen Pacific Blue. The polish itself is very sheer- nothing at all like the bottle color. It's a lot less vivid. So, to up the amp, I layered it over a polish closest to the bottle color (Pacific Blue). I love this combo. It's so fun!!

Gorgeous.

I also bought Not Like the Movies and Black Shatter. Do you guys want to see those?

christmas nails!

I very rarely do any nail art. Well, I got the urge and this is what I came up with!



Tips are Essie Limited Addiction with Color Club Yule Love It
tree is FingerPaints Scenery Greenery and on top of everything is Color Club Si Vous Please.
How fun :)

On another note, Christian is coming on Thursday. Yay! I'm planning to recreate my Marine manicure.

For those who celebrate it, have a great Christmas!!!

NOTD spam!

Christian is coming tomorrow- so excited! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.




OPI The Show Must Go On


Color Club Jewel of a Girl

OPI DS Extravagance

Catrice I Sea You


Orly Meet Me Under the Mistletoe


OPI Extra-va-vaganza over Orly Matte Vinyl

OPI DS Magic

notd, etc extravaganza

Let's start off this post with a drool-worthy polish, shall we?


Optic Lusion Swing TimeGorrrrrrgeous... perfect formula, 2 coats.


OPI Sparkle-iciousSorry I couldn't get better pictures, it was a rainy day :( These pics don't do this polish any justice! It's so pretty.. reminds me of Mad as a Hatter, but this polish only has 3 colors in it while MAAH has a shit ton. This was 3 coats.

OPI Glow Up Already! over China Glaze Zombie ZestI absolutely loved this combo! Even my mom liked it, and that's saying a lot. She's more into 'normal' colors. 3 coats ZZ, 1 coat GuA.

*flower intermission*


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Zoya LaelA pretty fall color! Nothing too note worthy. This was... ah... I want to say 2 coats but I forgot :( The formula wasn't too good. As you can see, there was a lot of cuticle drag.

*kitty intermission*


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Essie Sew PsychedI imagined I'd like this a lot more than I actually did. Maybe I was just in a sour mood, because I really like how it looks in the picture. Two coats. I'm starting to like Essie's brush :) Their fall collection really wowed me! Limited Addiction must be my favorite red of all time... it's so sexy.

I started with a bang, so I'll end with a bang!

OPI Tease-y Does ItI was SO excited for this one, and it lived up to my expectations! Just LOOK at it! Someone on the NB said it's like OPI Black Cherry Chutney on steroids. That's a pretty good description. Such a gorgeous color, great formula, and a 2 coater. Doesn't get much better than this.

Thanks for looking! Enjoy your weekend :)