Spring Sophistication: Easy Coral and Gold Manicure

It's Spring (-ish), and that means it's time for pretty bright colors! It also means that it's wedding season, and I'm (thankfully) ridiculously busy. I needed a nail look that's cute, classy, and quick. Here's what I came up with:

I'm digging it. The most time consuming part was the coral base coat. I used Flower Beauty Nail'd It in What's the Daffodilly-O, and it takes about three coats for full, streak-free opacity. The gold tips were made with Urban Decay nail polish in Superfreak, from the Rollergirl palette. That palette has been discontinued, but you can still find it on ebay. A more readily-available option is Essie nail polish in Good As Gold. The topcoat is Finger Paints. I knocked this out while I watched TV Monday evening...and took the picture today. Friday. That's three solid days of wear without a single chip. I can't vouch that the Essie will be as chip-resistant, of course, but the Flower Beauty has great wear time on its own. This may be my new go-to look for the season.

Got any nail looks you want to share? Leave 'em in the comments!

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roullier! Glam Mardi Gras Ball Nails

Tonight, Thomas and I are going to a Mardi Gras ball! I'll be working as a narrator for the tableaux, so I'm even more excited than usual. Normally, the local news anchors and radio personalities take on those roles, so It's a huge honor for little ol' me to get to do this. It's also a really nerve-wracking, because instead of throwing on a gown from a couple of years ago, hoping my hair only frizzes half as much as it normally does, and just trying to blend in with the crowd, I'm going to have a spotlight on me. Oh. Dear. God. No complaints, but I've had to kick "gettin' purty" into high gear.

I have an awesome dress that I hope to God I can squeeze into. It's not Spanx-friendly, so I'm on my own, and already formulating a backup plan. I have fake-baked, exfoliated, moisturized, exfoliated some more, face-masked, moisturized some more, and broken in my heels. Last night, I bit the bullet and did my mani-pedi. I'm never sure of the best time to do those. I chip my nails just thinking about chipping my nails. Anyhoo, I wanted something super glam with just a little bit of silver bling. My dress has silver and, well, it's Mardi Gras. You have to be just a little over-the-top. Here's what I came up with:

Sorry for the slightly fuzzy picture. I can not take a picture of my hand without my other hand shaking. I've even tried propping the camera up on something. I need a tripod. And a better camera. And talent.

The base coat is Femme Fatale by Ulta. Once that dried, I used LA Colors Art Deco silver glitter to draw on the half moon and fill it in. This is not easy to do, and can be very frustrating, so don't get discouraged. Just take your time and remember to breathe. Once that's dried, dot a holographic top coat (mine's discontinued, sadly, but here's a great option) on top of the silver for a little extra dimension. Finish with a clear topcoat.

That's my fancy-schmancy manicure for the fancy-schmancy ball tonight. Tomorrow, the coach turns back into a pumpkin, and the pumpkin into a...carpet cleaner, actually. I have Krampus tracks all over my living room. Glamorous, no?

Deck the Nails: Good Idea, Bad Idea

During my search for the perfect festive red glitter polish (which is still on-going, I might add), I ran across this little monster in an Ulta 5 for $5 bin. Don't even bother looking for it online--my guess is that even they're ashamed of it. I can't even find where anyone's ever swatched or blogged about it before. It's like it doesn't really exist. Wow. I also can't tell you the real name of it, because the label I have says "Wicked", and Ulta has a different polish labeled "Wicked" on the site. Seriously, I'm flummoxed. All I can say is if you see a bottle of Ulta nail polish that has giant chunks of red glitter in a black base, RUN AWAY.

*UPDATE! It's called "Fashionably Late". I have other names for it...*

Make it stop. Please.

I hate, loathe, and despise this polish. It's not even pretty on. What you see, in the photo above, is three coats. I managed to capture this on camera just before the glitter began peeling off. That's right, peeling off. It got caught on everything imaginable, and within an hour, I already had noticeable chipping. Granted, I didn't use a top coat, but the polish was already so goopy, the base polish so streaky, and the glitter so haphazard (and not in a cute way), that I didn't see any point in prolonging the misery. I wore this from Thursday until Sunday, and was never so happy to remove a polish. By the time I began to attempt to take it off (oh, yeah, it was an ordeal...more on that later), Thomas asked me if it was a crackle polish. No.

To remove this, I started with my usual glitter removal method: cotton pads soaked in non-acetone remover and applied to the nails. Usually, after a couple of minutes of this, the polish whisks off of the nail, and only a small amount of scrubbing is required for thelingering sparkles. Not this time. Oh, no. This time, I soaked the nails...then scrubbed...then soaked some more...then scrubbed some more...then eventually used my finger nail to scrape...then scrubbed some more...for about an hour. No kidding. I finally got all of the polish and glitter off, but I started to think I was going to be stuck with silver glitter on my nails forever. Oh--the polish remover took the red off of the glitter, but the silver undercoat was still there, and it was still stuck to my nails.

This is going in the trash. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Not only that, it might be my pick for worst polish of the year. I just need to figure out what it's called. I'm going with, "The-polish-that-shall-not-be-named".

On the opposite end of the spectrum, here's my pick for mani of the season: the Louboutin Manicure. The concept is very simple. You simply paint your nails with a shiny black varnish (I added sparkles on an accent nail. Adele did hers in silver for the Grammy's. You can be creative), then color the underside of each nail red, like the signature Louboutin sole.

Front

Back

As simple as the concept is, the execution is much more difficult and detailed. This definitely not a "slap on as you run out the door" nail look. To start with, you'll need to make sure that your nails have grown out long enough for the underside to be visible. You also will need to make sure that the undersides are completely clean and free of nail "dust" from filing. Paint your base coat, and add any embellishment you're going to, then let dry completely. For the undersides, choose a red that is opaque and bright. The one I used was a little too sheer, so some of the black polish from the front is still showing through (it's Ulta Red Carpet Red, in case you were wondering. Love the shade, but it's just too sheer for this. The black is the nail duo by The New Black). If you're feeling fancy, you can paint the very edge of your nail red, too. Finish with a top coat (just on the front of the nail and edge).

Now, get ready to do some clean-up, because painting the underside of your nail red without looking like you've done yourself a major injury is downright impossible. If you're in a hurry, a q-tip with polish remover should work well. If not, paint them in the evening, once you're in for the night, and just wait it out. By the time I'd finished my shower the next morning, the majority of the mistakes had rubbed off, and the errors on my finger tips peeled off easily.

It's not the most out-there of nail designs, but it's a lot of fun, and a cute little discovery for anyone observant enough to spot. It's also completely appropriate for anything from office cocktail parties to ugly sweater contests. Have fun!

Costume Creations: Easy Halloween Manicure

Here's a quick and easy Halloween nail look. All it took were a couple of polishes I already had (and you probably do, too, since they were pretty popular) and some Scotch tape.

Yeah, I know, I should have cleaned up the edges. I was in a hurry...for something...I can't remember what...

Here's how to do this:

1. File your nails and apply a base coat.
2. Apply 1-2 coats of China Glaze Riveting (or whatever orange polish you like). Allow to dry completely.
3. Measure off five pieces of Scotch tape per hand, and carefully apply the pieces to your fingernails, one hand at a time. Trust me, you do not want to try this with both hand taped up. The tape should be applied so that four nails are covered except for the tips, and one accent nail (you pick) is only covered at the tip.
4. Apply China Glaze Stone Cold (or whatever black polish you like) to the uncovered tips and nail. Allow to dry completely.
5. Remove tape and touch up any uh-ohs.
6. Apply top coat to seal.

Could that be any easier? I really liked the way this turned out. I even got some compliments from Thomas. A word of warning, though: Stone Cold chips if you look at it funny. I chose these because the sparkly finishes worked well together, and also because the Stone Cold is very thick and opaque, and would cover the orange easily. You will need a top coat, and you will need to touch this up daily. If you're doing this for a special occasion, wait to do your manicure until the day of or the night before. Hope you enjoyed this, and Happy Wednesday!

Rockabilly Glitter!: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

This weekend, Fighting Owl filmed some stuff (details to follow, as soon as I know what's going on, myself), but I got to don the old Claire Renfield duds for the occasion! I've played a lot of characters in my day, but I have to say that she's one of very few that's earned a special place in my heart. Plus, her costumes are always ridiculously cute, and this one may have been the best, yet.

Anyway, since Claire is a little (okay, a lot) on the rockabilly side, I normally paint her nails bright red. This time, though, Thomas saw these, and nothing would do but I had to wear them.

Aren't they fabulous!?!

So, here's the deal with these little suckers: supposedly, because they go on dry, they're time-savers and fantastic for gals in a hurry. I call shenanigans. If you want to do these right, they take as long to apply, if not longer, as regular nail polish. You also really need to add a topcoat to secure the seal, which completely voids their whole "no drying time" claim. However, if you're into really intricate nail art, these might be right up your alley.



These are called Headbanger, and have, sadly, been discontinued, hence the clearance price. Would I pay $8.54 for these? Heck, no! You get one application! These are really only worth it if you can get them under five bucks.

  

I do like that they come with all of the tools you need. To apply, remove all existing polish. Then, push down cuticles with the included orange stick. Shape nails with hot pink side of file, then buff with the white side (not shown). Wipe nails down with polish remover, once more, to ensure the cleanest nails possible.



Choose the strip that best fits each nail, starting with pinky and working to thumb. Remove the plastic cover sheet and white backing, and break off silver tab. Apply to nail, holding strip in the middle for best control. Stretch stip to fit nail, then fold excess over the nail tip. Create a crease with the orange side of the nail file, and break off excess. Use the blunt side of the orange stick to seal all edges.

PROS: Really cute designs, relatively easy application, decent wear.

CONS: Pricey, chips easily during application and shortly after, requires a topcoat to seal, not a time-saver.

Final Verdict: 7 out of 10. I recommend these if you are into nail art and can catch them on sale.

Curious about that rockabilly look? This was taken after filming, and after I'd taken off my costume and put on my street clothes, so please pardon if I'm a little disheveled. 

Why, yes! That is a skull in my hair flower! If you like this look and want to know what products went into it, let me know in the comments.

Lingerie For Nails

Remember that great Zoya polish that came in my Glossybox? Well, I decided to jazz it up a bit.

How cool is that? The holographic glitter top coat is White Noise by Warpaint Beauty. I found it on clearance at Hot Topic for $1.99, and figured, "what the hey? It'll be fun!" Now, I'm in love with it, and it's been discontinued...of course. So, now I'm on a mission to find a replacement for it. But look at how pretty it is over nude nails!

Seriously, this makes me think of that mesh material designers use on red carpet gowns. It's like lingerie for your nails, and it's so easy to do. Swipe a thin coat on the top third of your nail (you may have to "set" the glitter where you want it), then add a thicker coat on the white tip only--like a French manicure. Add a clear top coat to seal. I used Finger Paints in Natural Talent for the nude base. It's very sheer, so what you're seeing is around five coats. Feel free to find something more opaque to save time.

Moving on, let's dip into the ol' Magic Glossybox o' Samples to check out the Burberry Lip Mist in Copper. One word: Gorgeous. This is less a lipstick and more a butter. It's sheer, but pigmented, a beautiful Summery bronze, and oh, so moisturizing. My only complaints are the flavor, which is far too perfume-y for my taste, and the thirty dollar price tag. It's very similar to the Revlon lip butters you can get at the drugstore for less than a third of the cost. In this case, you're really just paying for the Burberry name and packaging. I'm definitely enjoying my sample, but I won't buy a full-sized one.

We Did the Monster Mash!

Last night, Thomas and I took a drive over to Pensacola to see the touring company of Young Frankenstein, so I was M.I.A. on the blog, and for that, I apologize. My absence also means it's time for another installment of...

WHILE I WAS OUT!

Obviously, I saw the show, which was really cute. Young Frankenstein is pretty high up on my list of favorite movies, and I've been a fan of the soundtrack for a couple of years--ever since I ran across an album at a local con.

(True story: Thomas and I, along with some other Fighting Owl Films folks, were guests on a panel at the con. On this one day, I chased a baby duck through the parking lot of my city-based apartment complex, rode around with a body in the trunk of Thomas' car, had my cameral "pillaged" by a "pirate", and heard one terrified hotel employee exclaim, "GEEKS!" as she ran out of the building. OH! And the one picture we were able to recover has me looking flat-out stoned (I wasn't), and Thomas looking like he's about to eat a DVD box. All in all, I'd call it a success.)

Anyway, the show was precious, and my only real complaint was the sound system. They had some major problems with the microphones, which made jokes difficult to catch, and left a performer or two hung out to dry. Even so, it was an enjoyable show, and a good time was had by all. Well, all except maybe those one or two performers...bless 'em.

Of course, to get ready for a night at the theatre, I gave embellishing my nails another shot. This time, I think I may have finally figured it out.



Here, I have O.P.I. Brisbane Bronze as a base, and O.P.I. for Sephora Traffic Stopper Copper as the highlight. I think the colors are similar enough that the singled-out nail isn't jarring, but the glitter is chunky enough that you can tell that one nail is embellished. I've been digging it.



Photo Credit: Forever21



I also gave an old dress in my closet a quickie makeover, leaving me with a really cute skirt for the occasion. See, last year, I orderded a dress from Forever 21, but when it arrived, I realized that it was too short-waisted for me. I couldn't return it, so it hung in the closet forever. Yesterday, I decided enough was enough, cut off the top with a pair of scissors, folded under the excess fabric, and voila, I had a new skirt. I paired it with a tank that actually fit, some Steve Madden platform pumps I practically stole from Ross, and had a brand new outfit for absolutely nothing. Woohoo!



At the theatre, I was seated next to a lovely young lady who was wearing one of the coolest dresses I've ever seen! She was sweet enough to tell me where she got it. The brand is Paper Doll Productions, and in case you can't tell from the photo, the fabric is a collage of different Universal monster movie posters. It's pretty darn nifty in the picture, but so much more awesome in person.



Photo Credit: Angry Young and Poor



There's also another shop, found on Etsy, that carries a dress with the same print, but in a different sillhouette that might be more flattering on curvier body types (like mine). Now, if only I could come up with the seventy bucks to make this happen in my closet...

Photo Credit: Etsy

So, that's what I've been up to. Not much, actually. Mostly drooling over pretty prints and painting my nails. Wow. I feel like a slug. I blame my broken coffee pot, but that's another post entirely...