gel manicure & metallic striping.

Here are the exact products I used to create this design.

1. Red Carpet 'Prep' $3.99

2. Sephora by OPI gelshine 'base coat' $17.50

3. Red Carpet 'White Hot' $9.99

4. Sephora by OPI 'what's a tire jack?' $17.50

5. Sephora by OPI 'top coat' $17.50

I cure each layer for 120 seconds, I might not need to do it for that long, 

but I don't want to take any chances.

You will also need a UV lamp but you can literally use any UV lamp to cure your polish. I'm sure some of them are less harmful then others, but mine is a simple one I found on eBay for $35 a few years back.

The last thing you'll need is some silver metallic nail striping.  Which will cost less then $10 for a few spools. I just use my cuticle scissors (and try not to touch the sticky side) to size each piece across my nail bed. Then I then press down the corners to make sure it's secure with my fingers and then sandwich it between two layers of top coat.  

I do occasionally get a small amount of lifting in the corners but I've sort of figured out to just add extra top coat. But it'll last longer the thinner the application.

Very last step: 

Use a cotton ball with nail polish remover on to and sweep across each nail to remove any weird residue and really make your nails shine. I know this one sounds weird, but I saw my manicurist do it and it really works without messing anything up.

#mhnails

Mara Hoffman 

inspired manicure!  

I hardly have time for anything these days but a little birdie told me that Mara Hoffman was having a contest and the winner would receive a $250 Mara Hoffman gift certificate! So i figured I'd make a play and try to win a bathing suit.  That being said - I am certain this isn't a winning look BUT I had fun doing it.  There are some amazingly talented nail artists out there.  If you want to see the other entries search #mhnails on instagram.  

top picks:

thatjanedesigns

pamsandkin

minimoogs

yeshands

missnarie

chelseaqueen

ciaomanhattan2012

Mara Hoffman Blog

22k gold.

ciate: sand dune (base color)

opi: goldeneye (top color)

gold leaf: 22k gold (overlay)

vial sold at the evolution store for $10.00

base and top coat of your choice.

i use nailtiques formula #2 for all topcoats

directions: 

apply your base, 1 coat of sand dune, 2 coats of goldeneye & wait for it to mostly dry.

pour out some gold leafing onto a sheet of paper. wet your index finger and touch a few flecks.

they will stick to anything - then transfer the gold to your nail. it will stick long enough for the 

top coat to be applied (i used two). 

 

moonstruck.

Ballet Slippers by Essie: base

Sand Dune by Ciate: moon

Nailtiques #2: top coat

 wait for the base coat to dry and then apply french manicure guides 

to the top of your nail and paint one coat of gold on top. so easy!

 wait for the gold to dry and peel off the guides. add a top cat and you're all set. <3

spatter up.

Dexter nails!!! 

I didn't come up with this 'technique' but I did it &

 I would say that any skill level can handle this. It's literally painting your nails white

and spitting/blowing paint onto them with a regular straw. 

Check out the full spatter tutorial on 

Jane Says.

Btw... I'm still disturbed by the fact that the strip club dicks made the sweet bartender 

who loved his family kill himself last night. Not cool.

diy. skelly nails.

skelly nails.

Supplies:

Waterslide Transfer Decal Paper

(found mine on ebay)

Photoshop & Printer

Scissors

Base Color & Top Coat

I started with Sally Hanson Xtreme Wear in White On.

Here is a screen shot of my print out, but I can share the hi-res file with you

if you ask me nicely.

I've done this twice now, once on a laser jet & once on an inkjet. So far I had the best luck on the laser jet and got a lot of smearing from the inkjet printer. However, for my halloween nails the smearing actually made is look more ghostly, so it worked out. 

I will look into this in the future.

Mini designs.

1. Once you have your print out, cut out your little designs. 

2. Literally apply it exactly as you would a temporary tattoo to your skin.  

3. Design, face down on the nail bed.

4. Sopping wet paper towel or sponge directly on top for approx 15-30 seconds.

5. Lift paper off carefully and the design will have transfered.

After I have applied the sponge.

After the paper was lifted off. All that's left if the top coat, which

can you be done immediately.

Other Inspirations.

creative process.

Inside look at my creative process. for nail art. :)

everything's coming up roses.

This will be the first of many fun new prints.

I just bought a 25 plate pack of bundle monster nail plates from amazon.

Available HERE.

base: essie mint candy apple

flowers: teal from forever 21

rebecca minkoff woven brights.

\

inspiration: rebecca minkoff

forever 21 (love & beauty): in cocoa & neon pink

milani: gold

Use a detail brush from any other color you have

(just clean it first with remover) & paint short random strokes 

to create a semi woven look.

ocean bubbles.

nars - kutki

love & beauty - no name

revlon - endless possibilites

sally hanson - white on