Glitter and Grunge

After doing a manicure that included trying to draw letters...and failing horribly (I might post that up later), I did this glitter gradient and saran wrap manicure that is more my style.

I used L'Oréal Royalty Reinvented as the base, Sally Hansen Snow Globe for the glitter gradient, and Essie Licorice as the second color for the saran wrap effect.
 

A Girl Watches Monsters University and then Does Her Nails

I was encouraged by my cousin, Julia Mendoza,  to do my nails and start posting!

I guess I was subconsciously influenced by watching Monsters University because one of my followers pointed out that it kind of looked inspired by the movie.

I used L'Oréal New Money (pictured) for the gradient base and the swirls Essie Cab-ana for the second color in the gradient and base for the ring finger and Splash of Grenadine to finish off the gradient.

This is what happens when Mike and Sully are smushed together with a touch of Celia Mae on the ring finger.

Autism Awareness Month 2013

As you know, April is Autism Awareness Month. I did this manicure a few days back but have been slacking when it comes to updating my blog. I'm working on improving that. :)

More importantly:
A dear friend of mine's son was recently diagnosed with mild autism, so this is for her and her family.

I used Essie Marshmallow as the base with L'Oréal Not a Cloud in Sight, SinfulColors Why Not, and Ulta Blue Streak for the gradient. I added Ciaté Glass Slipper for sparkle and Milani Silver for the glitter placement heart.

Like my most recent gradient post, I used a white polish as the base (Essie Marshmallow) so that the colors would pop without me having to put tons of layers of blue on.

Wondering how I did the glitter placement? I used Milani Silver because it has large glitter in a clear polish. I just dabbed the polish on a piece of kitchen foil (so it wouldn't dry too fast) and used a dotting tool to pick up individual glitter pieces to make the heart.

A Cotton Candy Fairy Tale rendered in Pastels

What is this? Pastel gradient? Cotton Candy gradient? Fairy-tale gradient? Can it be all three please?

I used Essie Marshmallow as the base and then SinfulColors Cinderella, Glass Pink, and Mint Apple for the gradient. I added OPI Pirouette My Whistle for an even softer/fairy-like look. 

I've gotten some questions on how I do gradients and, personally, it depends on what colors and formulas are involved. For example, since each polish (the blue, pink, and green) is really sheer, I used one coat of white (Essie Marshmallow) for a base so that the finish manicure would be solid (no visible nail line) and would not interfere with the actual gradient colors. 

I'm going to be trying to describe how I do each gradient from here on out.

Loaded Gradient

In a desperate attempt to make up for all the days without having my nails done, I did a gradient, glitter, and rhinestones manicure. I don't usually have so many things going on at the same time, but I do love it!

I used Ciaté Speed Dial, Dangerous Affair, and Cabaret, OPI Pirouette My Whistle, and Cina Rhinestones.

In case the pictures don't really show it well, it goes from orangey-red, to red, to purple.

Sponge and Microbead It Up!

I was inspired by Tamara on ohtammm's Instagram page for the gradient/sponging technique and color combo, Sammy from The Nailasaurus Blog for the microbead use, and "Higasaurus" here on Instagram for combing both elements. Check those gorgeous gals out! 

I used Essie Marshmallow as the base for the middle and ring fingers with SinfulColors Pink Forever, Hazard, Why Not, Ulta Sun-Sational and Duty Free Shopping Spree sponged over that white base. Then my index and pinky finger is SinfulColors Why Not with silver Recollections Microbeads. It's all topped off with Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

Cotton Candy Reminiscent

I finally got some real inspiration for a manicure. I dreamt I was wearing this combo so I had to recreate it, and I'm happy to say it turned out as planned. With a gradient that contains all of the colors of cotton candy I have ever consumed and delicate sparkles and glitter I couldn't stop staring. I used OPI Pink-ing of You, Ciaté Headliner, Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree, and OPI Pirouette My Whistle.

Electric Blue Combo

One of my favorite things to do when it comes to nail art is combining two designs. For this manicure, I did a gradient and polka dots. I used my Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors base with Essie Butler Please as the gradient, then I added silver polka dots...which blended in with Smoke and Mirrors as I got closer to the cuticle.

Dark and Light - Gradients and Feathers

I was inspired by Kaitlin Ferland at The Daily Polish for this mix of light and dark. I used black polish for the index and pinky finger and have determined that I think black looks more sinister on oval/almond shaped nails. Then I did a blue-purple-pink gradient over a white base and layered a sheer pink over that to tone down the colors a bit. Then I tried my hand at drawing feathers.

Note: Why do my nails look so short in photos? They are actually pretty long...longer than how long I would let them get when I had square shaped nails.

I used Essie Licorice, Julep Kate, Ulta Blue Streak, Barielle Grape Escape, Orly Butterflies, OPI Passion, and Orly Instant Artist Jet Black.

Nude to Purple Gradient

For this nude to purple gradient I used Essence Nude It!, Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree, OPI Purple With a Purpose, and Essie Pure Pearlfection. Recently my gradients have taken so many layers of polish to get a nice fade that they end up being really thick and taking a long time to dry. I need to take my time for my next gradient, giving each layer some time to dry.

Crazy Cute Mix and Match

For this Mix and Match mani, I was inspired by Adventure Time, Domo, cupcakes, and color. Typically Mix and Match style is not one I would wear but it's perfect for those times when you want an overload of cuteness and when you are going to California Adventure, like I am today! If you have any questions about the design please feel free to ask me in the comment section below.

Here is a list of all the polishes used:
Elle Riviera Blue
Essie Licorice
Julep Kate and Sophie
OPI Pink-ing of You, Passion, I'm Not Really a Waitress, and Purple With a Purpose
Orly Instant Artist Jet Black and Crisp White
SinfulColors Hazard, Pink Forever, and Nirvana
Ulta Sun-Sational, Limelight, Blue Streak, Duty Free Shopping Spree

For the glitter gradient on my right middle finger, I used Essie A Cut Above and Milani Teal and Hot Pink

Left Hand

Left Hand

Right Hand

Right Hand

Sweet Summer Gradient

This has become one of my most beloved manicures. Sadly, I smudged almost every finger the same day I did it but at least I got this photo before that happened.

For the base I used Ulta Sun-Sational (You remember that gorgeous cheery yellow I'm sure.), SinfulColors Hazard, and Orly Butterflies for the gradient and then Cina orange rhinestones.

I did take me a while to blend all of the colors together and my best tip is to be patient. Also, someone on Instagram asked me how I was able to use Orly Butterflies because it is so sheer. Well the answer is that I just went over it two-three times to really make the colors pop.

I have a little gradient tutorial and there are lots of YouTube videos for gradients as well.

Vintage Polka Dots

Here I used Ulta Cream of the Crop as the base and OPI Pedal Faster Suzi! as the polka dots. Then I added Essie A Cut Above for a gradient glitter tip.

Glitter Gradient

For this look, I used Ulta Sun-Sational and Nicole by OPI Rainbow in the S-Kylie. My sister picked out the neon yellow and wanted glitter so we decided to go with a gradient. 

Periwinkle to Purple to Pink

I started off with a different nail design in mind but I'm a sucker for purples and gradients. I couldn't help myself! I started off with Essie Lapiz of Luxury (Periwinkle), Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree (Purple), OPI Pink-ing of You (Pink).

Then I decided to add Nicole by OPI Here Kim's the Sun which my mom got at Ulta for $1.99 marked down from $7.99.

Before I took this manicure off, I added stripes with Orly Instant Artist Jet Black. I was inspired by the pattern Brummingbird did. Here is her blog link: http://brummingbird.blogspot.com/. She is new to blogspot, but you can find more of her nail art on her Instagram page.
 

Glitter Gradient

I was recently in need of a manicure that was both sophisticated and festive. I decided to go with my favorite red, OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress, as the base. Then, with OPI Pirouette My Whistle and Milani Silver, I created the glitter gradient. This manicure paired very well with my black dress with white polka dots as red is classic and the glitter mimicked the white polka dots.

Sunlight

Indoor Lighing

Concert Nails!

My fiancé bought Foster the People concert tickets. It was great! Kimbra opened and Foster the People started with my favorite song of theirs.

I did this manicure to match my concert outfit. I immediately regretted adding the Cina Rhinestones but was too tired to redo the nail. I loved the gradient though. I used Orly Sweet Peacock and OPI Clubbing Til Sunrise.

Cherry Bomb Gradient

Tried out a different technique to do a Gradient Manicure. I painted my base first using OPI Pedal Faster Suzi! Then used OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress for the tips.

Starting from top right. 1: Paint a strip of the pink polish and red polish right next to each other. 2: Using a toothpick or dotting tool, drag the red up to the pink to blend the two colors only where they meet. 3: Press the makeup sponge right on the polish from above. (The sponge will soak up the color.) 4: Then gently apply the sponge to the tip of the nail, working your way up towards the cuticle to gradually add the red color. (You can focus more of the red on the sponge on the tip to of the nail if you need to.) 5: There is the finished Gradient Manicure.

The finished product

Gradients and Glitter

This was inspired by "Lisa_beth" on Instagram. For the gradients, I used Essie Blanc and SinfulColors Mint Apple and Rise and Shine. The glitter is on a base of Rise and Shine with Milani Teal as the glitter.

My First Gradient

My very first gradient manicure with OPI Pink-ing of You and Essie Lapiz of Luxury. I painted Pink-ing of You as the base and then sponged on Lapiz of Luxury. I used Chelsea King's tutorial on YouTube under the username "getnailedd."