Valentine's Day Nails

I recently bought Nails Inc's base coat polish, and this was my first time trying it out.  I am throughly impressed!  After painting on the base coat I only had to use one coat of color on most of my nails!  With some of these polishes I've used up to three coats in the past!  Below are the polishes I used for this nail-do.  Left to right: Nail Inc.'s base coat, Urban Outfitter's Cupcake, Ulta's Encore Pink, Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear Bubblegum Pink, Nails Inc's top coat, Sally Hensen's nail art pen in white, and a red permanent marker.  

I paint on a coat of the base coat, then I randomly painted my nails with the three different pinks.  Once those coats dried I painted on a second coat of color, just because I'm used to doing that, not because they really needed another coat.  Then once the pinks had dried completely, or so I thought I attempted to draw on some hearts with the nail art pen.  I quickly realized the polish had dried completely and decided to do polka dots on the other nails.  I thought I could get away with using the marker while the polish was still wet, but I didn't have much better luck.  Plus when I went to paint on the clear topcoat it bleed all over the place, and now my hearts look like they are bleeding.  

I seem to be ultra impatient when painting my nails.  I have a hard time waiting for my nails to dry, and end up with smudged messy fingers.  Polka dots are so easy though, and always look great.  They are my saving grace when it comes to painting my nails.  I always think my nails look nice when they are adorned in polka dots.  Hope you have a lovely day, chris!

Gradient Nails

Today I tried out The Nailasaurus' Gradient Nails tutorial.  I used Orly's Won't Chip for a top coat, Sally Hansen's Green With Envy for the second color, and Orly's Lemonade for the bottom coat.  I had to use two coats to get proper coverage with the yellow color.  One coat was almost thick enough though.  I painted all my nails with two coats of Lemonade. 

Then I mixed the green and yellow together on a paper plate using a paperclip, and then I used a kitchen sponge to dab the polish onto my fingers.  

I cleaned up the skin around my fingers with cotton swabs I dipped into polish remover.  I coated each nail with the clear top coat, which helped smooth out the sponge marks.  

I like this look, but it's not as refined as The Nailasaurus' paint job.  I'll have to try it out with other polishes, and sponges.  I need to buy more top coat, maybe I'll treat myself to a new color!  Hope ya'll had a great weekend, and happy DIYing, chris!

Nail Art

Ick, long day.  I'm failing at words. So here.  Nail art.  

I used Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear The Real Teal, Sally Hansen's Nail Art Pen in white, and of course Orly's Won't Chip clear top coat.  I could never paint my nails without using this top coat.  I feel like it would be a waste spending the time painting my nails if I didn't use this top coat.  My right hand doesn't look half as good as my left.  I need to work on becoming ambidextrous.  

Have a lovely night, and happy DIYing, chris!

Teal Dream Nails

I painted my nails today.  I totally dig the color combo I picked.  I hope these last.  It's tough with my job they tend to chip easily.  

The colors are called Ivy League, The Real Teal, and the Julie brand doesn't have a name.  I'm a big fan of Orly's Won't Chip.  It helps a ton.  I can see a noticeable difference if I use one coat verses two.  One coat is great for regular everyday wear, but if you're rough and tough on your nails this is a great top coat with two layers.  No chips for days.  

This nail do is extra simple.  The style is definitely more in the color picks, and which nails got what color.  With using this many colors I didn't want to introduce anymore colors.  Maybe a design drawn with a black nail pen, but I don't own one.  

Well that's all I have for today.  Sorry it was so simple.  Have a great  night, and happy DIYing, chris!

Yellow and White Nails

A couple days ago I bought a small bottle of Orly's Lemonade nail polish, and I've been dying to try it out.  So when I got home from work today I set aside some time for painting my nails.  

I used Orly's Lemonade, and Sally Hansen's White nail art pen, plus Orly's Won't Chip clear coat.

I painted two layers of the yellow color, and then two coats with the white nail pen.  

I tried really hard to try to wait until the yellow had dried before I painted on the white, but I can see on a couple nails where I didn't wait long enough, and it smudged some.  Then I had to play the waiting game again before I could paint on two clear coats.  I love this look!  It will definitely bring some sunshine to these rainy days.  

I need to get some laundry done.  Happy DIYing, chris!

Pink and Orange Polka Dot Nail-Do

I have another nail-do for ya'll today.  Sundays seem to be my nail day.  I try to shellack my nails in enough clear coat to keep them chip-free through out the week.  By sunday I'm over the paint job, and my nails are do for a trim, or at least a good rub down with an emery board.  After I cleaned off last week's nail polish my nails were stained from the dark teal nail polish.  I was able to easily remove the color by simply buffing my nails.  To balance out the dark bold look of last weeks design, I went with a light girlie design for this week.  

A light pink base coat with a bright orange and pink polka dot design.  The light pink works perfectly with my bright colors, and polka dots couldn't be a more perfect design to accentuate how well these colors work together.  

I used Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in Bubblegum Pink and Sun Kissed for the polka dots, and Ulta's Encore Pink for my base coat.  I topped the whole design with two layers of Orly's clear Won't Chip polish.  Clear polish is a must for all my nail-dos.  It's the only way to keep my cute designs chip free for more than a day.  

Well I need to finish my right hand before it gets too late.  Hope ya'll had a fantastic weekend, and happy DIYing, chris.  

Sun Kissed Nails

Aaron and I worked at the house from nine to three.  Then we came home and watched The Guard together.  Amazing movie, my type of film.  Extra dry and absolutely gorgeous cinematography.  While we were lounging around I painted my nails.  Then Aaron left for work around six thirty, and I didn't realize I had left my camera in our car.  So I decided to try to use my cell phone to take some photos of my nail-do.  

I painted my nails with the teal color first.  Then I tore off nail sized pieces of blue tape for each finger, and cut an upside down 'v' shape out of the middle of each piece.  I carefully placed a triangle on the bottom of each nail, and placed the other half on the top half of my nail.  Leaving an upside down 'v' exposed.  I painted that part of my nail orange.  Let the paint dry, and then removed the tape. 

On my ring finger I painted some glitter nail polish, then painted a clear top coat on everything.  I used Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear line of nail polishes, The Real Teal, Sun Kissed, Disco Ball, and Invisible.  I want to buy some of those nail sticker stencils.  They would work a ton better then the crap ones I make with blue tape.  I get so impatient waiting for my nails to dry, and I usually end up damaging the paint trying to tear off the tape.  

Hope ya'll had a great weekend, and happy DIYing, chris!