Hi!
Day eight of the 31 Day Challenge on Instagram is metallic nails. I started these nails with only one plan - to use chrome polishes to create them. Unfortunately, this isn't a very detailed plan, and I am rubbish at winging it. I decided to post them anyway because that's what I love about nail art - it's a constant learning curve! Therefore, I proudly declare these a Nail Fail! :D
I started out by painting all of my nails a different metallic shade (polish details below). I should have just applied topcoat at this stage and left it, because this is where it all goes wrong - I then painted a matching non-metallic strip of polish on each nail, and outlined with Barry M 'Pearl'. I finished 'the look' by dotting the metallic polish down the strip of non-metallic polish. Ugh, what was I thinking?!
Polishes used:
Models Own 'Chrome Silver' + Andrea Fullerton 'Sharon'
Claire's 'Teal Liquid Metal' + Butter London 'Fiver'
Claire's 'Purple Liquid Metal' + Barry M 'Prickly Pear'
Claire's 'Pink Liquid Metal' + Nails Inc. 'Westbourne Mews'
Models Own 'Chrome Blue' + Nails Inc. 'York Street'
As you can probably tell I'm not particularly overjoyed with this manicure, but that's the great thing about nail art - I can just wipe it off and start over again! Next year my metallic mani is going to be AWESOME (I had better start planning it now!)
Thanks for reading!
Helen x
PS Why not check out some of the amazing metallic designs others have created on Instagram for the 31 Day Challenge? Just search the hashtag #31dc2015 :D
Hi guys!
Prompt number seven of the 31 Day Challenge on Instagram is black and white. I used to believe that monochrome was a bit dull (what was I thinking?!), and always wanted a splash of colour in my manicures. However, I have grown to love the simple elegance of a monochrome mani, as it always looks so chic and striking. So without further ado, here are my black and white nails:
I searched Pinterest for inspiration for this prompt, and came across this manicure by Cubbiful from back in 2013. I loved it so much I instantly recreated it :D
I used my favourite one-coat white - Essence 'Wild White Ways' - for the base on all nails. I then dotted my thumb, index and pinkie using WAH London '01 Black' nail art pen. Finally I created the geometric pattern with striping tape and Rimmel 'Black Out'. I really, really love this look, and it was so straightforward to achieve. Definitely a winner!
Thanks for reading!
Helen x
I told you I was on a roll today! Blog post number three!
Here are my violet nails for the 31 Day Challenge on Instagram (prompt number six)
As I'm still not feeling 100% (and the doctors can't figure out why...), so I've been opting for simpler designs but I still think that this one is super effective. I used the oldest polish in my collection for the base - 'Vivid Violet' by No7, which is still available to purchase (even though I got mine years ago). It's a truly beautiful polish with a great glossy finish and a perfect slight pink shimmer running through it. So pretty! I then used a dotting tool and OPI 'Unfrost My Heart' to make the flowers, filling in the centre with more Vivid Violet before a final dot of silver. On my pinkie I wanted bling, so I used my new mini Swarovski crystals from She Sells Seashells and they are sooooo sparkly! <3 My camera and lighting setup really doesn't capture the true beauty of this mani at all.
After taking my photos I started thinking I shouldn't have bothered with the individual flowers on each nail and wish I'd stuck to just one accent nail. Oh well! What do you think?
Thanks for reading!
Helen x
