Happy Holidays Nails

Having a few holiday gatherings to attend this week, I was inspired to try another version of gradient nails. For this manicure, I used Orly Meet Me under the Mistletoe (an old polish I have had for years) for the base color followed by OPI Animal-istic and Sally Hansen Gem Crush Cha-Ching! at the tips. I finished this look off by using Sinful Colors Snow Me White and my new stamping kit I picked up from Rite-Aid (I believe it is called Salon Express). 

The Orly color is a green glitter gel. It is an old polish, but its consistency was still perfect. That said, it was a bit streaky and shear, so it took three coats to get the opacity I was looking for. I used one coat of OPI Animal-istic sponged on from the tips up, and I layered 2 coats of Sally Hansen Gem Crush Cha-Ching! sponged on over that (from the tips up). The Sally Hansen Gem Crush is a red glitter that looks like it would cover to full opacity in just 2 coats. I am going to have to try it on its own. It looks rather close to a red glitter polish in the OPI Muppets collection, but the silver glitter bits are smaller than the OPI version. For a finishing touch, I used Sinful Colors Snow Me White for the stamp. Snow me white seems to be a perfect opaque white cream that would work great on its own or for french tips or nail art. 

I am quite pleased with the outcome, and I did receive a lot of compliments on this one. 

Remover used: Acetone glycerin mix.

Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.

Base coat: Orly Bonder.

Color: Three coats of Orly Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, one coat of OPI Animal-istic sponged on at the tips, two coats of Sally Hansen Gem Crush Cha-Ching! sponged on at the tips, Sinful Colors Snow Me White for the stamp. 

Top coat: Seche Vite.

Wear Report: TBA, but I did have some edge wear the same day I painted the nails. It could be simply due to how thick the polish was and the fact that I had to play some reindeer games at a holiday party that involved stuffing balloons into some pantyhose. Update: This polish began to chip pretty well by day #3. I touched it up. On day #5, it chipped again, and again I touched it up. On day #7, it began to peel off in sheets, so I removed it. I would say the wear was average, but again, I am not sure if that is due to the different base coat or how thick I had applied the polish.  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!      

OPI Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ

Another great color for early fall. This color is a creamy deep berry red with purple undertones. I love it for this time of year, when I think of berry pies and apples falling from the trees. Of course, it also makes me think of the last few BBQs outdoors before the weather gets too chilly and the leaves are all gone.

My bottle may have had a thick formula, so I may add some thinner before wearing it again. The application was tricky for me.  I had to use 3 coats to cover up the streaks, and I still ended up with some brush marks and imperfections. Again, it could just be the particular bottle I bought. A little thinner should fix it right up.

Remover used: Acetone Glycerin mix.
Primer: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion.
Color: OPI Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ, ,3 coats.
Top Coat: Seche Vite.
Wear Report: TBA. Updated: Took it off on day #5 with minimal edge wear. This stuff wore like steel. Excellent wear!

OPI Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous

I can't say enough about this color. I have already gotten compliments on it, and I have only had it on a few hours. This is a color people notice. Sometimes it looks gray and metal like, and sometimes I catch the greenish cast to it in the sunlight from the tiny, blue-green glitter specks. It is simply gorgeous. 

The formula was nice and thin, so application was easy and fast. I did put three coats on for good measure, but I think I could have gotten away with just two. 

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.

Primer: Rubbing alcohol.

Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion.

Color: Three coats of OPI Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous.

Top Coat: Seche Vite.

Wear report: Fabulous. I took this polish of on day #2 and barely had any edge wear going on. Using my acetone/glycerin mix, it still took some extra soaking to get it off. Love this polish!

First Time

There is a first time for everything, and last Friday I had my first ever professional manicure. It was amazing. I wish I could have it done all the time. What she did to clean up my cuticles and make my nails look bigger and beautiful was nothing short of magic. Her filing and shaping was perfection. 

This is an OPI nail polish, but sadly, I cannot recall the name. It is a shimmery orange. 

I got my first chip 3 days after the manicure, which is normal for her manicures, per the manicurist herself.

Remover used: Unknown.

Primer: Rubbing alcohol.

Base coat used: Nail Tek (her recommended base coat for its moisturizing properties).

Color: Two coats of OPI color.

Top coat: Seche Vite (her recommended top coat).

Wear report: Normal wear, about 3 days before chipping.