Orly
Playing with Texture – Matte and Glossy Nail Art
 Happy Memorial Day Weekend Fanatics!
Mr. ALU is spending the weekend studying for the last part of the CPA exam (please wish him luck) which gives me plenty of time to play in the polish room. Not the most thrilling holiday weekend ever but at least after Tuesday we’ll be free to enjoy the rest of the summer. The rest of our lives really! Plus my pal Jamie from The Beauty of Life is home so I won’t be high on polish fumes all weekend long. Anywho after posting details on OPI’s upcoming Matte polish collection, Suzi’s suggestion about combining finishes prompted me to experiment. Using the black, textured nails I saw at the CND production suite during Fashion Week as inspiration, I got to work. Check out the products I used to recreate the look and see the finished result after the jump! |
Technique Because these top coats aren’t quick drying, I waited a good 5-10 minutes for each one to set up before applying the stripes. The matte top coat applies glossy and dries to a satin/flat finish. Using two coats intensifies the effect. Using the nail art brush, dip into the matte/glossy top coat and gently drag across the nail. I find it easier to hold the brush relatively steady and roll the nail underneath. Experiment to find the method that works best for you. What you see below is my first attempt so my lines aren’t as clean and even as they should be. So what do you think? Are you into it? Oh and stay tuned for Swatch Requests, I’m gonna try and bang as many of the most requested comparisons as I can. Toodles for now!
Tools
I chose to do an alternating effect. With two coats of Sinful Black on Black as the base color, I used matte and shiny top coats on every other finger and, when dry, placed shiny and matte stripes (respectively) over top. Just to see if there was a difference in the look, I did one set of shiny stripes with the black nail art polish (middle finger) and the other set with the glossy top coat (pinkie finger) using the nail stripping brush. I had better control with the brush but it’s really a matter of preference.
What I love about this look is that it’s subtle and unique. It’s not over the top nail art but it’s distinctive. I did a glossy tip using OPI A Grape Fit! last night and it looked really cool. Too bad sheet marks wrecked it by morning.
The ALU Archives – Orly Gogo
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.I was chatting on Facebook with a reader from Croatia who asked me about the OPI polish worn on the model in the Beyond Chic collection ad (below). Even though she’s more of a dark, vampy gal, she called the color “classy” and a great change of pace. The model’s soft opaque white tips appealed to me and totally inspired this week’s ALU Archives shade choice. |
 Being that my go-to white is the uber-fab China Glaze White Kwik Silvr I decided to try something different. I still wanted some sparkle and it HAD to be opaque but not white-out white. As I dug through my white/black/gray drawer I came across a lacquer that’s been sitting in my stash unused and unloved, Orly Gogo. |
Gogo was originally released with the Manicure Miniatures and due to the popularity of the collection, Orly eventually brought them out in full size with the Hot Stuff collection of brights.
I’m somewhat on the fence with this one. I love the hue because it’s not mod stark white yet it still feels fresh and edgy. My issue is with the glitter and application. Like a lot of light colors, this one goes on a bit streaky so I needed three coats to get it even. And the smooth silver micro-glitter is fantastic in the light but in shade it looks like small grey specks. I’m calling it a keeper but putting it in my pedi-only pile since whites look so amazing next to a faux summer glow. I think the glitter issue would drive me nuts on my fingers but wouldn’t be as noticeable on toes.
Orly Gogo is available on Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com in both the mini ($1.79-1.99) and full size ($3.19-3.50) bottles.
Wearing My Cleveland Pride – Go Cavs!
 The Cleveland Cavaliers kick off Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs tonight at home against Atlanta so it’s a perfect time for a sports themed manicure. Confession: I’m not really a big time Cavs fan. I’m not even going to pretend be. Like a lot of folks here in the Cleveburg, I’m a fair weather fan of all Cleveland sports teams outside of the Browns. We’re just a football kind of town, regardless of how many win-less years we face.
However, when the Cavs or Indians do well (which is rare) I’m all on board. So this season, color me a fan all the way down to my fingertips. Last week my friend Steph asked for a Cavaliers color rec so I went hunting through my stash for the perfect wine and old gold. |
In an attempt to keep my color choices accessible, I decided upon and Sally Hansen Wine Not? and Orly Gold Rush only to learn that Gold Rush is discontinued. Which is a shame because it matches the Cavs’ logo the best. I picked up Gold Rush at a local CVS last year so there may be bottles still floating around. Some great alternatives would be Sally Hansen Tassel from the Tracy Reese Spring collection, Zoya Goldie and OPI Curry Up Don’t Be Late.
I took a shot of it using flash to show how rich the tones are and the subtle twinkle in Gold Rush.
“What’s On Your Nails?” with Jenna Hipp, Green Celebrity Manicurist
 What’s On Your Nails? is a series focusing on my fellow beauty bloggers and industry insiders, their favorite nail polish and other hot nail topics.Some of you may remember my interview from last summer with Jenna Hipp. She’s not only a sought after celebrity manicurist but she’s taken on the challenge of being eco-friendly in an industry that can be very chemical laden. With Earth Day fast approaching, it seemed apropos to interview Jenna for this week’s What’s On Your Nails, no?
As you’ll see in her pic, Jenna is a former model and beyond gorg. She fits right in with her stunning A-list clientele like Jessica Alba and Fergie. So read on to see what nail shade she’s deemed the new “it” color and which nail fanatic technique she feels will become a mainstream hit. |
The ALU Archives – Orly Green Apple
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
To celebrate the coming of Daylight Savings Time (finally!) and the ability to leave work in daylight, I decided to continue my green for March theme with a lighter, brighter shade. This week I pulled out Orly Green Apple from my stash. |
Green Apple is a vivid lime creme. The bottle color is very deceptive in that the polish dries darker on the nail. It has an almost pastel quality that goes away once applied. And holy pigmentation batman!! I barely needed two coats, it just flows on the nail so perfectly. If you’re looking for a fun spring green, this one is definitely a winner.
I picked up my bottle of Orly Green Apple from Head2ToeBeauty.com ($3.50) but you can also find it on 8ty8beauty.com ($3.18) or TransDesign.com ($3.19)
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
