Nail Art
“What’s On Your Nails?” with SeoulDiva Heather Park
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.Fanatics, I’m so excited to have multi-talented Heather Park as this week’s WOYN subject. She’s seriously one of the coolest ladies I’ve ever met. Without gushing too much, she’s beautiful, has an amazing singing voice, a fun, edgy sense of style and is probably one of the biggest Twitter fanatics I know. She is responsible for saving me from being a wandering fool backstage at my first fashion show, introducing me to the world of CalGel and connecting me with some of my favorite nail world people like Jin Soon.On top of all that, she’s a total nail fanatic posting her latest CalGel designs on Twitter and her blog SeoulDiva. Being the proponent of natural nails that I am, it was Heather’s constant raves and CalGel posts that got me to dive head first into the world of Soak-off Gel nails.Check out some of Heather’s favorite designs and learn about the inspiration behind them, after the jump! |
“What’s On Your Nails?” with Marina from Makeup Loves Me
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.
Hey Fanatics, I’m back and it’s time to kick off the week with another installment of WOYN? This week I want you to meet Marina from Makeup Loves Me. I met Marina at my very first NY Fashion Week as we stood in a torturous, long line for a show only to be rebuffed at the last minute because they invited everyone and their mother. Regardless, we had a blast gabbing throughout the wait and I always look forward to running into her when I’m in the city.
The last time I saw Marina not only did I not recognize my own polish on her nails (I’m so oblivious!) but she had on the most gorgeous eyelash extensions I have ever seen. I was jealous on the spot. To find out that they only cost her $7 from some hole of a salon in one of the boroughs made me even more green. $7??? I can’t even! It’s Marina’s ability to discover the beauty world’s diamonds in the rough that makes Makeup Loves Me a unique and fun read.
Learn more about Marina, find out what green polish she’s loving and check out her fave CalGel manicure after the jump!
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A Twist on the Ombre or Gradation Manicure
 Have you seen the ombre manicure that was featured in InStyle Magazine? In my post on multi-colored nails we saw CND’s version for the Kai Kuhne runway last February that they called a gradation. Either way I think it’s a fun play on the concept of a gradated manicure and much easier to replicate at home.
You may remember that I wore a gradated CalGel manicure at NY Fashion Week last season and while I loved the style, it’s not exactly DIY friendly. So I put my twist on ombre multi-colored nails with, what else, a green version. Check it out! |
Products and Tools: Tips: Note: Because this is a demo I only mixed colors for my middle and ring fingers and left my thumb out. You will want to mix three shades for a full manicure. Ring finger mix: Start with 7 drops of Milf and add 1 drop of Orbis Non Suficit. For me, the color was darker than I wanted so I added one more drop of Milf.
The idea here is to custom blend varying shades of the same color, working across your hand from lightest to darkest. However I went a different route than the method suggested by InStyle. Rather than combine pure white polish into a dark lacquer, having to create 4 separate mixes, I chose a light green and a dark green with similar color traits and blended them to create the mid-tone hues. I selected Illamasqua Milf and RBL Orbis Non Suficit because they both have a slightly grayed, dusty quality to them and I wanted a muted look.
Illamasqua Milf Nail Lacquer
Rescue Beauty Lounge Orbis Non Suficit
Acrylic pigment jars (easily found on eBay or at craft stores)
Toothpicks (for mixing)
Clean nail polish brush. I used one from an empty polish bottle I bought for frankening.
*Have your nails prepped with base coat applied before beginning.
*Apply the polish as soon as it is mixed. Exposure to air will cause it to thicken quickly and dry shortly after.
*Mix the lightest color first and apply immediately before moving on.
*Clean your brush with remover between colors to avoid streaks from previously mixed polishes.
*Regarding my formulas below, I remove the brush from the bottle without wiping it against the sides and the amount that drips off equals one drop.
Middle finger mix: Use an equal amount of both lacquers. 4 drops each of Milf and Orbis Non Suficit.
What I love about this look is that it’s much softer than the “Skittles Nails” I’ve worn in the past. It’s not as bright and in your face. In fact you could make the variations much more subtle by choosing polishes that are even closer in tone. Or if you follow the InStyle method, adding white polish, your nails could vary by a single drop.
So what do you think of this look? Is this something you’d be willing to try at home? If you’ve done a similar manicure, what shades did you use? I actually received a message from a reader, Sarah, who blended a gorgeous grayed purple version using OPI Siberian Nights and China Glaze Agent Lavendar. Share your creations in the comments!
Lace Nails – The Next Big Nail Trend?
 With the Konad nail art stamper fad still going strong (who would have guessed?) and Minx becoming a strong celeb nail presence where do we go from here? Well if Celebrity Manicurist Elle has anything to say about it we’ll be heading to the fabric store. You see Elle has taken nail art to a whole new level with the latest celeb trend, lace nails.
See who she’s been lacing and vote yay or nay on the look after the jump! |
A week or so ago I received an email from a reader asking about Blake Lively‘s nails from a Fashion’s Night Out event. I immediately scoured the web to get a peek and as soon as I saw the intricate lace pattern I knew my gal Elle was involved.
You see that’s her handiwork in the shot above. She created the look during an editorial shoot using our All Lacquered Up collection colors. Since she regularly works with Blake, I knew she’d have the scoop.
For the looks below on Blake and Jennifer Lopez (for the VMAs) Elle used Parisian lace. She brushes on a nail adhesive, lays down the lace, applies another coat of adhesive and then trims off the excess. For added strength you can add a layer of clear gel but she didn’t do that here.
Now I know that there are Konad wheels that have lace patterns but can it really mimic the look of real lace? I’d love to hear from my Konad loving Fanatics. Is this something you’d attempt to do at home or is it best left to the pros for special events? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this fun and funky new nail look.
image credit: Barielle and Celebutopia
NYFW Nail Watch – Nail Art, Glitters and CalGel, Oh My!
 My New York Fashion Week adventure is coming to close and I have so many exciting nail stories to share with you but today’s tale has nothing to do with the runway. Because some of the most outrageous and interesting nails are found behind the scenes on the manicurists, hair stylists, publicists, etc.
It’s all about standing out and taking risks when it comes to nails at Fashion Week. Yes, there are a ton of safe, sheer pinks running around on the socialites and celebs in the front row but it’s backstage where all the nail magic lies. I spotted everything from blinged out glittery tips, funky CalGel designs and futuristic sculptured nails. Check out the utter creativity after the jump! |
A highlight of every NYFW season is seeing CND’s Jan Arnold and checking out her latest nail concept. I can always expect something unique and innovative and this season was no exception. The clear tips remind me of the futuristic nails from the Barbie show last February. Very space age with an extremely feminine shape. And don’t you just LOVE that ring?
p.s. Check out Jan’s Fashion Week Blog and CND’s Facebook page for all the latest backstage scoop. There just might be a little something about ME mentioned there!
Fanatics, I was so excited to meet a new manicurist on the NYFW scene, Julie Kandalec. You see, I wrote about Julie way back in the day when I spotted her entry in the Nails Magazine 2008 Cover Tech Contest and realized she lived in my area. Now she’s taking on Fashion Week and rocking some glittering, sequined nails.
Backstage at Charlotte Ronson, my pal Sarah from StyleIt and I couldn’t help but notice Avon hair stylist Tippi Shorter‘s fab curly locks and gorgeous smiling face. It was when we had the chance to interview her that her nails caught my eye.
Tippi blinged out her digits with a gold sparkler from KleanColor that she just happened to have in her bag for touch ups. Smart girl!
Of course you’ve heard all about my pal Heather Park the Sakura CalGel queen. Here’s an up close and personal look at her bejeweled design.
It was Heather who introduced me to another CalGel artist backstage at the Jeremy Laing show. Look how precise and crisp her lines are! The detail is amazing.
What do you think Fanatics? What kind of nails would you wear to Fashion Week?
Lisa N.
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Birdie
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