Glitterati

Recently, there has been a sweeping trend of glitter nails, I too, have jumped back on the bandwagon (Regardless of glitter being a pain in the a!#* to remove !) I recently found this bargain copper glitter varnish from BodyCare for £1.00 , and decided to create an ombre'y glitter nail ! I hope you like the look . Here is how I did it;

 

Prep nails, I've added two clear base coats (To make it a little easier when it comes to removing the glitter polish)

 

Technic nail varnish , £1.00 , Body Care

I then did one full coat using the copper glitter varnish over the full nail.

 

I then added two coats of the glitter to the tips only, which gives the ombre'd glitter effect.. Unfortunately , the camera doesn't really pick up how lovely the copper looks.

 

I will probably be wearing this look for a while, my friends and I really like it ! What do you think?

 

D x

Monochrome Madness

We're constantly seeing the monochrome trend grace the catwalks year in, year out. With it , yet again, being big this coming season, I thought I'd transfer the look to my nails.

I love this look, being simple yet very effective, you can spot these nails yards away !

Natural Collection nail varnish , £1.99, Boots, Nail Tip Whitener and Sugar Mouse (For a top coat)

This is one of my favourite nail varnish trends, I used Sugar Mouse over the top, which takes the harshness of the white away, leaving a subtle pearlescent shine, although the camera hasn't really picked this up.

Natural Collection nail varnish , £1.99, Boots, Nail Tip Whitener and Sugar Mouse (For a top coat)



However, one issue is , if your nail chips, it is awfully obvious.

What do you all think? Would you try this look?

D x

Indian Ocean

Summer is (apparently) here. Unfortunately, I haven't been away on holiday, but it only takes the littlest thing to make my mind wander along a picturesque beach. With the Indian Ocean being one of my ultimate destinations, how could I pass up a nail varnish named after it. So, thanks to Models Own - everytime I look at my nails I become mesmorised in a mermaidy wash of crystalised lagoon blue waters...

Models Own Indian Ocean - £5 , Barry M Pure Turqouise 295 - £3.00

I wasn't that impressed with the Models Own polish by itself, and to give it a little more of a colour instead of a shimmer, I did a base coat of Barry M's 'Pure Turquoise'. I think they both compliment each other perfectly, what do you think?

D x

Your Majesty

As all us Brits know, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee will be taking place in a matter of days. We have all been bomb-barded with our British Union Jack flag from the traditional bunting and table settings to the re-rendition of the iconic Geri Halliwell dress. Although leading up to this one time  party, event, were the Queen grants our street parties acceptable - she's a wild one, it is a little too early to be parading around like a chewed up patriot. But here is a little way to express our love for the Queen, her country and this traditional British summer weather we are all basking (BBQ'ing) in.



Barry M Bright Red 262 , £2.99, Miss Sporty in a royal blue £1.99, Models Own Indian Ocean £5.00

I used the red Barry M as a foundation and went over it with the Miss Sporty blue. On the accent finger I chose to do a quarter of the Union Jack, as my nails are small and it was extremely fiddly to complete the full flag on the nail , let alone to do a set of 10. I went over the accent finger in Indian Ocean by Models Own to give it a glossy shimmer. I'm not going to lie, but as soon as this chips - I will NOT be re-doing it. I jumped in Queen's head first. This was one of my most difficult nail designs - I am not a nail technician so forgive them for not being perfect. I'd definitely suggest using nail wraps instead for the Jubilee.

Has anybody else done anything patriotic for the Jubilee?

D x

I Heart Simplicity

Thank you for all the lovely comments and for taking the time to read my posts !

Excuse my awful nails, they have taken the brut of exam stress the last couple of weeks. This is just a simple chic nail design I've done on my nails whilst they are on the re-growth from the perils of stress.

So easy to do, I just used two coats of a nude and then used a corally red to paint the heart. N.B make sure you wipe all the varnish off the brush - so there is practically next to nothing on it ! Especially the stem, as you don't want a rush of varnish to ruin your design.

L-R Barry M Peach Melba 318 & Coral 296 - Both around £2.99

A really pretty and summery love design, especially great if you're not a fan of wild designs. What do you think?


D x

BodyCare Bargain

We all love a good bargin, especially with this credit crunch making it harder to justify splurging a couple of quid here and there on unnecessary items. However, finding those bargains can come at a struggle, especially with every shop claiming to have discounts, grand saving totals and big bold percentage off signs to put even the most clued up shopper in a frenzy over whether they have witnessed it cheaper elsewhere..

One thing is for sure, you all need to check out the big black box at the front of your Body Care. Although it may seem cheap, embarassing and feel like you are on display with everybody judging you, the baseline is that you will be surprised at what you can find in there. From baby, bath and beauty products all at an unbelievably low price, it is worth a rumage.

I managed to pick up this beautiful orangey/coraly/pink nail varnish for 19pence ! (That is less than a Freddo !) This will be used so much in the summer, but for now it can help brighten this snow up!

Body Care - Wet & Wild , 19pence

I have had BC nail varnishes in the past and they have been a nightmare when it comes to drying, which puts me off greatly. But for 19pence, I thought it would be worth buying. It dried really well, within seconds, even when applying a second coat !

It is definitely worth taking a peak into those bargain baskets!

D E T <3

Mattifying Kelly Rowland

To start off, I haven't done anything to my nails in 10 days ! Yes, a very long ten whole days ! I have had to count because I have sent my nails to nail rescue priory ! For ten long days I have been using this;

Rimmel Nail Rescue , £4.99 , Boots

Although I've cut four days out of the treatment I have noticed a difference with my nails. You apply one coat to your nails on day one, then add another coat on day two , then you leave them alone till day seven , take it all off and restart the process. It is a lot of faffing about. I found my nails have stopped splitting and chipping and they have hardened slightly more than usual. The treatment gives a really beautiful shiny coat, so it was nice to have natural looking nails for a change.

BUT, I was expecting big results, I think I would have the same results if I had just left my nails 14 days with out doing anything to them.. The nail varnish chips so I was left with a catch 22 . If I reapplied to all the chipped areas I would have to write a rota to keep check on which day and which nail I have applied coats to. (Even I have limits !)

Anyway, this is what cut my nail treatment process by four days !

Most of you will have seen my other Kelly Rowland nails.. Having an accent finger nail a different colour than the rest has become a really big trend. I have seen many people sporting this using different coloured nail varnishes.

Here is my third, yes third, KR inspired nails.

I've chosen the ring finger to sport a different colour.. I'm using the pink glitter from the second KR nails I did.

Clear Nail Varnish - Gift Set. Claire's glitter powder- Gift, you can pick glitter up from any craft store

I applied clear nail varnish to my nail, and sprinkled the pink glitter over. Whilst that was drying I painted the rest of the nails.

Rimmel Lasting Finish 080 Black Cab - £2.99

I chose to use a black after going through numerous summer corals. Whilst the black was drying, I did a top coat of clear over the glitter.. (Make sure you wipe the brush with a tissue before putting it back into the varnish pot!)

I have been waiting to use this for so long...

Rimmel Matte Finish - £4.99

This is amazing ! You apply it over any dried varnish and it instantly mattifys it. I can't wait to have so much fun with this !

Mattified Kelly Rowland inspired nails

The Matte Finish tones down the black contrast to the pink. I love this mattifying varnish & have some really nice ideas to try out with it!

Now to sort the glitter massacre out !

D E T <3

Anyone For Ombre?

I'm sure most people are familiar with the Ombre trend. Whether you have Ombre'd your hair to your clothes, we have all witnessed this trend on somebody. Unfortunately, if you are sick of it, it seems as if Ombre'ying isn't about to 'dye' down. (Eeek, That was awful! )

Personally, I am not one who is brave enough or infact would actually suit the Ombre hair which has swept the nation ! But... I am all for wild nails !!

Long over due is another nail trend. I have had to let my nails repair themselves ! (Dam you acrylics!) They have been really brittle since I have been trying to go au naturel. (I deserve an award for numerous occasions were I rejected the offer to get my talons back !)

This was my inspiration;

Ombre Nails as seen at Jen Kao

(I have to mention, this look was achieved using an air brushing nail art system!)

So here is the nail trend. Again, I am not a pro, this is my first attempt (Practice Makes Perfect!) so they are not going to be perfect, but what I love about Ombre is that it doesn't have to look like a B&Q paint colour spectrum sheet! Here is how I did it.

Rimmel Lasting Finish 080 Black Cab - £2.99

I chose to follow a similar colour scheme as the Jen Kao one. I put a generous amount of varnish at the bottom of my nail near the cuticle.

I used a spare eye shadow brush to dab the nail varnish outwards towards the tip to create a faded look.. (If there was too much nail varnish on the nail to begin with I just dabbed it with the eye shadow brush and then on to some paper.)

Barry M 017 Blue Turquoise - £2.99

I then started with the opposing colour and just did the same - using the other side of the eye shadow brush. Going against what clear nail varnish users should do !! I gave my nails a top coat of clear whilst my nails where wet so that they linked together more smoothly. (I wiped the brush before putting it back into the pot!)

And the result:

Ombre style nails. The picture isn't really showing the lighter shadings of the blue/black that well, you can see the detailing better firsthand.. But for a first try - I'm pretty impressed. If anyone is going to attempt it, be warned - drying time is the worst time !

D E T <3 

Major Faux Pas ?

I love mixing my clothes and jewellery up to my own personal style. But I've always heard that mixing silver and gold together is a MFP (Majour Faux Pas). I've seen many style icons mixing the two metals from Mary-Kate to Whitney Eve. I don't see a problem in wearing the two! You can't be expected to have a Pandora bracelet and have completely gold charms on now can you?

Personally, I think that MFP has become a DFP; Dead Faux Pas, in jewellery terms. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying go out and wear a silver dress with gold shoes, belt, jewels the lot! There are boundaries. But as for jewellery, be brave and express yourself.

These don't match in the slightest, but they worked with my outfit. I'm wearning two different shades of gold metal - one curved ring at the joint and a tiger to match my nails. On the other hand I have a silver and topaz teardrop ring. That was just my expression for today . I couldn't pick, so I wore them all. Some people will still be against silver & gold together but it's only jewellery . Lighten up (Hahah !)

Update on the Minx effect nails. I'm not feeling them to be honest. They are starting to get on my nerves. I've scratched myself so many times it's really grating on me. With having to clean down after work , washing up and showering - it's taken a big tole on them ! The ends are begining to peel making them scratchy and some are lifting. I spoke to a friend of mine who is also a nail technician; she said even Minx start to peel. They do look amazing but are not for long term wear. I will be taking these off tomorrow when I get chance. I would recommend these for a certain night out, or for a dirty unemployed person who doesn't have to put products and water to their hands. But with everything they have been through - they have stayed decent enough for me to not want to hide my hands away !!

Thaaanks for reading.

D E T <3 

Minx Inspired Nails

Hey Beauts ! I've not done a post for a while, I've been saving it for this one ! Had to grow my own nails which is proving a pain ! Every day I am getting more drawn back to acrylics ! (Eeek be strong D be stong !) I think what I have just done would look even better on my longer (Fake!) nails.. But here is the post !!




I've seen so many times celebrities wearing Minx nails . Khloe Kardashian Odom, Kim Kardashian Humphries (Who saw the wedding ?!! How beautiful did the K's look ! Anyway that's another post!), Katy Perry .. This list is ever going. Every one has been seen sporting them ! But they are quite expensive and you can't get all the latest trends in salons in the UK..

Agyness Deyn - Gold Minx Nails

Katy Perry - B/W Boxed Minx Nails.

Beyonce - Gold Minx Nails

I really really wanted Gold mirrored nails ! And finally I stumbled across these when I asked a customer in work where she got her nails done. Unbelievably - they weren't Minx but Nail Rock from New Look.

Minx Nail Homepage. (The effect I wanted!)

Minx effect nails. Nail Wraps - Nail Rocks available at NewLook - £6.00

Here is how simple they are to do..

Make sure your nails are really clean and have no excess nail varnish on them .

Take a nail file or nail buffer and buff the top of your nail. This (The same with applying acrylic nails) gets rid of any grease and dirt which will prevent the nail wraps (Or Acrylic ) to stick to the nail.



I used some tweezers to peel the wrap off and then heated it with a hair dryer and placed it over my buffed nail.

I heated the wrap and pressed it firmly down then re heated it and pressed the sides down firmly.. I reheated it and then let it cool and set.. Nine fingers later....

So easy to do ! They look amazing with the light reflecting off them ! Unfortunately they only have these designs, but I will be looking around some drug stores to see if they have any other Minx effect nails..

Thanks for reading !

Mwaaa

D E T <3

Nail Trend - Reverse French Chevron

I love nail art and trying new designs out ! I am always open to try anything out and always looking for new ideas and inspiration.

I saw this picture and thought I would have a try at it ! It looks amazing and some how I thought it wouldn't be as hard to achieve .. Urrrmmm

Inverted French Chevron as seen at Essie

I have to say before hand. This is something you need to do carefully & with a fair bit of time on your hands ! Also, this was my first attempt - I am not a nail technician of any sort so my nails are not going to be perfect! So please, hold the bad comments ! But here is a step by step to how I created a similar look.

Firstly I boxed the tops of my little nails off so they were a cute square shape. I didn't do a base coat or a first colour because I wasn't sure on how they would turn out as it was my first go ! I wasn't planning on wearable results !

I then cut some sello tape up into squares and placed them diamondly at the cuticle, over lapping some of the nail.

 

I then painted over my nail in this:

Rimmel Lasting Finish 080 Black Cab - £2.99

I did two coats then waited for it to dry, then peeled the sellotape off .

 If you are going to attempt this then make sure it dries or when you peel the sellotape off it will lift the varnish and smudge !

And ... The results...

For my first try I think I've done alright, as they say Practice Makes Perfect , I will definitely be trying these again ! But unfortunately they will only be staying on for another day because I have purchased some new exciting polishes I will share with you all !!

Thanks

D E T <3

Another nail change ; Kelly rowland inspired

My last set of K/R inspired nails had taken some wear and tear and chipped like crazy ! So I've decided to try another design.

I LOVE bright nail colours, but especially with this bad weather it makes me feel more happy when I look down and see my brightly manicured set ! And whats more bright and girly than glitter and barbie pink!

I got a lovely comment left about using real glitter on nails to add a more dramatic effect. So yes , I found some glitter in my beauty draws ! (I knew it would come into use at some point !! )

This glitter powder is from Claire's accessories (It was part of a gift so I don't know the price) You can pick glitter up from craft stores, beauty stores and dressing up stores.

I painted my chosen glitter nail in a clear polish first . (You can get this from any beauty department for next to nothing!)

Here comes the messy part.

I then sprinkle the glitter over the nail that had clear varnish over.

Whilst this was drying, I paint the rest of my nails another colour.

I used 279 Bright Pink by Barry M (Available from Boots or online).

Whilst my main colour was drying, I did another coat of clear over the glitter (BUT MAKE SURE YOU WIPE THE BRUSH WITH A TISSUE BEFORE PUTTING IT BACK INTO THE VARNISH!)

I added a second sprinkle of glitter and then repeated on to my second hand.

Results !! :) There is some stray glitter on the bed of my nail but this will wash off !

Now time to clean this glitter off my desk - eeek !!

Kelly Rowland inspired nails

Hi !

As you will find out , I am a huge nail art fan ! I'm always looking for designs and trends I can replicate on my nails.

I do normally have acrylic nails on - but I'm going through the transition everyone who regulary wears acrylics should do ! Me and acrylics are 'Going on a break !!' . This is just so my natural nail can restore itself properly from the damage and strengthen ! Like with your hair, having deep conditioning treatments and giving it a break from heated products. This is what I am doing with my nails !

I've had acrylics on continuously for quite a while - since about Aug/September of last year (With a few minor breaks inbetween) . Whilst on these breaks i try not to even put nail varnish on but my nails are on the track of being completely restored now so it's design time !!

I have a routine I use before I start painting;

                                              Nail Buffing!
I buff the top of my nails lightly just to get excess dirt of and to stimulate growth. (You can pick these buff blocks up at any beauty store [Boots, Superdrug, Body Care] or even the beauty stalls on markets)

                                       Moisturising cream.
I then moisturise my nail and hand. You can get special nail cream from any beauty store, but I am using Planet Spa from Avon 'Dead Sea Mineral Hand Cream' . It has a really nice natural smell and leaves your hands fresh and really soft !

                                           Filing !
Then I file my nails to my prefered shape which is square cut. So I box the edges off neatly. I use the red glass file to do mine (Not sure were it is from - it was a gift off my brother). Depending on how sharp I want my nail look to be, I use the harder classic brown files (These are available ANYWHERE & are really cheap!)




KELLY ROWLAND & her nail trend!

This is the trend the beautiful Xfactor judge Kelly Rowland has been sporting on her nails. She has had a strong main reddy/pink hue colour and gold as the accent..

 Here again she has two colours on her fingertips. Gold and the main hue and a canary yellow as the accent.

This is my version !! I did two coats of gold varnish (From Internacional clothes shop), two coats of baby pink (BarryM.com) and three coats of the pink glitter (boutique stall on the market).

I love this ! It's a simple cool and trendy look for short nails !!

D E T <3