Ah... spring has sprung

Do you smell spring in the air?  Well, here in Louisiana, you smell the pollen!  My allergies feel like Thor practicing with his hammer on my face.  With this being the first week of spring, I decided to do a bright spring mani.

Lately, I have been in love with Neons/Brights.  Perfect time for me to have a neon mani!

Here is the mani then I will give you the dets afterwards.

Skittles mani First Day of Spring 03/25/2017

I am so in luuuurv with this mani.  I didn't know it's called a skittles mani until I posted a pic in a Sinful Colors FB fan page.  I love the name too!  This is for the 30 Days of Colour Challenge FB group for the First Day of Spring.

I started out by putting a peel away base coat on top of my gel nails.  Easier for me to remove and very minimal staining around the edges.  

The colors I picked out were from several different brands.  I wanted neon and/or bright.  Like blinding.  These are the colors I picked.  I will have a full supply list at the bottom of my post.   I totally forgot to put a white polish on first, but I think they came out bold enough for me.   Jimmi's Purple was applied with 2 coats on the thumb.  D'oh was applied in three coats on the pointer finger.  Powder Green was 3 coats on the middle finger.  It is very sheer so I needed that many coats (because of my faux paux with the white base.)  Sunset Strip was also a 3 coater on the ring finger.  Again, sheer and no white.  Water Proof was 2 coats on the pinky.  

After painting, I applied a clear top coat, just in case I mess up on the stamping.  This would allow me to wipe off the stamping with non-acetone remover and not damage the original mani.  

I used Snow Me White for the stamping, along with Bundle Monster plate BM-XL05 and my Born Pretty Jelly Stamper.

I was a little underwhelmed with the mani at this point.  I guess I always need some kind of sparkle on my nails.  I added Fairy Dust to the top and I was sparkling!!!

So far, this is one of my favorite manis!  Still practicing stamping to make my technique better, but thrilled how this turned out.

Close up

Close Up

Supplies for First Day of Spring Skittles mani 03/25/2017

I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of spring!  Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!!

Supplies used:
Jimmi's Purple and Powder Green - Broadway Nails Gel Strong (Bought these at Dollar General for $1.85 per bottle)
Water Proof - Broadway Nails (Dollar General for $1)
D'oh - Wet N Wild Wild Shine (Rite Aid for $.99)
Sunset Strip - Orly Color Amp'd (KMart for $9.99)
Snow Me White - Sinful Colors (Big Lots for $1.00)
Fairy Dust - China Glaze (Don't have a clue about this one)
Big Peel Off - Sally Hansen (Walgreens don't have a price)
Quick Dry Top Coat - Out the Door (Sally Beauty for $11.49)
Plate BM-XL05 - Bundle Monster (bought in a destash)
Jelly Stamper - Born Pretty (Amazon for $8.99 for 3 stampers and 2 scrapers)

Put it in reverse

That's right, reverse.  As in reverse stamping.  What the what?  Let's see if I can explain this to where it makes any sense when I put it words.  Reverse stamping is a nail art technique that uses stamping plates, polish and a stamper to make wondrous (it spelled check so I guess that's right) nail art that is not hand drawn.  Right up my alley.  While my husband is the true drawing talent of our marriage, I, on the other hand, cannot draw a stick figure to save my soul.  So, when I discovered stamping, I was all in!

After watching a ton of YouTube vids on stamping, reverse stamping, leadlighting, layered stamping, stamping polishes, stampers (you get the idea), I decided I will try the challenge at Leadlighting & Reverse/Advanced Stamping Nail Art Group on FB for this week.  The theme is St Patrick's Day.

 It actually took me three days to get to where I was happy with the end result.  I tried different colors of green for the background coloring, I tried different golds, until I was happy will the final look.

Reverse stamping St Patrick's Day chall 03/14/2017

Close up of reverse stamping St Patrick's Day Chall 03/14/2017

Supplies used for reverse stamping St Patrick's Day Chal 03/14/2017

I don't think I did too bad.  I had some tears from cutting the decal away around the cuticle, so I covered them up with some gold studs.

I really enjoy challenges in groups because it forces to me to learn something new and exciting.  

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

MEL

Supplies used:
Big Peel Away base coat - Sally Hansen
Jelly stamper and scraper - Born Pretty
Stamping Plate BC-06 - (unknown maker, purchased in a destash)
Go for Gold - Sally Hansen Insta Dry (used to stamp)
Queen of Green - Sinful Colors Luck of the Stylish Collection
I'm Sooooo Swamped! - OPI New Orleans Collection
A Heart of Gold - Nicole by OPI
Quick Dry Top Coat - Out the Door
Gold Studs - KISS

30 Days of Colour Challenge - Gold

This week's challenge at 30 Days of Colour Challenge is GOLD!!!  I love gold because it is so sparkly and anything sparkly is awesuuuuhm!!!  

My first time doing stamping and came out ok.  I think I need to look into a different top coat that what I have - Out the Door QDTP.  It smeared my little crown.  :(

I used two coats of A Heart of Gold.  Stamped a crown using Black to Black.  Full list of supplies are listed after pictures.

30 Days of Colour - Gold 03/09/17

A Heart of Gold - Nicole by OPI 03/09/17

30 Days of Colour - Gold - 03/09/17

Supplies 03/09/17

Supplies used:

A Heart of Gold Polish - Nicole by OPI

Black to Black polish - Sally Hansen Insta-Dry

2mm Acrylic stones - Blank Slate by Traditions

Stamping Plate (not sure)

Clear Jelly Stamper - Born Pretty

Quick Dry Top Coat - Out the Door

I like the way this turned out looking.  Just not sure if I did the stamp upside down or not??

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Mel

FOLLOW ME ON IG - @1000littlesparkles

Soaking off gel or acrylic

Ok, now you have those beautiful nails done with gel (or acrylic) and you are ready to take them off.  What to do now?  FIRST, NEVER EVER EVER EVER, PEEL OR PRY OFF YOUR GEL/ACRYLIC.  Doing this will damage your nail, and can even completely peel off your nail tips.

The only way to take them off is soaking with pure acetone.  This is the one I use from Sally's, but any pure acetone is fine.  There are many ways to do this and I am going to tell you about the one's that I have tried and how they work.

First, I tried soaking my finger in a little dish of acetone.  Having to leave it soak for 10 - 20 minutes, really irritated my skin.  Didn't like this method.

Next, I tried soaking a cotton ball in acetone then hold it on my finger.  Eeh.  Same results as before.  Skin irritation.

This time I did a little research.  Mind you, I'm trying to do this with things on hand.  Didn't want to buy those special wrap things that are made for soak off gel.  I saw some videos on YouTube and tried the foil method.  I cut some strips of aluminum foil ($1.00 at the Dollar Tree or most dollar stores).  Soak a cotton ball in acetone.  Make sure it is very wet!  Put the cotton ball on your finger (nail side) and wrap foil around finger and cotton ball to make a cap.  Leave soak for 15 minutes.  Some fingers needed a little longer.  Kind of twist the cap and pull off.  It takes off 90% of the gel. Positives - Effective, cheap and easy.  Can't beat that.  Only negative - had to make sure foil was wrapped tightly or foil cap would fall off.

Image from Google Images

I went on my weekly browse session at my local Sally's store and found these ASP brand Soak Off Gel Polish Caps and Foam.   I picked up a pack and headed home to try them out.  Soak the foam pieces, that came with the package, in acetone.  Same method as above,  Place foam over fingernail and slide on the caps.  Leave on anywhere from 15-30 minutes.  Take off caps and remove foam.  My foam stuck to every nail.  I had to do the foil method to now get the foam and gel off. When working on my other hand, I used soaked pieces of paper towels.  This worked so much better.  But using the caps again, the rubber loosens up and doesn't keep them very secure. Positives - Fits better than aluminum foil method.  Negatives - caps looses tightness, don't like the foam pads recommended for them.

Image from Sally website

While searching on Amazon, I happen by these plastic soak off caps.  They were a great price and were plastic.   So I decided to give these a whirl.  I read the reviews and most suggested to use a piece of paper towel soaked in acetone to put on the nail, under the cap.  I used the paper towels and I couldn't have been more happy.  The caps stayed put.  It still took the same amount of time to soak off but it came off easily and the caps held tight.  Positives - Fits like a dream.  No negatives.

Image from Amazon listing

So, there are my methods of removing my gel.  You can also see my pros and cons to each method.  Hope this helps you or pass the info to someone that might need it.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Don't forget to follow me on IG - @1000littlesparkles

Aphrodite's Fish - March Polish of the Month - Pretty Beautiful Unlimited

My first indie polish intro was to Pretty Beautiful Unlimited that I found thru their FaceBook fan page, Pretty Beautiful Pawlish.  All of the polishes at Pretty Beautiful are Hand-mixed, 5-free (no Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin or Camphor), Cruelty Free and made in the USA. 

At the time, it was February and Mardi Gras was fast approaching.  I saw swatches of the Mardi Gras Madness Collection and knew that I must have these polishes!  I will have a different post on that collection at a later date.  I know, I am so behind.

In the Facebook fan page, the creator - owner - resident awesome person, Virginia Shaw had a little contest to help name the March polish of the month inspired by the sign Pisces.  There were a lot of great names, but mine was picked!  I was so shocked!  And for my winning choice, I received a free complimentary bottle of the beautiful polish named APHRODITE'S FISH! (Click on the link to go straight to the polish.)

Without further adieu, here is the gorgeous polish:

Closeup of bottle 

Closeup of polish on brush

Mani

Swatch stick with 3 coats

Swatch stick with 2 coats

 As you can see this is a amaze-balls blue polish with a bazillion sparkles!  Here is the description - "Aphrodite's Fish - a gorgeous royal blue holo jellyish base with red-violet-blue duo chrome shifting pigment, baby blue micro shreds and violet to red to orange UCC flakies."  Formula is so smooth.  As you can see, two coats are pretty much all you need, but three makes it super opaque.  I couldn't stop looking at all the pretties in there when I wore it.  And, hubby even liked it!

I know my photos don't do this polish justice!  

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Mel

Follow me on IG:  @1000littlesparkles

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery......

Or in this case "recreation."  Latest challenge was do a recreation of a mani, nail art, etc.  Hiya Pinterest!!  Being a lover of all things 80, I knew I just had to do a splatter mani.  This is the one I decided to try and recreate.  

Taken from Pinterest

Totally 80s right?  Cool beans!  I made one change from the Pinterest pin that was the inspiration - I made a decal instead of doing it right on my nails.  I find this really messy and don't have some liquid latex barrier, yet.  

Decals, you say.  WTH is that?  Basically its your nail art that is applied to some kind of surface first, then transferred to your nails.  This is how I did mine.  I applied white polish as my base.  I painted a rectangle of the white polish on a silicone baking mat that I took over for my nails.  After the white was put down, I dipped a straw into the teal polish and blew it onto the white polish to create a splatter.  Then I used the lime green color in same fashion.  After that, I needed a little sparkle so I splattered on some teal glitter polish.  Looooove.  This is what it looks like before I put on my nails.

Makin' decals Feb 2 2017

Next step, peel the decal from the silicone mat.   Cut to size of your nails.  Put a clear coat on your nails, then put the decal you cut for that finger on.  Position as closely as you can.  Trim any excess and clean up around edges.  Add a top coat and you are done!!!

I admit, that this was a little more difficult to look crisp and clean on my nails.  But with any nail art, practice, practice, practice.  Here is my final product:

Recreation splatter nails Feb 2 2017

I can't wait to try this one again!  It reminds me of my younger days in the 80s.  

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!  Like totally!

Mel

Products used:

Energy Source (white) by LA Colors, Paradise Water and Waterproof by Broadway, Innocent by Sinful Colors and Broadway clear coat.

GLITTER, GLITTER, GLITTER.... AND MORE GLITTER!

My love of all things sparkly is really an addiction.  I used to scrapbook and paper craft and just about anything I made had a touch of bling, sparkle, glitter.   You get the jist.  So when I started doing my nails, of course, glitter/sparkle/bling was a must!!!  Thank the glitter gods for making me not sell or get rid of all my glitter.  I just knew I was going to use them one day.  TODAY IS THAT DAY!!!

Ok, Mel.  Chill out, it's just glitter.  Noooooo! Its more than that.

For my next mani, I did a glitter gel mani.  Used my usual Gelish system, (click here for my post on Gelish system), with a little sparkle.  I added some glitter (glitter powder, raw glitter) to my Gelish structure gel, then used this between the foundation and top coat.  The glitter was in my craft box.  I remember purchasing at Christmas time about 5 years ago from Hobby Lobby for 50% off.    

Before you pull out any old glitter, know that some glitters will turn fade.  I tested this glitter with a drop of gel before mixing any more.  No fade.  When I was getting my nails professionally done, this was my regular mani.  

Here is my glitter mani:

Glitter add on gel mani 02/02/2017

The picture does it noooo justice.  I can't stop looking at it.  In the sunlight, it sparkles like crazy.  

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day.  

Mel

PS. I will be posting these pics on InstaGram.  Follow me @1000littlesparkles!  
PSS.  Leave me a comment.  Let me know how I am doing on my blog.  Anything you want to see, let me know.

I Heart You!

Valentine's Day is in the next couple of days.  Hubby and I don't exchange gifts, we just spend the day with each other and go for a nice dinner.  With Valentine's being on a Tuesday, we have decided to do our Valentine's Day on Sunday, February 12.  Our outing will be at the Outback in a neighboring town.  Pssst, I picked Outback because they have a better Sally's and Ulta there.  I may just have to stop in to browse.  {wink, wink}

These nails are for Red Polish challenge for week of 02/05 - 02/12:  Hearts.  I suck at free hand drawing.  My stick figures don't look like sticks!  Bahahahaha.  I decided to use a vinyl stencil that I have in my drawer.  I don't even remember how long I had it or where I bought it.  I knew my base color would be red so I decided to do the hearts in white.  I made little heart decals.  Made it so much easier!

I applied a peel off base on my gel nails, in the hopes that I don't get any red residue under my gel top coat.  After letting that dry, I applied two coats of my red color.  Then I applied the white heart decals.  I kinda did them off centered because I can't place anything straight to save my soul.  To finish it off, I put on a glitter top coat.  Here is my final product:

red polish w/hearts 02/11/2017

I did alot better with clean up on this one.  But red, ugh, is hard for me to clean well.  

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day or Single's Day or whatever you decide to celebrate.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Mel

Products used:

Big Peel Off base coat by Sally Hansen, Bloody Lips by Broadway, Energy Source by LA Colors, Evening Dress by Broadway

I sparkle!

Here is my 30 Days of Color challenge for the week of Feb 6 - Feb 12...... The theme is SPARKLE!!!!   Squeeeeeel!

I wanted to use some raw glitter that I had, but the choices!!  Almost did a gumbo glitter - just a pinch of everything!  Maybe next time.  

This is what I decided on:

Champagne Glass 02/11/2017

Champagne Glass 02/11/2017

Champagne Glass 02/11/2017

First, I brushed on some Big Peel Off Base from Sally Hansen.  Then, you have to wait for the milky white base to become transparent before starting.  I suggest anytime you use glitter polish or raw glitter, you put on a peel off base coat, because glitter is a biatch to remove.  

Big Peel Off 02/11/2017

Once the peel off base was transparent, I did a layer of top coat on one finger at a time and dipped the wet finger into the glitter.  I used a cuticle pusher to clean the edges and kinda pat down the chunky glitter.  Once I got it somewhat how I wanted it, I put on another layer of top coat.  While this top coat was wet, I looked for any bare spots and added a little glitter to any of those spots.  After patting down again, I put on a final layer of top coat.  

I love the look of how it came out, but this wouldn't be practical for my everyday use.  Too chunky and I would catch it on everything.  If I were to wear this everyday, I would have to do a gel top coat to try and smooth it out.  

And not only did I get sparkly nails, but the satisfaction of peeling it off after it dried..... peel porn!!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Mel

Products used:
Big Peel Off base by Sally Hansen, Top Coat by Broadway, Champagne glass glitter by Stampin' Up!

Blue French tips, glitter and jewels! Oh My!!

Another challenge:  use jewels (30 days of color challenge, week of Jan 23).  Squeeeeel!  I love bling and all things shiny.  Here is the finished product:

Jan 28 2017

Yes, I was stumped on how to use jewels.  I went to my trusty Pinterest for inspiration.  I saw a white French tip manicure with jewels.  So, I put a little spin on it to make it mine.  

I didn't want a traditional white tip.  Hmmm..... choices.  I decided on this light, bright blue.  Now, do I freehand the tip or use the handy dandy sticker guides.  Of course, easy way!   I am painting over my Gelish manicure with top coat. I used Kiss brand guide stickers that I purchased from Dollar General.   I placed the stickers, to what I perceived to be aligned.  Then I painted two coats of I Believe in Manicures from the Breakfast at Tiffany's Winter collection from OPI.  Its a beautiful creamy blue!!  While the second coat was just painted and still wet, I dipped my wet fingers in some blue iridescent loose glitter.  I tapped my fingers a little to get any excess off, then put on a clear top coat.  While the clear coat was still wet, I put on my jewels.  I used Sally Hansen's I Heart Nail Art Studs.  I has 3 vials of studs - black rhinestones, clear rhinestones and gold square studs.  I put the tiniest amount of clear coat on the tip of an orange stick to pick up and place the jewels on my nails.  I pushed down a little to make sure they are embedded and won't come off.  

I really, really liked the way this look turned out.  I was so happy and giddy that I had to show everyone and got positive feedback!!  Its the little things that make me happy.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have an awesome day!!

Mel

Products used:

French manicure guide stickers by Bliss, I Believe in Manicures by OPI, Amy's Magic Ultra fine Glitter in Scuba Blue, Clear top coat by Broadway.

  

Gel nails are perfect for me!

In my previous posts, I commented that I used the Gelish system.  In case you were wondering about Gelish, this post is going to be all about Gelish.

Now remember, I am a DIY nail person - no formal training, just watching a lot of youtube and paying attention in some great nail groups on Facebook.  I decided against acrylics because it looked waaaaay too hard.  So, I then researched gels.  When I was getting my nails done, my tech used IBD.  I found that a little too expensive for my budget.  I finally settled on Gelish because of their price and the ease of application (based on reviews).  This also meant that I must also purchase a curing lamp.  So that meant more research.  This is what I bought thru Amazon:

Perfect Summer Professional 36W UV LED Light Nail Dryer Curing Lamp for Gel Nail Polish ( Elegant Pink) 

NEW Gelish Complete Basix Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit Package - Base Top Remove 

This is everything you need to get started, well except for a color polish.  That was fine with me because I like to keep my nails clear and used color on top.

Here is my application and it works for me, but may need to be tweeked for someone else.

1. Apply cuticle remover.  At the moment, I use Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover (purchased at Walgreens.)  Push back cuticles with either metal pusher or orange stick.  Also, push your nail to get some new nail growth removed.
2. Wash hands with warm, soapy water.  Dry.  
3. Use alcohol and a lint free wipe to wipe down nails or use Gelish Cleanse.  I use alcohol prep wipes that is used before getting injections.  I purchased a box of 200 at Walgreens for like $4.
4. Shape nails with a file.  Also, lightly roughen entire nail, especially the sidewalls and new growth on nail bed.  
5. Use alcohol to cleanse.
6. From here, I deal with one hand.  Complete the rest of the steps on one hand.  
7. Apply pH bond to each finger, making sure that the entire nail is covered.
8. Apply pH bond to thumb.  Then apply Gelish Foundation to thumb.  Make sure to cap the free edge.  Cure in lamp according to your lamp.  
9. Repeat step 8 with other fingers.
10. Apply Gelish Top it Off to each finger.  Make sure to cap the free edge.  Cure in lamp according to your lamp.
11. Top it Off has a tacky finish when cured.  Use alcohol lint free wipe or Gelish Cleanse to remove tacky finish.
12. Repeat steps 7 - 11 to other hand.
13. Apply Gelish Nourish or any cuticle oil to all fingers.

And, here is your Gelish clear manicure!  

Jan 23 2017 Right Hand

Jan 23 2017 Left Hand

Since using Gelish, my real nails have grown and are becoming stronger.  Just remember, DO NOT PEEL OFF THE GEL when you are ready for removal.  Soak a cotton ball in pure acetone and apply to finger.  Wrap in aluminum foil.  Leave for about 15 min.  Gel will either be going or easily removed with a cuticle pusher.  Plus, dont forget to moisturize and oil your nails every day.  If you can remember, do it more than once a day.  

Now, when I want to add color, I just polish over the top coat.  When removing the polish, use non-acetone remover and it will not harm the gel top coat.

I know I need improvement on application and clean up.  I get the gel too close to the cuticle and side walls.  I know with more practice, I will get it down.  Practice makes perfect, or in my case, practice makes a lot better.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have an awesome day!

Mel

Outta this world nails....

Like, literally!  My first attempt at any kind of nail art was to try galaxy nails.  This is what it is supposed to look like:  PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE IMAGES WERE TAKEN FROM GOOGLE IMAGES.

GOOGLE I MAGES

GOOGLE IMAGES

The galaxy nails I was doing was for a challenge on Nail Art and Contests Chat group on FaceBook.  My first challenge.....  What was I thinking??  Was I thinking at all?  I was no where near ready for this.  Oh, I will just show you.

Jan 19 2017 Practice art for galaxy nails

The above pic is my practice set on a color wheel.  Loved, looooooved the way it turned out on the practice set.  So it should go just as well on my actual nails, right?  I think I was expecting too much.  :(

Jan 19 2017 My first attempt at galaxy nails.

This pic shows the final product of doing the galaxy nails on myself.  I know where my mistakes are - need better cleanup, need smaller white dots, maybe use different colors.  I am so over critical of myself.  

I like the challenges because it makes me focus on one technique, instead of me being all over the place.  Plus, I love to learn new things, especially with nails, as I am so new at all of this!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

MEL

PRODUCTS USED:
LBD by Whim, Ascending Celine by Broadway, Energy Source by LA Colors, Rock Bottom by Sally Hansen, Take a Right on Bourbon by OPI and Eat Pink Be Merry by China Glaze

Are you tippin' kiddin' me?!?!?!?!

Next up on my new journey was tips.  Ugh.... tips.  My poor Cindy (as in Cinderella, you know, the one that does all the work) hand had nubs.  I mean, nubs.  LOL!  I got cocky with my Gelish application and thought, "Hey, tips can't be that hard!"  Hahahahahaha!  I was wrong.  I decided to just try my thumb, since it was the most pitiful looking nub on that hand.

On my weekly trip to Sally's Beauty, I picked up Cosmo Natural tips from Terrific Tips, Quick Dry Nail Glue from Beauty Secrets, and a Tip Clipper from Terrific Tips.   (You can click on links to see products.)  I got home and selected the appropriate nail tip for my thumb.   Applied the glue to the tip then applied the tip to my nail.  It looked great and was easy peasy lemon squeasy.  I applied my Gelish routine and even added a layer of structure gel between the foundation and top coat so the tip wouldn't look so thick.  I was pretty proud that it came out so well.   OR SO I THOUGHT.  At this time, I had an awful 25 watt lamp for light.  It was horrible.  I switched out desk lamps with my hubby on his drawing desk.  And took a look at that poor, awful thumb.  It was horrible.  The tip didn't fit correctly.  It was 10 kinds of janky!  Here, see for yourself:

Jan  1 2017 First tip try

Jan 1 2017 First tip try

I kept it like this for about a week.  I wanted to see how secure the nail glue and tip were going to be on my nail.  As of today (02/07/2017), I have not tried to apply tips any further.  But I must overcome my fears and do a full set of tips as I had to cut my nails.  Hopefully, with my new light and a ton of You Tube video tuts, the next trial will be bounds and leaps better.  WISH ME LUCK!!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have an awesome day!!

Mel

FRANKEN HAND!!! {cue the spooky music and a bone chilling scream}

FRANKEN HAND!!!  Yep you read that right, that's what I call this little experiment.

After my success with the easiness in doing one finger with Gelish, I got cocky.  I did all the rest of the fingers on my left hand with Gelish.  Came out just as great as my little pointer nail.  Whole left had is smooth and looks great.  Go me! Go me! Go me!

Now, I need color!! hmmm..... This one could be tricky.  I don't have the best polishes, mostly from Dollar General or Walmart.  Nothing expensive, nothing glamorous.  But did I mention, most are OLD!  I mean a year or more, old!

After researching that you can use regular polish with the Gelish application, I was excited.   Option A - Put on color after curing foundation (This could be either gel polish or regular polish.  If it it gel polish, you have to cure each layer of gel polish.  Will go over this in a separate post).  Make sure polish is completely dry then apply top coat and cure.  My experiment was to find out which last longer, looked better, worked the best.

Thumbnail:  The polish I used was Natural Bronze by Broadway Nails, purchased for $1 at Dollar General.  Its a gold shimmer that is very high shine.  Two thin coats, making sure to cap the edge.  Gelish cured top coat.

Dec 28 2016

Jan 6 2017

Middle finger:  The polish I used was a pale purple.  I don't know the name of the company but I remember buying it at KMart some years ago.  This was a creme and used two coats, capping the edge.  Gelish cured top coat.

Dec 28 2016

Jan 6 2017

Pinky finger:  I used Dutchess from the Fergie collection from Wet N Wild.  I know I bought the collection from Wal Mart a few Christmases ago.  I love anything sparkly and glitter is always a must.  This is two layers with the Gelish cured top coat.

Dec 28 2016

Jan 6 2017

Ring finger:  Well, this little finger didn't go exactly as planned.  First image, I used Pizzazz from the Holiday Joy collection from China Glaze.  I don't remember when or where I purchased this little multi-colored glitter gem!  I sponged on the polish to make the glitter more saturated.  I did two spongings and then used Gelish cured top coat.  When I was taking the stickiness off of the top coat, the most of the glitter just wiped right off.  Major fail!!  I left it on the way it was for a few days.  

Dec 28 2016

In the meantime, I started browsing my local Sally Beauty.  I wanted a Gelish Gel polish that I could use for my little experiment.  I purchased Glamour Queen from Gelish.  The color is a light brown/taupe/beige-y color with shimmer.  This is with two thin coats, topped by Gelish Top it Off cured.

Jan 1 2017

Jan 6 2017

Results of my FRANKEN HAND experiment:  All of the polishes I used did the trick and lasted for at least one week; with the exception of the heavily glittered polish.  I am about 99.999999% sure that if I would have left them on longer than a week, it would still have looked great!

Note to self:  Things I need to work on - photo taking and editing - cleaning edges and nail care.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have an awesome day!   

Mel  
@1000littlesparkles on IG