Wednesday, April 25, 2012

☆★Leopard print + dangle ☆★


I am completely obsessed with leopard print.
Clothes, scarfs, bathrobe, umbrella, socks, bracelet, arm pillows and nails!

Leopard print is hot, it's sexy, very feminine and yet classic.

Some might think it is ordinary, or even over the top.
But you know what? I do not care at all. I've gotten to a stage in my life where I stopped worrying about what other people think of me.
 I am who I am, I wear what I want.
And only now I dare to show it.

My close friend Karen wanted the same design on her nails like me, so let's go ahead and get started.
Perfect opportunity to film a video.


In the video I start off by sanitizing her nails and pushing back the cuticles.
With a coarse drill bit I took off her previous design  (she thought she'd make it easier for me and already removed her glaze 'n go and design. Thank you lol)

I forgot to press record after drilling away the previous design. But all I did was file with a 100/180 file (180 side), file away any bumps and removed the shine from the natural nail at the cuticles where the nail has grown out.

I removed dust with a kabuki and also with a nail wipe and IBD prep
Then I took NSI prep dx and dehydrated the natural nail.

On her index finger I placed a form and rebuild the nail with NSI clear powder (she broke one because a horse bit her nail, hooray for fake nails!)

Then I start forming the smile line with gold glitter(mixed with clear powder) and with a clean brush I clean up the smile line.
With NSI superbond I primed the natural nail only and starting filling up the nail with NSI attraction totally clear.

When all 10 nails are completely dry, I shaped and filed the nails, removed dust and let Karen wash her hands with warm water and soap to remove dust and excess chemicals.

With a stamper, stamping polish and an image plate, I did the leopard print.
Then I put on a UV activated topcoat : Glaze 'n go and let that cure for 3 minutes.

With a nail piercer I drilled a hole in her nail on her ring finger.
I put a dangle trough and closed it with pliers.

On her other ring finger, I made a 3D bow with NSI white powder and a no.2 acrylic brush.

With some cuticle oil, I massaged her cuticles and then took some pictures.
I hope you like this design.
x



Friday, April 20, 2012

☆★Gel Nails - Butterfly on ice ☆★


To achieve this design, I already removed the old design simply by filing it off with a 100/180 grit file.
And I have pushed back the cuticles and removed the shine from the natural nail.

In the video  I start off by dehydrating the nail with IBD prep and a lint free wipe, which also removes any excess dust and oils left onto the nail plate (which can cause lifting).

When that has dried, I applied NSI superbond (my mother is prone to lifting) on her natural nail only.
Then with my gel brush I brush on a thin coat of IBD builder gel in clear, as a base layer.
Went around the cuticles with a rosewood stick.
Cure that for 2 minutes.

With Jean Marin builder gel in Ultra white and a dotting tool, I start forming a smile line, for then to fill in the rest. With my gel brush, I clean up the smile line.
Letting that cure for 2 minutes.

Then I brushed on a bit of that clear gel on the free edge, for then to pick up a bit of blue glitter, to place that on the smile line, fading it a bit down toward the tip of the nail.
Letting that cure for just a minute.

Then it is time to build up the thickness and strength, and I do that by first brushing on a thin layer of IBD builder gel clear, and then building up the nail with strings of gel.
I go around the cuticle area with a rosewood stick and letting that cure for 3 minutes.

When all 10 nails are done, I remove the tacky layer with non acetone nail polish remover and a lint free wipe.
With a 180 grit file I file the sidewalls and the free edge.
Removed dust and stamped on a butterfly design.

To finish the nail off I used ORLY Glosser (careful not to smudge the stamp I just did)
Last but not least I rubbed on some cuticle oil and took some pictures.

I hope you like this design.
x





Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Easter Nail Art




So now Easter is on it's way, and to me Easter is:
Pastel colors, eggs, bunnies,...

I did this set on my mum, and I really like how the yellow and the purple shells came out.

Prior to filming I already removed the old design with a 100/180 grit file.

In the video I dehydrate her nails with IBD prep, this also removes any excess dust.
Then I prime her nails with NSI superbond nail primer.

I brush on a thin coat of IBD builder gel clear as a base, and let that cure for 2 minutes.

ThenI brush a thin layer of clear gel on the free edge (DO NOT CURE)
Then I start patting on a neon yellow glitter.
This glitter is from Viva la nails.

With a clean brush I start forming a smile line, and let that cure for 2 minutes

On the ring finger I brush on a thin layer of clear gel and start placing purple crushed shells
to resemble egg shells

I let that cure only for a minute.

The next step is the same on all nails (one at a time)
Brush on a thin layer of gel and start building your thickness and strength.
Let each nail cure for at least 3 minutes.

With none acetone nail polish remover and a lint free wipe I take away the tacky layer.
Then file the sidewalls and free edge.

With white-ish acrylic powder I formed the bunny.
First the head, then the ears, and when that's dry I put some eyes on and a pink nose.

I put on Orly Glosser as a topcoat, let that dry and then massage some cuticle oil into the cuticles and surrounding skin.
Pictures and done.

I hope you enjoy this simple Easter nail art.