Hi Goddesses
Is it a new series? I dunno, but it's a cool title, isn't it hahah. Basically, I had a mani that I did in 4 steps, which means you could use the same mani to create a different look every single day for 4 days (AND it used 4 polishes) and I thought Four Play sounded funny .... giggles.
I used to do something similar called Recycled Nails, and I know a few other bloggers have done something similar. I still love the concept, so here we go.
Day 1 - Start off simple, with a plain swatch.
This is the GLORIOUS OPI Planks A Lot, still one of my favourite polishes. I don't think I'll EVER get bored with this.
Beautiful tone of purple, perfectly pastel without being pukey, and shiny as a bald man's head.
Day 2 - Painted Gradient
I've briefly shown painted gradients before. Stupidly, I didn't take many photos here, but basically, the base polish now has Illamasqua Grab painted over it.
Day 3 - Glitter Topper
Now the fun part - the glitter. Until 2 days later when you realise you started with base coat and not PVA .....
This is a beautiful glitter from Indigo Bananas called Chill Out. It's full of white and silver loveliness - very icy, very shimmery too.
I absolutely loved this look.
Day 4 - Matte Top Coat
I seem to be a meme at the moment, running around (well, maybe not running), screaming Matte All The Things! I'm utterly obsessed with the qualities a matte polish brings to a mani, and I just can't get enough of them at the moment.
Another bonus - for photography, matte top coats sometimes give the best results. Whilst in real life I definitely preferred the mani glossy, in photos, I prefer the finished version.
So, why bother, why do 4 manis like this? Well, we're all busy. Nail art is great (even though this is not art, per se), but it can take time. This way, you divide the time required into little bite sized chunks - plus, you get chance to experiment!
Hi Goddesses
Today we end our 1st 4 week dotting rotation. Dotting tools WILL be back, because there are just so many things you can do with them, but hopefully the last 4 weeks have given you heaps of SIMPLE nail art ideas. And who are we kidding? Dots always look HAPPY!!
Today we do Dots Within Dots. Sometimes this is called "rings", because the trick is to make it look like you created a ring (ie a dot with a hollow centre).
Before we do the video, a couple of TIPS -
* don't overload your dotter. You'll see in the video that mine has taken on the nature of pustules lol. This is because I was doing it too quickly, to get it all within the video. Take your time, and try and keep your dots flat
* the other thing that will give you pustules is adding your 2nd dot too quickly - a lighter touch tends to leave a 3D blob as you try not to indent the base dot. Again, I have handily shown you this!
* if you do get pustules, my top tip is to add matte top coat, as I have done. It flattens things out to the eye
* I am not a big believer in practice, but you may want to do a test dot before you start. It can be quite a tricky business choosing the right 2 dotters. Choose one that's not different enough and your 2nd dot all but hides the first. Choose a dotter that's too different and you lose the "ring" effect
* you can even do triple rings. I've only done this once (see below) but it sure was pretty.
In my mani, I've used 2 of the stunning new Cadillacquer polishes - Spectrum and All Sparks.
Ok - here's the vid -
Finally, here's some other beautiful examples -
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Hi Goddesses
Today I've got my favourite random polishes of the year for you. These are basically all the ones that don't fit into any other colour category, and are either neutral colours OR polishes that can only be worn as toppers. So, excluding my Big 4 brands, here are my Top 12 "Others" of the Year.
(To go to the post, just click the polish name).
Cirque - Debris
Just a brilliant, black glitter topper. Exquisite.
Pretty and Polished - Wax Top Coat
Great addition to your mani options - for when you don't want it matte, but there's just a little too much glare!
Too Fancy Lacquer - Chocolate Gold
If you had told me I'd be singing the praises of a brown holo before the end of the year, I'd have said you were mad. Tis true though, this is beautifully different.
Too Fancy Lacquer - Champagne Cocktail
I thought golds were boring, and then I wore this. Yellow gold, rose gold, pink edges - wow, this is a work of art.
Dandy Nails - Bound To Fall
Exquisite medium grey with darker speckles, this is like luxurious marble on the nail. Fabulous.
w7 - Bronze Debris
As you know, I am glitter-ed out, but I made time to adore this sensational bronzey and rose gold masterpiece from "cheap as chips" British brand w7.
Black Cat Lacquer - Vogue
Ah, I'm still mad for this glitter topper - happiness in a bottle.
Black Cat Lacquer - Frozen
I really do have a love affair with shard glitter - I love how edgy it is, and this white, teal and purple mix is great.
Darling Diva - Holiday
One of the highlights of the year for me was CIRCLE GLITTER and this had more CIRCLE GLITTER than a CIRCLE GLITTER loving gal with a CIRCLE GLITTER fetish could reasonably expect. Love.
Enchanted Polish - Tenderheart
I think this is the only bottle of Enchanted I managed to buy all year, and even then it was *months* after it was released. This fell straight into my pink-orange-juicy obsessed hands. Love.
The Polish Bar - Girls Rule
A super fun girly CIRCLE GLITTER, perfect for summer. Happiness.
