Inspired by: Harlequin Hardware Manicure

Did you ever heard for Harlequin Hardware manicure? Well I haven't but I saw pictures on Tumblr all the time. :D Here's a picture...

http://makeupforlife.net

“Harlequin Hardware” manicures created by CND‘s Candice Manacchio at the Diego Binetti show. To create these gorgeous looks, Candice stained models' nails in CND Colour in Raspberry Parfait and Frosting Cream before capping them in gold and silver metal.

The gradient looks so perfect and airbrushed on pictures and I already knew I won't get same smooth effect but I really wanted to try it out. :D Tips are probably mirror gold stickers, as you can see on her pinkie it started lifting. :i

It looks much better from far away as on macro photos. :i

First I started with 2 coats of OPI Sweet Heart. Then I applied Sweet Heart and Hot or Not? on sponge and started sponging pink near the cuticles and blending pink with the lighter color. It's even messier than a normal gradient, because you need to be careful not to get pink in the middle of nails. I literally had pink fingers all around cuticles. :) Then I add just Sweet Heart on sponge and tapped it in the middle of nails in case there were pink spots. I added coat of top coat and left it for a day. Yesterday I made gold french tips with China Glaze 2030 and stripping tape and finished everything with another coat of top coat.

Without Golden Tips

I got so many compliments and lots of them were wondering if my nails are fake or how I did them. :)

Sun

OPI - Sweet Heart / 2 coats

Sponging: OPI - Sweet Heart & Catrice - Hot or Not?

 Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer

Funky french: China Glaze - 2030 & Stripping Tape

Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer

Yup, gradient effect is grainy if you look closer but I don't care, it's still pretty. ^_^

This technique is a bit messy and time-consuming but when you're done, you have a pretty awesome manicure going on your nails. :L

Btw, follow me on instagram @ivanathinkspink, I joined a few days ago . :)

What do you think? Would you wear it? :i Thanks for reading! :h

Edit - 18th September 2012 ~ Adding video tutorial :)

Xoxo,
Ivana :k

Inspired by: Chanel Fall 2012 Couture Nails

Few days ago I was spending my time on Tumblr checking nail art pictures, when I spotted this gorgeous manicure. Of course I googled more for details and after seeing more detailed pictures, I knew I had to try it myself. The manicure I'm talking about was done by Chanel and here's a picture.

http://www.vogue.co.uk

For the autumn/winter 2012-13 couture show, nails were painted in a limited-edition Silver shade from 2007, before spring 2012's May was applied in an oval shape.

Two colors that were used on Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2012 runway were Silver (2007, discontinued) and May (Spring 2012). 

I don't own any of those, well I actually don't have any Chanel's nail polishes, because they're too expensive, so I decided to make something similar. :i

Two colors I decided to use were China Glaze Cheers to You and OPI Sparrow me the Drama. This is some kind of ruffian manicure but a lot easier version, because there is more free edge on sides of nails and with a flat brush like OPI has, you're done in 3 brush strokes. :) 

I made lines even cleaner with brush soaked in remover. I gently removed the pink where needed without ruining the silver foil underneath, because foils really stick on nails. Of course you can always apply top coat over silver and before pink. to be really sure you won't ruin the base color with brush and remover.

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener

China Glaze - Cheers to You / 2 coats

OPI - Sparrow me the Drama / 2 coats

Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer

I'm very excited to post this manicure today and I hope you'll like it too. :i I did my best to show you my both hands, but nothing can't compare to the original though... So, all you need is a metallic or foil silver and bubblegum pink and you can rock these as models did. ^_^

Let me know what do you think about Chanel's nails, would you wear them? :) Thanks for reading! :h

Edit - 20h September 2012 ~ Adding video tutorial :)

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Step by Step: Color Blocking Manicure

Color blocking became a huge trend so I decided to do something my way on this theme. :e

I decided to use my new polish I just got from Morgan (I'll show you what I got soon :L ). Beach Cruiser is part of Orly's Summer Feel the Vibe 2012 collection. As soon as I applied it, it became my 2nd favorite Orly, right after Fancy Fuchsia. <3 It's bright vibrant neon pink with great formula. If you're careful, you can get away with 2 coats, if there are still some bald spots, you add another thin coat. It has satin finish so for a glossy look add a layer of TC. :)

I decided to match it with Wanna Kiss? from Essence. First I wanted to use neon with nude, but since I don't have one, I chose muted pastel pink. :) And to play with my manicure a bit more, I reverse the colors on my other hand. ^_^

Daylight

I also did one quick tutorial how I did this manicure. Pictures in this post aren't the best, because the weather was really gloomy today. :/

Step 1: Add striping tape on fully dry base color.

Step 2: Paint the opposite color between tape.

Step 3: Carefully remove tape, while the color you just painted is still wet..

Step 4: Add a layer of top coat to smooth the surface.

Daylight

Essence - Wanna Kiss? / 2 coats

Orly - Beach Cruiser / 2 coats

Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer

I'm in love with Beach Cruiser <3 I definitely need a back up! :$ Do you like my take on color blocking nails? Do you find these kind of tutorials helpful?

Xoxo,
Ivana :k

Subtle Baby Pink

Subtle manicure for summer? Why not?! :i

I wanted something girly but soft, so I finally tried Baby Pink from Barry M, which I got from Kvacka months ago. :h I had to add 3 coats to even up the color. Then I decided to use the pattern I used almost every time I did my nails when I started this blog, and it's still one of my favorite. :L

Daylight

Sun

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener

Barry M - Baby Pink / 3 coats

Stamping: Konad m64 + Essence Stamp me! White

Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer

What do you think? Do you prefer pastels, bright or dark colors for summer? I love wearing brights, but from time to time I also love wearing pastels. <3

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

How to capture neons on picture?

When I tried CH Nail #14 I wanted more neons like that so this time I got CH Nail #04. It looks like it's super pink but it's not, so don't let the pictures on their page fool you. It definitely has red undertones, so it's more like a pinkish red. Unfortunately my pictures aren't color accurate, it looks way to orange as in person, so I have only one picture for you.

It has great formula. almost one coater if you're careful. Remember, it's bright but red. :i It looks more pink in the bottle as on nails, maybe I should try it over white too.

Daylight

Es?sence Nail Art - Protecting Base Coat

CH Nail - #04 / 2 coats

Don't forget to use code J10X31 to get 10% off on your order if you're planning to order on Born Pretty Store . ;)

How do you take color acurrate photos of neons? Any tips and tricks?

Xoxo,
Ivana :k

*Product in this post was sent to me by Born Pretty Store! For more information read my disclosure policy!