Frosted Nails

Today I have a very easy look that I found on a new app I installed on my phone, it looks like frost and it's awesome!

I simply used China Glaze Frostbite, topped it with Essie Matte About You for the matte effect, then I used a thin brush to add the white, and while it was still wet I pressed loose white glitter on top to make it spark!

Mission accomplished :)

Crackle Gradient + Step By Step

Today I have combined 2 styles I really like, crackle and gradient.

This is my first time trying on gradient nails using the makeup sponge method, I really like how it turned out.

Here's all you need to know to create this look

Rainbow Argyle + Step By Step Process

This is a look I have been wanting to make for a while, but I confess it looked so overwhelming that I have been postponing it for a while.

Well, today I decided to finally sit down and give it a go and I wasn't wrong about being overwhelming, but it was totally worth it cause I love how it turned out!

Here's the step by step process

Neon Yellow/Orange Crackle

This one is a pretty simple mani, so it doesn't need much introduction. This is what I call lazy nail art, cause it's not really nail art, but it's also not just plain nails.

I used Spoiled Inmate In Love over Kleancolor Neon Yellow

Gingerbread Man

Today I wanted to give it a try to stamping again. I now I'm terrible, but I have so many cute Christmas designs that I had to give it a go, and it didn't turned out too bad :)

This is what I did.. For the base I used Kleancolor Neon Yellow and topped it with China Glaze Angel Wings.

China Glaze Whirled Away and Turn Up Turquoise

Today I picked up a couple of China Glaze nail polishes from Sally's and couldn't wait to try them out.

They are not everything new, but they are to me and these 2 just go together beautifully! Don't you think?

Here they are, China Glaze Turn Up Turquoise from the Nervy Neons collection topped with also from China Glaze, Whirled Away from the Cirque Du Soleil Worlds Away Collection.

This last one is such an amazing topper, it can turn any boring and/or plain color into a fun nail art looking mani.

How do you like glitter? I'm really loving these big chunks! Until I have to remove them...

A England Tristam

Ok, yes! It's true! I'm in the indie wagon and I can't get off! There, I said it!

This one is here to stay... 

And how would it not? I mean, look at this! I'm not even gonna bore you with my blah blah blah, this is A England Tristam, enjoy!

Christmas Mix 'N Match

Christmas is around the corner and my nails are feeling it too! There are so many designs out there that I had to go for a Mix 'N Match mani once again because I couldn't design :P

There are so many things I want to try for the holidays, so I better get to it!

The first step was to decide what I wanted to do with each nail, once I finally did, I went on and started my base coats

Go Ravens!

It's not really a secret at this point that I'm a crazy Baltimore Ravens fan, and even though it's a fairly new obsession, it's not less powerful!

This is not the first time I make a mani inspired by them and for them, you can find another one here. And I hope you don't hate it (or are a Steelers fan) cause it might become a weekly affair ;)

China Glaze Frostbite + Snowflakes

Today I found the prettiest blue I have ever seen, China Glaze Frostbite.

This, among some others I'll show you some other time, is my first China Glaze ever.

Up until this point, I've been trying to stick to cheap nail polishes, I have had no problems with some drugstores brands like Sinful Colors and Kleancolor has been a good partner from the start, but when you see all the other beauties you're missing out, it's hard to resist, and these were impossible to.

Thankfully they came in Holiday sets and were cheaper by the bottle, and so far totally worth it.

So here it is by itself

I took this picture in sunlight so you could see the metallic-ish effect it has and to show true color.

Serum No 5 Day Glow - Glow In The Dark Nail Polish

Even though I swatched my other indies before, this is the true first one ever!

I just had to have it, I mean, it freaking glows in the dark! How can you resist this amazing polish?

Serum No 5 Day Glow is an icon! It's a must have polish is you want to stay on trend, you just have to.

Thanksgiving Stripes

I put my Shany nail stripers to work again, this time for creating a Thanksgiving-ish look with Fall colors and this is the result, I'm getting better at this free-handing thing :)

More Make Up Your Face, This Time For My Ravens!

You don't have to know me for too long to know that I'm a huge fan of the Baltimore Ravens!

A few years ago I didn't know anything about Football, I always thought it was very stupid to sit and watch 20 seconds of action and 20 minutes of commercials over and over again and I just never really got "it".

And oh how wrong I was and how much of a difference it makes to actually understand what's happening, then you can see how those 20 minutes of commercials are sooo worthy when you get the 20 seconds of super exciting action...

So back to nails, the is another of the MUYF Glitter Bombs I got a couple of days ago. It's supposed to be a holiday nail polish, but it turns out that when you mix it with a purple base color like this, it's the perfect Ravens combo!

Make Up Your Face Glitter Bomb + Some Striping Tape

Up until now I have only own one indie nail polish. Don't get me wrong, they look amazing! But to be honest, they're not the cheapest, and I can't help but think how many regular nail polishes I can get for what one indie costs.

But today I made an exception, I just really wanted to get some of those amazing glitter bombs that I'm seeing everywhere now. So when Make Up Your Face offered a mystery grab bag for a much more affordable prize, I just couldn't resist, it was a sign!

The downside of buying these is that you don't get to choose what you get, so I was just hoping for the best, and I have to confess I was not disappointed.

Here's what I got

From left to right: Ornaments, Wreaths, & Christmas Treats; Pastel Lover's Paradise; Snow Angel; Girls Rock Your Boys; Funfetti.

Halloween Mix 'N Match

It is really very easy to put together a cool Halloween Mani. There are so many options out there, and lots of tutorials for different looks can be found online, that it would be a waste not to at least give it a try.

Actually, it was so hard to decide which one I wanted to try that I just combined them (almost) all!

So here's the breakdown for each nail and what I used:

Before Instagram Series - Purple Dots

This was my first time trying on double dots and it wasn't very successful, if I learned anything was that you need to use a pretty opaque nail polish when dotting to make them look nice, and this wasn't the case.

For these I used Kleancolor Pastel Purple and Sinful Colors Let's Talk

Before Instagram Series - Gold/Black Crackle

To this day, this gold nail polish is my favorite, and when you add a black crackled top it gives a cool tiger look, cool enough for me not to care is kinda like animal print, which I'm not a fan of.

For these I used China Glaze Black Mesh over Nanacoco Colorholic.

Before Instagram Series - My Stash

This needs no introduction, here's my stash as of August 2012. It looks so small now. I think it's nearly impossible to take a picture now that I'm sure I'm over 600 polishes. But back then I was around 160. The last picture also includes my nail art stash.

Before Instagram Series - Chevron and Dots

Ever since I got those nail guides from eBay I knew I was gonna use them a lot. It is an easy way 

to get a cool look, and chevrons are always in style in my book.

For these I used Kleancolor Red Alert, Black and White.

For the dots I used this set of dotting tools.

Before Instagram Series - Black/Grey Stripping Tape

I really liked this super elegant mani. This was the first time actually using the stripping tape as part of the design as in leaving it on my nails.

The color combination was perfect for a night outing. I used Sinful Colors Secret Admirer and Black on Black.

I painted my nails with the pattern I wanted to have and used the tape to outline the colors.

Before Instagram Series - Silver/Orange French

This is a pretty easy and fun style I created inspired on my new iPad smart cover.

For these I used Kleancolor Mango as the base color and used the silver glitter striper from Shany and added some cute clear flower rhinestones.

Before Instagram Series - 4th of July

This was my first time doing holiday nails. I wanted something fun to match my super American outfit and they were a hit at the beach where I went to see the fireworks.

This is a Mix N- Match design and I incorporated a lot of elements.

For the pinky I used Kleancolor White and the red striper from Shany and added some blue stars rhinestones.

Before Instagram Series - My first Zoyas

This one is just a simple swatch of my first Zoyas ever, Zuza and Myrtle

Before Instagram Series - Gradient

I don't remember what motivated me to do this, but this was my first approach to a gradient/Ombre look.

I don't even remember what colors I used for these, sorry!.

Before Instagram Series - Spun Sugar

You people loooooved this look on Instagram when I did a blue version.
I think a lot of people didn't know about this technique, but I actually found a YouTube tutorial a whileee before that and did this combo of matte black and green.

I used China Glaze Black Mesh (I don't know what I was thinking using a crackle nail polish), Kleancolor Neon Green, the tool is from this Mash nail art brush set and Essie Matte About You.

Before Instagram Series - Corset

This design is not that different from the Converse one execution wise, but at the same time it looks nothing like shoes (I hope so).

This one was way cleaner than the Converse ones so I was very happy about that :)

For these I used Sinful Colors Dream On, which still is one of my favorite colors ever! And completed the details with the Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen and Shany White Striper.
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Before Instagram Series - Chevron

I think this one was one of my favorite manis for a long time, I loved everything about it!

For these I used some nail guides I got from eBay, I have only seen these on eBay from this UK seller and they come in some many different shapes, it's a must have.

However, I wish they were a little thinner and beware! The glue is sooo strong, more often than not they will come off with your base color and all, so if you want to get them, make sure you use a bonding base and that your base color is really really really dry, like paint the base the night before or something, I'm not exaggerating!

Before Instagram Series - Watermarble

This is, by far, my favorite technique! I just love how unique watermarble is and how awesome they look is for those who don't know what watermarble is. I have to confess it took me a looooong time to get a hang of this, but I have gotten pretty decent.

But back to a year ago, I had no idea what I was doing, but I followed some tutorials on YouTube and this is what it came out, which I have to say it was pretty good for a first time... the second, third, forth and so on weren't nearly as good as this one.

Before Instagram Series - Magnetic

Another trend people hates on that I still like. Magnetic polishes are really cool when using the right set of magnets that is NOT the China Glaze one. However, when I got this first one it was the only one out there and it wasn't too bad, but it was really expensive. Later on I found some cheap Chinese ones I found on eBay that were way cooler, but this first time this is what I got.

Even thought the burgundy color is too serious for me, it was the one I liked the most in this collection. It is China Glaze Instant Chemistry.

Before Instagram Series - Watermelon

After the Converse nail art success, I decided to try watermelon nails.

This look is pretty simple, but mastering the look of the green part took me a couple of tries. By the end I was very pleased with the result and it's a look I would totally try again.

Before Instagram Series - More Crackle

This is another quick post about crackle. You can read what I think of it here.

This time I used Kleancolor Bikini Green and topped it with LA Girl Fracture.

(OMG my cuticles)

Before Instagram Series - Checkered Nail Strips

This is the only time in my life I have used nail strips. I don't like them, I feel they look fake, they wrinkle and they don't last long. As a matter of fact, these lasted just long enough to take the pictures.

On the bright side, you can't beat the designs! I don't think I have ever seen perfect checkered nails like these, EVER. But the coolest thing about these particular ones is that they glowed in the dark! I was super excited about that feature. Keep in mind this was way before Serum No. 5 Day Glow which was my first glow-in-the-dark nail polish. Now they are so common, they are not even that exciting anymore.

Before Instagram Series - Crackle

I don't know why people hate on crackle so much, but I'm glad cause I really like this look and it's always super cheap cause nobody else buys them ;)

For me, crackle nails are an instant nail art look without much effort and if you use fun colors like these ones it can turn out pretty cool

For these I used Kleancolor Pastel Purple and LA Girl Fracture. I wish I had better pictures of them cause they were pretty fun and cute.

Before Instagram Series - Striped

Another trend I early adopted was the stripping tape, I found a set of 10 different colors on eBay for a very good price and I went for it.

When I received them I had nothing to compare them to, so I thought they were the bomb. But in reality they were really bad quality. I think the glue was too strong so when I pulled it out of the roll, the color would peel off :(

Before Instagram Series - Silver and Holo

This is just a simple swatch of a couple of those Kleancolors that started my addiction.
I can't say enough how good this brand is for starters and even not so newbies. I'm still loving the chuky holo ones and here's Holo Chrome over Pearl Silver.

Before Instagram Series - Gold French

This is a very simple but it looked kick-butt elegant so I'm sharing it

Before Instagram Series - Pepsi Nails

Around the time I bought the stamping plates, I also got a set of nail art polishes, commonly know as stripers, from Shany that I still use to this day. These strippers are very convenient for nail art and this particular set is very inexpensive and has every color you need and more. The first time I tried I was just playing around with no particular design in mind and this came up, some said it looked like the Pepsi logo so I call them Pepsi nails, even though that's not what I was trying to achieve. I used a red base and did the blue and silver stripe with the Shany set. Also, the nails were growing! :)

Before Instagram Series - Converse

I saw a picture of this look on Pinterest and I immediately knew I had to try it. I'm a huge fan of converse shoes and I own many many pairs, including ones in every color of this mani.

For these ones I practiced a lot and had to re do them several times, by the time I was done, my cuticles hated me more than ever, and you know how neons are not very friendly and you have to learn how to deal with them. At the end I was crazy proud of them and kept them for as long as I could. You can tell I was excited because for the first time ever I actually took several pictures of the process.

Before Instagram Series - Last Time Stamping For A While

My last 2 adventures with stamping for a long time are these 2. Soon after, I adventured into the free-handed nail art world and I lost interest in my crappy stamping and lack of skill.

These zippers were a failed attempt on February 25, 2012

Before Instagram Series - Giraffe

As I have mentioned before, I totally hate animal print and I'm probably the only person in the world who has never had leopard or zebra print on my nails or anything I own for that matters. However I once did Giraffe nails, inspired by a trip my family took (without me) to Costa Rica where they fed and hung out with giraffes and zebras, among other animals in a Safari.

Before Instagram Series - Glitter and Stamping

I don't remember much about the inspiration behind these ones, but it's not only stamping, but the first time I used glitter. Also, my nails start to look longer and overall better now, but not my stamping, not at all.

Before Instagram Series - Random Stamping

The first nail art obsession I developed was stamping. I went to Amazon and bought this set of plates.
I learned about stamping on a trip to Las Vegas when walking down the Strip some guy tried to sell us a big plate of them for like $100 and during his speech he let us try a design.

A couple of days later, my sister bought the pink Konad set that everybody have at CVS but I wasn't super sold yet. Eventually I found those Shany ones and I liked the designs so I got them.