New York Fashion Week Inspired

There were all kinds of fancy nails going on at NYFW. One of my favourite designs was the half-moon reverse manicure, seen at Azede Jean-Pierre (by OPI) and at Libertine (by Butter London). So I decided to give it a go.

One of the best things about this design is you can make it as easy or as complicated as you want. If you're not confident freehand, then you can use either a nail tip guide or a punched hole reinforcements. Beyond that, you can use any colour and embellishments you choose!

I went for a spring green colour on most nails (another popular trend), and tried out one of the new Revlon scented polishes. It genuinely smelled like Lime Basil for a day, but it didn't last beyond that. I also went for a glitter on the bling finger, obvs.

Another advantage of the style is that when it starts to grow out, no-one needs to know!
Hope you like.

Products used: Green - Revlon Parfumerie (Lime Basil)

                       Green Glitter - No. 7 (Paradise Love)

Island Paradise

Last year, my friend Siobhan (unexpectedgeek), who is the make up guru of our little shop, asked me to a summery design to promote bright nail vanishes. This is what I settled on.

I used a sponge to create the gradient effect, and applied a thin, cheap base coat before it set to help it all blend. It also gave me an excuse to try out the Barry M nail art pens and grab a few new colours.

I was quite impressed with the pen. It very east to use, almost like drawing with a felt tip. I did notice that I had to go over a few bits more than once to get a solid dark line. Also, do not leave off top coat! It wears off very easily if not sealed.

Products used: Pinky red - Barry M (Passion Fruit)

                       Orange - 17 (Orange Soda)

                       Yellow - Barry M (Limited Edition B)

                       Black - Barry M

Holiday Mix & Match

I went on holiday earlier this year and wanted something fun and bright on my nails. I well and truly jumped on the Mint Candy Apple bandwagon and did a mix & match look.

Hope you like.

Products used: Mint - Essie (Mint Candy Apple)
                       Dark Green - Barry M (Racing Green)
                       Silver Glitter - Barry M (Diamond)
                       Silver - Barry M Nail Art Pen

Summer Flower Nail Design

Just a quick and fairly simple design today. When summer decided it was over rather quicker than I'd hoped, I decided a bright coral was called for.

As you can see, flowers are not my speciality, but I like the colour combo.

Products used: Coral - 17

                       Gold - Andrea Fullerton Stripe & Sparkle (India)

                       White - Barry M (Matt White)

                       Black - Rio Professional Nail Art

Olympic Themed Nail Art

Yay, Olympics! I am completely addicted. So much so that I'm almost not bored of hearing Chariots of Fire.

 I was particularly proud of Pride (the lion), so here's a close up.

 And this is my other hand. There is a yellow ring there, the flash managed to wash it out entirely.

So those are my Olympic nails. Are you watching and supporting your team?

Products used: Blue - Barry M

                       White - Barry M (Matt White)

                       Red - Rio Professional Nail Art Pen

                       Purple - Rio Professional Nail Art Pen

                       Green - Rio Professional Nail Art Pen

                       Black - Rio Professional Nail Art Pen

                       Gold - Andrea Fullerton Stripe & Sparkle (India)

Jubilee Nails!

So it's the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this weekend, which is a 4 day weekend excuse for parties and cake. And any excuse for cake is an excuse for a nail design.

 The contrast on the crown doesn't look great with the flash, but it's good and sparkly in real life.

 The obligatory union flag, blatez.

Hopefully the next design won't be quite so long coming, I've finished my exams so I should have time now.

Products used: Red - Nails Inc. (Victoria and Albert)

                       Blue - Barry M

                       White - Avon 

                       Gold - Andrea Fullerton Sparkle & Stripe (India)

Pool Balls for Edinburgh

 I have a tradition of having relatively simple, but eye-catching nails for my annual visit to Edinburgh. Last year it was Cheshire Cats. This year I went with my mum's suggestion of pool balls. They're numerically accurate as well, my mum would settle for nothing less.

This is the left hand. I prefer the mix of colours on this hand, but I couldn't do a pool ball design without the 8 ball. There'd be chaos.

Products used: Black - Collection 2000 (Liquorice)
                       White - Barry M
                       Green - Barry M
                       Blue - Barry M
                       Purple - Barry M
                       Yellow - Barry M
                       Red - 17
                       Orange - Collection 2000 Hot Looks (Hip Hop)
                       Thin tipped black - Rio Nail Art Polish

Experiments with Rhinestones and the like

I found all manners of glittery things and decided to shove them on my nails. Here are a few of the results.The Orange Flower look is inspired by a design on my.coolnailsart but I can't remember who.

 Very simple blue with sparkles.

 Sorry for the bad lighting of this photo. This is my most recent nail design (I still have it). In real life, it's covered in a glittery top coat.

Products used: Orange flower: Orange - 2True (No. 15)
                                               Black - Rio Nail Art Polish
                                               Green - Rio Nail Art Polish
                                               Silver - Rio Nail Art Polish
                        Blue sparkle: Blue - Collection 2000 (Electric Punk)
                        Purple glittery: Dark purple - 2True (No. 13)
                                               Lighter purple - Rio Nail Art Polish
                                               Silver - Bichun (No. 6888)
                                               Glitter - Barry M

My entries into 3TanjaJ3's Contest

A while ago now, 3TanjaJ3 held a vacation themed nail art contest on YouTube. These were my entries. Tutorials are available for each design, just search for my user name; mohnblume11 or click the links before each picture.

The first is an eiffel tower at night design. (Video)

 The second design is a palm tree silhouetted against a sunset. (Video)

 The third is ice cream. There's always room for ice cream. (Video)

 The final design is a fruit salad and it's kind of almost 3D. (Video)

So yeah, those are my vacation themed nails. Now very out of season, but there you are.