BAH! I had this entire post written and then I did something and deleted it and the stupid Auto-save saved it before I could undo it. Don't you hate when that happens? Or am I the only nitwit that has done that?
Anyway.
This week's challenge of the 52 Week Challenge is "4th of July" so I decided to post on the holiday itself. I know, big decision, but I'm confident I made the right one.
I went with something super simple (and glittery) for today since I'm going out and about and it had to be something very wearable. Deborah Lippmann Footloose and Julep America (post coming soon about my Julep Maven July box!).
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| Week 27 of 52: 4th of July mani |
Eight coats of polish! Base coat, two red coats (no British reference, promise), three glitter coats, one clear coat, one top coat. But since my natural nails are so thin, they feel nice and thick and strong! Grrrrrr.
When I was trying to think up some designs, I did a nail art wheel, because I love how these look when they follow a theme or use only specific colors. In this one, I only used Sally Hansen White On, China Glaze Ruby Pumps, China Glaze Dorothy Who, and Julep silver stars. I got kinda un-inspired after awhile so some of them are crap less original but I figured I'd share anyway ...
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| Patriotic/4th of July Nail Art Wheel |
And just because I liked the feel of the flag, kinda faded and Americana, I decided to go ahead and do that one too since it's also related to the 4th of July but it fulfills another week's challenge - Week 24 Flag Mani!
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| Week 24: Flag Mani |
TWO nail art for the price of one, can't get any better than that! And just because I think I've FINALLY figured out how to apply white polish, here is Sally Hansen White On in all of her glory, before I painted all over her. This is two coats to make sure it's even and opaque, but that ain't bad from most white polishes I've tried. I've been using the polish A LOT as a base for most of my nail art, and I think I may need to purchase another white creme. I have another white, but it sucks - runny and thin - any suggestions? Or should I stick with this one now that I know how to apply it?
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| Sally Hansen White On |
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| Sally Hansen White On |
OK, so now that's really it for me! Hope ya'll have a fabulous day and Happy 4th to those who celebrate it!! I'm off to eat BBQ and hang out with some friends.
Those look great! I received the July Maven box, too, and was excited to try America. It didn't work so well for me, though. The Julep brush is kind of crap, and the formula was thick and goopy. How did you get yours to look so nice?
ReplyDeleteHrmm, that's strange about America. Mine was nice and easy to work with. I've had a few of their polishes need a little thinner when I first opened them (ie Lynn - nightmare!). I can't take credit for it looking nice. Sorry.
Deletewow you did some amazing designs on your nail art wheel!
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks!!
DeleteI was looking around for 2-coat white suggestions recently (I had one that took about 6 coats!) & Sally Hansen "White On" was one of the recommendations! Some other top recommendations were Sally Hansen Insta-Dri "Whirlwind White", Milani "White on the Spot", Pure Ice "Super Star!" (there is also a red polish with that name & no "!"), and OPI "Alpine Snow".
ReplyDeleteI ended up getting the Milani "White on the Spot" because it was right in the middle ranges of prices but haven't tried it yet (we're moving). It sounds like you go through a lot of white so it wouldn't hurt to try another cheap brand while you still have some of that one left & you can compare them back to back to see which works better.
Oh, I've heard good things about Milani WOTS too. Maybe that'll be my next one! And I like the comparing. I may grab a few and compare and the others I'll use for mixing so I don't waste my "good" whites. Thanks for the info!!
DeleteI agree with Aryn, my bottle of Julep America was very thick and unmanageable as well and all the glitter wanted to clump together.
ReplyDeleteThere are some amazing a beautiful designs on your nail wheel! I would never have the patience to "fill" one of those, but they all look so good.
Maybe adding a little thinner to it? I didn't do anything to mine, I guess I got a good bottle of it.
DeleteI love the nail reel! I'm honestly not a fan of Julep's america glitter polish. i wish I had a good white, I have Julep's Kate. It's not pure white, but it's pretty good.
ReplyDeleteGood whites are so hard to come by - they're all chalky or thin or runny. Maybe I'll stick with SH or try Milani's!
Deletelove them all! That's the white I use for most of my manis just because it is so cheap and I use it so often :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a great white for a great price!
DeleteI love the flags!!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a collection of designs, love them all, they are really special!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteI'm a little relieved to hear that other's who received America had crappy bottles (Aryn and Rebecca). I was so excited when I got my box and put on America right away (due to celebrations and the pure glitter goodness) but it was clumpy and hard to work with. Only one star came out the whole time I worked with it! I managed as best I could then topped with Seche and it peeled off within 2 hours!! I was highly disappointed. I made a few comments to my friends that thank goodness I didn't "buy" this polish cause I would have been upset.
ReplyDeleteKaki, you said to "thin" it. Do you mean to add some acetone?
Definitely don't add acetone! There is actual nail polish thinner you can buy. I get mine at Sally's.
DeleteHope it's okay I answered this, Kaki!
I'm sorry your bottle wasn't up to snuff either. I guess I got lucky with mine. And Ryan is right (thanks for answering before i could get here!) but acetone will break down the components of your polish (which is why it's so good at removing nail polish and acrylics) but actual polish thinner puts things back in that have either evaporated or didn't have enough of in the first place. Most thinners contain butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, or isopropyl alcohol which are all solvents (ie the polish will technically dissolve into it) and it will be thinner. It'll likely make it easier to work with. Let me know if that was super complicated or doesn't make any sense!
DeleteOMG all of your design collection on the wheel looks really awesome!!
ReplyDeleteIt makes me run to get for example Drothy Who... :)
Haha thanks!! Dorothy Who is an amazing polish! I highly recommend it!
DeleteI absolutely love the flag mani!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm happy with how it turned out!
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