Nevermore is Phenominal

Originally, my go to one coat black polish is a England Camelot.  However I've found I've been shying away from using black bases because I don't want to use it up.  It can be sold out often on web sites and so I was afraid to use up all of my precious.

So when I heard Cult Nails Nevermore was an equally awesome black, I picked it up during one of their $5.00 sales (which are awesome, seriously, follow them on Facebook to be sure you know when they are coming!).

This polish most definitely delivered.  A one coat black, with ease of application AND fantastic shine.  One top I put one coat of HITS Phenomena Moonbow, a gorgeous color shifting glitter top coat.  There are so many different colors that flash in this manicure, I can't even tell you!  

Fantastic pairing and with 2 simple, easy to apply coats I was base coat to top coat done in 20 min!  (For me?  This is good, usually I spend more time cleaning up my nails than painting them!).

Sun:

Shade trying to show off some of the colors more:

Close Up!

 The amazing Nevermore on its own

You can purchase HITS through Ninja Polish.  Cult Nails can be purchased on their website. 

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The Fail of July

Happy 4th everyone!

I had some bizarre inspiration a bit before midnight on the 3rd to do a striped manicure using HITS Apollo (blue), Hefesto (silver) and Ares (red).  I put it over two coats of Ulta Snow White so Hefesto would look more white in the middle, but still have the same holographic pop as the other two.

Obviously I did this by hand with no tape or anything and you can see at midnight a steady hand I have not.  But I still sort of loved it, epic flaws and all.  It was mine and it looked dazzling poolside while celebrating the day.

Ulta Snow White is the next white in a long line of whites I've tried and hated.  Someday perhaps I'll find you the perfect white!   I've always been happy with all of my HITS from the No Olimpio collection and these were no exception!  

As a bonus, I'll show you what I did on my toes.  Two Coats of China Glaze Riding the Waves, a sheer blue jelly with one coat of Lush Lacquer Snap, Crackle, Pop on top.  I usually get my pedicures done professionaly, but I haven't had the time lately, so I did it myself.  OY.  It looks like I painted it on with my left hand or something.  Oh well, from afar, they are fun and sassy!

Riding the waves is sheer, but this was two coats.  Obviously from a distance there is no worry about VNL or what have you.  Snap, Crackle, Pop is such a fun patriotic mish mash.  I got so many compliments on it at the party.

WARNING TOE PHOTOS AHEAD:

Ulta polish can be purchased at Ulta.  HITS can be purchased on Ninja Polish.  China Glaze can be found at Ulta or Sally Beauty.  Lush Lacquer can be found at their Etsy Shop.


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Orange You Glad I Joined The Rainbow Challenge?

Today's color in the Rainbow Challenge is Orange.

I chose to use a base of HITS Demeter, a beautiful orange linear holo.  I used three coats because after two a bit of visible nail line was still showing and I don't like my goods hanging out there for the world to see.

I decided to top it with Dandy Nails Into the Fire, a beautiful orange jelly base with scattered holos and orange bar glitter. (Look ma, no curling glitter!  That's how its done overpriced egotistical polish maker, the fabulous indie Dandy Nails is able to find glitter that doesn't curl AND I don't have to pay $20.00 for it! /soapbox off).  These two paired together perfectly.  Into the Fire took Demeter into a bit of a deeper orange and the holo still was able to show through a bit.  The bar glitter was the perfect amount of bling without being too much.  The holo bits in Into the Fire just added the perfect amount of punch.

Dandy Nails is a great indie polish line and one I've been very happy with.  I've owned this polish for a few months and it is still in perfect condition.   The HITS No Olimpio collection is simply stunning.  I haven't had a dud from it yet.

Onto the photos (RIP long nails, I'm sporting the nubbins again).

You can purchase Dandy Nails through her Etsy Store.

Please check out the other blogs participating in this challenge!

~on beauty stuff and what else's...~
9ml universe
atlcatsmeow
Captivating Claws
Fancy Phalanges
Fe's Nails
Follow the Yellow Polish Road
Football and Fingernails
Fresh Air & Fashion
Happy Nails
iHeartPrettyPolish
Jolien's Kingdom of Polish
Kelly's Kolors!
Lacquer Dreams
Lacquer or Leave Her!
Liesl Loves Pretty Things
Light Your Nails!
Manicurity
My Life In Polish
nailpolish is alive(:
Nail Polish Lane
Nail Pron
Nubbin Nails
Of Color n Music
Passion for Polish 

Polish and Such
Sincerely, Obsessed with Polish
So You Think You Can Paint
The Rantings of a Nail Polish Hoarder
To Polish or Not?

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A Quattro Mustang Mani

Another week, another black and red manicure to cheer on my favorite U9 boys soccer team!

I got my inspiration for this from Nail Polish Wars blog, she used 4 polishes for this amazing gradient that I loved.  Seriously, check out this blog, she has OUTSTANDING ideas.  I always use her ideas for inspiration.

So the colors I decided to use were 2 coats of HITS Ares - a red holo, then I sponged on of China Glaze Ruby Pumps - red sparkly goodness for the transition, then I painted on the tips in a sort of haphazard way HITS Zeus - a deep gray holo.  Then as she did I topped it with a coat of HITS Hefesto - a silver holo.

I tried sponging on Zeus, but it came out looking very light and so I went with the painting instead.  In hindsight, I should have only done one coat of Ares, because you can't see the transition between that and Ruby Pumps very well under the Hefesto.  I also think I should have stuck with sponging on the Zeus, it shows up darker under Hefesto than it did in person.  

All in all though, I kind of love it!

Final Product (I know, the cuticles, disaster).

2 coats of Ares (pre-clean up).

This is what it looked like before Hefesto came on, you can see the transition much better, I also love the way you can see the shimmer of Ruby Pumps through Zeus.  This may be another future Mustang Mani on its own. 

You can purchase HITS from Llarowe:  http://shop.llarowe.com/ be sure to check out the sale section because these are on sale quite often.  China Glaze can be found at Ulta and Sally Beauty Supply.

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Don't Pout

Here is another Butter London, the gorgeous Trout Pout. Looking at the bottle I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but on it really comes alive!

After a few days I tried to extend the mani so I added HITS Hephesto, a beautiful silver holo, on top.

Showing off the holo:

You can buy Butter London at Nordstrom and Ulta. HITS can be purchased at the amazing etailer llarowe http://shop.llarowe.com/

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Another Work Friendly Manicure

Another day, another meeting...

This time I went with HITS Hestia, a soft pink holo. I thought it applied well and looked lovely in the sun, but it was sort of a blah for me, probably because I'm used to such bright, fun manicures.In the shade:

Showing off the holo in the sun

Close Up:

So when I came home and happened to receive nail mail from the indie Dandy Nails, I decided to put Funhouse over top. I loved this combo and Funhouse really took this manicure up a notch.

In the shade:

In the sun:

You can purchase HITS from llarowe http://shop.llarowe.com/ and Dandy Nails from her Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/DandyNails

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Flashy Tips At Tiffany's

This was my very first attempt at doing my own tips. Clearly, it shows! I tried to use those French tips guides which was a disaster. Then I tried to fix the disaster which only made it worse!

The base was two coats of China Glaze For Audrey, the tips were Wet N Wild Black Creme. In a final attempt to make it prettier, I covered the whole nail with one coat of HITS Poseidon, which is a beautiful light blue holo.

I want to try this one again now that I've gotten better with my technique.

You can buy HITS at llarowe http://shop.llarowe.com/  , China Glaze at Sally Beauty Supply or Ulta and Wet n Wild at CVS or Rite Aid.

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