Nail-job craving: After having my marathon manicure (the incredible chevron-dot nails) for two full weeks, I was thinking I’d return to something less out there — simple, maybe two tones (maybe even just one shade). For day to day, I tend to prefer something less busy. But then I went into Tips Nail Bar and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Leeanne Colley more excited. “I’ve got something in mind!” she announced. And, as I’ve learned, when Leeanne has something she’s cooked up, you just go with it.
How I satisfied that craving: Leeanne showed me a tester nail she’d done the design on — a swirly pattern of neons, and black polish overtop in a graphic pattern — WHOA. It reminded me of “black magic” (remember doing that as a kid? Colouring on paper in colours and then putting black crayon overtop and then using something pointy to “draw” by scraping the black crayon, revealing the rainbow underneath??).
Yowzers. I wanted. My only request was that we do a different colour on top. So this is what Leeanne used:
Artistic Color Gloss in Spotlight on the base nail.
Swoops of neon gel polishes overtop: Amazon Flirt, Shake It til you Samba and Coco Cabana Banana, all Gelish, and Hype from Artistic Color Gloss.
Then Leeanne applied China Glaze Custom Kicks (a regular nail polish) over the entire nail, and using a brush dipped in acetone, swept away the nail colour in a graphic striped pattern — it’s almost like a reverse version of the colourblock manicure she did for me last year for a half-marathon race, only now the stripes reveal the nail art underneath.
On one pinky, we tested out China Glaze Bahamian Escape, and decided to keep it as an accent nail.
And three hours (yes, three hours!) later, voila!
How this nail colour make me feel: Energetic (which is good as I’ve slept very little this week!). The name — OP Magic — well, Magic from black magic craft-y thing, and OP because the blue pinky especially made us think of that clothing brand Ocean Pacific that was hot in the 80s (or was it early 90s?).
Love it or hate it: Love.
May 25, 2012
Nail-job craving: Nine weeks ago, I saw BeautyGeeks Janine Falcon with her Louboutin mani and knew I had to have it right away. Then why the heck did I wait nine weeks to get it then? Because at the time, I had JUST cut my nails as short as they could go — doh! And it took me this long to get my nails to grow long enough for this lil nail job.
How I satisfied that craving: I trekked on over to Tips Nail Bar. In terms of colour combo, Leeanne and I discussed how the best combos are with a big contrast in between the colours. Since I wasn’t keen on having a dark shade underneath my nails (nor on my nail — feels wrong to me since it’s spring now), we went with a pastel blue with the subtlest of glitters on my nails with a subtle empty moon — it’s Artistic Color Gloss in Tease. Then, on the reverse side (the underside of my nail tips), Leeanne applied neon pink China Glaze in Pool Party, followed by a top coat.
How this nail colour make me feel: Like I perhaps need some therapy to help me with my nail obsession, as it’s reaching all sorts of new levels. How’s that? Well:
- I never have my nails this long, so I’m constantly touching the tips.
- I usually have my nails in a squoval shape — this oval shape is brand new to me so I can’t stop looking at them (even more than usual). In fact, I think some chick on the subway thought I was some weirdo as I saw her watching my staring at my fingers, ha ha. I totally think my oval nails look like those fake nails they use to show you what a nail polish colour looks like. (And btw in case you want to make your fingers look slimmer, I think this does the trick.)
- Now, not only do I have my nail colour to look at lovingly, I just have to turn my hand over and there’s a whole new shade to admire — doubling my nail-admiration time.
Love it or hate it: Love.
April 13, 2012
Nail-job craving: Earlier this week, I attended a media preview for the upcoming collections from Essie–Essie Weingarten herself was there, too (she had A List on her nails, giving props to Canada’s red flag), and the neon collection launching in May made my heart skip a beat, but today, when I got to go back to the Essie pop-up nail bar for a manicure, I was in the mood for pastels.
How I satisfied that craving: Miyuki from Tips Nail Bar hooked me up with Essie Who is the Boss (a pale, opaque blue) as the main colour on my nail bed and the tips in Cascade Cool (a purply pink).
How this nail colour make me feel: Fresh and ready for this spring weather.
Love it or hate it: Love.
March 15, 2012
