I combined two different color collections from OPI to do this fall colored nail art.The lighter hue is from the Breakfast at Tiffany’s collection and it called “Five and Dime”
The orangish color is from the DC Collection and it is called “Yank My Doodle”
I did simple fading using a fan brush on the middle finger nails, blending of the colors while they were still uncured on the thumb and pinkie and I used the opposing colors on the ring fingers to draw with.
Happy Pre – Thanksgiving. I give thanks for you all!!!!
I met a gal in California who has 33 years experience as a nail tech! Congratulations Liz…thank you for sticking with this industry for so long (and mentoring younger nail techs)
from Nails Magazine!
We got to talking about sponging on gel and if it could be done. I have tried it before with little success. But as we were talking about it, I had a thought.
You see the problem with sponging on gel is two fold. First, it is slippery and a bit sticky. Those things will make the gel either slide around when you sponge or leave “pits” in the gel polish.
Well, this is what I came up with. For ease, here is a step by step. After prepping the nail, apply base gel and cure. Once cured, lightly dab the top sticky to make it a little less wet. DO NOT completely remove.
Step 1) Load (lots of gel) onto your sponge in all three colors. Instead of dabbing onto the nail , with steady but light pressure, ROLL it across the nail to get good coverage. Cure.
2) Reload the sponge with plenty of gel, and roll again. Cure.
3) Wipe off the moist surface residue. Use a 220/280 Flex Buffer to smooth out the surface without removing the color. (be gentle)
4) Cleanse and apply top coat. Cure. Apply a second top coat and cure.
I would be really interested to see if you all have a good experience trying this technique. Let me know and share your pics with me if you want.
My email is info@seriouslynails.com or you can leave a comment in the section below.
I wanted to show another video of how Gel Color by OPI can be removed. It does get blurry for a bit (I apologize) but you will still get the see the results!
This is following manufacturers direction except that I lightly buff the shine off the top coat only, and then put cuticle oil all around and under the nail.
My friend from Canada was here visiting. She has the prettiest natural nails ever.
I finally convinced her to let me give her some pretty gel color and some Swarovski crystals!
‘Aurum’ and ‘Citron’ Swarovski crystals on her ring finger, with clear crystals on her pinkie. Gel Color is “This Silver is Mine” topped with a little silver glitter.
This was the final result.
She travels a lot and likes to wear metallic colors to make it work with her clothing and shoes that she tends to wear while away.
I picked up one of the new Hello Kitty Gel Colors by OPI while I was in Long Beach at ISSE 2016. “Let’s Be Friends”
“Let’s Be Friends” by OPI in Gel Color
Those of you that know me, realize that I have a severe aversion to pink. Not that I don’t think it’s pretty, it’s simply not a favorite of mine.
I love it in my friends hair, and in nail art, it is so pretty, and on Mary Kay’s Cadillac, but it definitely does NOT look good on me! lol
I was shocked to see that I was drawn to this soft soft almost pastel pinkish white. Maybe because it has more white than pink in???
Or maybe the darned cute wrap that they put on the bottle top of the complete collection. Such great marketing on this one!
Gel Color application is so easy. As long as you have shaken the “heck” out of the bottle you will get smooth application. OPI Gel Color is simply clear gel and color pigments, so you really really really have to shake the day lights out of them to make sure they are blended well. Otherwise you will get streaky coverage and possibly what looks like shrinkage around the cuticle and free edge.
See how lovely and soft of a pink it is!
And then I remembered that I had picked up some neon Sharpies the other day as well. I didn’t realize that they were fine tipped which made my job a little harder (just a note to yourself for the next time you get inspired while at the office supply store!)
Honestly, I think I have tried this technique once about a million years ago, so I had to try it a couple of times before I realized that you can’t spray the alcohol too close to the nail.
So here it goes….apply different colors of Sharpie onto the finished gel color nail.
From a distance of about 5 inches, spray the nail with alcohol to make the Sharpie colors blend together.
I kind of liked the look but thought since I was just experimenting that I would do a little bit of outlining with the Sharpie!
I finished it with gel color top coat and it looked OK…hemmm not too sure about the look but let’s just see how I feel about it in a bit.
PING! Another idea to play with Miss Kitty & a Sharpie dawned on me. How about a french manicure look????
Here goes.
I applied the colors just at the tip. Sprayed it….
then used a pointed gel color brush dipped in remover, cleaned up the edges to form a smile line.
Then I added a light bit of the aqua blue.
With the two designs beside one another and the plain colored nail, I can see a nice design coming out of it. You can see the difference with the top coat and how it “smooths out all the wrinkles!”
One final shot of the art I did with Miss Kitty & a Sharpie!
Let me see what you create with your Sharpies by dropping me a picture in a email OK?
The only time since 1988 that I ever, ever don’t have on nails is when I am going to training.
Like when I went to training in Rhode Island for Crystal Culture. And now this time for training in New Orleans (can I get a big YAHOOOO!)
image from www.history.com
I wanted to show you how my nails look without product on them. I have been using acrylic for years and years. It is my favorite for doing my own nails. I am however trying to broaden my scope and am currently using gel on my nails. (Challenging to do my other hand!)
The reason that I wanted to show you my nails, is to make the point that when you are using good quality products, maintaining a regular schedule for maintenance, and remove the product properly, your natural nails can come out of it unscathed.
Plus, I wanted to show you the color of gel polish that I am obsessed with right now. It is from OPI and called “Celless-Tial is More.” You can see why I love it. With all it’s holographic qualities.
image from OPI.com
It’s ironic that I even look at this color because I am definitely NOT a pink person! (Just ask my husband who bought me a pink motorcycle jacket for Christmas one year!)
So, as you can see, you can wear enhancements and still have beautiful nails afterwards. Remember, good product, good technician, proper maintenance, use lots of cuticle oil and proper removal! No problems!
The lighter hue is from the Breakfast at Tiffany’s collection and it called “Five and Dime”
