40 Great Nail Art Ideas - Inspiration

Hi all!

Today's theme is "Inspiration". A while ago I wore these stripey nails, and that made me want to wear stripes again. So I was inspired by the simple stripe.

Polishes:

• Barry M - Gelly - GNP5 Blueberry
• Barry M - Gelly - GNP27 Damson
• Barry M - Gelly - GNP17 Blue Grape
• Polish My Life - Minted Diamonds
• Polish My Life - Stripped
• Lucky 13 Lacquer - Elemental Ward

Base: 2 coats of Damson. Using my striping brushes I added stripes with the other blue polishes and the white. Ended with Elemental Ward.

Best thing is, stripes are easy once you get the hang of using a striping brush. Do you enjoy stripes on your nails?

Love, Brethil

More inspiration down here!

The Nail Challenge Collaborative presents: Neon - Geometric

Hi all!

My second neon mani for this month's theme! I decided to get those Maybelline bleached neons from my Helmer that were so wanted two years ago already.

Polishes:

• Polish My Life - Stripped
• Maybelline - Bleached Neons LE - 241 Sun Flare
• Maybelline - Bleached Neons LE - 242 Coral Heat
• Maybelline - Bleached Neons LE - 243 Tropink
• Essence - Nail Art Stampy Polish - Black
• Lucky 13 Lacquer - Elemental Ward

I also used Hēhē stamping plate 082.

Base: 2 coats of Stripped. I made stamping decals using the Hēhē plate and the other polishes, which I cut up before placing them on my nail. I sealed them in with Elemental Ward.

I'm still enjoying this mani, what do you think?

Love, Brethil

More neons down here!

40 Great Nail Art Ideas - Orange tie dye

Hi all!

A double prompt this week, everyone uses the same colour: orange, but different patterns. My pattern to use is Tie Dye. It's pretty self explanatory.

Polishes:

• SinfulColors - 101 Snow Me White
• Catrice - 865 Yellow Sub-Mandarin
• Barry M - Gelly - GNP18 Mango
• NYC - 221 Spring Street
• Lucky 13 Lacquer - Elemental Ward

Base: 1 coat of Snow Me White as undies. Then using a nail art brush I started adding a spiral with Yellow Sub-Mandarin and then added the other oranges until my nails were covered. This does take a while. Ended with Elemental Ward.

These colours remind me of fire...

I think this looks very cheery and summery. Do you like tie dye on your nails?

Love, Brethil

More orange down here!

Nicole Diary water decal review

*press sample*

Hi all!

A while back I got an e-mail asking me if I'd like to review Nicole Diary water decals. As you might know, I love water decals, so obviously I said yes. Nicole Diary let me choose 5 different designs and sent those to me to try. First of all, these water decals are a lot larger than the ones I was used to, so they will fit longer nails. For a comparison check out my Instagram page here. The water decals work the same as any other water decal I have used. You cut out the individual pieces, soak them in water for approximately 15 seconds and then slide them off the backing paper.

Personally, I love using water decals for accent nails, but you can use them for a full mani as well. I've got two mani's to show you today, which have been lurking in the vault since June....

Polishes:

• China Glaze - 1152 Sunday Funday
• Essence - 33 wild white ways
• Lucky 13 Lacquer - Elemental Ward

Base: 2 coats of Sunday Funday for my solid coloured nails or 1 coat of Wild white ways underneath the water decals. I really like this floral design (design 30), it's so detailed, I couldn't free hand a design like this. That's why I love water decals, you can wear intricate designs without a lot of hassle. Topped it all with Elemental Ward.

Just look at those fine lines!

And my second mani:

Polishes:

• I Love Nail Polish - Mutagen
• Barry M - Gelly - GNP28 Coconut
• Lucky 13 Lacquer - Elemental Ward

Base: 2 or 3 coats of Mutagen or one coat of Coconut. These water decals (design 28) have a creamy background of their own, so they are not translucent like a lot of water decals. I didn't know this before I painted a base of Coconut though... Added a frond with Coconut on one of my Mutagen nails to fit in with the floral/leave theme of the decals. Sealed it all in with Elemental Ward.

Again... just look at that detail ♥.

I'm very impressed with these water decals. The size is great, they are easy to work with and I love the designs.

Nicole Diary sells more than water decals, they have stamping plates and other nail art items as well. You can find Nicole Diary on Amazon and Aliexpress (Free shipping as far as I can tell as well):

Amazon Store: Link
Aliexpress Store: Link

You can use also the code Br2016 with your order and you'll get a gift worth $2-$5 for free with your order.

You can follow them on Instagram as well @nicolediary2016.

Are you going to  give this brand a try?

Love, Brethil

The Nail Challenge Collaborative presents: Neon - Distressed

Hi all!

Today I'm showing you a mani that's been gathering dust in the vaults for a year. I wore this mani  one year ago.... like many others, this mani just wasn't ready to come out sooner. But now we've got Neon month at NCC, so now it is time. Plus time is scarce these days, hence why I don't post as much.

Polishes:

• Barry M - Gelly - GNP28 Coconut
• El Corazón - Matte Effect 144
• El Corazón - Matte Effect 142
• El Corazón - Matte Effect 145
• El Corazón - Matte Effect 141
• Polish Me Silly - Eye Candy
• Lucky 13 Lacquer - Elemental Ward

Base: two coats of Coconut. On my accent nails I added one coat of Eye Candy. I've had this for a few years and the base is no longer clear, which discolours my base colour unfortunately. The other nails have some distressed swipes with the neons. I top coated with Elemental Ward.

Love, Brethil

More neon nails down here!

40 Great Nail Art Ideas - Things in the water

Hi all!

I'm back with the 40gnai challenge, I skipped a few weeks because time just wasn't on my side. And I'm posting this too late as well... this week's theme is "Things in the water"... so how about some protozoa? (the tiny organisms that live in water).

Polishes:

• Polish My Life - Minted Diamonds
• Polish My Life - Stripped
• Kaleidoscope - Aquarelle Tints 10
• Foxy Paws - Some People Have Real Problems
• Lucky 13 Lacquer - Elemental Ward 

I also used Hēhē stamping plate 089 (from the latest collection).

Base: 2 coats of Minted Diamonds, which is a very pale blue. Then I attempted the water spotting technique using the blue aquarell tints and Stripped (it would only work if I would change my water after each try....). This gives it a water like appearance. Then I stamped all the little protozoa on top of the water using the grey holo Some People Have Real Problems. Bonus points for those who know where that name comes from. Sealed it all in with Elemental Ward.

I wanted the stamping to be a bit translucent, because protozoa are, and I really like how this turned out.

Do any of you have any tips regarding water spotting (or marbling)? It's one of those techniques that I struggle with.

Love, Brethil

More things in the water down here!