Day 10: Gradient

Gradients are the last in the first third of the nail challenge. Wow, I got the first part down. I'm sure I have mentioned it before but I am really having fun with this challenge. It's pushing me to be more creative and inventive with my nails. Gradient nails aren't very new to me, I've tried and used the technique countless times. 

It's a quick and easy way to do your nails in an interesting way. It's nice to make a nice fade with colors that are similar to each other. But I also quite like to use contrasting colors. Like neon on nude, or black on white. Today I used white on nude. This nude nail polish is just the perfect color for me. ANNY really did a great job on this one. 

ANNY make-up

Catrice Snow Motion

Tomorrow we venture into the second part of the challenge. The territory of patterns. With the first one being  'polka dots'. A kind of pattern that I have often used and abused. I'm still so hyped for this challenge!

Dotted Gradient

Fall has really settled in to this country. The weather has been bleak and gray and just plain awful the last week. I'm not quite ready to dive head first into the dark nails just yet. To brighten my day and mood I made a shiny bright and girly manicure. Dots are my thing, they're fun and easy. As I demonstrated before in this polish design with pink dots. 

Today I used a silver polish as a base and three different shades of pink for the dots. Essie is brilliant at pink creme polishes. She just gets them spot on every time. 

Used for this manicure

Essence Icy Princess

Essie Watermelon for the darkest dots

Essie Off the shoulder for the middle dots

Essie Lovie Dovie for the lightest dots

A Pink Gradient [+ a how to achieve this look]

I was in the mood for something nice and girly today. I had been rocking midnight colored nails for the last three days and it just wasn't spring enough. And if I can't bring the spring outside (the weather has been horrid. I want my pretty sunny days!) I'll just bring it to my nails.

It's the first time I tried a gradient design like this, and I think it came out quite nice. Although my technique definitely requires some practice. But practice makes perfect and that's what I strive for!

Step 1: Paint your nails a solid white color. I used two coats of Catrice's Snow Motion, but any white polish will do. I suggest you use whatever you have lying around.

Step 2: Grab a cosmetic spong and paint three different pink nail polishes in one stripe on the sponge. Make sure this isn't too big. Roughly the size of your nail should do.

3. Press the sponge onto your nail a few times to create the gradient effect.

4. It should look something like this, depending on the colors you used. Just take a q-tip dipped in polish remover to clean up around your nail and your new manicure design is done! Just add your top coat of choice et voila!

polishes used

Catrice Snow Motion

ANNY Summer Dream

OPI Short's Story

Catrice Pinky And The Brain

Cheetahs Run The Mint Fields: A nail polish design

I promise the next post will be on something different than nail polish. I just really missed doing them the last two weeks. So today, a gradient and cheetah print stamping. I personally enjoy this manicure very much. The gradient is not that apparent, but it's there. I'm still quite new to the gradient sponging thing. But who doesn't enjoy a nice subtle ombre?

Polishes used

H&M bella's choice

Catrice Am I Blue Or Green?

Essence stampy polish Stamp me! Black (matte)

OPI Start to Finish base and top coat