My First Nail Customer

This post is going to be a very short one, yet very significant in the long term.

Today, I had my first nail customer - my lovely cousin Isabelle, accompanied by the equally lovely Alice.

I created a nail design with a nude base - my latest purchase OPI's Don't Pretzel My Buttons - and a sparkling glitter gradient, with the beautiful additions of crystals and holographic decorations.

This design is very similar to the 'Diamond Winter Manicure', but with a different base colour.

I must admit that it was very strange creating nail art the opposite way round to the procedure I would carry out on my own nails, but nevertheless, practise makes perfect.

x

Today's Nails (+ the start of requests)

I have chosen to do an extra post in addition to Monday's 'Read All About It' Newspaper Manicure, simply to show you another design I have done - a variation of the 'Diamond Winter Manicure'.

This design was created using the following:

• China Glaze's First and Last
• OPI's Every Month is Oktoberfest
• Revlon's Sparkling
• Swarovski AB Crystals
• Circular Holographic Nail Decorations
• A Sponge

Here is the final result:

Also, I have another idea to propose to you all.

On Saturday, I am going to Austria for a week (yay!), and if by the time I come back, I have had a further 50 views, for the first nail art request that gets sent to me, either via my Facebook account: Miriam Elizabeth Trusiana, or my email address: miriambotte@hotmail.co.uk, I will create a tutorial for that request on the 10th December.

Get sending!

x

'Read All About It' Newspaper Manicure

This 'Read All About It' Newspaper Manicure adds an element of quirkiness to your nails, combining nail varnish, newspaper and a few Swarovski Crystals. In order to complete this manicure, you do not need to have a very steady hand or even a great deal of time.

NOTE: I used a jade green nail varnish as the base for the newspaper, but you can use any light colour you desire.

The products I will be using for this tutorial are the following:

• China Glaze's First and Last: I used this multi-tasking nail varnish as both my base and top coat
• Revlon's Sparkling: An incredible glitter nail varnish, with both small and large glitters
• Revlon's Jaded: A pale green/jade coloured nail varnish
• Swarovski AB crystals: I seriously recommend buying these, they are simply beautiful
• Small sections of newspaper
• Alcohol - not to drink! I used Vodka

Ready?

Step 1: Paint your nails with a base coat. I tend to use China Glaze First and Last as it dries very quickly.

Step 2: Paint on two coats of a light coloured nail varnish. As I previously mentioned, I am using Revlon's Jaded. Then, on both of your ring fingers, follow with two coats of a silver glitter nail varnish. I am using Revlon's Sparkling.

Step 3: Prepare your newspaper for usage by cutting out small sections - wide enough to cover your own nail, and a bit extra. I chose to use sections of newspaper with bold fonts however you may wish to choose a variety of fonts and sizes.

Step 4: Dip your fingernail into a small amount of Alcohol, from the end of your nail to the cuticle.

Step 5: Take your small section of newspaper, and press it down firmly onto your nail. Wait for 30 seconds or so, to ensure that the maximum amount of ink transfers onto your nail.

Step 6: Peel the newspaper cutting off your nail, revealing the newspaper print.

Step 7: Add one crystal onto the bottom of your nail to add some intricacy. I used Swarovski AB crystals as they are gorgeous and shine a different colour when you view them at different angles.

Step 8: Finish with a top coat and then once that has dried, use a cotton bud soaked in nail varnish remover to clean up the excess nail varnish and ink from each fingernail.

 

Voila, one beautiful newspaper manicure to go.

Get painting!

x

Andromeda Galaxy Nails - with real Swarovski Crystal

Andromeda is an incredible spiral Galaxy, located roughly 2.5 million light years away from Earth. This nail manicure will portray the beauty of Andromeda, but on a slightly smaller scale.

The products I will be using for this tutorial are the following:

• China Glaze's First and Last: I used this multi-tasking nail varnish as both my base and top coat
• Revlon's Sparkling: An incredible glitter nail varnish, with both small and large glitters
• Barry M's Black
• Barry M's Lemon
• China Glaze's Up All Night
• Sally Hansen's Natural White
• Collection 2000's Candy Floss

Ready?

Step 1: Paint your nails with a base coat. I tend to use China Glaze First and Last as it dries very quickly.

Step 2: Paint on two coats of a black nail varnish. As I previously mentioned, I am using Barry M's Black nail paint.

Step 3: Using a small section of a makeup sponge - or kitchen sponge - sponge on a small amount of white paint, either in a diagonal shaped line down your nail, or in a straight line horizontally across your nail. Try not to use too much paint. 

Step 4: Repeat the sponging action, but this time with a yellow nail varnish, building on the white paint that you have just sponged.

Step 5: Repeat the sponging action, but this time with a baby pink nail varnish, building on the yellow

paint that you have just sponged.

Step 6: Using the sponge, dab some dark blue nail varnish around the edges of the nebula you have created. This will help to blend the white, yellow and pink with the black base colour.

Step 7: Using a cocktail stick or dotting tool, create lots of small white 'stars' on either sides of your nebula, as shown below. Then load a larger quantity of white paint onto the cocktail stick, in order to create one or two larger stars.

Step 8: Now it's time to attach these beautiful Swarovski AB Crystals. Paint your topcoat onto each nail and using an orange wood stick, pick up one or two Swarovski Crystals individually, and place them over the larger stars that you created.

~ ADDITIONAL STEP FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE EXTRA SPARKLE AND DETAIL ~

Step 9: Using a silver glitter nail varnish, paint a thin layer over the entirety of your nail. This will accentuate the beauty of the AB Crystals, as well as creating a beautiful shine over the nail.

Step 10: Finish with a top coat and then once that has dried, use a cotton bud soaked in nail varnish remover to clean up the excess nail varnish from each fingernail.

Voila, one beautiful Andromeda manicure to go.

Get painting!

x

Diamond Winter Manicure

On this extremely gloomy day, I have decided to show you all a new manicure. In comparison to the simple yet elegant half moon design that was featured on this blog last week, this current design is full of glitter and glamour.

I have named this manicure the 'Diamond Winter Manicure' as I believe it is perfect for the Winter party season, as well as the fact that each nail is decorated with glitter particles and gorgeous rhinestones.

WORDS OF WARNING: The sponging technique in this manicure can be slightly messy around each nail. If you do not want to spend the time cleaning up each nail afterwards, then I suggest wrapping scotch tape or sellotape around the outside of each nail.

The products I will be using for this tutorial are the following:

• China Glaze First and Last: I used this multi-tasking nail varnish as both my base and top coat
• Revlon's Gray Suede Nail Enamel: A beautiful natural yet opaque nude nail varnish
• Revlon's Sparkling: An incredible glitter nail varnish, with both small and large glitters
• A Sponge: Used to create the gradient glitter effect
• An Orange Wood Stick: Used to pick up the rhinestones
• Rhinestones: I used clear rhinestones for this manicure

Ready?

Step 1: Paint your nails with a base coat. I tend to use China Glaze First and Last as it dries very quickly.

Step 2: Paint on two coats of a nude coloured nail varnish. As I previously mentioned, I am using Revlon's Gray Suede as it is a beautifully natural colour. 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Find either a makeup sponge - or even just a kitchen sponge - and cut a small section which is a bit wider than the width of your nail. Using 'Sparkling' or a different glitter nail varnish, apply a small amount onto the sponge as shown below.

 

 

Step 4: Proceed to dab the sponge onto the nail, concentrating at the top of your nail and then using less nail varnish the further down your nail you travel. Only cover roughly two thirds of your nail in the glitter nail varnish. You should be left with a design similar to the images featured below:

 

Step 5: Repeat step four twice, only concentrating on the end of your nail. Be aware: You must let each layer of glitter dry before proceeding with the next coat. Using a hair dryer will speed up this process if desired.

Step 6: Using an orange wood stick or tweezers, pick up three rhinestones individually and place them randomly at the top of each nail where the glitter nail varnish is concentrated. This step adds intricacy and extra sparkle to each nail.

 

 

 

 

Step 7: Finish with a top coat and then once that has dried, use a cotton bud soaked in nail varnish remover to clean up the excess glitter from each fingernail.

 

 

 

 

Voila, one glamorous manicure to go.

 

Get painting!

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

The Vintage Half Moon Manicure

For my first nail tutorial, I have chosen to show you all a fairly plain, nothing-too-crazy design known to many as the Half Moon Manicure, or Reverse French Manicure.

Historically, the Half Moon Manicure was often sported by femme fatales in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, with modern day women such as Dita Von Teese continuing the beautiful trend.

The Half Moon Manicure has many variations such as the classic 'Half Moon' section at the bottom of your nail painted in a modest nude colour and the remainder of your nail painted in a sassy dark red, as well as modern day variations with bold and contrasting colours.

The beauty of this nail trend is that one is able to choose whichever colour combinations they desire.

The products I will be using for this tutorial are the following:

• China Glaze First and Last: I used this multi-tasking nail varnish as both my base and top coat.
• Revlon's Gray Suede Nail Enamel: A beautiful natural yet opaque nude nail varnish.
• OPI's Die Another Day from the Skyfall Collection: A brilliant shimmering red
• Paper Hole Reinforcement Stickers: Who would have thought that stationery could be so useful in matters of cosmetics. These handy little circles will help you create the perfect half moon shape.

Ready?

Step 1: Paint your nails with a base coat. I tend to use China Glaze First and Last as it dries very quickly.

Step 2: Paint on two coats of a nude coloured nail varnish. As I previously mentioned, I am using Revlon's Gray Suede as it is a beautifully natural colour. 

WORDS OF WARNING: I am an impatient person, and not afraid to admit it. The first time I tried this manicure, I did not wait until my nude colour had dried properly. This results in the colour being lifted off when you pull the reinforcement stickers off - not a good look. Find it in yourself to wait a while before applying the reinforcement stickers. Yes, it may be time consuming but trust me, it is worth the wait.

Step 3: Apply the reinforcement stickers to each nail, so that the upper inner rim of each circle touches your cuticle. You can either leave the sticker whole, or cut each one in half in order to maximise the usage of each sticker.

Step 4: Using your red nail varnish, paint the remaining portion of your nail, except the 'Half Moon', which you have covered up. There is no need to be extremely neat here, as the sticker acts as your barrier from ruining the nude nail varnish.

Step 5: Again, try to be patient and wait until the red nail varnish is completely dry. This will ensure that it does not drag when you remove the sticker. 

Step 6: Once the nail varnish has dried completely, use tweezers or simply your fingers to remove each stickers, pulling the sticker back away from your nail.

Step 7: Lastly, paint one coat of a top coat over your entire nail. This will provide the manicure with a great shine and prolong it's duration.

Voila, one elegant manicure to go.

Get painting!

x

The Beginning

First and foremost, I must say welcome to 'alittlenailobsession'. If you have found yourself here, I assume it is for one of the following reasons: 1) You are interested in nails and everything concerning them, or 2) You are simply curious. Both are fine with me.

It has taken me a fairly long time to decide to put my time and energy into creating this blog, however now that the ball is rolling, I am very excited to get started.

Let me give you a quick introduction into what this particular blog will feature:

• Nail Tutorials: Simply eluding to step by step guides on how to achieve certain nail art looks, complete with instructions and pictures

• Reviews of nail products I purchase: With certain categories included such as pricing and recommendations

Let's see where this takes us, enjoy!