Galaxy Nails - Affordable Polishes!

Okay, so I'm pretty much obsessed with everything galaxy (leggings, blouses, NAILS). Not sure if this is from my childhood obsession with Zenon, or because it's freaking awesome and who wouldn't want to be covered in galaxy print?! Zetus Lupetus!

Galaxy nails can seem a bit over whelming because there are quite a few polishes used, but the end result is totally worth it and it really is almost impossible to mess up. I usually do this to my nails when I want some type of nail art, but don't want to spend a lot of time doing it. Although it looks/seems to be time consuming, it really isn't.

I'm always getting a lot of compliments everytime I do this to my nails, so I thought I'd show you all MY way (there are a million) used with affordable, drugstore polishes.

Here's what you'll need:

1. Base Coat (I used Seche Vite Base Coat - $7.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)
2. Black or Black Sparkle Nail Polish (I used Finger Paints in Where Art Renoir? - $5 - Sally's)
3. Medium Blue Nail Polish (I used Finger Paints in Art You Blue? - $5 - Sally's)
4. Dark Blue Nail Polish (I used Finger Paints in Cerulean Seascape - $5 - Sally's)
5. Light Orange Nail Polish (I used Funky Fingers in Peach Punch - $2 - FiveBelow)
6. Darker Orange Nail Polish (I used L'Oreal in Orange You Jealous? - $6 - Drugstores)
7. Pale Yellow Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Unicorn - $1.99 - Drugstores)
8. White Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Snow Me White - $1.99 - Drugstores)
9. Multi-Glitter Nail Polish (I used Funky Fingers in Flashing Lights - $2 - FiveBelow)
10. Top Coat (I used Seche Vite Top Coat - $7.99 - Sally's)
11. Dotting Tool (I got a set of 5 for $5 from eBay)
12. Q-Tip or Make-Up Sponge



Step 1: Clean your nails and remove all nail polish using nail polish remover.

Step 2: Apply one coat of base coat, let dry.

Step 3: Apply two coats of black nail polish, let dry.

Step 4: Using a Q-Tip, smudge the dark blue first, then the light blue over top, in an oval shape. Make sure to leave some black still showing.

Step 5: Using a Q-Tip again, smudge the dark orange, then the light orange in the middle of the blue shape.

Step 6: Still using the Q-Tip, smudge the pale yellow over top of all the colors, making sure all of the other colors can still be seen.

Step 7: Using a small dotting tool, add a few white dots scattered randomly. Cover the whole nail in multi-sparkle polish.

Step 8: Apply one coat of top coat.

I hope you all try this one out! Protozoa would want you to. :)

Tribal Nails

I've been seeing tribal-inspired nail art everywhere, so I figured I'd give it a try! :)

If you're someone who doesn't like spending a good amount of time and effort on your nails, then this might not be something you want to try. It is however, super fun and cute! (I think everything is super fun and cute, but really, this is!)

Here's how mine turned out:

Here's what you'll need:

This is totally something you can customize with whatever colors you want, but you'll need at least 2 colors, plus black and white.

1. Base Coat (I used China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

2. Two Colors (I used China Glaze in Shockingly Pink Neon - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply, and Funky Fingers in Volts - $2.00 - Five Below)

3. Black Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Black on Black - $1.99 - Drugstores)

4. White Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Snow Me White - $1.99 - Drugstores)

5. Any Nail-Art Pen or Brush (I used Art Club Nail Art Lacquer - $2.00 - Five Below)

6. Top Coat (I used China Glaze Fast Foward Top Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

7. Q-Tips (to clean around the edges)

Step 1: Clean your nails and remove all nail polish using nail polish remover.

Step 2: Apply one coat of base coat.

Step 3: Okay, so the easiest way to do this is to create lines on your nail (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, etc.) with the colors you chose. After, you can go back and outline/accent with the black and white.

Ring Finger: I always start with my ring finger for some reason, I don't know why.

As you can see, the lines don't have to be perfect.

Using your nail art brush, dip it in either your black or white. According to however you want your design to be, outline and add a bunch of lines & dots!

Middle Finger:

Pointer Finger:

Thumb and Pinky: I forgot to take pictures of them after, but just look up top! :)

Step 4: Apply one coat of top coat.

Have fun being tribal-y! ;)

Snowflake Nails

These snowflake nails are perfect if you don't want to have red or green nails for the holidays. Not only are they sparkly, but they're sparkly! In my eyes, nothing could be better;).

Here's what you'll need:

1. Base Coat (I used China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

2. Blue Sparkly Nail Polish (I used China Glaze in Dorothy Who? - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

3. White Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Snow Me White - $1.99 - Drugstores)

4. Any Nail Art Pen (I used Art Club Nail Art Lacquer - $2.00 - FiveBelow)

5. Top Coat (I used China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

5. Q-Tip

Step 1: Clean your nails and remove all nail polish using nail polish remover.

Step 2: Apply one coat of base coat.

Step 3: Apply 2 coats of any blue sparkly nail polish.

Step 4: Dip your nail art pen into your white nail polish and start drawing lines on your ring finger to form a star-like shape wherever you'd like your snowflake to be.

Step 5: Let a small amount of white nail polish drip onto the end of a Q-tip. Lightly dab on the ends of each line, creating a dot.

Step 6: Add 2-3 more dots on the rest of your nail.

Step 7: Repeat steps on your thumb, or any other nails you'd like.

Step 8: Apply one coat of top coat.

Christmas Candy Cane Nails

It's Christmas time! Which means I'll be posting a few Christmas themed nail designs throughout the month because I think they're the cutest and I love being festive! :)

I decided to start off with Candy Cane nails because they're my favorite Christmas candy (only the original) and I thought they were simple yet super cute.

Here's the end result:

Here's what you'll need:

1. Base Coat (I used China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

2. White Nail Polish (I used Essie in Blanc - $8.99 - Drugstores or Essie)

3. Red Nail Polish (I used Essie in Lollipop - $8.99 - Drugstores or Essie)

4. Top Coat (I used China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

5. Scotch Tape

Step 1: Clean your nails and remove all nail polish using nail polish remover.

Step 2: Apply one coat of base coat.

Step 3: Apply 2 coats of white nail polish. LET DRY COMPLETELY.

Step 4: Cut off a piece of scotch tape about one inch long. Cut in half length-wise.

Step 5: Place the tape diagonal on the top and bottom of your ring finger nail until you have a diagonal stripe in the middle.

Step 6: Apply two coats of red nail polish. LET COMPLETELY DRY.

Step 7: Remove tape.

Step 8: Cut off another piece of tape about one inch long. Cut in half length-wise.

Step 9: Place one piece of tape on a diagonal in the top corner, and one at the bottom corner. Apply two coats of red nail polish and let dry completely.

Step 10: Remove tape.

Step 11: If your lines aren't completely straight, you can clean it up with a small white or red nail art brush.

Step 12: Continue these steps on your thumb, or whichever other nails you choose.

Step 13: Apply one coat of top coat.

Enjoy and I hope everyone is enjoying their wonderful month of December! :) :)

Fall/Winter 2011 Nail Polish Trends

Besides showing the latest hair, makeup, and fashion trends, the runways are also filled with this seasons nail color trends!

For Fall/Winter 2011, the trends range from gorgeous nudes to bold, chic reds. The designer lacquers can be a bit pricey, but there are always affordable look-a-likes in a different brand; you just have to know where to look.

Below I've included both the expensive designer hues, along with their affordable drugstore dupes.

China Glaze - Whisper - $5.99 [Sally's Beauty Supply]

Essie - Fed Up - $8.99 [Drugstores & Essie]

Sephora by OPI - Going Nude, Eh? - $9.50 [Sephora]

Deborah Lippmann - Sarah Smile - $18 [Deborah Lippmann]

Rescue Beauty Lounge - Medium White - $18 [Rescue Beauty Lounge]

Chanel - Particulière - $25 [Chanel]

OPI - Over the Taupe - $6 [Some Drugstores & Trade Secret]

Orly - Prince Charming - $5.99 [Sally's Beauty Supply]

Essie - Mink Muffs - $8.99 [Drugstores & Essie]

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Commander in Chic - $7.99 [Drugstores]

Essie - Cocktail Bling - $8.99 [Drugstores & Essie]

RGB - Stone - $16 [RGB Cosmetics]

China Glaze - Pelican Gray - $5.99 [Sally's Beauty Supply]

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Wet Cement - $2.99 [Drugstores]

Love & Beauty - Grippingly Gray - $2.50 [Forever21]

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails - Merlot - $3.99 [Drugstores]

Essie - Macks - $8.99 [Drugstores & Essie]

China Glaze - Drastic - $5.99 [Sally's Beauty Supply]

Orly - Forever Crimson - $5.99 [Sally's Beauty Supply]

Deborah Lippmann - Single Ladies - $18 [Deborah Lippmann]

Essie - Power Clutch - $8.99 [Drugstores & Essie]

Zoya - Envy - $8 [Zoya]

Sephora by OPI - Caught with my Khakis Down - $9.50 [Sephora]

Illamasqua - Rampage - $14 [Sephora]

Orly - Enchanted Forest - $5.99 [Sally's Beauty Supply]

Chanel - Blue Satin - $25 [Chanel]

Dior - Tuxedo - $22 [Sephora]

Essie - Midnight Cami - $8.99 [Drugstores & Essie]

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Navy Baby - $7.99 [Drugstores]

China Glaze - Calypso Blue - $5.99 [Sally's Beauty Supply]

Halloween Eyeball Nails

I wanted to do one more Halloween inspired look before Halloween!

If you don't want to spend a lot of time on these, you can just do the eyeball on one of your nails and paint the rest black. I don't mind spending time on my nails, so I did them all. :)

Here's what you'll need:

1. Base Coat (I used China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)
2. Black Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Black on Black - $1.99 - Drugstores)
3. White Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Snow Me White - $1.99 - Drugstores)
4. Red Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby - $1.99 - Drugstores)
5. Bright Blue Nail Polish (I used Funky Fingers in Volts - $2.00 - Five Below)
6. Any Nail Art Pen (I used Art Club Nail Art Lacquer - $2.00 - Five Below)
7. 1 Q-Tip




Step 1: Clean your nails and remove all nail polish using nail polish remover.

Step 2: Apply one coat of base coat.

Step 3: Apply 1-2 coats of black nail polish.

Step 4: If you don't have a white nail art pen, just take any nail art pen you have, wipe it off, and dip it into your white nail polish. Outline a big circle onto your nails, and fill in. Next, take your blue nail polish and allow it to drip onto the end of the Q-Tip. Press lightly in the middle of your white circles.

Step 5: If you don't have a red nail art pen, take the one you've been using, wipe it off, and dip it into the red nail polish. Start drawing small, squiggly lines all around inside of your white circles.

Step 6: Using the other end of your Q-Tip, allow a small amount of your black nail polish to drip onto the end of it. Lightly press in the middle of your blue circles.

Step 7: Apply 1 coat of top coat.

Halloween Monster Nails

It's time for more Halloween inspired nail designs!

I wanted to do something that included monsters, so this is what I came up with!

A mummy, a skeleton, and a spider web. Enjoy. :)

Materials:

1. Base Coat (I used China Glaze Stong Adhesion Base Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

2. White Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Snow Me White - $1.99 - Drugstores)

3. Black Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Black on Black - $1.99 - Drugstores)

4. Red Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Ruby Ruby - $1.99 - Drugstores)

5. Black Crackle Nail Polish (I used China Glaze in Black Mesh - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

6. Black Nail Art Pen (I used Art Club Nail Art Lacquer - $2.00 - FiveBelow)

7. Top Coat (I used China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

8. 1 Q-Tip

Step 1: Clean your nails and remove all nail polish using nail polish remover.

Step 2: Apply one coat of base coat.

Step 3: Apply two coats of white nail polish on your index, middle, and ring fingers.

Step 4: Take your black nail art pen and start drawing the bandages for your mummy (ring finger).

Step 5: Take your black crackle and let the nail polish drip onto the end of a Q-Tip. Lightly press onto your nail making the skeleton's eyes (middle finger). Using your black nail art pen, draw the skeleton's mouth.

Step 6: Take your black nail art pen and create a spider web (index finger) starting at the corner of your nail.

Step 7: Take your red nail polish and let a small amount drip onto the other end of the Q-Tip. Lightly press onto the thick bandage on your mummy nail to create the eyes.

Step 8: Apply either black or red nail polish to your thumb and pinkie.

Step 9: Apply one coat of top coat.

Halloween Blood Splatter Nails!

It's almost Halloween! It's by far my favorite holiday and I'm obsessed with painting my nails. So what could be better than Halloween inspired nails? Nothing!

These are more creepy than cute, but I'm still in love with them. You only need a few materials and it's really fun!

Here's the finished product:

Here are all the materials you will need:

1. Base Coat (I used China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat  - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

2. Red Nail Polish (I used Sinful Colors in Ruby Ruby - $1.99 - Drugstores)

3. White Nail Polish  (I used Sinful Colors in Snow Me White - $1.99 - Drugstores)

4. Top Coat (I used China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat - $5.99 - Sally's Beauty Supply)

5. A Plastic Straw (You can get these anywhere)

Step 1: Clean your nails and remove all nail polish using nail polish remover.

Step 2: Apply one coat of base coat.

Step 3: Apply two coats of white nail polish.

Step 4: Using the nail polish brush, drop 5-8 drops of red nail polish onto a piece of paper or a sandwich bag.

Step 5: Take your straw and dip one end into the red nail polish.

Step 6: Place the straw 1/2 of an inch away from your nail, take a deep breath, and blow hard. If it doesn't work at first, you probably just need to dip it into the polish again.

Step 7: Using nail polish remover on a Q-Tip, remove all of the unwanted polish on your finger.

Step 8: Apply your top coat and enjoy! :)