For Clean Lines, Use Tape!

So you're flipping through a magazine and see a gorgeous set of nails with clean, straight lines. You figure only a professional nail technician could pull that off.

Nope. :)

It's as simple as putting a piece of tape on your nail! If you can cut it out on a piece of tape, you can have any design that requires clean lines.

All you have to do is paint the first layer of polish on, let it dry, and then stick the tape in any fashion over the part you want to stay that color to your nail. Then you paint your nail normally with another color, and remove the tape before it dries.

Hints: to make sure the tape doesn't damage your base coat, stick it to your hands to remove all the excess sticky!

Here's what I did with my tape:

 

 

Any Color + Matte Top Coat = New Look!

In this post I will introduce you to another dimension, so to speak, of nail color.

We love shiny glosses, right? Have you ever thought about using a matte finish though?

Adding a matte finish to your nails basically gives it a softer appearance, instead of the brilliant shine of regular top coats. It's a great way to stretch out your color palette because with a matte finish you can change the mood/theme of your nail designs.

For example, you're a hopeless romantic/girly girl who loves everything pastel. Take a baby blue, or rosy pink and top it off with a matte finish, and voilà! You have a soft, lush feel to your nail color.

Now let's pretend you're a rebel with a more boundry-pushing style — combine both matte and shiny top coats. The contrast between the two different coats is really cool looking, and there are so many unique and different ways to do it!

Here's what I chose to do with my nails:

• I chose a light pink, keeping in mind the softness the matte coat would give to it.
• I used a black/purple glitter polish for an accent nail w/shiny top coat. (Using the contrast idea we just learned :) )
• Kept it simple, to show off the contrast.

 

Now go forth, and experiment! >:)