Monday, June 11, 2012

First Mani Monday!

I'm obsessed with very few things in life. I hardly watch TV, so I'm not very up-to-date with celebrities or TV shows or anything. But a few of the things I would consider myself to be a little obsessed with would be music and doing my nails. I can't help myself! My nails just feel naked if there isn't anything on them.
So, for my first "Mani Monday," (not sure how many of these will actually fall on a Monday--I tend to do my nails once or twice a week, whenever I get bored or they start to chip) I'm going to show you how to make your basic French manicure a little more fun :)


First, make sure your nails are clean, and file them beforehand if you need. The first step is going to be the basic French manicure. For this, I used the Nailene French Tip pen. Works really well except for when it's running out haha! Keep in mind for this step that it doesn't have to be perfect, since you'll be covering up the edges with the glitter lines :) I'm usually OCD about how perfect my lines are, but not here. The fourth step also works a lot better if your white lines are straighter, rather than if you follow the natural curve of your nails. It'll make it easier to match the tape up with your lines.


Second, find some regular clear tape and take your glitter (or whatever color you choose) nail polish--I used  Nails Inc. Special Effects in "Sloane Square." Paint one or two coats directly on the tape and let it dry so that you can cut it into strips.


For the third step you're going to need some scissors. It's much easier to work with them if they aren't too big. Start cutting up little strips of the tape. The thickness depends on personal preference. You can also use this technique to create other designs to stick on your nails!


Next, set the tape strip right over the edge of the white tip. Try to get the most edge coverage without having to bend the twist the tape, otherwise you'll have tiny edges popping up that'll make the nail surface less smooth. Once you've got it where you want it, use small scissors or nail clippers to clip off the excess tape!


Voila! Now all you need to do is finish the rest of your fingers and add a clear top coat (or two) to make sure the glitter strip stays on. And you're good to go! :)

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