Gradient Dots

Hello Everyone!

Today I would like to share with you a very easy design I came up with, Gradient Dots.

My goal for this design was to create something that was very easy to do, yet sophisticated enough for sassier ladies to wear.  I knew using dots was the way to go, but the usual polka dots is too playful for my purposes.

I have also been noticing that a lot of ladies recently have been into layering glitter polish to create gradient effects on their nails.  However, I know for a fact that a handful of women try to avoid glitter polishes as they can be difficult to remove.  So I thought, why not mimic the look of gradient nails by using dots??

Tadaaah! Nail art that is simple, chic, and has a graphic edge to it!

To create this look, I used three coats of Dazzle Dry's Breathless.  It's a sheer light pink shimmer. In the photo you can actually see how shiny and glossy it is. I am a big fan of Dazzle Dry, but among their polishes, their shimmers are my favorites.  Dazzle Dry shimmers for me strike the perfect balance between shimmer and subtlety - definitely not over-the-top.  

The texture of Breathless is also something to rave about.  Consistency leans towards the thin side, being a sheer color.  This thin consistency for me makes it easier to control around the edges.  Layering three coats also did not prove to be a problem because it still dried perfectly well (and fast!) without getting bulky.

To make the dots, I simply placed sparse dots with a small dotting tool first near the base of my nails (I used black nail polish from The Face Shop). These created the bigger dots.  Then, I filled in the spaces with smaller dots by using a toothpick.  I made the spaces bigger, and the dots smaller, as I moved towards the tips of my nails.  Once everything was dry, I topped the design with my Dazzle Dry top coat, and it was done!

Aside from being easy, this nail art would also look great on nails of all lengths.  I suggest playing around with colors with this design.  I used pink and black because this is one of my favorite color combos, but I think this will also look great in black with gold dots, or a combination of bright colors for a cool summer vibe.

Thank you for reading!

Pink Roses on Black

Someone once told me that I "pack a punch".  I do not know if I understood the meaning exactly, but I suppose it meant that I made quite an impression because of the contrast between my delicate facade (I am petite and look rather dainty) and my opinionated and quirky personality.  

With this in mind, I decided to create a design that is dainty, but at the same time "packs a punch", and I simply call it Pink Roses on Black.

I know I cannot brag of the originality of this concept - roses are a common nail art theme, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that someone has already done this combination before.  But in the end, I do nail art as a personal outlet, and as long as I am happy with the design, then it's all good.  And I must say, I am very happy with the outcome!

For this design, I used two coats of Dazzle Dry's Midnight Express.  I must say it's a very user-friendly black.  Most blacks are difficult to manage since they go on streaky, but Midnight express goes on smooth.  I think one coat will be enough for some people, but I personally prefer two coats.  

 

Another thing I like about Midnight Express is that because it is from Dazzle Dry, I would not have to worry about staining my natural nails.  Dazzle Dry is vegan, and I am living proof that with continuous use of the complete nail polish system, nail yellowing is reduced and eventually completely gone (as in my case).

I painted the flowers and leaves using a detailing brush and acrylic paint.  The roses were a combination of Crimson and Titanium White, while the leaves were Chromium Green and Titanium White.  You will need to be patient with blending though, to get the right shades.  

Here is a close-up shot of my thumb:

So that's it for this entry.  I hope this design has packed a punch enough for you to try your own nail art design soon!

Thanks for reading!