DIY Nails: Bright and Fun Colorblock

I decided to enter the Sally Hansen nail design competition and the theme for this month's nails was colorblock! I decided to make my colorblock original by using three of my favorite colors paired with a strong white to break them up. You can even vote for my nail design on SallyHansen.com and you will see "lyndseycamille" by my design. If you would like to recreate my nail design, all you need is three bright contrasting colors, a white nail striper, and a clear top and base coat.

DIY Nails: All About the Houndstooth

 I have fallen in love with the houndstooth print and can't wait to start seeing it everywhere in the spring. Whenever I begin to really start loving a print, I always try it out on my nails so I get to wear the print for at least a week. All I needed to do my houndstooth nails were a nail art brush, white nail polish, and a solid color polish. Keep reading for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own houndstooth nail design.

Begin by painting all your nails one solid color. I chose a pink color for a more vibrant and springtime feel.

Use a nail art brush dipped in white nail polish and make tow equally spaced stripes going vertically down your nail. Clean your nail art brush afterwards.

Use your nail art brush again, but dip it into your base color nail polish and create two horizontal stripes down the nails. Clean the nail art brush. Now notice the white squares created by the stripes use the nail art brush dipped in white polish to add one short white line to the top right corner of each square. Now add a short white line to the bottom left corner of the square. Lastly, add two small connecting lines to the top left corner of each square. Wait about 10 minutes or longer for the design to draw then add a clear top coat.

*Use the pictures as guidelines and steps for recreating the nail design and remember, you can always make it your own.*

What is your favorite nail design?

DIY Nails: Holiday Glitter Half Moons

 Once again my nails are glittering and shimmering, but with two showstopping colors in a half moon design. This nail look makes me think of a glam holiday, it's so much fun and great to look at while I'm taking my exams! So many different different glitter combos are possible with this nail design, all you need to create the look are two solid  colors and two glitter polishes that are similar in color with the two solids. You will also need a clear base and top coat, nail polish remover, and about 2 Q-tips. Keep on reading for the steps to recreate my nail look.

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear basecoat.
2. Take a solid purple polish and coat from the bottom half of your nail to the middle.
3. Dip a Q-tip in nail polish remover and with windshield wiper motions, create a half moon of the purple polish.
4. Take a solid brown polish and paint the nail starting from the edge of the purple half moons to the tips.
5. Go back with a sparkly purple and with a careful hand apply it on top of the solid purple.
6. Add a glittery gold on top of the solid brown polish.
7. Use any color glitter striper and define the half moon.
8. Let your nails dry, then apply a clear basecoat.

The solid nail polish colors help the nails to stand out and pop on your nails while the glitter gives the overall glam look. Let me know if you decide to try out this nail look in the comments below.

What's your favorite holiday nail look?

DIY Nails: Simply Fall, Simply Plaid

It's not winter just yet so I am still rocking fall themed nails. I've noticed the popular nail polish trend of nudes, browns, and other dark shades so I had to try out for this week's mani. However, I can never stick to simple nail polish so I decided to try out a very simple plaid design accented with cheetah print on my ring finger nail. All I used to create this nail look is Schnapps Out Of It by O.P.I., a brown nail polish, a black nail striper, red nail polish, and a nail art brush.

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear base coat.
2. Add 1-2 coats of Schnapps Out Of It by O.P.I, or any other bright brown color to your nails.
3. Take your second brown nail polish and stripe one line vertically or horizontally across each nail. Skip your ring finger if you want the accent nail!
4. Take your black nail striper and create one vertical line next to the brown stripe as well as one stripe horizontally across the nail.
5. Dip your nail brush into some red nail polish and add a red stripe horizontally or vertically across each nail.
6. Create a cheetah print design on your ring finger by making jagged C-shapes with your black nail striper brush.
7. Let your nails dry, then add a clear top coat on top of your nails.

This look is totally appropriate for the season! Plus you can switch up the stripe and color patterns to make the nail look all your own. Let me know in the comments below if you try out the nail look!

DIY Nails: O.P.I. Golden Eye

I have been searching everywhere for the perfect gold nail polish and I finally found it! I actually first saw the nail lacquer in new Skyfall O.P.I. nail collection ad in Seventeen Magazine! At first I was apprehensive about purchasing the Golden Eye nail polish because I wasn't sure if it would be opaque enough, but it is after about 2-3 coats of polish. I was originally looking for a golden nail polish  because the only one I have is a shatter polish and gold just seems like a glam color that would also be perfect for the holidays. Plus I have been on a glitter/shimmer nail polish craving the last few weeks. Keep on reading for tips to make the most of this golden nail lacquer.

1. Begin with clean, shaped nails and apply a clear base coat.
2. Take the gold polish and make one stroke starting in the center of the nail and go upward. Use the rest of the polish on the brush to complete the bottom half of the nail.
3. Finish the nail by polishing the right and left half starting from the center like in step 2.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each nail. Add a second coat to make the polish more opaque.
5. Add a third coat if necessary and apply a clear top coat to seal the polish.

The only thing to beware of is the glitter portions of the nail polish falling into your nail bed instead of spreading across the nails, but it is not a big deal once you get the hang of the application. Let me know in the comments belo if you will be trying out the Golden Eye nail polish color for the holidays.

DIY Nails: Keep Your Natural Nails Pretty

Okay so this is definitely my nail look from last week, but I like it so much that I'm  keeping it this way for my birthday on Saturday. The only difference for this week is that I did an all purple ombre and used a ton more glitter, glitter is girl's best friend though, right? Anyways while I was going through a struggle taking the glitter polish off I noticed that my nails are looking much more healthy than usual. For the past few weeks I have recently been trying out new nail routines because I began to notice that my nails we're breaking and peeling so easily which resulted in my polish looking not so hot. Now that my nails are all about the same length, have very little to no peeling, and don't seem to breaking so easily, I'm ready to share a few things that I've been doing to them.

• Check the remover! I've always known not to use nail polish remover containing acetone on the regular, but it takes the polish off so easily that I caved in to using it every time. Big no-no! Use a remover without acetone so your nails will stay super strong.
• Beneficial Base Coats! Base coat that have vitamins or moisturizes the nail really do work to protect and help your natural nails, plus they prevent your polish color from staining your nail.
• Stop Excess Filing! There is no need to file your nails every day, only file about once a week to shape up your nails. Do not use a nail file to drastically change nail length or shape, it will weaken your entire nail.
• Picking Your Cuticles! This may not apply to your nails, but your cuticles are so close to your nails that it should. Picking at your cuticles is actually a health risk because it can cause cuts, bleeding, and allows bacteria a way into your skin. Leave your cuticles to the professionals and extremely clean tools.

I really hope you enjoyed this post and that these tips help you to achieve great looking natural nails. If you try out any of these tips or have any of your own please let me know in the comments below!

DIY Nails: Party Rocking Mani

I've been missing having glitz and sparkles on my nails so I had to go all out glam with my nail look for the week. The best thing about this nail look is goes with girly, edgy, and glam styles and adds fun to both dressy and party looks. I feel like such a little diva with my nails in this sparkly look, plus it will be great since I have two special events this week, a Beta induction and a band concert. The ombre effect gives this nail look it's trendy vibe and I even used a new technique to create the cool effect. All you need to create this nail look is a sponge, a clear base and top coat, any color nail polish, and a glitter nail polish.

1. Start with clean nails and apply a clear base coat. This will allow your polish to stay on longer and keep your natural nails clean and strong.
2. Take your sponge and lightly dab the polish across the tip of the sponge and dab it along one of your nails. Bee sure your tip is completely covered with the polish and lightens up as you go closer to the nail bed.
3. Repeat step two for each nail.
4. Apply  glitter nail polish to your entire nail for a glam, sparkly look to give your nails a fun party look.
5. Apply a clear top coat and allow your nails time to dry. 

This nail look is so fun and pretty and you can make it even more unique by adding designs over the ombre or different nail combos! Let me know in comments below if you try out the nail look.

DIY Nails: Cheetah, Tuxedo, Geometric

I am so tired of having matching nails, so I had to mix it up this week with this cheetah, tuxedo, geometric combo. This is my very first attempt at tuxedo nails, I first saw the tuxedo design on WAH Nail's Instagram page as well as various YouTube channels and it was love at first sight. I think the design is perfect if you want to have one little comical aspect to your look if your going out for a special occasion. Since I didn't want all my nails to look the same I stuck with my favorite design, cheetah print, on my pinkie and thumb and did a little geometric design on my "no-no" finger. All I used to create the looks are nail stripers and everyday polish, so grab your nail kits and try out the design.

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear base coat.
2. Polish your middle finger grey, the ring and pointer finger white, and the pinkie and thumb a light brown or nude color.
3. For your pinkie and thumb, take a black nail striper and begin dotting together lines in small C-shapes, you can even fill them in with glitter. The design comes out best if you look a cheetah design as you create your own.
4. For the middle finger, create stripes and form them together to create connected triangles. Bright colored lines will really make the nail stand out.
5. For the ring and pointer finger, paint the left and right side of the nail black while leaving a strip in the middle white. Use a dotting tool or toothpick and create 3 buttons going up the white portion. Take a white nail striper and create the collar by drawing one small triangle from the bottom of the nail and connect a half triangle afterwards.
6. If you would like, use a dotting tool and create bow ties on the tuxedo design. Make a small dot in the middle and two bigger dots on the outsides. A bright colored bow tie looks great against the black and white.
7. Wait for each of the nails to dry and a clear top coat. You can even add a clear top coat with hints of glitter to make your nails sparkle.

 Below are close ups of the three nail designs. Let me know in the comments below if you try out these nails designs and send me pictures!

DIY Nails: I Love Fall

I am so obsessed with fall, the leaves are beautiful, the clothing is warm and snugly, and to top it off my birthday is in the wondrous fall months.My nail design for this week definitely embodies how I see fall as well as my love for owls and this beautiful fuchsia nail polish. All you need to recreate the nail look is a nail art brush, dotting tools, a light pink polish, grey, brown, and fuchsia/purple polish color.

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear base coat followed by polishing all of your nails a light pink color.
2. Take your nail art brush and dip it into the brown or purple color and being creating leaves. The leaves will come out great if you begin with the round portion and slowly create the tip, almost like a teardrop.
3. Now for the owl take the fuchsia color and paint the entire nail except for a small semi circle. Let the polish dry, then add eyes, a beak, and small polka dots with the dotting tool.
4. The tree can be created with the nail art brush and can have as many branches as you would like, they look more realistic if the have bent and wobbly lines. Use the dotting tool to represent leaves at he end of the tree branches.
5. Wait about 5-7 minutes for the nails to dry and apply a clear top coat. Be sure to make sure your nails are dry so they will not smear or smudge.

Now your nails are fall perfect, you can even add sparkles, glitters, or play around with different color schemes. Let me know if you try out the nail look!

DIY Nails: Just Bitten



I am so happy that I've gotten back into the groove of creating cool nail artwork. This nail look is inspired by vampires, blood, and the nails by Sally Hansen at Prabal Gurung.The look may be "eww" to some, but I actually love the "OMG my nails just got bit by a vampire" look.  This nail look can be done with all black nails are on bare nails. As you can see I did all bare nails except for my accent nail and my pointer finger. All you need is black polish, a cear base and top coat, red polish, a white nail striper , and a nail art brush/dotting tool.

 

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear polish. Polish your ring finger black. 
2. Take your dotting tool and dip it into the red polish. Create dots on your nail at different points on the nail.
3. Drag some of the polish from the dot to the tip of your nail.
4. Take the nail art brush and paint the tip of your nail red and clean up the lines from the dot. Since the lines are supposed to imitate dripping blood, it's okay if the lines are a tad messy and not uniform.
5. Take the white nail striper and draw two pointy triangles on your ring finger. Add 2 lines inbetween the open space of the triangles.
6. Let your nails dry, then coat them with a clear top coat.

Let me know if this tutorial was helpful, if your tried out the nail look, or if you have any other DIY nail theme ideas! Check out my other Halloween nail look by clicking here. Rock this nail look for Halloween, a fall festival, or whenever since it is October.



DIY Nails: Simple Skull and Ombre

I am so in love with my cute and simple ombre nails with a skull accent. I decided since it's the first day of October, I might as well get the Halloween theme going! I didn't want to do an extremely detailed design just because I wanted something that doesn't take a lot of time and isn't going to chip right off. Also, I'm not into scary creatures so I wanted to just stick with a Tim Burton like skull. All you need to recreate this nail look are asilver glitter, black, white, and grey nail polishes as well as a black nail striper or thin brush.

1. Begin with clean nails and a clear basecoat polished on your nails.
2. Start by painting one of your nails white. This will help to let it dry before creating the skull.
3. Move on to your other nails and polish the bottom 1/3 of your nail black.
4. Take your grey polish and blend it with the black polish and polish the next third of your nail.
5. Now take your white polish and finish off the tip.
6. Take your silver glitter polish and paint over the white. This will give the white a more grey look and will be more sparkly and girly.
7. For the white accent nail take your black nail striper or brush and slowy form a circle with a small gap at the bottom. This is the head of the skull.
8. Draw 3-4 lines within the gap of the circle. These are the teeth.
9. Use the brush or a dotting tool and create two small ovals for the skull's eyes.
10. Wait for your nails to dry completely before applying a top coat, if not your nails will smear!

Your nails are now complete and Halloween chic! Let me know if you try out this nail tutorial or have your own special Halloween nail design.

DIY Nails: Nail Art Tools

Nail Art Tools

Nail art and designs are continuously becoming popular and more people are trying to get different nail looks at home, however you need a few tools to get everything just right. The best way to start achieving these new designs is to use nail art brushes and dotting tools, it makes everything so much easier and looks a lot better! I only have one nail art brushes that also has a dotting tool side and it is enough for me to complete any designs as long as I keep it clean! Nail art brushes are the same as art brushes so you don't have to hunt for particular brands since everything works almost the same! Using brushes and dotting tools will help your nail art look amazing and save you from spending on multiple nail decos and stickers.

DIY Nails: All About The Polish

It's Mani Monday and time to talk about nail polish. There are so many nail polish shades, colors, stickers, shatters, and so much more! Personal preference plays a roll in picking a great nail polish, but so does skin tone and sometimes even nail length. Your nail polish color can have so much more impact than you think, it can tell your favorite color, wether your into dark or light colors, or if your  into lots of sparkle and glitz. Here's some tips to picking out the best color for you!

1. Chipped Nails! If your always concerned about chipped polish you may want to try polishes in pearly, nude, or beige shades. Even if the polish chips you won't be able to tell and you can dress up the colors with cute designs.
2. Bright Colors! No matter your skin tone, bright polishes always appear bright. They stand out best if you normally wear neutral colors, but they still work if you always rock lots of color.
3. Sparkles! Sparkly and glitter nail polishes may look pretty in the bottles, but sometimes they don't come out exactly right. Don't be afraid to open the bottle in the store to see just how light or heavy the specks of glitter really are.
4. Application! Nail polish looks best when it is applied correctly. Coat the polish once directly in the middle of the nail, then one time on the right and left side.
5. Stickers! Nail stickers from just about every brand do amazing things! They come in designs, prints, and bold colors that make your nails dazzles.

DIY Nails: Wonder Woman

These Wonder Woman nails are so cute and they also work as Fourth of July nails! The picture of these nails are a little messy since I didn't have a chance to wipe off the excess polish around my cuticle. The nail look is actually very easy, even the star! All you need to create the look is red and blue polish, a white nail striper, and glitter polish.

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear basecoat.
2. Paint youe pointer finger and ring finger with the blue polish and the remaining nails with red polish.
3. Take your white nail striper and paint about  lines on the red nails.
4. Use the glitter polish or glitter shatter polish to coat over the blue polish on your pointer finger.
5. Take your white nail striper and carefully draw an outline of a star on your ring finger. Fill in the outline after you draw it.
6. To add extra sparkle, dot sparkles around the star and make the tip of your nail a sparky red.
7. Coat your nails with a clear top coat after all the nails are dry.

• If you have problems drawing a star, just add sparkly dots.

DIY Nails: Butterfly Wings

Butterflies are such beautiful, interesting creatures. They are so inspiring and they had to be used in some type of artwork which just happened to be on my nails. I actually saw a picture of a butterfly nail design and I just had to recreate it with my own twist! All you need for this nail design is a bright nail polish color such as the pink, black nail polish as well as a black nail striper, and white polish. You also need a dotting tool or a tooth pick.

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear base coat. This will help your nail polish show up more vibrant and stay on longer.
2. Coat your entire nails with a bright nail polish of your choice. Use about 1-2 coats.
3. Take your black nail polish or striper and paint a small section on the side of each nail.
4. Continue the line across the tip of your nail in a diagnol line.
5. Take your nail striper and draw a diagnol line from the bottom corner to the top corner of your nail.
6. Draw 3 slighty curved lines conntecting your original black lines. Let the nails dry.
7. Take a dotting tool or tooth pick and put polka dots across the tips and side of your nails. Let the nails dry.
8. After your nails have dried, coat them with a clear top coat and continue to let them dry.

This nail tutorial is actually very easy to recreate and requires very few materials. Remember to be patient and practice makes perfect when trying out new nail designs. Be sure to show off your lovely mani!

DIY Nails: Midnight Summer Silhouette

I am in love with my summer-y nails complete with a palm tree accent. This nail tutorial is inspired by the late nights of summer, sun sets, and calming palm trees. All you need to create this nail look is a blacck nail striper, sparkly clear, dark blue, orange, neon teal,and purple nail polish. Be sure to have nail polish remover and a clear top and base coat handy!

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear base coat.
2. Take the purple polish and paint one-third of your nail starting from the cuticle.
3. Immediately take the orange polish and paint a little over the purple polish and the middle section of your nail. Be sure to let the colors blendd together.
4. Take the blue polish and paint a little over the orange all the way to the tip. Let the colors blend and fade into each other in an ombre effect.
5. While the nails are drying begin on your accent nail by painting it a neon teal. Be sure to let it dry.
6. Take the black nail stripers and make a thick line at the tip of the nail.
7. Create a short angled line with the black nail striper.
8. Make a circle at the end of the angled line and draw lines extending from the circle. Now you have a cute palm tree, but make sure to let it dry.
9. Go back to your other nails and coat them with the clear sparkly coat to add a starry effect. Do the same to the accent nail when it is dry.

Rock this nail look all summer long and even try out different designs such as dolphins for your accent nails. Remember practice makes perfect and remember to prevent any chips with an amazing top coat. Show off your mani girlies!

DIY Nails: Cheetah Girl Color

I decided to get a little animal print nail design on my nails, but I couldn't do it without adding some color! This nail design is actually very easy and even the most unsteady hands can achieve the look, all you need is a light nail polish color such as tan, three bright nail polish colors, and a black nail polish striper. Don't forget a base and top coat!

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear basecoat.
2. Apply the base nail polish color. A tan or light grey color works best.
3. Take one of your colorful nail polish colors and create a medium-size dot anywhere on the nail. Make sure it sits flat on the nail, not piled up.
4. Continue adding colorful dots on your nails and let them dry. Be sure to keep them spaced out and seperated. 
5. Take you black nail striper and let the polish fall to the tip of the brush. Pat the polish around the colorful dots creating a cheetah print.
6. Let the polish dry and seal it with a clear top coat.

*As you can see it the pictures I have a lot of polish on my cuticles, to fix that problem soak a Q-tip with nail polish remover and rub it in any areas where the polish is not supposed to be.

Remeber to be patient while trying out new nail designs and that practice makes perfect. Try out this fun nail design and feel cheetahlicious!

DIY Nails: Starburst Candy Nails Video

DIY Nails: Starburst Candy

I love painting my nails in bright, neon colors and have two different polishes on the same nail is perfect for me!  This is nail art design is actually inspired by the sunset and Starburst candy which called for a yellow and red-orange nail polish colors. I am always looking for ways to amp up my nail designs to another level so I also reversed the traditional french manicure. All you need to recreate this DIY nails look is 2 contrasting nail polish colors and a clear base and top coat.

1. Begin with clean nails and coat them with a clear base polish.
2. Paint your nails, concentrating near the nailbed, with the lighter nail polish color. Let the poish dry before moving to the next step.
3. Take the darker nail polish color and begin painting at the tip of the nail downwards. Paint going in a semicircle around the nailbed.
4. Let the nail polish dry and finish by coating the nails with a top coat.
5. Clean up any extra polish by soaking a Q-tip with nail polish remover and rubbing around the edges of the nail.

**Use a circular sticker during Step 3 to get a more precise and defined semicircle. Remember practice makes perfect and to be patient when trying out new nail art designs. Try out this nail art look in any color combo!