Flowers and Stripes

Press Sample

Remember a while back when I reviewed some nail polish strips from OMG NailStrips? I recently decided to pull out these strips again (remember that I only used half of each strip for each nail, so I had plenty leftover for this mani)! This time I added some red shimmery flowers to break up the stripes and a matte top coat. I loved the mix of stripes so I did my best to recreate it.

Sadly I can't remember which red I used for the petals (I have so many reds sitting around on my polish desk that I just grabbed a random red) but the yellow is Cult Nails Feel me Up. I started by drawing the simple flower using a thin paintbrush, then added the yellow dot to the center with one of my large dotting tools. This was extremely easy and I got so many comments about my unique mani!

I really had fun with this one, but let me know what you think about it!

-- Rebecca

OMG Nail Strips Review

Press Sample

I was recently asked to review some real nail polish strips from OMG NailStrips. I don't usually wear nail strips like these because having a wild pattern on every one of my nails is a bit "loud" for me. I love bold nail art on other people but feel self conscious myself (isn't that silly? I'm a nail blogger!).

The Details: 
These strips are made out of real nail polish and are supposed to last for up to 10 days (I didn't test the wear time, but it would be quite dependent on which topcoat you use with the strips). Each package comes with 14 nail strips in a variety of sizes for either fingernails or toenails. The strips are pretty long (1.18 inches to be exact), so they should fit most nails.

Application: 
The strips are on a cardboard backing and the top is covered with a clear coating to protect the strips. I simply peeled off the clear plastic then peeled the strips off of their backing. The strips can be cut to size/shape prior to removing these protective layers if necessary.

I carefully placed the strip on my nail up to the cuticle and gently pressed it down, stretching it slightly as needed to fit my rounded nails and avoid any creasing. I used a paintbrush dipped in acetone to melt off the excess strip and applied top coat.

Application was really easy, and it definitely got easier as I went. If you look closely at the photos below you can see where I messed up the pattern on my index finger by stretching the strip too far (my pinky however, is perfect).

The final product:
My nails looked great! In about 10 minutes I had a detailed pattern on my nails, my polish was completely dry and looked flawless (no bumps, creases, or tears). Unlike some other nail "stickers" that I've used, these are very thin made out of real nail polish so they fit perfectly to your nails.

Challenges:
My only beef with these strips is the fact that they are for the most part a bit too big for my nails (and I have relatively broad nails). This was easily fixed using a pair of scissors and some common sense, but it did add an additional step to the application.

Overall, definitely some of my favorite nail strips that I've tried. They really applied easily, and I like that I don't have to use the entire package at the same time (Sally Hansen nail polish strips come in packets that must be used once they are opened or they dry out). The only downside is that the strips are currently available in a limited number patterns.

 Have you tried any brands of nail strips or stickers? Which are your favorites?

OMG Nail Stickers currently retail for $6.89 and are sold in their online shop.
Also check out OMG Nail Strips on Instagram and Facebook.

Nail Foils - Ice Blue Crush (from Dollar Nail Art)

Quite some time ago I bought some nail foils from dollarnailart.com and I finally go around to trying them out! This is my first experience with foils, and I'm quite happy with the results.

I started out with a base coat of Butter London Artful Dodger because I wasn't confident that I'd be able to transfer foil onto the whole nail without bald spots and I didn't want my naked nails showing through. My base polish was several days old and completely dry. I applied the nail foil glue, let it dry until it was clear, then pressed a small piece of the nail foil carefully onto the nail, pressing around the edges. When I carefully peeled off the clear backing I was left with a beautiful foil on my nail!

With nail foils there is definitely a bit of wrinkling, so don't expect a perfect finish. Personally, I didn't mind the minor wrinkling I experienced. My index finger is the worst with wrinkling because it was my first foil, and I got progressively better as I went. If you look at the free edge of my nail you will notice that there's a bit of Artful Dodger showing through, so I'm glad I used a base color!

I experimented with the foils topped with Seche Vite on a color wheel and discovered that it caused wrinkling, so I opted for a LED cured gel topcoat (Gelous). The gel topcoat didn't cause any significant wrinkling since I cured it very quickly. Since nail foils are glued to the nail and not polished, they don't last as long as nail polish, or the nail polish strips that I have used. These are a lot of fun and perfect for a special occasion.

Here's my attempt to make a GIF to capture the depth of these nail foils that is unmatched in any polish!

Overall, the foils from DollarNailArt are exactly what I wanted in nail foils and very fun to wear (although they will be for more of a special occasion for me). The only problem with the DollarNailArt website in my opinion is that they have a $25 minimum order, which is a lot if you haven't tried foils before.

***Please note that I was NOT sent these foils to review and that I purchased them with my own money. ****

Jamberry Nail Shield Review

Press Sample

.

Today I have some cute patterned Jamberry Nail shields to share with you! These nail shields are a thin plastic nail strip with an adhesive backing. They fit to your nail like a Sally Hansen nail strip, but since they aren't made of actual polish they are supposed to last longer. I haven't done a wear test so I can't speak for the wear time. They come in tons of patterns and you can even upload pictures and design your own (which I will be doing here shortly.. hello nerdy nail wraps!) I was recently given some of these strips as a sample, and I ended up ordering a full sheet of the holographic silver nail wraps. They all look so cute!

This mani is a Jamberry Nail Sheild on my index and pinky finger and two coats of piCture pOlish Dorothy who on my middle and ring fingers.

My only issue with these nail decals is that they may be difficult on some nails. My nails, particularly my index fingernail, have a high arch (that's the curve of your nail from the cuticle to the tip of the nail) that caused issues with application. I followed all of the directions exactly and had one nail shield that fit perfectly (pinky) and one that wrinkled and didn't fit at all (index). I tried contacting the creator of Jamberry nail shields and was told that using a hot rice bag to heat the shield further might help, I never got a clear answer as to whether it is the shape of my nails causing this issue. Luckily my accent nail (ring finger) is very flat, so these make great accent nails for my manicures.

Jamberry nail shields (set of 18 can do 18-36 nails/toes) can be purchased for $15 USD from their online store.

Have you tried Jamberry Nail Shields? What is your experience with these strips?

*Product(s) in this post provided to me for review*

Sally Hansen Nail Strips Plaidical: A lengthy review

Sally Hansen Salon effects Nail Polish Strips Plaidical are a dark metallic red with black plaid pattern. I have resisted buying strips for a long time, mostly because I didn't notice any pattern I absolutely had to have, but red, black, plaid? Gorgeous, so I gave them a try. I wanted to get the most out of my money and I managed to do a full manicure using just half the box!

It was a definite learning experience. Read more after the jump!