The Caviar Manicure

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If you've checked out Polishment: THE BOARD on Pinterest... or just skulked around Pinterest in general, then you've probably seen that pic. Or this.

Dahlings, don't you know? It's The Caviar Manicure.

Top hats off to the crafty gal who came up with this idea! I had been thinking about fancying up my nails and when I started to do a little online research, look what I found!

At $25, it's not exactly what I'd call a steal. There are three total color options available if a Funfetti look doesn't suit your fancy.

  • Rainbow beads / Strawberry Milkshake polish
  • Mother of Pearl beads / Snow Virgin polish
  • Black Pearl beads / Ghetto Fabulous polish*

Because time is money, my friend. So if you've got more money than time, hit up the Ciaté kit at Sephora... but if you've got more time than money OR if you're feeling exceptionally DIY-inclined, then here's a great tutorial for you on, of course, The Swatchaholic.

I'm a bit of a picker, so something tells me a Caviar Manicure would be destroyed — by my own hands, no less—  in 12 hours max. Probably not for me! But if any of you try it out (or already have?!) then send some pics my way!

howmuchcanonebananacost, Francesca

*I really need to comment on the nail polish names that Ciaté has chosen because I am appalled.

Pink = Strawberry Milkshake. Fine, how sweet. White = Snow Virgin. Eh, my lip curls at that, but whatever. Black = Ghetto Fabulous? Huh. I don't get it. Why? Ohhh, because it's BLACK??

Really clever. Oh wait... actually that's really racist. Ciaté should be embarrassed. I am disappointed to know that such an inappropriate name with such a loaded connotation was suggested — and approved.

Ombré Made Easy

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Who doesn't love an ombre manicure? It's fresh, on-trend, and a great conversation starter. It's creative... but not crazy. It's got the DIY cool without the usual DIY complications.

The hardest part is gathering the perfect spectrum — or shall I say "was" because THE NEW BLACK is taking all the guesswork out of locking down that perfect gradation.

Click the pic if you're tempted to trot over to Nordstrom's site to learn more about THE NEW BLACK's ombrés in a box.

At $22 bucks a pop, a cute five-color set sounds like a smart bet.

I'm not usually one to repeat manicures, but even I would make an exception here. I'd try going from dark to light one week, then flip the ombré when I wanted to try a new look. And if you buy a set that blends well with your Stash, you could add even more shades to the ombré!

I enjoy the quest for the perfect ombre colors, but you know I get a little excited about nail projects. That said, I'd never judge a pal who didn't have the time (or patience) to sleuth about for the perfect shades and opted for one of these kits instead.

A genius idea, THE NEW BLACK. Well played...

howdoyoulikeyourombré, Francesca

The Cloud Manicure

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Spring is here and I'm in the mood for some pastels. Here’s a DIY manicure that’s as easy as can be — and you're sure to be showered with compliments. ;)

This is The Cloud Manicure, inspired by Jane over at Nailside (love that Jane).

I wanted to make this as cloud-like as possible, so I picked a light blue for my background. I gave my white fluffy clouds a silver lining and sealed the deal with a shiny, thick top coat.

Check out Nailside for the tutorial! Jane’s done ombré clouds (several shades of gray) and I'm thinking neons would look awesome, too. It really is the easiest artistic manicure I’ve done yet, and it was a huge hit! For you creative types out there, an "April Showers Bring May Flowers" theme is easy to imagine, isn't it?

oncloudnine, GLOSS

P.S. My favorite band ever? a-Ha. They've got a hot track from the 80s called "Blue Sky" and if you expected me to ignore that happy coincidence and fail to include a link to the song at the end of this post... think again!

Enjoooooy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-36ijwAQUs]

Spotted: Mademoiselle Marie — Part Ten

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I give the entire rainbow equal opportunity when I select my polish colors... but after a long winter and cold weather I am ready for spring-y pastels!
Check out Mademoiselle Marie's cheerful springtime look.

This manicure really pays attention to detail. The marbling, the color combos, the gems! I love it. It's also reminiscent of a lamp on Etsy that I am so tempted to splurge on...

If you want a manicure like Marie's, you can get it at Marie's Nails on 3rd Street here in Los Angeles. Shigeko Kawaguchi is the artist responsible for Marie's polished look.

http://marienails.com/

Stay Shiny, GLOSS