Mermaids have always been one of my favorite mystical creatures. They were always described as mesmerizing, long hair, beautiful tails and their scales would shine in the moonlight.
Now I love bling and I love mermaids so lets do some nails!
Turquoise and purple are the main colors I am working with on the fingernails.
One the fingernails, the old design has been removed and the nails are prepped.
I picked up a ball of NSI attraction totally clear and I dipped it in the Turquoise hexagons.
I placed that ball on the nail and I start working with it to distribute the product from side to side and fading it up towards the cuticles.
When it is time to encapsulate, I did another coat of primer (NSI superbond) and picked up a ball of NSI totally clear and placed it at the cuticle area, patting the product into place, stroking it toward the free edge.
I placed another small ball at the free edge and feathered it up.
This step was the same for all 10 nails.
After filing and buffing, I let my friend wash her hands to remove all the chemical residue.
I brushed on a bit of NSI Glaze 'n Go on the ringfinger and I placed down some Turquoise hexagons in a half circle at the cuticle to give it that extra touch. Let it cure for a couple seconds to lock it in place.
Finish all the nails off with a nice coat of Glaze 'n go, cure for 3 minutes and you are done.
Now for the toes, I used gel and nail polish. Less hassle, but the same result.
Nails are prepped with a coat of IBD natural nail primer.
With a gel brush and IBD builder gel clear I brushed on a thin layer on all 5 toenails, went around the cuticles with a rosewood stick and let it cure for 3 minutes.
This gel layer acts as a super duper long lasting base layer, and not as strength. Toenails generally don't need strength, but the nail polish tend to not last that long.
So instead of a nail polish base coat, I used gel.
After curing, I cleansed the nails with none acetone nail polish remover.
I painted the toenails with China Glaze - 553 Sexy in the city.
Let that dry for a bit and went in with a second coat.
With an old nail polish brush I picked up some of the nail art dust mixer.
This dust mixer a lot more liquid than clear nail polish, therefor making it a lot easier to pick up nail art and blend it all out before it dries out, making it smooth and even.
So with the nail polish brush I dipped in the hexagons and brushed it on the nails, fading it up.
I added more when needed.
I finished off with Orly glosser.
These toenails lasted for 7-ish weeks before they were too long and needed to be redone.
Gel as a base layer makes your nailpolish :
*last longer
*stay on without chipping
*dry a lot faster
*don't stain the nails
