Nail Art Assignment - Range

For one of our college coursework assignments we have to create different designs demonstrating techniques we've learned so far including water marbling, stripes, rhinestones, glitter, paint marbling and flowers.

Here is my effort...

Manicures - Standard, Luxury & Deluxe!

We've been busy learning how to do manicures at college. Have I ever been for a manicure myself? No is the answer to that. Why? I'm not sure to be honest. Is there any call these days for a manicure? I'm not so sure. Where I live it seems that acrylic and gel nails are all people want.

It's been great learning all the different techniques such as using the dual tool, nippers and buffer. My polish application still needs work - I believe your only as good as the products you are using. So far, I'm finding that my Sinful colours are coming out on top although their French pink is awful and very streaky. My China Glaze polishes are a little watery, the bright colours need 3 coats and the actual brush leaves a lot to be desired. I have a couple of OPI polishes but these too are not ticking all my boxes. Their new thicker brushes are my favourite to work with although some colours are really thick or need 3 coats. Is there a perfect polish brand out there? I'm yet to find out but will keep searching.

Now, back to manicures. This is how we structure the differences between them at college:

Standard - Includes File & Shape, Cuticle Work & Polish Application

Luxury - As above but also includes ex-foliation and a massage

Deluxe - As above but also includes a heated treatment such as Paraffin Wax or Heated Mitts

So far, I enjoy doing the deluxe treatment with a hand mask placed in heated mitts. My guinea pigs clients really enjoy this element of the service the most so far.

I had my first assessment on Tuesday and decided to do a deluxe mani plus nail art so I could get two of them out the way and I'm pleased to say I passed them both! It was a little scary as not only was my tutor keeping a close eye on what I was doing but I had a complete stranger in so it really felt like my first proper client. I didn't have a plan for the nail art so free'styled as I went. It was a little stressful as I only had 30 mins to get it done. Next time I will be more prepared!

I forgot to take pics on my camera but my client very kindly sent me these via her phone:

Tell me, do you like going for manicures?

Nail Art & Water Marbling

Last night at college our tutor demonstrated how to do water marbling. It was lots of fun albeit a little tricky as the polish dries so fast that you literally have seconds to get it done.

You start by filling up a plastic cup / bowl with warm water (not too hot, not too cold). You then add drops of nail polish into the water as fast as you can before using the end of an orange wood stick to swirl the polish to make a pattern before dunking the nail (or a nail tip in this case) into the part of the pattern you like best. You then need to use a cotton bud to remove the remaining traces of polish from the water surface before taking out your nail.

We also had to work on more detailed nail art. I decided to do a spooky looking tree with a cat sat in it, a paisley pattern with gold accents and a funny shaped black cat (inspired by these water decals I found on Ebay).

Here is what I created. Overall I was pleased with the results seeing as this was my second attempt at nail art. I shall be ordering some nail tips and orange wood sticks to practice the water marbling at home.

Nail Art

I have been practising my 'perfect polish' and also basic nail art on my hands, my sisters hands - basically any nails I can get my grubby perfectly polished mitts on!

As my kit still hasn't arrived yet I don't have any tools to do a proper manicure so I'm literally just filing and painting the nails for now...

Products Used

Opi Flip Flop Fantasy

Skull Nail Transfer

2 Blue Rhinestones

Seche Vitae Fast Dry Top Coat

Products Used:

Nails Inc - Black

China Glaze - Matt Magic Flat Finish Top Coat

Seche ViteFast Dry Top Coat

Products Used

Rimmel Polish - Colour TBC

Rhinestones

Black Glitter

Seche ViteFast Dry Top Coat

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog!

I've just started a nail technology level 3 at college and this is my place to share some pictures, talk about my course, share inspiration and generally gush about my love of nails!

The course started last week and so far we've learnt a file and polish, a basic manicure and this week it was all about the introduction to nail art. We were introduced to the striping brush, dotting tools and mini stub brush to cate lines, dots and painting with nail art paints and lose glitters.

Here are the nails I created during Thursdays session. We had to use stripes, dots, glitter, rhinestones and leopard print.

Overall I'm pleased with how these turned out, especially as its my first ever attempt at nail art.