Friday, January 13, 2012

American Manicure with bows!

This is my mani for week 2 of the Year of Polish challenge

Week 2- French tip mani




I'm actually not too big a fan of the traditional French tip. It's just too bright to look natural, and isn't that the point of the French manicure? to make it look like you  have naturally beautiful white nails? It's the natural make-up of nails.To me though, it's like natural make-up with too much blush. It just doesn't look right. So whenever I go get my nails done (twice a year with my best friend!) I always ask for the American manicure. It's exactly the same as the French, only using ivory instead of white. Tadah! (Don't get me wrong, some people can really pull of the white French tip. I'm just not one of those people)


Then last week, while at Sally's, I browsed the clearance section and found an American manicure set for $3.99!


I just had to use it for this challenge. It was fated that way.



Then I spiffed it up with some acrylic bows and some dots :)
I actually added lines before I put on the bows...
I didn't thing they would be so big to cover everything up. Eh well..

American Manicure Ivory Tip and Nail Bed polish
China Glaze in Secret Peri-Wink-le
Milani in HD

So there it is. My week 2 mani and it is still currently week 2! However, this means that I was unable to get a "sunshine" picture of Alpha Rainbow in Silver for you guys. One day, though, I will get you a picture! one day...

anywho, check out my Year of Polish page to see what's going on next week and to check out some other bloggers who are undertaking this massive challenge :D

Until next time ^_^


11 comments :

A Polished Touch said...

So sweet! I love the detailing.

My french tip mani is hot pink and black - definitely not the "natural" choice, but definitely fun! I will post it next week. ;)

Samantha said...

@A Polished Touch

Thank you :) I can't wait to see yours! I love a funky colored french

KB said...

Did you use a guide for your tips? I love the accent nails. I'm not familiar with acrylic though - did you do the shaping of the bows by hand or were those something you bought and somehow adhered to the nail?

Samantha said...

@KB

I did my tips freehand, so some of them end up looking better than others lol :) as for the acrylic bows, I just used a silicon mold that you can buy from most beauty stores. You dip a brush in some acrylic liquid, then in acrylic powder and fill in the mold. You wait for the bows to be solid enough to remove but still pliable and cut off the excess around the edges. And since they are still malleable, you can curve them to the shape of your nail so they don't stick up!It smells awful but I love them ^_^

Laura said...

Pretty! I had no idea there was such a thing called an American Manicure but I agree, sometimes French Manicures can look so fake

Kialuzula said...

Cool, I like the little bow!

Kaki @ GlitterObsession said...

Love it. So pretty and I love the added extras!

Samantha said...

thank you Laura, Kia, and Kaki :)

KarenD said...

I've never seen a kit like that--nice find!

Anonymous said...

Just a suggestion, but I don't think twice a year is enough. :)

Samantha said...

Thank you KarenD :) I was really excited when I saw it sitting in the clearance bin!

I agree with you Anonymous. Unfortunately, my school doesn't pay me enough to be able to go much more than that... I do enjoy them though!

Friday, January 13, 2012

American Manicure with bows!

This is my mani for week 2 of the Year of Polish challenge

Week 2- French tip mani




I'm actually not too big a fan of the traditional French tip. It's just too bright to look natural, and isn't that the point of the French manicure? to make it look like you  have naturally beautiful white nails? It's the natural make-up of nails.To me though, it's like natural make-up with too much blush. It just doesn't look right. So whenever I go get my nails done (twice a year with my best friend!) I always ask for the American manicure. It's exactly the same as the French, only using ivory instead of white. Tadah! (Don't get me wrong, some people can really pull of the white French tip. I'm just not one of those people)


Then last week, while at Sally's, I browsed the clearance section and found an American manicure set for $3.99!


I just had to use it for this challenge. It was fated that way.



Then I spiffed it up with some acrylic bows and some dots :)
I actually added lines before I put on the bows...
I didn't thing they would be so big to cover everything up. Eh well..

American Manicure Ivory Tip and Nail Bed polish
China Glaze in Secret Peri-Wink-le
Milani in HD

So there it is. My week 2 mani and it is still currently week 2! However, this means that I was unable to get a "sunshine" picture of Alpha Rainbow in Silver for you guys. One day, though, I will get you a picture! one day...

anywho, check out my Year of Polish page to see what's going on next week and to check out some other bloggers who are undertaking this massive challenge :D

Until next time ^_^


11 comments :

A Polished Touch said...

So sweet! I love the detailing.

My french tip mani is hot pink and black - definitely not the "natural" choice, but definitely fun! I will post it next week. ;)

Samantha said...

@A Polished Touch

Thank you :) I can't wait to see yours! I love a funky colored french

KB said...

Did you use a guide for your tips? I love the accent nails. I'm not familiar with acrylic though - did you do the shaping of the bows by hand or were those something you bought and somehow adhered to the nail?

Samantha said...

@KB

I did my tips freehand, so some of them end up looking better than others lol :) as for the acrylic bows, I just used a silicon mold that you can buy from most beauty stores. You dip a brush in some acrylic liquid, then in acrylic powder and fill in the mold. You wait for the bows to be solid enough to remove but still pliable and cut off the excess around the edges. And since they are still malleable, you can curve them to the shape of your nail so they don't stick up!It smells awful but I love them ^_^

Laura said...

Pretty! I had no idea there was such a thing called an American Manicure but I agree, sometimes French Manicures can look so fake

Kialuzula said...

Cool, I like the little bow!

Kaki @ GlitterObsession said...

Love it. So pretty and I love the added extras!

Samantha said...

thank you Laura, Kia, and Kaki :)

KarenD said...

I've never seen a kit like that--nice find!

Anonymous said...

Just a suggestion, but I don't think twice a year is enough. :)

Samantha said...

Thank you KarenD :) I was really excited when I saw it sitting in the clearance bin!

I agree with you Anonymous. Unfortunately, my school doesn't pay me enough to be able to go much more than that... I do enjoy them though!