Monthly Manicure Challenge 2023

[JoSometimes]

Welcome to the Monthly Manicure Challenge! There’s a lot of great manicure ideas and inspiration here on BIC. I find challenges are a great way to channel that inspiration, push me out of my comfort zone, and try new styles or colours I wouldn’t normally go for. It’s a great way to grow in skill and artistry. I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

All are welcome, whether you’re a pro or a novice like me, or if you have a favourite manicurist that is the only one you trust with your hands. You’re welcome to post as often or as little as you like, post late, or skip challenges completely. And feel free to post them on Show Me Your Nails 2.0 too!

October 2023 - Trick or Treat! Halloween-Inspired Mani’s

All hallow’s eve is at the end of the month. Candy, costumes, parties, it’s so much fun! Please join us in sharing your manicures, whether there’s some kind of trick or an inspired by a sweet treat!

See My Original Post That Started This Challenge Here

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I’ve been a part of BIC for a while now. I’ve seen makeup, skincare, and photography challenges, which have been great for giving me inspiration, but nothing for mani’s. I love Makeup Challenge of the Week 2021/2022/2023 because it’s given me lots of inspiration, pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in my skills and artistry. I’d probably be stuck doing the same looks if it weren’t for that. I know we have Show Me Your Nails 2.0 which has been a great source of inspiration. I don’t want to take away from it but rather give myself and others a way to narrow down all the great ideas from it and get outside of my comfort zone (which has been bright colours and sparkly toppers lately)

Would there be any interest in starting a challenge for mani’s? We could have a different theme every month or even twice a month so that people can wear their mani’s out without worrying about missing one. People could always revisit themes if they miss them but still want to participate. I’m happy to organize it and if people have ideas for themes, I’m happy to work them in. What do you all think? Let me know if we should go one or twice a month and any themes you might want to see. 

Tagging some people but feel free to tag others who I missed or who you think might be interested.

@RGbrown @Titian06 @itsfi @CynthieLu @ather @jaaayp @Saradestin @Mellmars1185 @WinglessOne @Samtian 

Previous Challenges

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May 2023 - May Flowers
June 2023 - Child At Heart
July 2023 - Fireworks/Canada Day/Fourth of July
August 2023 - A Day At The Beach
September 2023 - We Now Return You To Your Regularly Scheduled Program: TV/Movie Inspired Manicures

Upcoming Challenegs (*Spoiler Alert!* ⚠️ Click at your own risk!)

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November 2023 - Pumpkin Spice
December 2023 - Happy Holidays: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Years!

I’m open to changing things up or adding bonus challenges. If you have suggestions, please let me know!)

In Case You’re Interested In Other Challenges

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Makeup Challenge of the Week 2021/2022/2023 
100 Days of Lipstick Challenge 
100 Shades of Eyeshadow Challenge 
A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge- Year 2 
💕😌 2023 Mask of the Week Challenge 😌💖 
Please let me know if I missed any!

[inkluva]

 when Susan did these she said Halloween but not too Halloween... maybe not Halloween enough for the challenge but thought I'd post and see ... good luck too all 

[JoSometimes]

@inkluva I totally get dead-of-night, hocus pocus, Halloween vibes from this! Your nail tech is very talented!

[JoSometimes]

At first, I wanted to do a Jaws themed manicure with Clionadh Cosmetics - Sunken Treasure and a dark grey polish to represent Bruce the shark. When I looked at the only grey in my collection, it was much lighter than I remembered and gave dolphin vibes, not shark vibes. I could have mixed it with some black to darken it but I decided to pivot instead. Its Pirates if the Caribbean themed now! The blue representing the open water and the gold topper representing the cursed gold that kept them all from dying in the first film. 

[JoSometimes]

The main polish here is Clionadh Cosmetics - Ring of Fire. It gives me lava/centre of the earth/peering into a volcano vibes 🌋 

The name of the polish makes me think of two movies. The first is Pacific Rim because another name for that part of the world is the Ring of Fire.

The other one it reminds me of is The Hunger Games trilogy because of Katnis’ nickname of “The Girl on Fire” with the white being a nod to President Snow and the glitter topper as a reference to President Coin. 

[Saradestin]

They are so pretty @JoSometimes ! 🧡🧡🧡

[JoSometimes]

Thank you so much @Saradestin! It’s also great to see you back here again!

[Saradestin]

Thank you @JoSometimes ! 🥰

[CynthieLu]

Oooh these are strong firey vibes @JoSometimes Katniss would approve 🐦 (Btw I love ring of fire, it's stunning!)

[JoSometimes]

Thanks @CynthieLu! It’s actually a nice polish. I originally paired it with a red accent but it just didn’t match. I’m excited to try out the last of the set. Maybe next weekend. 

[itsfi]

September - TV / Movie Inspired Manicures

Before heading downtown for some, let's say "errands" 😉, I decided to go for a Barbie-inspired shade. I've not seen the movie, but getting glimpses of everyone's Barbie-esque nails last month nudged me (along with @jaaayp's support for a bright and bold mani) to see what I had in my polish pile. This was from a Zoya haul I made in the spring that I completely forgot all about. Whoops. 😬 I'll post that set to the hauls thread later this week, along with whatever I *might* pick up while running "errands" today. 😝 🛍

Indoor with natural light

Outdoor, natural light

This is Zoya Zelli, a bright, bold, neon pink, aptly described by the brand as a Dragron Fruit pink. 💗 This is two coats and before a top coat. It has a slight shine to it in the photo but in real life, the shine does dry away and once the color is completely dry, it takes on a demi matte finish. I just add a top coat (Glisten & Glow) and the shine comes back, even brighter than before! 😊

[jaaayp]

OMG this color is aaaaabsolutely gorgeous! Totally reminds me of dragon fruit! I haven't seen the barbie movie either and probably won't until I can stream it but I totally see it!! I will always support your bright bold colors while I stay in line with my neutrals 😂😂😂 @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Right @jaaayp??! It made me want some dragonfruit. I even went to the store over the weekend but they didn't have any. ☹️ Not the one with the red rind / skin or the yellow one. Ahhhh, I'm a neutrals girl at heart but love to play with the brights, especially when trying out different nail art designs. 

[Saradestin]

Really good movie inspired manicure @itsfi !! 😃

[itsfi]

Thank you @Saradestin! I love the vibrancy of the bold colors but don't wear them very often. This one though is definitely a keeper. A new summertime fave! 

[JoSometimes]

Definitely screams Barbie @itsfi! 

You could also totally make it look like a dragon fruit by combining it with @jaaayp‘s black speckles. 

[itsfi]

So true @JoSometimes. For a dragon fruit theme, I'd add a pearly white polish to one or two nails and then go in with a speckled topper. I have one that I used a couple years ago, on a neutral nude base and loved the effect. @jaaayp's mani reminded me how much I loved that topper. I'm pretty sure it's packed away, so I won't be using that again, but I may have something similar that is within arm's reach. 

[jaaayp]

Ive been binging on the 2000s show "cold case" and it's definitely not 90s but close enough 😂 I was inspired by all the muted color makeup the cast and guest stars wear. Really gravitating these browns/rosey browns!

 

 

[Titian06]

@jaaayp - I didn't realize your mani was inspired by Cold Case!  That was one of my favorite shows! 💖💖💖

[Samtian]

@Titian06 I loved that show. It came out when I was in High School. My aunt came to visit a year ago and her and my mom were watching some episodes. It hit a lot different now that I am older and have a different view on life. I would get so angry and depressed during some episodes I had to get up and leave the room lol.

[itsfi]

@Titian06 @jaaayp mine too! 📺