Show Me Your Nails 2.0

[Tamara76]

Due to some technical glitches with the original Show Me Your Nails Thread, I am starting a new thread with @vegchililover78's blessing (She says "hello," by the way!).

Please share your nail looks, nail art and manicures!

...And don't forget to check out @Beadshopgirl's Nail Stamping Thread for stamping inspiration! ❤️  

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Nailed-It/The-Nail-Stamping-Thread/m-p/3328865

[staayklassy]

Thanks love!! Mom hack with the pinky nail being a stiletto shape helps with parting both my girls hair 😊❤️🖤

[RGbrown]

@staayklassy 

I'm in awe; that's ingenious! ❤️

[RGbrown]

Got my second shot yesterday, so I came home and celebrated with two of my faves: purple and holo! 💜✨

Purple: Kiko Power Pro 048

A gorgeous deep purple, dark and rich, vampy without being so dark that it reads as black. Two coats, mostly easy, though I did have to be careful on a couple to avoid streaks. I've generally been happy with Kiko polishes, and this one is no exception! (These are on sale for $3, and free ship at $25...just sayin'...🤭)

Pinky and index are topped with Pampered Polish Schitty Ideas, and the other three are topped with Revlon Holographic Pearls

I left a couple bare on this hand just for a swatch shot

[itsfi]

I love how you can clearly see the deep, vampy purple in that Kiko polish @RGbrown! 💜 I like a good black polish as well but it’s nice when the color comes through a deep shade and it doesn’t just look black or dark. Adding Kiko to my list; I’ve not been doing a very good job of keeping up with my list. Will have to do better this month. 😉 

[RGbrown]

@itsfi 

Yup, I've got a similar bias against "so dark it may as well be black" shades...in that case, I'll just wear black 😋 This one was a nice balance though...dark, but not nearly-black 💜

[tjffc]

Oooo La La very nice.

[RGbrown]

Thank you @tjffc! 💖

[Sunnysmom]

Ooh I love a vampy nail @RGbrown ! Gorgeous! 💞

[RGbrown]

@Sunnysmom 

Thanks so much! 💜

[ather]

@RGbrown  Love these. Sparked are the best! 

[RGbrown]

Thank you @ather! ✨

[SAlyFitz]

@RGbrown i want to give stamping another go - can you give me a pep talk with a few tips lol... I got so down last time I attempted and failed 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Also anyone else with this & tricks!! @itsfi 👀

[RGbrown]

@SAlyFitz 

I'll build on @itsfi's comments...practice practice practice! If you don't have a silicone mat (doesn't have to be a fancy or expensive nail mat, any silicone placemat or baking sheet liner will do), just a plastic lid from a butter tub or the like, or even a ziploc bag will work. Lay out some swatches of whatever color(s) you want to experiment with, and stamp on those. It'll help you get a feel for what you're doing without the pressure of having it be perfect for your nails.

Some things I had to play with as I got into it:

🔸are you using regular polish or stamping polish? If regular polish, know that not every one of them will work well. It can absolutely be done, but there's an extra element of trial and error with finding the best options. Look for ones that are well pigmented and vibrant...anything sheer likely won't transfer well, and might not show up at all. The stamping manis I'm most disappointed in are usually the ones where I didn't bother to test my color choices first.

🔸Light pressure should be all you need when picking up the image from the plate onto the stamper. You're just barely looking to "kiss" the plate, with a rolling motion. Pushing down too hard can warp the image, or even push the polish out of the etching and leave you with bare spots or blobs.

🔸I see a lot of folks say to only scrape once, but I say play with it. Maybe it's my angle or my pressure, but I usually get a clearer stamp if I scrape twice.

🔸Be quick! That stamp is so thin, the polish is drying almost as soon as you scrape it. I've got a fluid single motion going when I stamp: scrape, drop the scraper, grab the stamper, roll across the plate, then stamp. It takes a little practice to figure out what setup works best for you to allow you to move as quickly as possible.

🔸If all else fails, maybe try putting a sticky base coat down. Let it dry til tacky, then stamp on it. It'll help grab the polish off the stamper. 

🔸Regular topcoat can smudge the stamping if you aren't careful or aren't accustomed to "floating" your topcoat (basically using more than you normally would to keep the brush suspended off the nail). A water based topcoat won't smudge art, but you'll still want to top that with a regular quick dry topcoat, as water based won't last long on its own.

I hope that helps, but if you've got any specific questions or issues, I'm more than happy to dig into them if I can!

[SAlyFitz]

Thank you! I just planned out my next 4 manis and will attempt the stamp on the 4th, stay tuned lol 🥰🥰🤗

[itsfi]

@SAlyFitz!!! Yaaay! You can do this! You do such a beautiful job with your nails and with dip nails; you'll get nail stamping!

The big thing for me is that I overthink it when it comes to nail art or stamping. 😣  The best thing to help with the overthinking was to just practice a few times with the stamper to get a feel for the right amount of pressure and then to just go for it. 

The other thing I did with my first few stamping tries was that I started out slowly, and only stamped 1 or 2 nails with each manicure. It helped to take off the pressure and nerves, and built up my confidence. 

[SAlyFitz]

Thanks! I’m gonna try!!🤞🏼🤗

[RGbrown]

@SAlyFitz 

Ahhhhh, I meant to write something up last night but got sidetracked and completely forgot 😒 I will today though! 

[CookieGirl1]

@RGbrown @itsfi saw this post on the Polish Pickup FB page and thought of you ladies!

[itsfi]

@CookieGirl1, black and flakies make a fun combo for polish.

[RGbrown]

@CookieGirl1 

Ahhh, what fun inspo!

Now I just need someone to make an Ulta orange and pink 🤣

[itsfi]

Oooh, orange and pink, @RGbrown? Perfect for spring and summer!