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

[Shosh85]

@Titian06  Gorgeous purples! 💜

[RGbrown]

@Titian06 

Gorgeous! Love the mix of purples, they work so well together!

So, shrink...ugh. Some topcoats are more prone to it than others, the worst I've ever encountered is Seche Vite (though lots of folks love it and have no issues...there's definitely an element of personal chemistry at play). I do have some tips though!

1. if you aren't currently, wrap your tips. I do at least one coat of color (might stop at one if it's a dense cream, but the more see through a polish is, the more layers I cap off) and top coat. It's hard with short nails...I've seen some folks use a little piece of tape kinda wedged up between the nail and skin to help reduce the mess. I don't mess with that because I never think about it, but when mine are short, I don't "swipe" the brush across my tips like many folks do; instead I just pull my fingertip skin down a bit as best I can and tap polish across the tip with the tips of the bristles. And if you don't want to cap the tips with color, that's fine, just be sure to do it with your topcoat (more on that in 3 below).

2. Add topcoat while your polish is still mostly wet. I wait maybe a couple of minutes up to about 5 minutes between my last coat of color and topcoat. Supposedly the drier the polish, the more likely it is that shrink will happen.

3. Be sure to cover your color completely with your topcoat, even extending it past the color line when possible. Shrink can happen not only at the tips, but around the sides and cuticle line. I go ham with mine and usually make a dang mess...not intentionally, really, but sometimes my tremors make it hard for me to be precise with it, so I tend to err on the messy side instead of the "whoops, I missed a spot" side lol.

G&G has been waaayyy better for me in terms of shrink...for the most part I get none, though I have been noticing a bit near the tips when I use sheer jelly polishes, even when I double and triple checked that I've capped them off well. Not sure what that's about, but for how few other issues I have with it, I'm ok with it.

[Titian06]

Thanks for this great info on how to use a top coat, @RGbrown !  I had no idea I should use the top coat on mostly wet polish.  I've always used it on mostly dry (it may still be a bit tacky when I apply).  I've never had problems with Seche Vite, but G&G is so much shinier and I love the wide brush.  My nails are super short right now, so I may have been stopped short without realizing it.

I've heard of capping and figured out what it was when watching the occasional YT video, but have no idea how to do that on my nubs!  My nails are extra short right now because two more nails broke (for a total of three), so I decided to files them all down to about the same micro length and start again! 😄  I'll give that a try next time.  I know I won't have patience for the tape method, so I'll go with pulling my skin down and tap.

Thanks, again, RGBrown! 😘

[RGbrown]

@Titian06 

Yay, I hope it helps! Hopefully it's as simple as just doing your top coat a little quicker and doesn't get too fussy for you 😊

[Saradestin]

So beautiful @Titian06! I love the depth and the shift. Pretty mani 💜💜

[Titian06]

Thanks, @Saradestin !  I think these colors look better on than in the bottles. 💜🙂💜

[CookieGirl1]

Love the vampy theme, @Titian06.

[Titian06]

Thanks, @CookieGirl1 !  I hadn't even given that a thought! 💜💜💜

[heartsmyface]

I don’t normally play in this thread but I cut through my natural nail with an Uber sharp knife and just barely survived without blood so I ran into the salon to get it both disinfected and covered while the cut part grows out . It’s pretty high up so it’ll be a while.  Not a bad thing cause I’m loving the new length and how scritchy head massagey my nails are now!!!!  Plus, look at the cute hearts and dots she drew on there to cover the wounded dark spot!!!  😍. And this is how  my acrylic nail addiction renewed….

 

[Shosh85]

@heartsmyface  Oh, ouch! Glad your finger is ok! Nobody would ever guess with this gorgeous mani! Love it! ❤️

[CynthieLu]

Yikes! Knife stories are so eeeek 😬 thank goodness nothing serious happened @heartsmyface but wow, look what got to happen because of it. Those are fab and so cute 😻 love them!

[RGbrown]

@heartsmyface 

Ahhhhhhh, this is fun and fabulous! Love the design, the touch of sparkle, everything!

And yikes on the cut; I'm so glad it wasn't worse! It reminds me of something I did many years ago (probably 20 years now, geez), I fumbled a razor in the shower and in trying to catch it, I somehow shaved off a perfectly round hole right smack in the middle of my pinky nail. I didn't break the skin underneath, so thankfully no blood, but when it grew out, I had the perfect place to hang a charm if that had been my aesthetic 😂 I also learned to stop trying to catch the razor, and just get out of the way 🤣

[heartsmyface]

@RGbrown  Oh gosh, there are much easier ways to be little fashionistas!! 😅. a nail ring sounds so pretty!!!  If only…. Omg, I have thick nails now!!! The world is my oyster!   ha, little hoop stars… what did you use?  Did it get caught on things?  

oh yeah!!!  Knives forks razors… I hop out of the way and don’t even try.  The world is constantly trying to maim me without me giving it help!  😅 

[RGbrown]

@heartsmyface 

Ha, I didn't leave anything in it, but I'm pretty sure I stuck a stud earring through it at one point just to see how it would look 😂 I wasn't into doing my nails back then, so I just thought it was a silly novelty at the time, not a fashion statement I could work with lol.

And ooohhh, yes, with acrylics, you can play with all the charms you want!! 😍

[heartsmyface]

@RGbrown  I think it could be really cute if they were decorated with tiny jump rings.  Itty bitty Huggies for nails. 

[RGbrown]

@heartsmyface 

That would be adorable! 

[Kim888]

Well I’m sorry you injured yourself but there are absolutely adorable and perfect for the holiday @heartsmyface !!! 

[heartsmyface]

@Tamara76  Aw thanks!   They look so glam to me cause they’re new but I bet subtle to anyone else:). It is perfect timing for heart trinkets and accessories!!  

[Saradestin]

Oh no! It hurt even to read about your cut @heartsmyface ! I am glad it didn’t go deeper! Your nails look gorgeous and those hearts are adorable 😍

[heartsmyface]

@Saradestin  Thanks.  I got sooo lucky!   I’m not the best at keeping my hands in tact but this time I feel I only benefited from the situation:) 

[Titian06]

@heartsmyface - I'm sorry about your cut nail. 🤕  I love your French mani! 🥰  It's so pretty!