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

[Mellmars1185]

@makeitup305 Beautiful copper shade. I have q similar shade by OPI

[QueenMarceline]

@makeitup305 very beautiful shade, so unique too 🙂

[RGbrown]

@makeitup305 

I see a hint of plummy bronze in the first pic that really draws me in. Looks like a unique shade! ❣️

[makeitup305]

@RGbrown it's purple with pink sparkle in some lights and then kind of like a dirty gold with some copper reflects, super interesting. 

[QueenMarceline]

Please forgive my teeny tiny stubs, I usually don't post on this thread but in 2022 I really want to get back on a routine for strengthening my nails. I had an issue after wearing false nails for many many years and it wreaked havoc on my natural nails. I never had much length but I'm mostly focused on getting nourishment and strength back as well as tackling brittle nail beds. 

Yesterday was a rarity as I actually went to the spa and got myself a nice keratin manicure along with my other services. When choosing the color I was surprised that my nail salon completely switched out their brands and no longer carry much OPI or China Glaze but now have switched over to mostly a brand called Emma Beauty that I'm not familiar with and had a lot of trouble finding much information about online. For my color, I chose to go "bold" for my standards at least. I usually stick to boring nudes/pinks with shine finishes with a boring/basic sparkle topper if I'm feeling extra saucy. 😂Even my main manicurist (who was excited to see me back) was surprised about my color choices, as well as my esthetician who happens to walk by while they were getting painted on.

The colors I chose were Emma Beauty 142 topped with a purple/pink fine sparkle topper with a nice shift-Emma Beauty 143, unfortunately I forgot the "names" of the colors and as mentioned I can't really find much about this brand online so I'm sure that this will be a "one time only" type of color for me or only when I get my nails professionally done. Still bummed about them getting rid of OPI though...

I just want to take this time to say I fully appreciate the constant and frequent posters in this thread because it is so hard for me to grab a good picture that encompasses a color for my nails, especially with my shaky hands, limited good lighting and my tiny "canvases". I really have the upmost respect for you all.  Also want to give a special big thanks to @RGbrown who has given me lots of tips/advice on my nail health journey. 

Non-Flash:

 

With Flash:

 

The true color profile in real life definitely aligned much more with the “non flash” photos I took opposed to the photo with flash. 

 

[itsfi]

@QueenMarceline, from one teeny-tiny-stubber to another, welcome! 💅 It's been ages since my nails have gone past any length than would fall outside of the "stub" camp, but like many things, work in progress. This is the first I've heard of Emma Beauty but your pretty purple-pink shimmer pairing is making for a great introduction to the brand. What a fun mani! 😍

[QueenMarceline]

@itsfi My nail painting skills are awful, but hey maybe I'll take some time to finally dip into my collection. I have quite a few polishes on hand, I usually grab my own when I get them professionally painted but since I haven't been there for such a long time (my usual salon) I was excited to see what new releases of their former carried brands (OPI, China Glaze, some Morgan Taylor) that they would have. Was really shocking to see most of those polishes phased out and "Emma Beauty" everywhere. They did have a really big selection so I can't really be mad at it. I'm just confused at the choice to be quite honest.

[Titian06]

@QueenMarceline - I love the color and topper! 🥰  I have super short nails intentionally.  Long nails drive me nuts!  I used to polish with either very dark or very bright colors. 😁  Enjoy yourself!

[QueenMarceline]

@Titian06 Sometimes I miss my claw-like long fake nails, but in all reality my little stubs are much less maintenance and much less expensive and just more practical in general. I used to have so much trouble putting on falsies with my extremely long fake nails. I seriously would nearly poke myself in the eye every time.

[CookieGirl1]

Pretty color, @QueenMarceline, and what a great way to treat yourself a bit 🙂

[QueenMarceline]

@CookieGirl1 Thanks so much, definitely stepping out of my comfort zone a bit.

[makeitup305]

@QueenMarcelinegreat color! I'm also a member of the tiny stubs club every once in a while. Your nails look super cute!

[QueenMarceline]

@makeitup305 Thanks so much 🙂 I'm really liking the sparkle on the bold purple more than I thought I would.

[RGbrown]

@QueenMarceline 

Ah yay, purple is a great choice for dipping your toes into color 💜 Your mani is gorgeous, and your nails look great (seriously, no need to apologize for stubs...all lengths are always welcome here! 😘)

Ugh, pictures, the bane of my polish habit 😂 I take a few in direct sun when I can, and a few in bright shade/indirect light, then compare 'em all for the best overall shot...sometimes sun washes out a color or two but they pop better in shade, or sometimes sun is the pic that really shines the best. All of my indoor lighting is fluorescent and really alters the colors, so I try and avoid taking any pics inside, but then again, the camera on my phone isn't the greatest to begin with, so I'm mostly just trying to go from "wow, that looks nothing like what's on my nails" to "eh, I guess it's not so bad, close enough" with my pics anyways 🙃

I can't wait to see how well your nails do over the next few months...I'm excited to watch your growth! (Is that weird, sorry, I don't mean to be all creepy 🤣)

[QueenMarceline]

@RGbrown I love purples but I usually opt for a more subdued pastel or nude-effect mauve-y type of purple. So this bright purple, sparkle, "halloween witch" type of color is very out of character for me. But hey, I kind of love it! Haha!

It is far too cold for me to go outside (at least without gloves) right now so unfortunately I was limited to my indoor lighting. But as stated previously, seriously respect those frequent posters such as yourself that provide us with those amazing and clear swatch photos. You guys rock! It took me forever to get these very mediocre pictures, lol so I definitely feel the sentiment of "eh it's not so bad, close enough". 😂

And no need to apologize, not creepy at all. I'm looking forward to the journey as well. I never had length so I'm not expecting a miracle in that department but hoping for a thicker, stronger nail bed is the first step and hey, maybe eventually the added length will come in as well 🙂

[Mellmars1185]

@QueenMarceline Beautiful manicure! I really like that shade of purple! All the best to you on strengthening your nails! 

[QueenMarceline]

@Mellmars1185 Thank you so much. I'm hoping for some stubs that are a little less brittle. 😂

[RGbrown]

Moving back to fall territory before it actually warms up and I ignore these types of shades for months again 😋

Right hand, from pinky to thumb:

Enchanted Polish Pumpkin Town

Milk chocolate with a dash of orange is what I get from this shade, with a lovely holo rainbow. Easy two coater, even with a dreaded skinny brush.

Black Dahlia Lacquer Mystery 4

A stunning fiery copper orange shimmer. It's got a hint of a shift, I see some gold and even green when I move just so in the light. Three coater for full opacity, not fussy, just sheer.

Zoya Jackie

Brown in some lights, more red in others, this should be a shade I dislike, but I'm actually digging it. Not sure I'd appreciate it alone as a one color mani, but it works well with the rest of these shades. Easy two coater with the wide brush.

Zoya Cory

A brown leaning orange cream that also had the potential to be "not for me", but I'm glad I got it. Lovely addition to a fall palette. Easy, two coats.

Zoya Honey

Gorgeous yellow, slightly mustardy, and the whole reason I ordered Cory and Jackie as companions lol. A touch more finicky, this one took me three coats, even with the wide brush, but I expect no less with yellows when it comes right down to it. It self leveled pretty nicely and didn't wind up streaky or blobby looking, so all in all, it was fairly easy to work with, and I've used much worse.

Indirect light

Bright sun shows some of the fire in that BDL polish 🔥 and pulls out some of the red in Jackie

Left hand

Zoya Ziv (thumb and pinky)

Dense gold shimmer that has some slightly more yellow gold flakies, giving it an interesting two tone effect I wasn't expecting. It's subtle, no one other than you will probably ever notice it, but it's pretty nice for a gold, if that's up your alley. Easy two coater.

China Glaze Unpredictable (index)

Multichrome that sits at sage green with a champagne/gold overtone, but shifts to a really gorgeous aqua. Very brushstrokey finish, especially with the old skinny brush in my bottle. Three coater for full opacity, and it does a great job at highlighting all the imperfections in my nail, telling me my patch isn't quite as smooth as I thought it was 😅

Morgan Taylor Oh So Shifty (middle)

Nearly an exact dupe of Unpredictable color wise, perhaps even perfectly so. MT is slightly less brushstrokey, and the brush is wayyy better, so it's my favorite of the two (no surprise lol). Also a three coater. 

China Glaze Trash Can-Do Attitude (ring)

Soft mint/lime green with strong gold shimmer. Three coater for full opacity, easy though. GelieCure doesn't seem to like it though, as it's starting to bubble underneath 🤨

 

[itsfi]

@RGbrown, we need to get you on a commission plan with these nail polish brands. (I'm not joking!) There are color families that I tend to shy away from for a host of reasons (like yellows, oranges, browns), but I seem to always find a polish I loooove even among the more challenging color families when I see your skittle nails! There are a couple of browns and oranges that catch my eye here. 😍 The green and gold set, I'd take them all. 🛍 

[RGbrown]

@itsfi 

Branching out is always a gamble, but I've found that more often than not, it pays off! I don't always love and adore every not-quite-my-taste polish I try, but it's rare for me to outright hate them. It's always worth a shot to try something new! 

[itsfi]

Very true @RGbrown! It's easy to see which colors I gravitate towards and which get a passing nod in the polish library. Purples - healthy collection, reds - too many to count, browns - 2, maybe 3 depending on how we classify that one topper, oranges - 4, etc., etc. Hahaha!