Black and White and Striping Tape All Over??

Hi muffins, yes I'm still alive...allow me to explain...I was off for a week from doing my nails! Now this wasn't by choice, trust me, I was dying!  (Not literally dying, but dying cause I wasn't able to play polish, you know what I mean).  I used a new nail polish remover and I had a really bad reaction to it.  The skin around my nails got really red and basically peeled off.  It was a hot ass painful mess!  So I didn't have a choice, I had to lay low for a while and heal these babies of mine.  I certainly learned my lesson!  Zoya Remove...you are my one and only, I will gladly pay $10 for you and never complain again about your overpriced ass.

But I'm back bitches and I'm ready to slap some mama's to make up for lost time!  Let's get crackin!

Ok, so I was really missing pretty much all of my nail art tools during my hiatus so I had to do something fun for my return.  I went for my striping tape and then discovered another dilemna...what color do I use??  I haven't bought polish in a while (gasp) and I'm really feeling kind of blah about my massive collection.  Wah wah wah, get over it woman!

Bottom line is I decided on black and white because I couldn't make up my sweet little mind....ladies and gentlemen, please feast your eyes on exhibit A...

I am quite happy with how this little peach turned out...I'm ready to slap somebody's daddy over this little number, I don't discriminate. I started off with no idea what I was doing.  I painted my whole hand white, (Julie G. White Orchid to be exact) slapped some Seche Vite on and thought to myself...now what?

A little striping tape and a medium sized dotter later, this is what I came up with. Oh and the black polish I used was Layla Ceramic Effect Pure Black. 

 For those of you not sure how to work the whole striping tape thing, I have a tutorial on my YouTube page (YoungWildandPolished) and I also have a few other blog posts that go into detail.  Basically you paint on your base color, add a quick dry topcoat, (I highly, HIGHLY suggest Seche Vite), wait about 10 minutes, add striping tape wherever you want, slap on a second color, immediately remove the striping tape and Voila!!

Once you're all finished up, all you have to do is topcoat and backhand the person closest to you....

(Please overlook the dry spots around a few of my fingers.  It's not dry cuticles, it's still from the dreaded polish remover that didn't know how to play nice.)

I've missed you all, and I'm so happy to be back.  I have lots of fun nail art posts coming up and a few makeup related ones also.  It's a whole new world for me to jump into the world of makeup and swatching blush and lipstick, but I think it will be fun.  If you guys decide you're not interested in the makeup stuff and want me to stick to nail art, that's fine also.  I'm here to please, my wish is your command, basically what I'm trying to say is...I'm your bitch, whatever you want, you shall get!

I hope you guys enjoyed this!  I feel like I've been away forever! 

Happy Polishing Loves!!

Everything But the Kitchen Sink....times 2

Ok, before we do anything, I have to get this off my chest.  People suck!  I had 2 really bad encounters today with assholes.  One at work over the phone, which I won't get into too much because I try to keep work off of this blog.  But a patient was super rude from the second I answered the phone.  Then I am at CVS wrestling through the crowd, soaked in sweat as if I just ran a marathon.  (Ok, it wasn't quite that bad but let's pretend).  There's a guy in the aisle and he needs to get by me.  Instead of saying excuse me, he literally knocks me over to get by me, looking me in the eye as he does it.  Now this could have resulted in this man in a headlock with me yelling obscenities at him but I let it slide. Isn't it the Christmas season?  Aren't people supposed to respect and treat people with some level of kindness?  This world is a sad sad place.  I cannot be held responsible if I flip the script and go HAM on these bitches.  (First time using the phrase HAM aka hard as a mother flucker, I feel so Bad Girls Club tough right now!!)

Ok enough incessant babbling, on to the nails.... The mani I am sharing today is super fun and I am very very proud of it.  I must say I have gotten quite good with striping tape and I love it to the ends of the earth.  Have a lookie loo and then we'll talk shop. ( I'm not posting from my phone so this will actually be a big girl post with pictures in the middle)

 

 

 

 

I even managed to do my left hand!!

 

 

 

Pretty bad ass huh?  I am really a fan of the black and white accent nails with the checkerboard pattern! 

 

I used Layla Ceramic Effect Pure Black and OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls for the stripey nails.  These 2 babies have become my go to's for all things black and white. 

 

 I used Sation Tardy Tart for the ring finger accent and part of the checkerboard pattern.  I am such a huge fan of Sation brand polish!! Every single one I own I just adore.  Formula is amazing as are the colors!  I know I've used this one many times before but I just can't stop!

 

 The greenish color I used in the checkerboard is China Glaze Def Defying from their new Cirque line.  It's a very fun neon cream with a really good formula! 

 

 The glitter on my ring finger (and my shy thumb) is Lush Lacquer Salt and Peppa, the worlds best black and white glitter.  It is full of different shapes of, you guessed it, black and white glitter.  What seperates it from all the other black and white glitters of the world is the shimmer. Just enough to be noticeable but not too much to be annoying.  Everyone should own this!  It is so versatile and fun!

 

I put a layer of INM Northern Lights over the entire mani.  I have a slight problem with this glitter topper lately.  I CAN'T STOP USING IT!!!  I think I may need someone to take me to a Glitter Anonymous meeting.  I know there are a bunch of you out there that I should pick up along the way!

 

 

I also did a similar mani a few weeks ago and without realizing it, I made it appropriate for the holiday season. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just looking at this picture makes me want to slap my mom into next week!!

 

 I love this mani so much!  I know I shouldn't toot my own horn, but I can't help it.  *10 piece band enters room* 

 

My index and pinky fingers are exactly the same as the above mani.

 

Middle finger is done with the splatter method.  I painted the nail white and then splattered OPI What's with the Cattitude, China Glaze Def Defying and Layla Ceramic Effect Pure Black onto the nail using a little coffee stirrer straw.  It's super simple!  All you do is dip the straw about a half inch right into the polish bottle and blow onto nail.  You have to blow hard and fast (dirty minded pervs keep your brain on polish)  or you will just get a big blob of polish on the nail.  I always tape around my cuticle before doing this because it does get messy!

 

Ring Finger is Essie She's Pampered with a coat of Lush Lacquer Salt and Peppa.  This mani is basically the exact same as the above one with a few tweaks here and there.

 

Northern Lights again topped it off all along with a nice thick coat of Seche Vite. 

 

I really am loving this "everything but the kitchen sink" mani that I've been doing lately.  What do you guys think?  Is it a momma smacker or do I need smacked for being obsessed with this mani style?

 

Happy Polishing Love Bugs!!





A Spam-ful Tuesday! Picture Heavy Post!

Hello buttercups, how are my little nail whores today? I'm off work and couldn't be happier!  Had a dr's appointment so I decided to take the entire day.  And what a snowy crappy day it is!  I envy all of you in warm climates, I am so freaking jealous!!

On the weekends, I usually set Saturday aside as my swatching day.  For those of you not aware of this term, swatching is when us nail bloggers/crazies put a polish on, take a few pictures and take it right off.  And it only involves painting the nails included in the photo, my poor thumb is oh so neglected!

So I did a ton of swatching this weekend due to the craziness of my mother.  Allow me to explain....I went to Ulta on Saturday and found the Layla Ceramic Effect and Softouch Effect polishes.  (I will go into detail about what the difference is in a minute).  Once I tried these beauties, I was sold and wanted to grab a few more.  Enter my mother (wearing a neck brace no less due to a polish related smacking).  I asked her to grab me 2, yes just 2 Layla's that I had liked....this is what came through the door 2 hours later....

 

 

Needless to say, Francine got a good ol' smacking for this!!  I damn near beat her senseless! 

 

Before I begin let me tell you the difference between the 2 finishes:

 

Ceramic Effect is a super smooth effect.  Layla's website says this: "perfectly smooth nails in one motion.  A polish with a professional finish that doesn't require a base coat." 

 

Softouch Effect is a matte finish that doesn't require a base or a top coat.

 

And now I present to you my Layla Swatch Spam!!

 

First up we have my favorite of the bunch, Ceramic Effect in Miami Green:

 

 

 

 

 

 



This polish applied like a dream and I totally am in love with this bright blue color.  I've said before if I am spending more than $10 on a polish, I want to know I am using a good brand. (These retail for between $10 and $15).  You can definitely tell with this brand! Application was great and the colors are to die for!  I am sold!  Above pics are 2 coats, no topcoat.

 

Next up is Miami Green's sister, Aqua Zen:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finish on this little lady is not quite matte, but almost a rubbery finish.  I am not a huge fan of matte polish but I really really like these Softouch polishes!  The finish is like nothing I have ever seen.  Above picture is 2 coats, no base and no topcoat.

 

 

Ceramic Effect in Vamp Red is a creamy deep red color that I fell in love with as soon as I put it on. I can't wait to do a full mani and some nail art with this pretty lady! I do think she would stain your nails though so I recommend a base coat.  The little bit of polish I got on my skin beside my nail was stained immediately! So worth it though in my opinion!

 

 

 

 

Can I change my favorite to this one?? This is a wonderful color for fall and winter.  Formula is amazing as they all were!  2 coats, no topcoat.  

 

 



Feast your eyes on Ipanema Girl, the shocker of the bunch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was very surprised that I liked this one as much as I did.  The formula was great and the shimmer was just momma slappin good (cut to Francine in a wheelchair wearing a neckbrace).  2 coats, no topcoat.

 

 

 

Ceramic Effect Butterfly Effect is a pretty purple color filled with tiny little flakies.  I never got on the flakie bus but this polish I love! Again, I was so sad to have to take this off!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty right?? Even with the flakies in this, the polish went on so smoth!  I must apologize for slapping my beautiful mother, especially over polishes that she bought for me.  What a bitch!  2 coats, no base and no topcoat.



 







 

Finally we have Ceramic Effect in Bally Sky, a mermaid green with a formula that just don't quit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have many many polishes similar to this one, but I must tell you, the formula on this one is tops!! The color is so incredibly gorgeous that you have to smack someone...a friend, a baby, a pet, I don't care who but someone is getting bitch slapped! And the best part...this is 1 coat, yes 1 coat of buttery shimmery heaven!  Can I change my favorite again?  1 coat, no topcoat.

 

 

I will have the rest of my Layla haul very soon!  If you guys are looking for gorgeous saturated polishes with amazing formulas then you really need to invest in these babies!  I am extremely happy with every single one that I have!

 

Happy Polishing Loves!!!