Thursday, May 31, 2012

China Glaze Innocence - French

It has been a really long time since I last wore a classic French manicure.  I've tried a bunch of different ways to get the perfect smile lines and I'm never fully satisfied with the outcome.  Here it is freehand because I was too lazy to use tape or guides... 



I need more practice but what I find works well freehand, is to start at the corners of the nail and lay the brush flat and just swipe at a downward angle towards the center of the nail and then go to the other side do the same thing and meet in the middle. 

I used Orly's Pointe Blanche french tip white, the brush is thinner than regular nail polish, which makes it a little easier to handle.  I also added Wet N Wild's Snow Globe glitter to the tips which covered up the unevenness of the white. 

The base color is China Glaze's Innocence, a soft pink creme, opaque in two coats.  I need the opaqueness because my nails are badly stained at the tips, from all the teals and greens I was wearing in March.  I topped everything off with some Seche Vite.

Below, is a bad impromptu picture from a week prior.  A different French mani I did, also freehand.  The tips came out better, but I used three coats of Orly's Rose Colored Glasses, which was not opaque enough to cover up my yellow stained nails.  You can see the yellow starting half way down the nail, especially on the ring finger.  The glitter is Nubar's White Polka Dot.  I didn't plan on posting it, so I didn't bother to take better photos...  Sorry for the blue-greenness my florescent lamp is causing.

Three coats of Orly's Rose Colored Glasses, one coat of Nubar's White Polka Dot.

Do you have any favorite polishes that you do your French manicures with?

BTW, you will see more of Nubar White Polka Dot.... I love, love, love this soft pearly white glitter, especially for work. 

10 comments:

  1. Well... That is an awesome freehanded french, Lady! I wish I was half as good! Your lines are even, almost perfect! Congratulations :)
    As I suck at freehanding anything, I need to use guides. And I use to wear funky frenches, with vibrant and contrasting colors. But I'm in the mood for a classic one, thanks to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you CN! I can be a obsessive sometimes.

      Delete
  2. both of them are stunning! lines are very impressive, i can't even do good ones with tape lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mel, I mess up with tape too, the paint likes to seep in underneath.

      Delete
  3. your nails look so good with french! innocence really is the perfect base, your nails look so natural :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's freehand? that's amazing. i really thought you used a guide. :D So pretty. -Loving Sunshine

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your nails are beautiful, girl! Your freehand looks awesome!!

    ReplyDelete