Mummy Nails

Tutorial 4
Didn't get your halloween costume yet? looking to spice up your look? Feeling spooky? i've got an adorable DIY halloween nail tutorial for you.

Curious to know more?

Follow these easy DIY steps.

1. Choose the colours you would like to work with.
2. Paint nails with desired base coat.
3. Paint nails with two coats of Nude Polish.
4. Paint white horizontal stripes along each nail.
5.      Paint a dot of dark purple polish on top corner of Ring finger.
6. Paint two black dots close to the tip of your nail.
7. Paint two white dots within black dots.                                    
8. Paint two black dots within white dots. Now you've created eyes.
9. Paint a horizontal stripe along each side of the eye.
10. Clean up edges with remover and small brush, then use desired glossy topcoat to finish off your manicure.

Click on the video below to view.

Final Look. Enjoy.

      Illicit Nails is open to any suggestions or comments you may have. Please feel free to provide your feedback and comments in the comment section below.

Glitter Tips & Tricks

We all love Glitter Nail Polish but to some it may be a bit intimidating. I've gathered a few tips for you that have been very helpful to me throughout the years. So relax, don't fuss on the stress of glitter, enjoy the sparkly you.

Check out these tips below:

Tip #1: Can't seem to get enough glitters on your nail?
            Try applying glitter polish to a sponge first then apply to nails. This process can be repeated until                 desired coverage.

Tip #2: Glitter Nail polish Lasts longer on nails rather than non glitter polish.

Tip #3: You can spice up any plain nails with a glitter accent nail.

Tip #4: Experiment with a plain colour and then paint glitter polish on top.

Tip #5: Gold and silver glitter can be glamorous.

Tip #6: Coloured glitter can be fun and funky.

Tip #7: We all know removal can be quite difficult when it comes to glitter polish.
            Try applying polish to cotton ball, wrap it around your nails, then wrap foil over cotton.
            Gently press and slowly wipe off after 2-4 minutes.

Tip #8: Never be afraid of a little Glitter.

BY: Esty.com

Purple Roses

Tutorial 3
Girly Nails are always in style, especially when it comes to trending fashion. Sure The flower pattern trend started a while back but its still in style. This DIY was inspired by my new rose pattern kimono jacket.

Curious to know more?

Follow these easy DIY steps.

1.    Choose the colours you would like to work with.
2.    Paint nails with desired base coat.
3.    Paint nails with two coats of Dark Purple leaving out the Ring finger.
4.    Paint Ring finger with two coats of white polish.
5.    After polish has been dried.
6.         Paint a large dot of dark purple polish on top corner of Ring finger.
7.   Paint a smaller dot of light purple and white polish.                                                  NOTE: It does not have to be in any pattern once its placed within the larger dot of polish. Use a toothpick to swirl colours into each other creating a "rose".
8.  Repeat the same pattern on opposite bottom corner of ring finger.
9.  Use a toothpick or very fine point dotting tool and dark green polish to create leaf like shape at the edge of the rose.
10. Use light green polish to create a thin stroke along the middle of the leaf you have just created.
11. Add on a few more leaves to your rose.
12. Clean up edges with remover and small brush, then use desired glossy topcoat to finish off your manicure.

Click on the video below to view.

           TIP: The opportunities are endless. Try using other colours such as different tones of Reds for a classic rose look or Pinks to create a gorgeous pattern.

      Illicit Nails is open to any suggestions or comments you may have. Please feel free to provide your feedback and comments in the comment section below.

Alternatives

In lead up to my last tutorial Lace Nails. I'll be showing you some easy DIY tools you can use/make to create your patterns.

You will be learning the Alternatives for the following:
Striper tool
Dotting tool

There are two types of stripers you can buy:
1) The nail art brush striper.
2) The one that comes with in with your nail polish.

The dotter tool can come in various sizes.


THE STRIPER

Other than buying striper tools you can use regular items you use daily or it can be made.
For example: a paint brush or regular striper polish.








The nail art brush striper - This can be easily made with a simple paint brush.

• Separate the amount of bristles you may need to measure your desired thickness and simply use a sharp scissors to cut off the excess bristles. and you have a perfectly usable striper tool.
•  You can also make another striper tool by using a old/un-used brush applicator from a nail polish bottle. Use cotton and nail polish remover to properly clean off excess nail polish from the brush. measure the amount you want to keep, separate and cut off the excess bristles.

The one that comes with in with your nail polish. - You can also use my favourite method. Using any and i mean any striper nail polish.

• All you have to do is use cotton and nail polish remover. clean off excess nail polish and dip into any colour nail polish you wish to use.

THE DOTTER 

Other than buying a dotter tool you can take advantage of regular items you use daily.
For example: a pencil, head pin, pen, bobby pin, toothpick.










Pencil - You will need: Any regular wooden pencil.

• Use the pointed graphite end to create dots.
• Simply dip into nail polish and create.

Head pin and Pencil - You will need: Any size headpin and eraser end pencil.

• Stick head pin into eraser to create dotting tool. dip into nail polish and create.
• NOTE: Use different sizes or types of headpins to create different sizes of dotter tool.

Pen - You will need: Ball point pen.

• Use any ball point pen, preferably one that has stopped working.
• Using the pointed end of the pen to create dots. 
• Simply dip into nail polish and create.

Bobby Pin - You will need: hair pin/bobby pin any size.

• Open up Bobby pin and use either of the round end to create dots.

Toothpick - You can also try my favourite method. 
                 You will need: Any regular wooden toothpick.

• Use point of toothpick, simply dip into nail polish and create.
• NOTE: Use sharp scissors to cut toothpick to create different sizes of dotter tool.

Lace Nails

Classic, Lace, Elegant.

Tutorial 2

Do you love lace? Have you worn it in every way possible? 
There is a new way you can wear lace. Lace Nails. No, not putting cloth on that dirt eater. Two words, Nail Art. I've done a similar design before. 

This look was inspired by my previous work. It was designed to match a classic black and white lace dress I wore for graduation.

Curious to know more?

Follow these easy DIY steps.

1.    Choose the colours you would like to work with.
2.    Paint nails with desired base coat.
3.    Paint nails with two coats of Gunmetal Grey.
4.    Using striper tool paint three diagonal lines along the tip of your middle and ring finger with white polish.
5.    Create another set of diagonal lines crossing over the first set to create small squares/boxes.
6.    Using dotter tool and white polish, place dots along line.
7.          Going back to striper tool create semi-circles stripes along the dots you just placed. 
1. NOTE: Leave small space in between.
8.    Dot smaller (dots) along the semi-circle stripe you just created.
9.    Using your base grey, add a small dot in each of your three large dots you created at first.
10.    Clean up edges with remover and small brush, then use desired glossy topcoat to finish off your manicure.

Click on the video below to view.

TIP: Its ok for you to switch it up to a lighter Lace Nail. Try light pink or nude with white or black lace pattern.

Illicit Nails is open to any suggestions or comments you may have. Please feel free to provide your feedback and comments in the comment section below.

Cleaning Up Edges.

Have you ever been tired of painting your nails and getting the side of your fingers all messed up? Do you have shaky hands? Are you always in a hurry? Is polishing your nails just not your thing? You tried using the regular cotton removal method but all it does is, wipe off some on the nail polish and mess up your other hand. Did you trip the cotton swab technique but it isn't precise enough? 
Well i've got a simple method for you and it involves nail polish remover and a paint brush. Yes! I said it. Paint Brush.

In this new blog i'll be sharing the simplest way i've found to get the best results in cleaning off excess nail polish from you fingers.

In just three easy steps you can have clean painted nails.

Step One: You would need two items, acetone or Nail Polish remover and a small flat paint brush.

Step Two: Pour acetone or Nail Polish remover into the cap/cover. Use brush to dip into the acetone or Nail Polish remover.    

Step Three: Use to wipe off excess nail polish. Repeat until your finger is clean.  




Click on the video below to view.

NOTE: The end result displays the difference between all three methods.

Illicit Nails is open to any suggestions or comments you may have. Please feel free to provide your feedback and comments in the comment section below. 

Midnight Glam

Tutorial 1

We all like black but too many of us may be scared or pushed back by the name alone. Black can come off quite bold, some may associate black with death, evil or mystery. Others may prevent themselves from wearing black because it can categorise you as emo, punk or gothic. However there are many ways on can wear black.

Black also means power, elegance and formality. For me, I see black as elegance. Painting your nails black with a touch of gold spices up that plain old look into something glamorous and fierce. Its perfect for date night or a night out at the club with that little black dress.



Follow these easy DIY steps.

1.    Choose the colours you would like to work with.
2.    Paint nails with desired base coat.
3.    Paint little and middle finger with your desired nude shade.
4.    Paint thumb and index finger with two quotes of black polish.
5.    Cut a piece of tape into triangle shape and place on middle finger after nude shade has been dried, paint nail black also. (image nos. 5 & 6)
6.    Slowly remove tape from nail.(image no. 7)
7.          Paint ring finger with two layers of glitter gold nail polish.
8.    Paint small triangle between the negative space of middle finger with the same gold polish.
9.    Use striper brush to paint ¼ moon stripe OR semi circle stripe around cuticle.
10.    Use desired matte polish to paint nude nails and glossy topcoat to finish off your manicure.

Note: Regular tape works.

             Any striper is useful, once its clean.

             Acetone can be quite dangerous, regular nail polish remover works perfectly fine.

"A Girl Without Beautiful Nails Is Like A Night Without Stars." 

                                       - TAMMY TAYLOR

Want to see more in depth steps?