I'll be donating $10 more to the Polished Girlz on Karie's behalf! If this is the first post you've read in the WPP "Blogging for a Cause" Guest Post Series...pop over to the intro post here to see what an amazing organization each of these bloggers are supporting with their participation.
Karie from Fear No Beauty
I’m more of an abstract nail design person, so I did a bunch of research on vintage holiday patterns that I thought would look complex, not too literal and festive with a twist. What I settled on is quite the opposite: I was inspired by a vintage candy canes poster and how the candy canes created a heart shape.
I also love the idea of playing up the half-moon area, so I painted peppermint candy swirls or the hook of a candy cane at the cuticle to give the idea of either a half-moon manicure or a crescent manicure. And, just to give the overall design some edge, I chose a base color of black—it’s a little Goth, but it also allows the candy designs to pop.
My tool kit:
- Detail nail art brush
- Black polish = Morgan Taylor Little Black Dress: This is my current favorite black polish. I absolutely adore the Morgan Taylor line because the polish has a great brush (not too big, not too skinny) and amazing coverage, and it comes in a spectrum of pigment-rich colors. This black is full-coverage and super-shiny and, I swear to you, it can be applied in one coat.
- White polish = Misa Heaven White: This truest-true white is great for layering over dark colors. It has tons of pigment pay-off, so the coverage is superior to most white polishes I’ve come across. Also, it’s a streak-free formula.
- Red polish = OPI The Thrill of Brazil: An oldie but goodie—I love how fiery this red is. It is the perfect hue for candy cane stripes.
- Red Sparkle = Morgan Taylor Rare as Rubies: Again, I love this brand—especially it's glitters. My friend Alesia Lanzo is the brain behind the colors, and she knows glitter, and what us ladies want in a glitter polish: unique hues, plenty of sparkle and, in some cases, awesome coverage. I dotted this glitter on the red swirls of the peppermint candy only—not the candy canes. How can you have holiday nail art without a bit of sparkle? The answer: You can't—well, at least, I can't!
