Posts archived in Beautiful Nails

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May 21, 2012

Manicure Overload!

This season, overdone manicures are the fashion must have!  But, can you overdo your manicure?  Check out these manicures and let us tell you what we think!

 

Creative or just too much?

Nail art. Nail art. Nail art.

Trimming your nails to look like Batman’s ears?  This may be creative but we think it is a little bit too much!

Nail nail-art kiwi

Too much or too cute?  We think this fruity look is adorable and super fun for the summertime.

 

glitter nail art

 

Too much or too cute? We think it is WAY TOO MUCH. Although these are very creative works or art, less is always more.

nail art

These are only acceptable if you are Lady Gaga! Otherwise, these nails are a too much for anyone to be sporting around!  These are a nail don’t!

Nail art nail-polishes

These are a nail DO!  We believe pink is always the best color for your nails, but when its in three different shades, its even better!

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Glitter on your nails in the correct way is a manicure DO! Painting your nails pure glitter is one way to keep your inner diva alive!

 

Here are a few more manicure DO’s that we think you will LOVE!

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nail art nail art nail art

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nails nails nails nails

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Beauty Trends – Which Trends Have Stayed In Style and Which Ones Haven’t ?

Super thin eyebrows?

DATED
marlene_dietrich_gallery_34.jpg image by mikisuSuper thin eyebrows are a beauty DON’T.  Keep your brows full and luscious.

 

The Smokey-eye?

CLASSIC

Smokey eyes are always in style! However, make sure not to go overboard and look like Taylor Momsen. When in doubt, go with the smokey eye!

 

Too Much Spray Tan?

DATED

When deciding whether or not to go with a spray tan or stay with your classic ivory colored skin, stay natural.  Natural skin color is always better than looking like a pumpkin.

 

Red Lipstick?

CLASSIC

One can NEVER go wrong wearing red lipstick!  It will always be a classic.

 

Visible Lip Liner?

DATED

Visible lip liner is as dated as it comes.  It may have been attractive back when Pam Anderson was in Baywatch, but those times have long passed.  Noticeable lip liner is a big beauty DON”T.

 

Cat Eye?

CLASSIC

Just like the Smokey-Eye, the Cat Eye will never pounce out of style.

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May 17, 2012

Back to Bardot

Today’s beauty is a collaboration of all decades. And the 60s are NO exception! Briggite Bardot’s infamous Cat eye look is a hot trend swirling around Hollywood. But that doesn’t mean you can’t complete this look at home! All you need is some black eyeliner and you are good to go! Check out this easy way to apply at home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff6O-nlPv_c

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Corals, Corals, Corals

Coral is the color of choice, not only for apparel, but for cosmetics!  This fun color has been seen in different shades and is the new color for Summer 2012!

 

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January 27, 2012

Ombré

If you checked out celebrity hair trends over the past year, you would know that ombré was one of the most popular trends. Everyone from Jessica Biel to Drew Barrymore to Ashlee Simpson was sporting the trend. Even my own college roommate dyed her hair to make her tresses go from brown to blonde. It’s such a beautiful, carefree style and became a popular trend quickly. Although many stars have gone back to classic colors, the ombré is still alive and kicking.

The most popular ombré trend today is with nail polish. If you check out pinterest, ombré nails are everywhere and there are so many different variations. We’ve compiled a few of the different ombré nail looks here along with instructions for you to try yourself.

 

This week, I shared a picture of my own pink ombré nails. It’s one of my absolute favorite nail designs because it’s simple and classy, but it still catches my eye every time I look at my nails. This is another trend that Lauren Conrad originated and I duplicated. It’s one of the easiest nail trends to recreate. All you need is five different colors of nail polish in the same hue. The key is getting different shades of the color so that your nails go from dark to light and look as though they belong together. For some reason, I have an obscene amount of pink nail polishes, so using pink was the easiest way for me to do this. LC has used browns and blues, however, showing that the trend is very versatile. If you can’t find five different colors that you think look perfect together, they’ve made the trend even easier to create: the nail polish line The New Black actually sells a set of nail polish in graduating shades!

 

One variation of ombré that I’m desperate to try is the full nail ombré. Pictured above, this trend has different shades of one color graduating on the nail itself. Again, this is actually an easy design to create! You need about three different shades of one color, a sponge makeup brush, and a clear coat or sparkle polish for the top layer. First get one color onto the sponge (I would probably start with the lightest color). Blot the sponge at the base of your nail, going about one-third of the way up. Next, add the middle shade to the sponge and blot this color in the middle-third of your nail, gently blending it with the lighter color until it seems graduated. Add the darkest shade to the top of your nail by blotting it with the sponge and again, blend it into the middle shade for graduation. When you are satisfied with the blending of the shades, paint a clear coat over the top, or, for extra pizazz, use a sparkle polish.

 

Another variation of ombré is one using glitter. Although I haven’t tried this method, again, it seems relatively simple. All you need is one color of nailpolish, some glitter, and a clear top coat. The first step is to paint one layer of nail polish on each nail. The next step is where it gets a little more difficult. Paint a second layer of polish on one nail. While the nail is still wet, grab a pinch of glitter in your opposite hand. Sprinkle the glitter from the base of your nail upwards, getting the heaviest concentration at the base and allowing the graduation to trickle down up your nail. Wait a minute or two and paint the clear coat. This will further blend the glitter up your nail, so the timing is important. If you do it too soon, the graduation will be ruined. Continue these steps on the rest of your nails, and your look is complete!

 

This look is similar to the one above, but instead of starting at the base of the nail, you start at the tip. There are a few ways to do this. One would be to use glitter, following the directions above but starting at the tip of the nail and gradually sprinkling the glitter towards the base. Another method is similar to the second type of ombré, using a sponge to create graduation. Use the sponge to really concentrate the color at the tip of the nail and gently blot down the nail. This look is great with glitter nail polish, like above, or a regular color, like below. As always, don’t forget to put a top coat to keep your ombré looking sharp.

 

On a rainy day like today, having different nail trends is a great way to pass the day indoors!


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January 4, 2012

Beauty Influence Awards

The beginning of 2012 marks the end of a fabulous era for beauty. From nail art to dip-dyes, the resurgence of lipstick to bold brows, 2011 changed the beauty world, bringing back some forgotten fads while also bringing others to life. While some crazes will stay strong in 2012, others may fade or make you ask “What was I thinking?!”. As for now, we have only the fondest memories of the trends and the year we’re leaving behind.

Many people are currently blogging about what happened in 2011 in terms of fashion, beauty, and the boring stuff like politics or world events. We, however, don’t want to talk about what happened but rather who influenced us. There are certain people out there, celebrities, bloggers, stylists, etc. who have the power to change the way we see things. Who says hair should be blonde, brown, or red? Who says nails have to be a solid color? Who says braids are for little girls? These people make us question whether or not the way things are is the way they should be. Here is our list of the top beauty-influencers of 2011.

 

Although LC's dip-dye didn't last long, it was certainly one of the most talked about beauty trends of 2011

Lauren Conrad

After launching her beauty website, this California girl became one of the biggest influences in the beauty industry. There isn’t a trend that Lauren didn’t try. From her short-lived teal and pink dip-dye to her fabulous manicures and signature braids, LC showed women how to change it up. Her website is one of my personal beauty go-to’s, with new trends and instructions on how to do the look yourself. On TheBeautyDepartment.com, I learned how to create a half-moon manicure, any type of braid I ever wanted to learn how to make, what shade of red lipstick is right for me, and everything in between. On her personal website, LaurenConrad.com, she also gives great beauty advice, including an article on office supplies that double as beauty supplies (thanks for that!). All in all, LC is the top person to watch for beauty trends and our Most Influential Beauty Guide.

 

 

Who else could pull off pink hair and Oscar de la Renta?

Nicki Minaj

This girl from Queens knows exactly who she is in terms of her goals, music, and her style. While she’s known for crazy colorful hair and garments, Nicki is also someone who’s influenced the beauty world. Nicki is almost as famous for her many wigs (which this year included dip-dyes, hot pink, green, checkered, blonde, and blue hair) as she is her music. Aside from her wigs, Nicki has also gained fame for her makeup and nail art. She’s dabbled with double eyeliner (a hot trend), bold colorful eyeshadows, and never goes out without her signature pink lips. On top of her own beauty image, she also collaborated with OPI to create her own collection, which is amazing. The world is being taken over by Nicki, making her our Person to Watch for 2012.



This modern-day princess is a gem. No wonder William fell for her.

Kate Middleton

The Duchess of Cambridge has had quite the year. After getting married in April, Kate has remained in the spotlight and her appearance always seems to garner attention (but I guess that’s what happens when you marry a prince). Her classic style and simplicity are a refreshing break from our “more is better” culture. Kate is responsible for bringing back the half-up hairstyle, one that I personally find beautiful. Her clean face and minimal makeup is also a great influence. In our minds, Kate Middleton wins the Most Radiant Beauty award.



Katy really committed and changed her look by dying her hair pink this year.

Katy Perry

Although Katy’s marriage may be ruining the beginning of her 2012, she had an amazing 2011. Somehow while making a multi-platinum album and going on a world tour, Katy managed to be completely unique in her fashions and kept us on our toes. Her nail art is something that will go down in history: sushi nails, Prince William nails (Kate better watch her man), rhinestones, you name it and Katy did it. Not only were her nails fabulous, but her hair changed as well. Known for her jet black locks, the singer went pink in August and then chopped her hair and went to her natural blonde with lavender highlights in December. Katy is someone who makes us question why we never had food on our nails or dyed our hair crazy colors. We predict that this is only the beginning of her beauty evolution, naming her the Ever-Changing Beauty Guru.

 

While these are our favorite people to look to for beauty trends, there are obviously many others who are just as influencing (hello, Lady Gaga). We look forward to seeing how these women grow and what new crazes they cause in 2012.