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Week #13 – Happy New Nails! Masking tape adventures…

Seems ridiculous, as masking tape is such a staple in the word of intermediate-level home-manicures, but this is our first foray into masking tape fun.

What do you call this look anyway? It’s not Cubism? Art deco? Geometric? Dunno what it is exactly but it’s lookin fressshhhhhhhhhhhhh

SOME TIPS: See that pink colour and that purple colour? They’re actually the same, but just with the black or white base showing through SO, maybe it would be better to start with all the nails the same colour to avoid unexpected variety and/or use good quality, thick-texture varnishes, not like me at CheapSkate City.

6.8/10

The nails look a lot better in the top photo which used a flash, and they look at lot better in real life, but I feel I can put the masking tape technique to better use, I feel the gold stripes are a bit too thick AND there are a couple of vexing imperfections (that terrible whisker of white on the index finger could easily be edited out, but these photos are all bona fide and honest so you can join me in my quest for excellence).

And DON’T FORGET I have added these new special buttons to make it easy for you all to TWEET, FACEBOOK AND TUMBLR Best City Nails. SHARE THIS SHIT.

Posted by  |  12/01/2012 | Categories: Get Nailed!, Home | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Week #12 – Eyes on the Prize, Violet…

This week the nails involved a repeat of Week #11’s psychedelia, a glitter nail, a pattern a bit like the nets tangerines come in, half-moons, topical glitter use, and EYES.

Many of us are of course familiar with the eyeball manicure popularised by London’s WAH Nails:

Picture: WAH nails

Here, as you can see, the concept works well as the nails are, more or less, quite a round shape so each nail is a WHOLE round, bloodshot eyeball.

Well here at B’ City Nails we don’t have too much time for nails this short, and it didn’t take us long to realise this would look shite on us, like an eyeball on widescreen.

We ended up painting two eyes, and even the make-up around the eyes, too. This was quite a nice look, but may take some time to perfect.

I am buying better brushes and pens soon, also, so stay posted for some product-based posts cos it has got to the stage now where my cheap-o tools are holding me back!

ANYWAY here’s the new nails, eyes n’all.

Both thumb nails broke recently so their inclusion in the photo (although they were painted) would ruin life.

7/10

I feel I have been marking myself too generously recently, and 2012 is the Year of Brutality after all. Not good enough will simply not be good enough, this year! I have decided I can’t fault the design of this manicure, each nail works great with the next one, etc. But the execution is just a bit too wonky for higher marks, and I am not 100% committed to that green glitter half-moon, either.

 

Posted by  |  03/01/2012 | Categories: Get Nailed!, Home | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nail Street Style #3

We met our new fashion-foward friend Jasmine on the Ferry from England to Dublin and instantly fell for her look that expertly treads the line between cute and badass.

You won’t be completely Christmas gobsmacked to find that Jasmine – 18, from London – is a fashion student.

Jasmine’s paw-print nails in classic RuPaul Drag Race colours were clock-able from across the boat! As you can see, they complimented her creature hat, and there’s even some creatures on her ring. We’re particularly keen on the index finger nail.

My friends at a Christmas party last night described Jasmine as a ‘cool lady’. I feel this probably is what has enabled her to carry off Dr Dre headphones without looking like a massive poser.

Posted by  |  23/12/2011 | Categories: Home, Street Style | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Week #11 – Accidently Hippy

The Contrast Nail here has ended up looking like a print for the harem trouser fabric of some sort of yogurt-plaiting, yoga Mum but in a way this works because the rest of the nails are kind of psychedelic, so they represent her acid-dropping, trip-hopping, mind-bending, festival-attending youth, and the contrast is her mellowed-out maturity.

She lives in Totness, Devon.

This set, then, represents age and the sands of time, and the processes we all go through on our winding way to the boneyard.

HERE’S HOW WE ACHIEVED THE LOOK…

Step #1

Begin with the Powder Gradient – this is gold with a bright pink Barry M powder. The powder this time is at the nail tip rather than the bottom, which calls for a slightly different technique and is a bit messier (don’t do this in bed). DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE OUT YOUR CONTRAST NAIL if you want to do one.

Step #2

Using a nail art pen, a striping brush or a liquid eyeliner, draw a ‘splat’ shape in the centre of the nail, then draw a thin stripe around the shape paying attention to emphasise the bumps and curves. Simply repeat outwards with increasingly thick stripes.

Apply a thick top coat (if you have used eyeliner, you may have to do this a bit softly to avoid flaking)

 

8.4/10

Losing marks for it’s slightly awkward hippy-dippyness, but overall a lot of fun and have proven popular over the week. Peace and Love, as always.

 

Posted by  |  24/11/2011 | Categories: Get Nailed!, Home | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nail Fail #2

Been a long while since we’ve drawn attention to a Nail Fail, especially as we are all trying to be positive in these dark, dark times.

But this time we aren’t picking on Miley ‘She’s-Just-Being-Miley’ Cyrus…it’s our own fail. Best City Nail Fail. An own goal, if you will.

Because we thought OBVIOUSLY you can just stick bits of magazines to your nails…

3/10

The only marks here are for effort.

It didn’t look good from a distance, just murky, fleshy colours. Up close, as you can see, was even more of a nightmare and that was before everything began to peel, and water began to seep beneath the paper.

For those who can’t tear their eyes away this is L-R: Kelly Rowland, Britney Spears, Katie Price, Gwen Stefani and Kerry Katona. Selected from an old issue of Closer magazine solely on the basis of their being about the right size (although if it could be done well, a whole set of the Stefani eyes might be nice, after all she is a Nail Queen!)

Posted by  |  19/11/2011 | Categories: Home, Nail Fail | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Week #10 – Powder Gradient, Whisker Tip, Fresh Colours

This ‘week’ we tried various ways to make Rimmel’s ‘I ❤ Lasting Finish’ in 280 Sunshine work.

After a pretty uninspired attempt at a smiley face motif we settled for this jazzy little arrangement. Although it’s not the most exciting design-wise, the colours catch the eye and the whisker-thin tip emphasises the nail’s shape.

8/10

Most refreshing.

 

Posted by  |  19/11/2011 | Categories: Get Nailed!, Home | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Week #9 – Back in Business

SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS.

This week’s are the sickest yet!

This is a great time to say how happy I am to be sharing my progress developing as a nail painter with you. We’re nearly up to 4,000 views on this blog, so subscribe, stay updated and keep ’em coming because my nails are only gonna get better.

Sorry for no details on products or technique, but it would be too long a post with each nail different.

Yes, yes, these are still far from perfect and maybe a little ‘derivative’, but I feel I have put my own spin even on the god-damn leopard.

PRAISE JESUS AND BEHOLD…

10/10

Obviously

 

Posted by  |  24/10/2011 | Categories: Get Nailed!, Home | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Week #8 – Trip to Dalston

So I visited Pak’s Cosmetics in Dalston where you won’t pay more than £1.50 for a nail colour.

The quality is very thin so it is yet another of these 4-coat situations, but sometimes you can’t argue with spending £1 instead of £10. It’s up to you. Lion King, Lion Queen, as they say.

WHAT WE USED:

L-R:

Beauty Forever – 30

Beauty Forever – 49A

Beauty Forever – 130

No 7 ‘Stay Perfect’ in Betty Blue (so blue it’s actually black after one layer)

Standard cheap as chips eBay striping brush.

7.5/10

I didn’t feel as though this contrast nail really worked well with the rest. It was a clash…not enough to be gaudy and satisfying, but enough to slightly irk.

Was very into the custard / skin colour, though. Hope to put to better use in future.

The glittery polish was so gloopy and thick it took an age to dry. About two weeks later there is still no sign of chipping to these nails, so they have been incorporated into the next look.

 

Posted by  |  24/10/2011 | Categories: Get Nailed!, Home | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More X Factor Nails

So judges’ houses (yeah, I should have got this up sooner but life as a bootleg nail diva is busy and hard)

…judges’ houses provided a little more nail intrigue for the show.

First up, 16-year-old Amelia Lily, who is now out of the show, displayed this mixed-colour manicure while she was weeping about the fact that her Dad loves her.

7/10

Why be harsh? The poor girl’s already been kicked off the show. Usually we find red and black combinations a little Dennis the Menace, and rather angry-looking, but maybe a little more anger is what’s needed these days. It goes nicely with her spooky, gothic jewelery and the nails themselves are very elegantly shaped.

Well done Amelia.

5/10

Mischa ‘B’ (Eugh – Jessie J, Katy B…give up, Mischa!) showed us all this baffling look while she was weeping about the fact that Jennifer Hudson came and stood by a swimming pool.

Not being funny but anyone will just look at an index finger nail, twice as long as the rest, and they’ll all be thinking it is for sniffing coke or picking your ears, etc.

Contrast COLOURS are fun, and look pointless. Contrast LENGTHS look as though there is some nefarious practical purpose. Contrast colours look frivolous and fun, and we’ve all just about gotten used to them now. Will be a long time before contrast length (and only on one hand, too) stops looking creeeeeeeeeeepy.

Why do you need that claw, Mischa?

This week, of course, Tulisa has outed Mischa as a cruel bully. Perhaps that single red bead on the offending nail is a symbolic drop of blood, squeezed from a puncture in the lungs of one of her fellow competitors.

If so, that is quite badass, and it is this potentially ferocious little red dot that saves Mischa from a much lower score.

Posted by  |  24/10/2011 | Categories: Celebrity Nails, Home, Nail Talk | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Week #7 – RuPaul-inspired colours

RuPaul is a huge hero of ours, and his wisdom and beauty should be an inspiration to everyone with an open heart and mind.

In light of this, our pretty simple and rushed manicure is a pretty paltry tribute for the Supermodel of the World.

In fact, I copied this look from a girl I saw crossing Kingsland Road in East London. I then realised the hot pink and black and white check is EXACTLY what the Drag Race promo shots are all about!

 

7/10

These were quick and easy to do and were eye-catching. We might need to create some more kind of exquisite RuPaul dream nail in the future, but for a QUICK FIX, these were pretty cool.

 

Posted by  |  18/10/2011 | Categories: Get Nailed!, Home | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments