How to Remove Glitter Nail Polish

I figured since I posted about the glitter nail polish trend, I should tell you how to remove it.  Here is the cliff notes version.  You soak a piece of a cotton ball, or cotton pad (you can cut them in quarters) in nail polish remover.  Pure acetone works best for the most stubborn glitter, but regular polish remover that contains acetone usually works fine.  I just use the acetone containing remover.  Apply the cotton ball or similar directly to the nail.  Take a piece of aluminum foil that you have previously cut/torn into small pieces. Wrap the foil around the nail and cotton ball so it stays in close contact with the nail.  Leave it a few minutes.  I only leave it 3-5 minutes (I think, I haven't worn glitter in a while).  I've never had to leave it on the full 10 minutes.  I remove the foil.  Next, I press down on the cotton ball and twist side to side.  Then pull the cotton back while pressing down on the nail.  Most or all of the glitter  should be gone.
Here is a youtube video that shows you how to do it.

Newspaper Mani with QR Codes (for Cell Phones)

 

This manicure looks complicated, but it is so easy to do.  It is another newspaper manicure.  First you cut out the QR codes from the newspaper, they are the things you scan with your cell phone to get coupons, etc.  Then you paint your nails.  Mine are painted with Wet N Wild Megalast in Garden Hose, three coats.  It is a limited edition color from the 2011 spring collection.  You must choose a color that is light enough for the newsprint to show up.  Then you dip the nail in rubbing alcohol, press the QR code from the newspaper against it for a few seconds, and top with a top coat.  You must use a top coat, or the newsprint will wear off.  I topped mine with Essie Pure Pearlfection from the Luxeffects collection.  This is limited edition, but in stores now.  Pure Pearlfection is a glitter overlay with very fine shimmer.  Here is the youtube tutorial from My Simple Little Pleasures that gave me the inspiration for this manicure.

Edit:  I've read that Essie Pure Pearlfection, along with the other Luxeffects finishes have been added to Essie's core line.

Silver Gradient Polish

For the Gradient Silver Nails I used 3 nail polishes.  Milani in Ms. Milani, L'Oreal in Silver Star (appears to be discontinued), and Wet n Wild in Kaleidoscope 460D.  First, I added a base coat.  Then I used a make-up sponge to sponge on color.  I painted Ms. Milani directly onto the sponge.  Then I sponged the color onto the nail, about 1/3 of the way down the nail.  I sponged a second coat of this polish starting further up the nail.  Next I used Silver Star and sponged near the tips of the nails.  Then I used Kaleidoscope and painted on a coat starting halfway down the nail.  Finally, I added a second coat to the last 1/4 of the nail.   Sponging on color leaves thin coats and dries quickly.  There is no need to wait between coats of polish.
To reuse the make-up sponge for another manicure, just snip off the dried polish from the sponge with a scissors.

Newspaper Nails

You'll notice as I start posting pictures of nail polish, that my manicures are never perfect.  They probably never will be either.  :)

This manicure is really easy to do, but looks impressive.  The base polish color is Zoya in the color Harley. You can use any color you want as the base color, but it must be light enough for the newsprint to show up. You cut nail sized squares of newspaper.  It doesn't matter what it says, since it prints backwards anyway.  You want to pay attention to where the paragraphs on the newspaper end, because you could end up with blank spaces on your nails.  I filled a shot glass part way with rubbing alcohol.  I dipped my nail into the rubbing alcohol.  Then I pressed the newspaper clipping against the nail for 30-40 seconds and pealed it away.  I topped my manicure with a matte top coat (Hard Candy's Matte-ly in Love from Walmart).  I wouldn't use a matte top coat with this particular polish color again, but it might be nice with a newspaper mani on a white or cream nail polish.  A normal top coat works just fine, but you must use a top coat to prevent the newsprint from wearing off. Here are a couple of newspaper mani tutorials that I have bookmarked:
Ask me What's-News on Nails
Youtube video from Cutepolish

Easy gradient color nail polish technique

This was my first attempt at this nail polish technique, but not my last. I thought it was super easy and kind of fun to do. The best part is that you don't need a steady hand. I think this is great since I don't have a steady hand. There are other techniques and videos on youtube. Do a youtube search for gradient nails or a search for faded nails to find more videos. Here is one youtube video example. The last half of the youtube video is a close up of the thumb, so you just need to watch the first half. The link in the video shows something closer to a french manicure with a colored sparkly tip.
Here is what I did. I started with the polish second from the left. I painted the polish directly on the make-up sponge. I started adding polish about 1/8 inch up from the cuticle. I sponge painted the polish on to the nail about 1/4 inch wide. This polish color actually took 2 coats.
Then I got the next darkest color. The polish in the picture is in the wrong order. The next darkest polish would be second from the right. Woops. Anyway, I painted this color on to a different part of the make-up sponge. I sponge painted the nail starting maybe 1/4 inch from the cuticle, again 1/4 inch wide. I continued doing this with the remaining two darker colors, starting further up the nail with each color.
To finish I added 2 coats of the lightest color. This color was an almost sheer nude. I don't think it came out bad for a first attempt.
I think the super cheap nail polished would work great for this look, since they are just sponged on to the nail. I'll probably add a video to this post at a later date. Be sure to look at the video in the link, as that finished look is a lot different.