Applying Nail Varnish - The Right Way!

Although its easy to just slap the paint on your nails, it will last longer if you do it using a base coat and top coat. This is protecting the nail from staining and the top coat traps the colour and in theory should be the first layer to chip, rather than the colour.

First thing to do, is always to wipe down your nails using nail varnish remover. If you have acrylics on and decide you want to paint over them, try to use nail varnish that doesn't have acetone in it. This is the stuff you want to use to get them off! Weather or not your already wearing varnish, you should always use it. t takes off the dirt from your nail so you dont paint over any nasty bits, and obviously the brush will end up back in the pot and the nasty bits will just circulate and go back on your nail.
Use a base coat. This helps protect your nail from any staining and smoothes out if youve got chips in your nails. Apply one or two layers of this. (Normally it will be clear, pink or white in colour.)
Apply your nail varnish. The darker the shade the more careful you want to be with the amount of layers you apply. Although your base coat helps prevent staining, is not 100% effective.
Apply a top coat. This is to trap in the colour and make it stick. It will also be the first thing to chip, meaning your colour should last longer on your nail. Two coats of top coat are recommended. This will appear clear on your nail.

How do you all paint your nails? x

There is a reason

Hey guys,
just a quick post to apologize for the lack of posting. Ive been away on holiday for a week with mine and then the boyf's family. Anyway, this week i really need to crack on with some work for my dissertation, but ill try my hardest to keep posting for you all.
Anyway, my bed is calling me.
x

Do bloggers do hauls?

I popped into town today, primarily because i was super desperate for the barry m nail paint in mushroom and so i could pick up some bits before going back to uni. I didnt get too much, but i thought id share for you all to see :)

So just a quick overview. Scarf, nail varnish x3, sleek palette & ring.

  

for those of you that aren't aware, the sleek "circus" palette will stop being sold from today. (its limited edition) so throughout it being sold it was a "get it while you can" kind of thing. Anyway, im more about neutral colours, so added the sunset palette to my collection. I wanted the Circus one, but didnt think i would use it all that much. Im hoping the next one out is a wearable palette, as i wont be spending my money on the acid palette. I somehow also managed to talk my sister into getting the Storm palette. Not too sure how that happened, lol.

 

Double-fingered ring from Primark. Only £2, i've wanted one of these since i saw Lauren Conrad wear one. Ive got chubby fingers though, so getting one off the internet wasn't really an option :(. But i quite like its unusualness. 

  

I was super lucky to find the models own varnish. I was so close to ordering it off their website the other day, but resisted temptation, so when i was in boots today and found that they now sell models own varnish, i knew what one i had to get!

And of course i got Barry M in mushroom, and black. i have pale skin, so although it makes me look stupidly goth-like, its great for detailing, or if i decide to be daring. haha.

And here is what they look like on the nail. I didn't bother to paint a nail black because i didn't really see the point. It really is just a jet black.

Models Own - "Blue Moon"

Barry M - "Mushroom"

And lastly my scarf. One side if a creamy colour and the other the turquoise. Its still very creased so im just going to leave it for the time being so the creases can drop out of it. Super excited to wear this though! Again, bought from Primark for a mere £3!

Hope you have a great week guys & dolls. x

CHI's VS GHD's

(sorry for the not very good pic)

I've had both sets of straighteners for quite a while now, and ive noticed a lot of people (mainly in the US) bang on about their CHI's (its not a very popular brand over here)

Anyway, on the left is my limited edition purple GHD's. They came in a carry case with a hairdryer and some clips and whatnot. On the right is the CHI Turbo's.

The CHI's are a good set of straighteners if you solidly want them for straightening rather than curling or doing any kind of weird and wonderful tricks with your hair. The plates are ceramic, but the outer shell is covered with a red felt-type material (the only plausible reason i can imagine this for, is so you can hold it close to the plate rather than the normal hand bit? so it means you cant really curl your hair with them.  The highest temperature you can reach with them is 180 degrees C/356 degrees F, so although they dont get as hot as the GHD's, you can limit the amount of heat you want your hair to get, by moving the dial up and down (as seen in the picture)

The GHD's on the other hand, are obviously a more well known brand. Dont get me wrong, i love them, not just for straightening my hair, i can curl, flick and pretty much do anything with them, but the one thing i dont like about them is the fact they get SO hot you cant adjust it. It literally takes 1/2 swipes of my hair for it to be straight enough for me to not have to keep going over it, but by doing that (and using heat protectant) i know its still damaging my hair, and i feel my hair deflating as the days go on. Anyway, they are a really nifty pair for doing all different things and highly recommended - if you doing mind scorching your hair.

As much as i hate using all the heat on my hair, i do tend to use my GHDs on a more regular basis than the CHI's, just for the pure ease and more straight look it gives.

But if your not after lots of heat and just want your straighteners to be straighteners, then opt for the CHIs. Theyre still a very good investment!

Whats your favorite brand of straighteners? 

x

just in time for the weather change

I'm so excited to go and get this.

Barry M nail paint in "mushroom" its such a nice colour and so on trend for autumn. 

Hopefully going to pop into town tomorrow to pick up that and some new clothes as summer is well and truly over in the UK :(

(plus it'll be nice to go back to uni with some new clothes! - any excuse hey?!)

Until next time. x

Im just a designer

Im all about DIY!