polka dot mani.

i can't stay away from polka dots! they are ADORABLE on nails. if you're a pinterest addict like i am, then you might have seen some nails similar to these. when i saw them i thought "UM, hello. HAVE TO DO THIS!" however, the color combination just wasn't for me. it was blue, with different shades of brown, cream and white.for some reason all i could think of was  baby nursery colors, ha.  i wanted to re create it with an aqua color, purples, and different shades of darker blues. this is SO easy, it really doesn't require a "tutorial" you just need know a few things to get this look:


-USE a white! after i did all the dots i finished with a few white ones. i felt like this made the colors all come together and pop.
-make sure the dots at the top of the nail towards the cuticle very close together and layered.
-USE a top coat! the top coat smooths the dots and makes it look more neat.


all you will need:

-your base color
-choice of colors for polka dots
- a white nail polish
- a top coat
-a dotting tool (i use a bobby pin)

first, paint your nails whichever base color you choose.

the next few steps is just adding your dots very close together. i found it easier to take the first color and put it on every single nail then the same thing with all the others. don't put all the colors on one nail at a time, it will take too long!

 dark blue

 bright blue

lavender

all i did was continue to add more colors (similar but different shades) and then added white polka dots. add about 2-3 small dots towards the bottom.

for the last step don't forget to ADD A TOPCOAT!

the results:

I LOVE IT! there are so many color combination possibilities with this look!

thanks for reading!

-leah

EASY and inexpensive nail art.

before i begin let me say one thing...

STOP WASTING your money on $8 nail art pens and $6 nail strippers!
you almost never get the desired effect with nail strippers and nail art pens are not only over priced, but the nail polish in them are too thick. using them just seems like a constant disappointment.


under $2 a pen i created these designs:

there are so many designs you can do with these pens!



so what are they and where do i get them?

elmer's paint pens! i get mine at walmart for under $2 each. you can also get them in a pack of 5 for $9. (the neon ones come in the pack of 5) i have done zebra, polka dots, letters, stripes, french tips, hearts, cheetah,  and so many other designs because it is SO simple. since these pens are so inexpensive, you can have one in every color :).


thanks for reading!
-leah

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follow me on twitter: my twitter :)


tweet me a picture of your nails if you created any of the looks so i can put them in a blog post!

"tie dye" nails.

the glory of tie dye is that a mistake can lead to an even better result. tie dye doesn't have to be perfect, which makes these nails so simple.

all you will need :

-red nailpolish

-orange nailpolish

-yellow nailpolish

-green nailpolish

-blue nailpolish

-purple (or violet) nailpolish

if you like this effect but not the colors of the rainbow, you can use whatever colors you prefer. 

-a safety pin 

a thumbtack will work too

-nail polish remover

-a brush for cleanup

i'm using a brush that came with gel eyeliner.

-paper towel or napkin

make sure all your nailpolish caps are loose like the picture above. YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK in order to do this. if you try to run the pin through while they are dry, all the colors will clump together and it won't look good.

first start out with red (obviously) and put a dab of it in the left upper corner of your nail. with each color, continue to create a rainbow shape like so: 

do this with every single color- they will run together but that's okay! that's what makes it look neat.

^ this is what it looks like before you run your pin through it. 

next, you will get your pin and start at the red. then, run it from the top to the tip of your nail. 

WIPE OFF your pin each time on the paper towel.

next, just use your brush (or a q-tip) to clean up the nail polish around your nail and cuticle.

applying a top coat is important because it blends all the colors together. like the pin, start at the red and apply the top coat all the way to the tip of your nail. 

results:

i LOVE anything that reminds me of my childhood! especially tie dye because it allows you to be messy :)

thanks for reading!

-leah

make your old mascara like brand new.

My absolute FAVORITE mascara has been discontinued. Of course, like everything I love- never fails! I searched EVERYWHERE! Nope, nothing! So... I took matters into my own hands :)

I've been using this technique since middle school. It's so convenient if you don't want to spend money on a new mascara or your favorite one has been discontinued.

All you need:

-Contact solution (brand doesn't matter, any will work)
-Your old mascara


Some people might think this is unsanitary and that you should replace your mascara often. That could be true, but I've been doing this for around 7 years and it's never caused pink eye, an infection, or a stye. 


All you do is take the cap off your mascara. Put about 5 drops of contact solution in the tube.

After this, shake the mascara and mix it around with the wand until it looks brand new again.

It's that easy!

Before:

It's dry, dull, and doesn't apply well.

After:

It looks like brand new again and applies perfectly! I love this technique especially if you spend a lot of money on mascara and don't feel like dishing out $30 on a new one every few weeks!

I hope this helped! Thanks for reading.
-Leah