Bright and Sparkly V-Gaps

China Glaze Nude and Icicle, Essie Devil's Advocate, Color Club Technicolor Doll

The v-gap style has become a favorite of mine, mainly because it's easy, and I can hide imperfections easily with a cute little border along the edges. It helps to have a striper brush to do this, but with a steady hand, I think it can be done with the polish brush. Here's what I do: I make a small line in the middle of my nail, from where the tip of the "V" is, to the tip of the nail. I then connect that small line to points halfway up my nail on either side. Fill in the section, and you're done! Don't forget to wrap the tips!

Plum, silver and pink is a winning combination in my book, and this mani is proof why.

Dots + Chevron Tips

Wet 'N Wild Sugar Coat and Candylicious, Kiss striper in Soft Blue

This mani was pretty much directly inspired by this recent Chalkboard Nails post. All I did differently was opt for sharper, chevron tips, and a brighter color scheme. I needed to combat the constant grayness that is Maine winter.

I was surprised at how simple these nails were to complete. I thought it would be a process because the tips have about four coats of polish on them. But I was done within 35 minutes or so.

The dots were once again helpful with the grid pattern (see: Neon-Metallic Fusion Part II). The pattern helped me place the point of the chevron, and keep things even. If you don't want a dot pattern, and just chevron tips, try making a dot grid lightly with your base color, a nude, or even your base coat. Things will smooth out after a thick layer of top coat. :)

P.S. Follow me on Instagram @donithax for sneak peeks and manicures that don't make it to this blog!

It's my first Blogiversary!

Find a full list of polishes used at the end of this post!

That's right! Nails in D Major is a year old today!

I'm so thankful for all the support and encouragement that I've received over the past year. Without that extra push to create a "big girl blog," I likely would not be pushing myself to become a better artist every day.

On to the nails!

I wanted to do something cutesy and special, so I whipped up my favorite: a mix & match mani! Every design was created with a dotting tool. I love love love the little cupcake on my ring finger. I'm quite obsessed with it, so do not be surprised if you see a full cupcake mani soon! Because cupcakes are so simple to create (trust me, they're much easier than you think), there are a ton of tutorials on YouTube, and it shouldn't be hard to find one that works for your type of nail!

I'm not going to lie: the number 1 on my index finger was such a pain to get right. And it still did not turn out as clean as I would have liked it to be. Nevertheless, I am happy that my first foray into lettering was not a complete failure, and I'm so pumped to try again (and get better! ;))

It's been a wonderful year, and I look forward to many more!

Tumblr: nailsindmajor.tumblr.com

Instagram: @donithax

List of polishes:
Base: Wet 'N Wild En Voyage
Sinful Colors Snow Me White
China Glaze It's a Trap-eze
Wet 'N Wild Candylicious
Wet 'N Wild Tickled Pink
KleanColor Red Alert
Essie Devil's Advocate

Yay, super-saturation!

Neon-Metallic Fusion Part II

See part 1 here.

Essie Devil's Advocate with China Glaze Icicle, That's Shore Bright, Flip Flop Fantasy and Too Yacht to Handle

This color scheme may seem familiar, as these are the exact same colors I used in my Deconstructed Roses manicure. I was only allowed so many nail polishes in my carry-on, so I just grabbed my favorites, and that was that.

In a way, it was more challenging trying to think of something different to do with the same colors, but I just picked up a dotting tool and did whatever felt natural. Everything was done with a dotting tool (someday I'll graduate to brushes...), so it was super simple to create this funky mani. On my thumb and ring finger, I did the dots in straight rows, as normal. I was going to leave them as accent nails, but it was too tempting to just use the grid as a pattern for more chevrons! I'll be using that as a tool from now on!

Just Plain Sophisticated

Essie Devil's Advocate, China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle, and China Glaze Icicle

As you all know, I'm such a fan of manicures that look like they took forever, but they really didn't. That's exactly what this is! If you have a couple colors of polish, some Scotch tape lying around, and a dotting tool (or make your own, if you don't have one), you can recreate your own version of this manicure within a half hour.

Instead of using a nude polish as a base, as I did in this tape mani, I just put on a couple layers of base coat (I use OPI Matte Nail Envy), and let it dry completely before proceeding. Granted, this might not be the best option if you have staining from a previous manicure. If you do have staining, I would suggest buffing your clean dry nails just a little bit to see if you can buff away the surface stains. Too much buffing will weaken your nails, and if the stains do not readily come out, just swipe on a thin coat of a nude polish (for this look), or your favorite creme.

Once the base coat dried, I taped off the bottom half of my nails on a diagonal, and painted Devil's Advocate on my tips, enough for opacity. I recommend putting the tape on your hand before putting it on the nails, because Scotch tape will readily rip up your base coat! I loved the look with the plain plum tips, but I tested out the dots on my left hand, and loved it even more! The dots can also function to help cover up a crooked tape line, or other tiny mistakes. It's a win-win! I finished with a coat of Seche Vite, and boom! Done!

I hope you enjoy these nails! For more manicures that don't make my main blog, in addition to mani updates right after I complete them, follow me on Instagram @donithax!

Christmas Nails!

BREAKING NEWS: GLITTER IS DIFFICULT TO PHOTOGRAPH, ESPECIALLY IN HORRIBLE LIGHTING.

This seems intuitive, but I went ahead and wore these glitter bombs I call nails for Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I love this manicure so much (especially when compared to 2012's Christmas nails). I wish I could've captured their beauty more accurately for all of you.

I'm at home in Georgia for winter break (whoooo! the semester's finally over!), and the lighting at home is very dim and yellow (damn incandescents). I resorted to taking these photos in the bathroom, where I could find the brightest light, so please excuse my conditioner and soap in the background...

This mani combines my favorite things: glitter, gradients (done with a wedge makeup sponge), and dots (with inexpensive dotting tools)! I hope you love them as much as I do!

Simple Manis Just to Get Me Through

Sephora Conceited and Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet

Finals period at Bowdoin is no joke! I couldn't stand the thought of going through the final stretch with bare nails, so I turned my break time into mani time! These are (very) quick designs that I did not think through; I just went for it. I knew I needed some glitter, because it always seems to cheer me up, and it lasts a long time.

I added an extra blurry photo of Conceited because there is no way to properly photograph this color, I'm convinced. I also tried here, but the struggle bus rolled into town once again...

At any rate, I hope you enjoy these manicures! They literally take only 10 minutes (even less with a fast-drying top coat, like Seche Vite or Dries Instantly)!

China Glaze Running in Circles and an unnamed light green Kiss Striper

Simple, Yet Jazzy Tape Mani

China Glaze Nude and That's Shore Bright!, Essie Devil's Advocate

I think it's safe to say that I love these nails! I am such a fan of the color combination; I feel like any base color besides nude would be a bit overwhelming. I used scotch tape to get clean lines (and I pressed the tape strips on my hand a few times before applying to the nail, so that it did not pull up the base) with That's Shore Bright, and was initially going to leave them just two-tone.

But I got the bright idea to add some dots where the colors meet, and I'm glad I did! I feel like they really tie everything together, and make the mani that much more sophisticated!

Cheap in Price, not Quality

L.A. Colors Current and Jungle Fever, China Glaze I Herd That

I got these L.A. Colors polishes from Dollar Tree a few months ago, but I hadn't tried them yet. My friend Katie convinced me to go for the green, because that's probably the last color I go for when painting my nails.

These polishes went on better than I expected. I've used L.A. Colors polishes before, but I still breathed a sigh of relief when they didn't streak their way onto my nails. Probably the best thing to come out of this experience is Jungle Fever, which is my new favorite jade-teal shade. It's a jelly (albeit a fairly opaque one), which gave it great depth. I love it.

Current is a great shade, but this is four coats on my thumb, index finger, and pinky, and there is still a very visible nail line. Maybe if I layer it over a coat or two of a nude, I will fare better, but this will do for now.

Concrete Roses?

Pure Ice Kiss Me Here with Wet 'N Wild Tickled Pink Roses: Revlon Empower and Nails, Inc. Haymarket

So here's what happened with these nails: I attempted "simple" roses for the millionth time, in hopes of finally getting something right. I planned to do them on all of my nails, but gave up after the accent nail. So I covered my hand in polka dots. Nice. I planned on removing these the next day, and trying a new design, but I got lazy and exams picked up, so I am still wearing these nails 6 days later...

Also, they look a bit gloopy because I tried to salvage the last of a bottle of Sally Hansen Dries Instantly with Seche Restore, but it was a no-go. It still was horribly thick, and practically dried upon contact with open air. Wonderful.

Have a blurry pic on the house:

I just kinda went for it...

China Glaze Nude with Sally Hansen Blue Me Away!, Revlon Empower  and Essie Devil's Advocate

Yesterday, I worked on a lab report until I couldn't see straight, so I decided to take a break and do my nails (slash watch the Amazing Race season finale). All I knew was that I wanted to use the nude from China Glaze that my friend recently gave me. I then picked three contrasting colors and did whatever came to mind with a small nail art brush and my trusty dotting tools.

I like how they turned out: a bit modern, yet abstract.

in indirect sunlight

I can never resist a full hand of dots, so behold my left hand: 

Who Doesn't Love a Dotticure?

China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy with Wet 'N Wild I Need A Refresh-mint, Nicole by OPI Candid Cameron and China Glaze Icicle

This next week and a half will be full of big assignments as the semester wraps up, and reading period begins. So today, after an Evolution presentation, I decided to treat myself and paint my nails (because who knows when I'll have time to do them again before summer?).

I wasn't feeling particularly creative today; all I knew was that I wanted to use Flip Flop Fantasy because it's so bright and wonderful. I went for my trusty dotting tools, and this is what happened. I like it. Simple, but interesting.

Also, I really like taking pictures of my nails by my window now. The [indirect] natural light does wonders for the color and overall quality of my photos.

Ebony Ball Nails!

China Glaze Tinsel Town with L.A. Colors Black

Last Saturday (Feb. 23), the African-American Society at Bowdoin hosted the annual Ebony Ball, a semi-formal event celebrating Black History Month. The theme this year was "Harlem Nights," so I went with something super simple and classy.

VagMons-Inspired Mix and Match

KleanColor Red Alert with China Glaze Tinsel Town and L.A. Colors  Color Craze in Black

Because I am performing in The Vagina Monologues this weekend, I needed to have a red and black mani to match the occasion. I decided to add some silver for a little "pop," and boy, am I glad I did! I am so in love with this mani! It's so busy, as I sort of went crazy with my dotting tools, but that's just what I need: Something to boost my confidence for this weekend! :)

Have another picture because I can't get enough:

There Are Two Types of People in the World...

Wet 'N Wild Candy-licious with Wet 'N Wild I Need A Refresh-Mint

KleanColor Red Alert with China Glaze I Herd That

Yesterday, two of my friends were auctioned off (for charity; the prize was a dinner date) for an annual Valentine's Day event at Bowdoin. I was so happy to do their nails and make them feel just a bit more special! I also think their nails match their personalities a bit!

For spunky, bubbly Katie: bright colors that scream happiness.

For sassy, polished Priscila: a red base (that matched her dress, btw) with gold accents that ooze class.

Smile! You're on Candid Cameron!

Candid Cameron with Wet 'N Wild I Need a Refresh-Mint

When I heard about the Nicole by OPI Modern Family Collection a couple of months ago, I knew I had to try a few of the shades myself, even before I saw the swatches! I love the show, and I knew OPI would do the characters justice. Nevertheless, they are expensive, and I could never see myself spending $9 on one bottle of nail polish.

BUT, I was in WalMart yesterday, browsing, and all of the polishes were there, begging me to take them home. So I decided to treat myself. I bought A Phil's Paradise, which I will showcase in a post later this week, and Candid Cameron (above).

Candid Cameron is a gorgeous metallic teal (but leans more green in real life), and I can't get enough of it. I included a swatch, along with some simple nail art.

Designs of Nails Past

I decided to showcase a few of my earlier designs (from last summer/semester) because I still like them a lot, even if the photo quality isn't that great. They also provide a good reference point to which I can compare all my future designs, especially since the fanciest tool used here was a dotting tool. You can find them here for about two dollars, which is an amazing deal!

Poor Swirls

Sally Hansen Blue Me Away!, Destined Pale Yellow, and China Glaze Icicle

I ended up not liking this manicure as much as I thought I would. The swirls did not come out as I hoped, and the silver dots made it look busy, and almost tacky. Not to mention the fact that I broke most of these while I was traveling back to school! Sigh.

Green Mix and Match

Sinful Colors Exotic Green, Sally Hansen Disco Ball with white striper polish

I let my brother choose the color, glitter, and everything for this design! I never paint my nails totally green, but I really liked this mani!

Is It Christmas Yet?

I was really anxious for Christmas to come, because I really put a lot of thought into my family's gifts, and I couldn't wait to see their faces when they opened them! So I attempted a Christmas tree (of sorts). Colors: China Glaze I Herd That, and Sinful Colors Sugar Sugar and Exotic Green.