Friday Faves – Episode 14

Happy sunny Friday!  I hope you have some beautiful summery plans for the weekend.  Today I bring you another episode of my Friday Faves – this time, it’s the best of the gradient nailart.  Gradients are brilliant for making your nails stand out and once you get the hang of them, they are really simple to master. Click here for a tutorial for my rainbow gradient nails.

The following designs aren’t by me but I’ve let you know who each of the artists are so you can find and follow the ones you like and I’ve organised them from easy to difficult so hopefully you can find something to inspire you.

 

Difficulty rating: *

First up, @ohmygoshpolish shows us a simple blue to white ombre with a stencilled accent nail, but you could freehand a similar design if you were feeling confident.

 

Difficulty rating: **

Next, @sharingvu demonstrates a perfect pastel rainbow gradient with glitter placement details – so eye-catching. She’s done a tutorial for the gradient here.

 

Difficulty rating: ***

I love this sideways gradient from @nailsandpolkadots. It reminds me of pic ‘n’ mix sweets. She’s kindly done a tutorial for us here.

 

Difficulty rating: ****

@simplynailogical shows us a double chevron gradient. It’s so cool how it looks like an alligator!

 

 

Difficulty rating: *****

More blue and pink gradient nails, this time by @lieve91. She does tribal nails so well.

 

 

There you have it.  If you haven’t tried a gradient before, definitely give it a go – it’s such an easy way to get a beautiful, breathtaking design.

Want more inspiration? Then catch up on more of my Friday Faves.

Friday Faves – Episode 13

I can’t wait for the weekend to begin…and to welcome it in, I bring you another edition of Friday Faves – this time it’s watermarble nails!

Watermarbling is a notoriously tricky technique to master and requires a lot of practice and patience.  There are endless tutorials on YouTube for how to do it and @mucking_fusser is often described as the Queen of Watermarbling.

Today I want to show you my favourite designs of the week – they’re not by me…I wish!  But I’ve credited each of the artists so you can find and follow the ones you like.  I’ve also tried to include a variety of difficulties, although as watermarbling goes, it’s all a pretty high standard I’m afraid.

Difficulty rating: *
Despite being a huge name in the nailart world, 
@ohmygoshpolish still admits to needing practice with watermarbling. Here her neon swirls are accented with dots – great for hiding blemishes in your design. She’s done a tutorial for us here.

 

Difficulty rating: **
Another big name in the nail sphere, @trendypolish shows us how to do a striking two-tone watermarble here.

 

 

Difficulty rating: ***
Unsure about whether to go for shiny or matte, @nailsbywis shows us the impact of both.  I love the colour combo she’s used too.

 

 

Difficulty rating: ****
The precision in these almost-exact-replica watermarble nails from @rubyrominaa is astounding!  I especially love the neon.

 

 

Difficulty rating: *****
Again, @erinzi shows us such precision in design but also in placement.  This certainly makes me want to keep practising.

 

If you haven’t tried watermarbling before, I highly encourage you to give it a go – even if you just do one nail.  You’ll never know unless you try.

Have a great weekend and tune in next week for more of my Friday Faves.

Friday Faves – Episode 12

I’m so excited for the Bank Holiday weekend!  I have endless plans for relaxing and painting my nails and can’t wait to get started.  To welcome it in, I bring you my Friday Faves from the last week and this time the theme is stripes and spots.

The designs aren’t by me but I’ve credited the artists for you to find and follow the ones you like.  You’ll see I’ve divided them up into difficulty levels so there’s something for everyone to try.

 

Difficulty rating: *

Here’s a super simple yet striking design from @tinseltownnails that is perfect if you’re a beginner.

 

 

Difficulty rating: **

I love this criss-cross design from @lifeisbetterpolished – so bright and instantly uplifting.

 

Difficulty rating: ***

@badgirlnails brings us a multicoloured abstract accent nail.  I wouldn’t be able to keep my eyes off these if I had them!

 

 

Difficulty rating: ****

I love a good tribal print and this design made up of stripes and spots by @lucysstash is enviably eye-catching.

 

Difficulty rating: *****

Wow – so much detail on these nails!  @jauntyjuli shows us just how epic stripes and spots can be – utter perfection.

 

I hope you find time to push yourself with some nailart techniques this weekend and that these have sparked off some ideas.

Tune in next week for more of my Friday Faves.

Friday Faves – Episode 11

Here in London the sun is shining and the weekend has finally arrived, and to accompany these two wonderful facts I bring you a bright and summery edition of Friday Faves.  

As always, the designs aren’t by me but I’ve credited the artists so you can find and follow the ones you like.  I’ve also included a variety of difficulty levels to suit both the amateur and the expert alike.

 

Difficulty rating: *

@lifeisbetterpolished brings us an accent nail of swirly sunshine.  Orange is the perfect way to welcome in summer.

 

Difficulty rating: **

I’m loving this abstract pink design by @101nailfreak – so eye-catching and enticing.  I almost want to eat it!

 

 

Difficulty rating: ***

These acid green and half moon leopard print nails by @mireyaaxo are obnoxiously cool.  I just love the colour combination.

 

Difficulty rating: ****

Here @wondrouslypolished gives an unmistakable salute to summer with her tropical palm tree design on a hawaiian sunset backdrop – utterly breathtaking.

 

Difficulty rating: *****

@ane_li wows us again with another feather design, this time on a pink ombre background tied into a message of eternal hope.

 

Well, all that has made me far too excited for summer!  Sadly London’s prospects for a sunny weekend are fairly slim but I’m hopeful sunshine will be on its way before too long.

Enjoy your weekends and check out more Friday Faves for further inspiration.

Friday Faves – Episode 10

Ahoy there!  It’s the weekend!  And to welcome it in, what better than an episode of Friday Faves?!

This week I bring you the best of the nautical manicures from the unchartered waters of nailart.  As always, there’s a variety of difficulty levels and I’ve included links to each of the artists so you can find and follow the ones you like.

Difficulty rating: *

@celinedoesnails – made famous by her original floral anchor masterpiece, gives us a simple free hand design that is great for beginners.

 

Difficulty rating: **

This colourful take on a maritime mani is brought to us by @sabrinasnails. A splash of colour and glitter adds a new dimension to a classic anchor design.

 

Difficulty rating: ***

@nails_by_Cindy pairs gold studs with navy blue for the perfect nautical combination.

 

 

Difficulty rating: ****

Shiver me timbers, it can be a pirate’s life for you with @sloteazzy‘s design – just walk the plank and follow her tutorial here.

 

Difficulty rating: *****

Finally, @lifeisbetterpolished shows us a feminine take on an anchor design – quite frankly flawless!

 

 

Hopefully that’s helped you navigate some ideas to get your nails looking shipshape for the weekend!

See you next week for more of my Friday Faves.

Friday Faves – Episode 9

Here we are again, another episode of Friday Faves, and this week I bring you the best of the tribal designs from the nailsphere.  I’ve included a variety of difficulties to suit every level of expertise and as always, the designs aren’t by me but I’ve added links to the artists so you can find and follow the ones you like.  Right let’s get to it.

Difficulty rating: *

First up is this simple neon dotted tribal mani by  @jewsie_nails – great for minimal effort but maximum impact.

 

 

Difficulty rating: **

@thenailtrail adds a gradient backdrop with a high contrast black tribal pattern for that extra wow factor.

 

Difficulty rating: ***

@dahlianails keeps this mani de rigueur by combining the so-now-fruit-print with a classic monochrome tribal design.

 

 

Difficulty rating: ****

This super bright and colourful tribal design is from the hugely talented @wondrouslypolished – enviable precision!

 

Difficulty rating: *****

The woody texture is the perfect backdrop to this understated tribal design from @lieve91 and she’s even done a tutorial for us here.

 

I hope that inspires you to try something new this weekend.  See you next week for more of my Friday Faves.

Friday Faves – Episode 8

Happy Friday everyone!  Almost the weekend…and you know what that means?  Another batch of Friday Faves!  The designs aren’t by me but I’ve credited each of the artists so you can find and follow the ones you like.  I’ve included a variety of difficulty levels so if you decide to give one of them a go, you can choose how much to push yourself.

This week I bring you the best of the striping tape manis from the last week.  Striping tape can be pretty fiddly to use but once you get the hang of it, it definitely pays off as the results are stunning!

 

Difficulty rating: *

This eye-catching design by @nailsbyarelisp gives a nautical twist to a classic French.  I love the black and gold combo – hello gorgeous indeed!

 

Difficulty rating: **

Try this geometric mani from @g2thelo to showcase your striping tape skills. Not sure how? Follow her tutorial here.

 

 

Difficulty rating: ***

Doesn’t this just make you want to be by the sea?! This beach towel mani is by @mllrdesign – tutorial here.

 

 

Difficulty rating: ****

Neon brights from @chelseaqueen combining vertical and horizontal stripes – these are to die for!

 

Difficulty rating: *****

Last but by no means least – this multicoloured chevron mani reportedly took @lissamel9 two days to complete! Good on you girl! Here’s a little how to.

 

There you have it!  Happy striping…

I’d love to know what you think of this series.

 

Check out more Friday Faves for further inspiration.

Friday Faves – Episode 7

Welcome back to another edition of Friday Faves!  Excuse my absence, I’ve been in Israel (more on that later), but this week I bring you the best of the Easter nailspiration.  As always the designs aren’t by me but you’ll be able to see who each of the artists are and that way you can find and follow the ones you like.  There are varying difficulty levels so hopefully there’ll be something for everyone.

 

Difficulty rating: *

These matte, pastel mini eggs by @10blankcanvases are the perfect Easter concoction. There’s even a tutorial for them here.

 

Difficulty rating: **

@thenailtrail has brought us a bright and simple egg manicure – it just cheers you up looking at it doesn’t it?!

 

Difficulty rating: ***

Bunnies and a chick – what more could you ask for?! Thank you @gabbysnailart! I managed a little bunnnie when I was just starting out with nailart so it is possible, I promise.

 

Difficulty rating: ****

I love a good silhouette design and these romantic rabbits by @faburnails are simply divine!

 

Difficulty rating: *****

Wow – so much going on here.  Look at the little fluffy chick, and you could literally squeeze those bunny rabbits…too sweet!  Well done @101nailfreak, excellent work!

 

Well there you go.  Happy Easter everyone, I hope you all have wonderfully relaxing, long weekends ahead.

Check out more Friday Faves for further inspiration.

Friday Faves – Episode 6

Here’s another edition of my Friday Faves – the most eye-catching designs I’ve seen around in the past week.  They’re not by me but I’ve said who each of the artists are so you can find and follow the ones you like.  I’ve included a variety of difficulties so you’ll be able to recreate them yourselves.

This week seemed to be overrun with accent nails – where one nail is different – so I thought I’d bring you my favourite ones.  This is a great option if you want striking nails but don’t have time to do ten of them.

 

Difficulty rating: *

@Jewsienails brings us a neon and rhinestone polka dot floral accent nail paired with a muted blue hue.

 

 

Difficulty rating: **

Here’s a geometric pattern for your accent nail by @dahlianails – I love the pastel colour combination.

 

Difficulty rating: ***

How beautiful are these teal and gold nails from @nailartbyjen, accentuated by the bejewelled ring finger?!  Stunning!

 

Difficulty rating: ****

As if we didn’t need another reason to get excited about summer – these beachy nails by @elleandish are the perfect reminder and she’s even done a tutorial here.

 

 

Difficulty rating: *****

Here we have an overflowing accent nail by @just1nail – just gorgeous!

 

There you have it!  Enjoy painting your own accent nail creations.

Friday Faves will take a short hiatus as I’m off to Israel next week – yay – ticking off another thing from my bucket list.  I’ll be back in a fortnight though.

Friday Faves – Episode 5

Each Friday I bring you my favourite manicures of the week as seen on Instagram, Pinterest and Nailpolis.  The designs won’t be by me but I’ll give credit to each of the artists so you can find and follow the ones you like.  Click on the photos too for more details.  I’ll try and include a variety of difficulty levels so you can either relax with an easy design or push yourself with something more challenging.

This week, now that Spring has sprung, I thought I’d share the best of the daisy nails that have been peppering the nail sphere.

 

Difficulty rating: *

You’ve gotta love this pastel daisy manicure by @nailartbyjen to launch you into Spring.

 
 

Difficulty rating: **

I always appreciate a variation on a classic half moon manicure and this design by @happilyeverose is simply beautiful.

 

Difficulty rating: ***

This pretty scattered daisy design by @nicoles_nails_ is so striking.  I love the way it is almost a twist on a French manicure.

 
 

Difficulty rating: ****

This super delicate design with accent nail is brought to you by @nailsbyarelisp – such a talent!

 
 

Difficulty rating: *****

Last but not least, @infinitelypolished has designed these cartoon daisies and even done a tutorial for us here.

 

There you have it!  I hope that’s put you in the mood for picnics in the park, going out without a jacket, admiring the blossoms, making daisy chains and it still being daylight when you leave work.

Tune in next week for more Friday Faves and check out my previous episodes too.