Saturday, September 17, 2011

Purple Ombre Manicure

   If you don't know, an Ombre is a gradation of color.  It can be different shades of the same color or different colors blending together.  Originally I thought it was pronounced ahm-bur, but David informed me it's actually pronounced ahm-bray.  And yes I trust him on this, much as it pains me sometimes, because he learned it from the girls in the costume area of his graduate theatre department.  Plus Tim Gunn said it that way in one of the first episodes of this season of Project Runway.
   The first part of this manicure is finding 5 polishes to use.  They need to be the same finish and the same base tone.  In the case of purple for instance, they should all be either blue-based or red-based shades.  For my manicure I went with creme finish and chose: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Lavender Cloud, Revlon Top Speed Lily, OPI Planks A Lot, China Glaze Grape Pop, and Zoya Pinta.


   Yes the bottles are sitting on top of my printer.  I was not brave enough to venture outside, even into my parking lot, earlier when I realized I forgot to take a bottle picture.  There was a home football game at UGA today and I live about a mile from the stadium.  
   I started with a coat of Seche Rebuild, I'm trying to get rid of a peeling problem, then a coat of China Glaze Strong Adhesion base coat, 2 coats of each color, and topped it all with a coat of Barielle Manicure Extender.  I decided to go light to dark starting with my pinkie on each hand, but you could do it the other direction as well.

Direct Sun

Indoor next to window

   I think this is a fun look and a good way to bring some interest to your nails if you aren't very good at art, like me, or don't have time for any.

2 comments:

  1. This is very pretty. I like the look, but I don't seem to have any five polishes that would work.

    You have my sympathies for living that close to the stadium. Last year, I managed to go camping on many of the home game weekends. This year I'm taking your approach and trying not to leave the house.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Sarah. Purple is the only color I can do it in right now I think. But really that just gives you an excuse to go polish shopping.

    Staying in really is the best option I think on game days. The only time it's safe to leave is during the game really. Unless you can walk where you need to go.

    ReplyDelete

 
polished & frosted title image brushes by Obsidian Dawn