Matte Metallic Gold French Tips, with Bonus Glossy Shots

This may very well be the simplest nail look I've ever done for the 31 Day Challenge, and I did it intentionally! We have this bowl at my house, and it's a gorgeous matte black with a gold rim. I was feeling really inspired by it and decided to try a matte gold french tip with a black base. Plus, could you bear to add anything else to this gorgeousness?

Products used:
Duri Into the Further (black)
Lacquistry Amazeballs Extra Fine (gold)
Essie Matte About You (matte topcoat)
Half moon Nail Vinyls

This look is easy to do! Start by painting your nails with black, and applying a coat of quick dry topcoat. Make sure your nails are completely dry before moving on! I used half moon vinyls for a more rounded French tip, but you could also use French tip guides if you prefer. Paint on a coat of your gold polish, and then remove the vinyls. Seal with glossy topcoat, let it set, and finish with matte topcoat.

This also looked great before I added the matte topper. My choice of gold, Amazeballs, looks better glossy, but I think I prefer the black when it's matte. Which one do you prefer, overall?

More metallic mania!

• Nfu Oh 61 silver holographic
• Magnetic metallic with gold leaf
• Distressed metallic gradient

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31DC2013 Day 07: Black and White Midnight Smoke Nail Art

Trying this look yourself? Be sure to check out my midnight smoke tutorial!

When brainstorming the black and white prompt, my mind ended up at white smoke, curling and billowing across a black sky. The best way to achieve a smoke effect (in my humble opinion) is with the watercolor technique! I tried to make the effect somewhat directional, like the smoke was actually moving from my pinky to my pointer.

If you've never tried the watercolor technique, you can watch a tutorial on Beauty Geeks or Rebecca Likes Nails. For my manicure, I used Duri Cosmetics Into the Further as my black and Milani White On the Spot as the white. Side note, Into the Further is a really fantastic black!

I attempted to make a smoke ring on my thumb. Not too shabby I think!

The watercolor effect did an amazing job of mimicking the look of smoke -- it feels like it was made for this! Lucky for me, the technique did all of the heavy lifting for this manicure.

More 31 Day Challenge
View upcoming prompts!
My black and white nails from 2012!
My black and white nails from 2011!

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