a fresh new look X 2

As you've probably noticed, I've got a new name, a new layout, and along with it a new direction for this blog.  This fall I started a graduate program and I've been struggling to find time to fit nail art into my life.  I love the creative outlet that this hobby provides, but I don't love the time it can take to create a great look.  I realized that I'm probably not the only one out there feeling this way, and I've decided to do something about it!

Welcome, everyone, to 30 Minute Nails, a blog dedicated to nail art that takes 30 minutes or less to create!!

I have had a lot of practice doing my nails, so your results might vary in terms of time and execution.  My goal, however, is for anyone to be able to create the looks on this blog quickly and easily.  This is a challenging idea, but I'm up for it and I hope you are too.  I invite you to send in ideas you have or looks you've seen but have been afraid to try.  I will do my best to reinvent them as simple, easy to recreate manicures.  Please feel free to post comments/pictures or send me ideas at: 30minutenails@gmail.com.

So let's get started!  I just finished my first 30 minute mani (well, really more like 10 minute mani in this case :)) using the "jelly sandwich" technique.

For this manicure you will need:

1. sheer/jelly polish(es) in color(s) of your choice (I used 3)
2. 1-2 glitter polishes with clear bases (I recommend polishes with large glitter pieces for this look)
3. your favorite base and top coats

Here are the polishes I started with

Seche Base, Milani Neon Draw in Pink, OPI Nice Hand...Great Nails, Verity Yellow Follow, Verity Movie Star, Nicole by OPI Make U Smile, and Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat

To get the look above:

1. Apply base coat and let dry.
2. Paint a thin layer of sheer/jelly polish on all nails and let dry.  I chose a combination of colors, but you could use one color for all of your nails.
3. Apply glitter polish.  I used two glitters for more density, but you could use one or two coats of one polish.  Let dry.
4. Paint another thin layer of base color over the glitter polish.  Let dry.
5. Top coat and you're done!

As you can see, the different polishes I chose have different opacities.  I personally like how the neon pink nails turned out better than the other colors because of how sheer the pink is.  The jelly sandwich is a great way to spice up a basic manicure and to add dimension to polishes you might be bored with.  This manicure took me 10 minutes from base coat to top coat application and took about 20 minutes of drying time (due to all the layers of polish involved).  

I hope you're as excited as I am about this new adventure in nail art! Please become a member of my site and send ideas my way.  Follow me on twitter @dinarwhal and email 30minutenails@gmail.com with questions!  Happy manicuring!!

matte + black + metallic

Today I have two looks that take advantage of matte top coat.  I love mixing matte with metallics, especially matte black with metallics.

Here's a fishtail mani I did using Wet n' Wild Ebony Hates Chris and OPI Just Spotted the Lizard, and Essie Matte About You top coat.

The manicure I'm wearing right now is another matte/metallic combo using Essie Power Clutch and China Glaze Smoke and Ashes (from the Hunger Games collection).  

Up close you can see the contrast between the mattified grey polish and the shiny black polish.

The polka dots were done with a bamboo skewer.

What's your go-to combination?

 

Back in the game?

Hello lovely readers.  It's been awhile and I wanted to share some of the things I've done since last spring (yikes!).  

This was back in March when I went to watch my sister swim at NCAA Division III Nationals.  Go Big Red!

  

I did this spotted manicure over the summer.  It's loosely based on Chalkboard Nails' Gradient Dot manicure .

Here are a series of American Flag manicures I did over the summer for 4th of July and for some concerts I went to.

I did this manicure for a friend's wedding in July to match my dress (the background of this photo).

This was a fun ikat look I came up with.

I obviously had to get my nails ready for Olympics viewing!

This was my first attempt at a jelly sandwich a few months back.

I'm hoping to start posting more regularly so keep checking back for what I hope will be a weekly manicure!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

St. Patrick's Day Skittle

I've got a super quick, extra green manicure to share with you today.  The skittle in today's title simply refers to the fact that I painted a different color on each nail!

Urban Outfitters Jerk (thumb), OPI Did It On Em' (forefinger), Color Club Twiggy (middle finger), Sinful Colors HD Nails (ring finger) and Sinful Colors Call You Later layered over Color Club Happy Hunter (pinkie).  

Enjoy!