Be Challenged: The King’s Choice with King of Nails 82

Hey Sugas!!! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, then you know my fabulous husband, the Kings of Nails 82, Jason. Every now and then you can catch him hanging shelves in my nail office, driving to PC or being obnoxious, I mean funny, during my live videos but through it all, he’s a great sport. and I love me some him! 

And yes, I’m beefing up all the adjectives and sappy love stuff in this post to make him sound like the amazing gem he really is….and also just in case he reads this, he’s may fell inclined to let me buy more polish…lol.

Kidding… kinda!

But regardless, Jason is my better half, the one that keeps me sane and grounded and the one that has been my cheerleader throughout my nail journey. Over the years and through the countless bottles of nail polish, Jason has made comment to some of them that he really likes.

So I decided to put him to the test. I challenged him to chose 10 of his favorites. He’s reaction was priceless.

“How am I supposed to chose only 10 out of the thousands of pictures you’ve posted?” he asks.

My response, “I don’t know, just make it happen. I don’t have  post on my blog for Wednesday and I need something.”

After the sucking of the teeth and rolling of the eyes, all I heard was “oh” and ” like this one”.

Without further adieu, here are the King’s Choices!

Enjoy

July 18, 2018July 18, 2018 by queenofnails83

Moore Challenges: Go Gray in May 2018 – Midway Check-In

Hey Sugas and happy Wednesday! We are at the 16th day of May, midway through my #gograyinmay challenge and I wanted to do a quick check in. So far, so good! I have managed to do a different gray swatch each day AND post to IG! Don’t believe me, keep reading for a collage of days 1 thru 15

I also wanted to take a moment to thank all the ladies and gents, near and far, that have not only done a gray mani, but for all your thoughts, kind words, prayers and virtual hugs – they mean more to me than you know. Due to the amazing response of gray manis, I will be posting multiple collages at the end of the month on IG of those that took part in the challenge with me – rust me, they will know your socks off!

If you haven’t already done a gray mani, there’s still time! Keep reading to find out all the details and how you can help spread awareness, support the cause and treat yourself to some great nail polish and nail care items from 2 amazing indie brands!

For the full story of my dad, Michael, visit my original blog post, here.

Enjoy…

May 16, 2018May 16, 2018 by queenofnails83

Moore Challenges: Go Gray in May 2018

Good Afternoon and happy 1st day of May, I hope this post finds you all well. This is a very impromptu post so forgive me if it appears rushed.

I wanted to share something personal about me and someone very near and dear to my heart. If you follow me on IG then you already know what this is about….

May 1, 2018May 16, 2018 by queenofnails83

Be Inspired: Ho Ho Ho-liday Mani

Hello December!! Since I have a little break between pr samples, I decided to do some nail art inspired by this festive holiday and share with you, my friends!

Today is the 4th day of this celebratory month and I have my first of many holiday/winter manis. I’m super excited about this mani because I was able to use one of my new Lina plates and can I just say, I love it! Lina has become one of my favorite brands and I use this brand religiously in my Swatch & Review series. I also tried my hand at another nail art technique that I don’t use enough, foiling!

So let’s see how I did!

December 4, 2017December 4, 2017 by queenofnails83

Be Inspired: Easter Watermarble Mani

Hey y’all, today’s post is going to be so quick it’s gonna make you head spin. Simply because I woke up this morning and realized I didn’t have a post ready. 

First, Happy Belated Resurrection Day/Easter! I hope that you all had a relaxing holiday weekend. Mine was amazing. My son’s first AAU tournament of the season was Saturday and the 14u Hoyas won all 3 of their games. I do hope this is a preview of what is to come. Sunday, we went to church and then my family came over for a cookout. We laughed, ate and made new memories. I love spending time with loved ones, it makes my heart so full of joy. 

So here it is, my quick tutorial of how I completed my Easter Watermarble mani. Side note, had I known my blog would be about this mani, I would have taken more pictures. Sorry 😦  

• First, I started with 2 thin coats of Jior White by Jior Couture over 1 coat of Nail Tek 2

• Next, I applied scotch tape around my finger (instead of liquid latex) to make for easier and faster cleanup

• Then using the Spring Break Collection from Bliss Polish and my Watermarble Tool from What’s Up Nails, I created a zigzag pattern in my cup of room temperature tap water

• Next, I placed my finger in at the area of the design that I liked the best

• With my finger still in the water, I blew on the surface of the water and removed the excess polish with a q-tip

• I repeated the above steps for all 10 fingers and applied a coat of Tonic Topper QDTC (quick dry top coat)

• Using Lina Stamping Plate Make Your Mark 03, Black stamping polish by Mundo de Unas, a stamper and scraper, I stamped on the image

• Finally, I cleaned up with acetone and a cleanup brush and applied a final layer of Tonic Topper

This was my first purchase from Bliss Polish and I must say, I’m thoroughly impressed. This collection was released at Indie Shop ATL and Yvette, maker and creator of the brand, did a presale simultaneously on her site for the collection at an astonishing price of $40, you know I had to jump on them.

When I posted this mani on IG and FB, stamping of the collection was also asked about. So I did some quick and dirty testing over both black and white.

There you have it, quick, easy and full of awesomeness!

Thank you all for joining me today!

Shop, Like and Follow Bliss Polish

Shop / Facebook Business Page / Instagram

Shop, Like, Join and Follow Lina Nail Art Supplies

Shop / Facebook Business Page / Facebook Fan Group / Instagram

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April 16, 2017April 17, 2017 by queenofnails83

Be Challenged: Born Pretty Store Water Decals

Good Morning Queens and Kings! Let me preface this post by saying that I did this mani on 1/4/2017 and it wasn’t until I was done that I decided to write this post. Therefore, I apologize for the lack of photos from each step. Now that, that is out of the way, I am so freakin’ excited about this post because its taken along time for me to get here. Months ago I had decided to take the plunge and step out of my comfort zone when it came to nail art and try some new techniques outside of stamping, watermarble, dry brush, etc,. I decided I wanted to try water decals. I purchased several different designs and was overwhelmed when I received them because it was something new and I didn’t know where to start. My first attempt ended in pure frustration and me contemplating destashing them. But it’s a new year and a new me…lol so I figured, I’d give them a try one….more…time!!

Let’s delve into the awesomeness that is this mani, the result this time were a complete 180.

Here is what I used

• Base Coat
• White by Kleancolor
• Nail Scissors
• Cup of room temperature water
• Tweezers
• Paper towel
• Cleanup Brush and Acetone
• Born Pretty Store Water Decals (item # 21960). I used C247, bottom right corner

Let’s get started

1. First, I started with 1 coat of my favorite maintenance base, Nail Tek 2 (Strengthener) and applied 2 thin coats of white by Kleancolor. Note – depending on the colors in your decal, you can change to use something more complimentary.
2. Once that was dry, I removed the plastic film from the decal and trimmed them to fit all 5 nails using my nail scissors. Note – I did one hand at a time.
3. Then I place all 5 decals in the cup of room temperature water and waited 20-30 seconds. Note – be sure to use discretion and read the product instructions.
4. When time was up, I removed the first decal using my tweezers, dabbed it on a paper towel to removed excess water and then gently placed it on my nail.
5. Once I was happy with the placement, I used my cleanup brush and acetone to cleanup the excess decal on my cuticle area and free edge like any other mani 
6. I repeated steps 2-5 for the other hand
7. Finally, I applied a glossy, quick drying topcoat.

 The final mani left me speechless. Why? Because I had accomplished what I thought was impossible. Needless to say, I am currently shopping for more water decals. Leave me a comment of brands to try. While I love the designs that BPS offers, I can be very impatient waiting for shipping…lol. Or let me know which, if any, nail art technique makes you a little nervous to try.

Just when I thought I was done with the mani, a few days later I decided to upcycle my mani by adding some black stamping

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January 16, 2017January 15, 2017 by queenofnails83

Be Inspired: Neon Gymnastics Leotard Smoosh Mani

I’m so excited to share this mani/tutorial with y’all today because its been a long time in the making. The day before I completed this mani, I gave myself a “full spa manicure” at home complete with mani bomb. The secrets to my at-home mani can be found here, but enough about that, lets talk about the inspiration and how I created this mani.

I was inspired by a leotard that I saw while attending my youngest daughter’s gymnastics training session. Let me tell you, with all the bright, bold and fun printed leos (its what all the gymnasts call leotards…lol. 5 and 6 year olds are such a hoot), I could create a whole series just trying to re-create them for a mani. Hmmmmmm! I’ll tuck that idea in my back pocket.

Anywho, the mani, here’s what I used:

• White by Kleancolor
• Beach Cruiser (pink), Melt Your Popsicle (orange) and Paradise Cove (purple) by Orly Lacquer
• Prism Drops by Pipe Dream Polish
• Black by Mundo de Unas (MdU)
• Stamper
• Feeling Shapely 02 and Make Your Mark 01 by Lina Stamping Plates
• Marvel Liquid Macro by Superchic Lacquer 

Lets Get Started:

1. Because I used neons, I started with an even, thin layer of white to give the bright colors a POP!
2. Once that was dry, I applied 3-4 small drops of each color to my nail and used a stamper to smoosh the polish and blend the colors together. This part is a lot of fun and you don’t have to worry about it being perfect because there is no right or wrong way to do this step. I tried no to “over smoosh” because I didn’t want the colors to look to “muddy”. This step can also be done use saran wrap or plastic bag. I have also put the polish on the stamper then applied to the nail, but again, whatever works for you is great.
3. Once I was happy with all 10 nails, I applied a coat of quick drying topcoat to smooth out the polish.
4. I used the first Lina plate, Feeling Shapely 02 and black stamping polish to complete the first image. Then I used the second Lina plate, Make Your Mark 01 and the Prism Drops to apply the 2nd image.
5. Finally, I topped with a final layer of topcoat and cleaned up.

Well, there you have it a complete neon mani inspired by a gymnastic leotard. As a nail addict, I find myself finding inspiration from a lot of different things, I hope you continue to join me on this series I bring you more Be Inspired/Be Challenged manis.

January 11, 2017January 1, 2017 by queenofnails83

Be Inspired: Polish M Fire Gradient

***Nothing to Disclose***

I, like many other nail addicts, love a good gradient. From the color choices to the flawless, seamless blends, a beautiful gradient adds a fun and exciting element to any mani. For this mani, I wanted to take it up one step and instead of using crèmes, I wanted GLITTER!! So what better polishes to use than a few from the Christmas Collection from Polish M. I purchased this collection during the Black Friday sale as it was #1 on my wish list. Previously, I had done a mani to celebrate my sons first middle school varsity basketball game. I loved the way it turned out.

Once I saw how effortlessly these applied and how opaque they are, I knew more gradients would be in my future.

With the holidays wrapping up, I decided it was time to put away the red and green polishes, the snowflakes and snowmen and do something…a little sassy.

For this mani I used:

• Stick To Me Adhesive Base Coat by Jior Couture
• Here Comes Santa Claus, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer and Little Drummer Boy by Polish M
• Guardian Latex Barrier by Pretty Beautiful
• Marvel Liquid Macro by Superchic Lacquer
• Black Stamping Polish by Mundo de Unas (MDU)
• BP-L012 by Born Pretty Store

For starters, I applied 1 layer of sticky basecoat and then Guardian around my cuticle to protect my skin and make for easy clean up.

Next, to my makeup wedge, I horizontally applied Here Comes Santa Claus (red), Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (orange) and  Little Drummer Boy (yellow).

Then in a rolling motion I applied the polish to each nail until I reached the desired opaqueness and topped with a single layer of topcoat.

At this point I removed the latex and began to clean up. While I was in love with this gradient, I knew it wasn’t complete. I took to the Polish M facebook fan group to ask for suggestions as to whether or not I should add nail art. With the help of a fellow addict, I decided to add the stamped flames to an accent nail.  

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. Are there any techniques you’d like me to try and feature in this series?

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January 9, 2017January 9, 2017 by queenofnails83

Challenge Nails: Breast Cancer Awareness

We took some time off from challenges for a while over at Those Nails Though (TNT), but we are back with a vengeance now. This is just in time because I know I have deprived you of challenge Nails for the past few months. Yes, I know Challenge/Inspiration Nails is supposed to be at the end of the month but I loved this mani too much not to share it sooner.

So like I was saying before, TNT had taken an extended break from nail challenges for but  we have started the ball rolling again, with a few minor changes. We no longer have Twin Nails but we still have color and technique challenges AND…..we have added Alphabet Nails and Inspiration/Theme Nail challenges. Challenges run on a 2 week schedule from Sunday to Sunday. The current challenges are:

• Color: Pink
• Technique: Double Stamping
• Inspiration/Theme: Awareness Ribbons 
• Alphabet Nails: Letter A

I thought what better way to celebrate than with a Breast Cancer Awareness mani!

For this mani I used the following:

•  Perez Pink by Anonymous Lacquer 
• Super Placa B by Apipila
• BP-L006 by Born Pretty Store
• White by Munro de Unas (MDU)
• Metallic Pink by Born Pretty Store
• Clear Stamper from DRK
• Topped with Love by Love, Angeline

To start this mani, I applied 2 coats of Perez Pink over my base coat and topped with Topped with Love. 

Once that was completely dry, I stamped in white the quatrefoil-esk image from the Super Placa B plate. Then I applied a single metallic pink ribbon in the center. Using the clear stamper, made this mani super easy.

I love this mani and think it turned out great. What do you think? Are there any causes you do a mani to raise awareness for? What are some of your favorite challenges to participate in?

Join the fun, join and follow Those Nails Though!
Facebook Group / Instagram

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October 5, 2016October 4, 2016 by queenofnails83

Tutorial: Tie-Dye Jellies Watermarble

Good Morning! Today I have a special treat for you all. I am going to show you yet another attempt at watermarbling using the newest collection from the awesome indie brand, that brought you the highly coveted collections, A Night In Vegas (ANIV/ANIVC), Street Carnival (SCC) and Mellowed Out Cremes (MOC)….Pipe Dream Polish (pdp). This watermarble mani features the Tie-Dye Jellies collection, that I was lucky enough to score on its release day, June 29th. It wasn’t until I had already done my nails and I was so happy with the outcome, that I decided to make it a tutorial and share here. So, please bare with me as I try to explain my way through.

What I did:

• I prepped my nails by putting down 1 coat of Whitewater by pdp and applied Cat Suit by Vapid around my cuticle and down about 1/3 of my finger front and back.
• Once Whitewater and the latex were dry, I began to create my bullseye in the water. I completed the bullseye with 3 full passes (1 pass = 1 ring of each color) (see below)

• Then, I created my design using my fine tip dotting tool. Because I am still a newbie at watermarbling, I opted for the zigzag pattern. (see below)
• I found the area that I liked the most and placed my finger in the water at an angle to pick up the design on my nail.
• Then, I blew on the surface of the water and picked up the excess polish with my q-tip.
• Carefully, I removed my finger from the water and removed the latex using tweezers
• I repeated these steps for each finger and cleaned up using my clean-up brush and acetone.
• For some added sparkle, #addglitter!!! I used Opal Glitter by Sinfulcolors
• Finally I topped with by QDTC by Pro-FX.

Here’s my final mani

There you have it, a pretty decent watermarble mani. I really don’t have any tips and tricks when it comes go watermarbling but here are a few things I have learned:

• Use room-temperature water – I have tap water in an old gallon jug that I keep water in to ensure is the right temperature.
• Have everything ready – design tool (i.e. toothpick, needle), q-tip, etc.
• NOT ALL POLISHES MARBLE – there is nothing you can do about this. Don’t get frustrated, just find ones that do.
• Start small – start by only using 2 polishes instead of 5-6
• Be patient and keep practicing

Do you have any best practices? What polishes do you find work best?

BUT WAIT….THERE’S MORE!!!!

I few days later, my watermarble mani was still in really good shape and I was so proud of it I didn’t want to take it off. So I decided to upcycle (upgrade + recycle) this mani with a DOUBLE WATERMARBLE!!! Did your head just explode, because mine did at first. I figured how are hard could it be? I used the same steps outlined above with Atrament and Clearwater (both by pdp) and wha-la…I have a double watermarble mani! Thoughts?

August 8, 2016January 1, 2017 by queenofnails83