Fireworks!

My birthday is July 3- the day before Independence Day. When I was a little kid, my parents would tell me every year that the fireworks all over were for celebrating my birthday. And of course, I believed them for a few years. LOL. So I've always loved fireworks.

I was torn this year between doing my nails birthday themed or America themed. (I know, I have so many problems, right!?) So I chose fireworks- something that for me, signifies both!

I especially love big colorful fireworks, so that's what I did.
I painted a couple coats of Sinful Colors black on black and then picked out a few colors I thought would pop. I was concerned that the non-neon colors wouldn't be as bright- but they worked so well!

I tried different firework-painting techniques. Some I did long lines, others short. Some bent and falling and others going up and spreading. I played around by drawing fireworks on paper with chalk- a super fun 4th of July craft to do with my little girl.

As you might have noticed, I did this design on artificial nails so that I could take photos for my Etsy shop, Finger Candy. You can buy this design over there, if you want! Check out the link to my shop. :)

Black: Sinful Colors black on black
Blue: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Blue Me Away
Green: Cosmetica Fanatica neon green
Yellow: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Lightning
Neon Yellow: Cosmetica Fanatica neon yellow
Purple: Essence Color n Go Passion for Fashion
Orange: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Sunkissed
Pink: Cosmetica Fanatica neon pink
Top Coat: Seche Vite

Halo manicure

I've seen this called a Halo Manicure, a Framed Manicure and an Outline Manicure. Since I think "halo mani" sounds nicest, that's what I'm going with.

I was pretty hesitant about this design when it first started popping up all over Pinterest and Glamour and nail blogs. It's definitely different, and very interesting. It's all over the red carpet and runways, so it's fashionable. But the black seeping in from the skin looks almost a little bit morbid... I actually surprised myself when I decided to try it out myself.

The verdict: I love it. Like, seriously, it's one my favorite designs ever. Chic, simple, classy.

I paired the popular halo design with a black french tip.

I started with a base coat of my favorite base, Revlon Multi-Care 965. Then I did two coats of a polish I've had for some time but have never used before.

It's the prettiest, nudest nude I've ever worn. It has a really pretty pearlescent shine to it. Two coats of this polish is perfect! I could definitely see this beautiful color being worn on it's own if you do three coats of it. It's so shiny it doesn't even need a top coat, IMO.

Then, I painted black French tips. Since I painted free-hand tips, it's easiest to paint straight across the tip of the nail and let the paint get on your skin. That's an easy post-mani clean up.

Then, using a straight-tipped nail art brush, I carefully painted the edges of my nail closest to the cuticles.
Easy peasy!

Finally, a top coat of Seche Vite and ta-da! it's done!

When I asked my husband what he thought of my finished mani, he called it "businessy." I like it so much more on my own hands than I did in the photos on Pinterest. Photos really don't do justice to this gorgeous design. I feel like the design paired with the high contrast of nude and black together is very high-fashion and chic.

Base coat: Revlon Multi-Care 965
Nude: The Color Workshop Nala nail color in Nude
Black: Sinful Colors Black on Black
Top coat: Seche Vite