Monday, January 27, 2014

The Lacquer Legion Reinvention: Perforated Leather and Neon Faux Splatter


I'm so excited this morning because today is the first post day for The Lacquer Legion! I put together this new nail art challenge group to bring the nail community together in 2014, and I'm proud to have some talented ladies on board as admins with me: Rebecca Likes Nails, The Nailasaurus, and Work/Play/Polish. This month's challenge was reinvention, and I've interpreted that in a few ways for my manicure today.


First, you may have noticed that I have reinvented my own nail shape! I have been wanting to take the plunge and go round for quite a while now and I thought this would be a fitting time. I'll be able to refine the shape a bit more as my nails continue to grow, but I am happy with the way the round shape looks on me! I know I can always go back to square, so that's a nice safety net too.

Second, I thought it would be fun to reinvent the splatter manicure. I love splatters but they can be a bit unpredictable at times and are definitely messy. I started with a base of Essie Blanc, and then painted two coats of Orly Glowstick, a neon yellow, over the top. Then using a small nail art brush, I freehanded black splatters over the top with American Apparel Hassid.

Finally, I tried to reinvent the idea of nail texture. I've seen some great examples of 3D textured nails that were created without texture polish like The Polishaholic's quilted manicure and Nina Nailed It's cable knit sweater nails. For my accent nails, I created a perforated leather effect by pressing a dotting tool into semi-set polish. I later did some googling and learned that I wasn't the first to come up with this effect; check out The Daily Varnish and The Beaulieu Review!


Here is the step-by-step on the perforated leather nails.
  1. Paint your nails with two or three coats of whatever color you want the leather to be.
  2. Apply a thick coat of quick dry topcoat and give it 20-30 seconds to set. I used Seche Vite.
  3. Apply two thicker coats of matte topcoat and give it 30-45 seconds to set. I used OPI Matte Topcoat.
  4. Using a large dotting tool, press down into the semi-set polish. You want to press with medium, consistent pressure all the way down to the nail. 
BONUS TIPS!
  • Work two or three nails at a time so the polish doesn't set too fast. 
  • If you are having trouble with the dotting tool pulling up the partially set polish, wet the end to keep it from sticking. You will need to continually repeat this throughout the process.
  • If your matte topcoat is leaving bubbles in the centers of the perforated holes, dip a small nail art brush in acetone and use it to gently erase the bubble.


I'm so so happy with the way these came out, and I can't wait to continue using this technique.

If you are participating today, make sure to hashtag with #LLreinvention. If you missed this month's prompt, be sure to keep up with The Lacquer Legion on Facebook and join us next month!
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44 comments

  1. That is brilliant! Did you get the splatters by dabbing the brush?

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  2. Perfect. Thanks for the tutorial. I will give it a try :)

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  3. This was really cool and very inventive. I also joined but my contribution wasn't so crerative, more "inspired by". Looking forward to the next prompt. :)

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  4. Woah, that's a great look! Love the "splatter" on that neon base :).

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  5. This is totally fantastic! I just MUST reinvent it... you've chosen amazing colours as they make a perfect combo together <3

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  6. Wow!! I love this, I have to give it a try. Thank you for sharing the instructions.

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  7. Love this! Great contrast between the black and neon!

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  8. This looks so cool! The colours go great together and it looks so edgy!

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  9. These look so great! I hadn't heard of this technique before but it's definitely something I'll try out!

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  10. I love this! I especially love the "faux splatter" nails. Glowstick is such a fun color. Hubby has been bugging me to buy it for the longest time. Maybe I should give in; I love that color!

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  11. Awesome! It's so squishy.

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  12. This is amazing! I love how you've changed your nail shape and your freehand splatter nails look great! The reinvention of nail texture is an amazing idea too! :)

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  13. These look awesome and your new nail shape looks great!! :D

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  14. nice i love the creativity

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  15. This is coolcanr wait to try it.Never tried any matter polish

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  16. Love these! They look incredible.

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  17. Gorgeous colors! And love the perforated nails!

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  18. I love everything. Your nail shape, the splatter and the texture. Great design!! :)

    Xoxo

    Emy

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  19. I love this! The new splatter style reminds me of Dalmatian spots!

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  20. This is awesome!! Love the leather look!!

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  21. Marieta García LópezJanuary 27, 2014 at 5:42 PM

    OMG! Amazing nail art!

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  22. I love the perforated leather thing! Very cool. I reinvented my nail shape for this challenge as well! Roundies unite (for now)!

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  23. OMGosh this reminds me of the gawd-awful most uncomfortable and incredibly hot splint I had to wear on my wrist recently...it is black neoprene with air holes all over it. I took a pic of it to show some friends on facebook and one friend responded 'well at least it has polka dots so it's stylish'. I about fell off of the couch laughing LOL. It did look like polka dots though...but it was my pale skin showing thru the holes in the pic...you couldn't see it irl though, it just looked like holes LOLOL. I still giggle about it when I see the splint LOL.

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  24. Wow, I love the perforated leather idea! Looks really unique and cool :)

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  25. Wow, these look fantastic! Need to try!!!

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  26. Really love the texture on those! Adds lots of dimension.


    http://lifeandcity.tumblr.com

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  27. J'adore ton interprétation, c'est magnifique !
    Je poste ma première participation demain, bisous

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  28. Whole mani is a complete package. It actually balanced each other :-).

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  29. Hello.
    Very nice effect. I love your nails. Also the colours:-)

    My daughter also experience with nails.
    She made my nail pastel, very nice.

    Tina
    http://www.mariahoffbeck.blogspot.com

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  30. wow i really love how these came out! and welcome to the round-nails club :) i loved making the switch :)

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  31. Oh wow..! This is awesome, i love how it looks, definitely i have to try it too :D
    Hugs hun!

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  32. Would've never thought to use my dotting tool for something different. Cool!

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  33. Wow Sarah I love this look! It's both beautiful and whimsical...the black nails remind me of oreo cookies and the splatter nails remind me of dalmatians. I LOVE them both! I'll definitely try to join next month's Lacquer Legion...hopefully I'll be able to keep up with all you amazing ladies :D

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  34. I just love this so much! Incredible!

    cassandramyee.blogspot.com

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  35. Amazing! I love the perforated leather look :)

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  36. You might not be the first one with this technique, but you surely are the best. (I checked the other blogs)!!!

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  37. Stick with the round shape. Your nails look great like this, and I just love this design. Thanks for sharing how you did it with us.

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