minty fresh [the nail files]

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37Akx8GJ1qrIIQMZeoA4Q9bQzrwtxC8qZaibpGBKbmZ8AbKXsJKnKBzmBKOR2OG8PaIdgN1MKPxlIbwcbGAjmPQvC7AvcQnuPSHQMaGKz2fb6e2WuSLNAzFTlChKKt3MKXCeQ2RsDrii7/s1600/IMG_6897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37Akx8GJ1qrIIQMZeoA4Q9bQzrwtxC8qZaibpGBKbmZ8AbKXsJKnKBzmBKOR2OG8PaIdgN1MKPxlIbwcbGAjmPQvC7AvcQnuPSHQMaGKz2fb6e2WuSLNAzFTlChKKt3MKXCeQ2RsDrii7/s640/IMG_6897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />since I realize I haven't made a nail post in over two months, today I have not one but TWO minty fresh manicures to share. if you read <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2012/11/thanksgiving-taiwan-style.html" target="_blank">my thankgiving post</a>, you'll remember that the nailpolish fates smiled on me that day and I came across one of the most elusive essie shades: <a href="http://www.essie.com/shop/mint-candy-apple-p-256.html" target="_blank">mint candy apple.</a><br /><br />the past few days I have been rocking it as a colored french manicure. the original inspiration to try a colored manicure came <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/118430665172066846/" target="_blank">from pinterest</a> [where else?] but as with most pins that come from tumblr, it's practically impossible to find the original image source. if you google "colored french manicure" there are hundreds of images... I love the way bold reds and corals and blacks look, but I decided to ease my way in with this pale minty green. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39iy0X2oQ0twNnrjsu_TClfklcfVbJRbiJYx0hq9tj47j-fvc9NHpQLJy-sL78BfKyIhd2jy3oobK3jgPEvySq9BMzrzM45ZxEy1GBwZyEvPQMdF5MngQ4_tyn6wErdKf6yEt9DUQl2eJ/s1600/IMG_6884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39iy0X2oQ0twNnrjsu_TClfklcfVbJRbiJYx0hq9tj47j-fvc9NHpQLJy-sL78BfKyIhd2jy3oobK3jgPEvySq9BMzrzM45ZxEy1GBwZyEvPQMdF5MngQ4_tyn6wErdKf6yEt9DUQl2eJ/s640/IMG_6884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />if you are curious as to how I do my french manicures, here is my method:<br />1. start with clean nails [no base coat]<br />2. paint the tips, however many coats your color needs<br />3. clean up edge with polish remover + qtip<br />4. add a top coat or sheer color [I used <a href="http://www.essie.com/shop/vanity-fairest-p-58.html" target="_blank">vanity fairest</a>]<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDlIoXyPrXmetOH-11gQV2oPcNqVA5gad8hkKN4Xm1Iu0KM2NUYOPf6k_ndeoOHZ4AaHyRM2RGHKN2jNRcB7uCc0SgoX3_kmtB7TKnAs1-Gc6ECrp2GBqUy2ERImqltKq8AdstVHYfa5C/s1600/IMG_6794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDlIoXyPrXmetOH-11gQV2oPcNqVA5gad8hkKN4Xm1Iu0KM2NUYOPf6k_ndeoOHZ4AaHyRM2RGHKN2jNRcB7uCc0SgoX3_kmtB7TKnAs1-Gc6ECrp2GBqUy2ERImqltKq8AdstVHYfa5C/s640/IMG_6794.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />minty manicure #2: three coats of mint and a swipe of <a href="http://www.essie.com/shop/set-in-stones-p-411.html" target="_blank">set in stones</a> over a few fingers [similar to the manicure <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2012/10/a-little-bit-of-bling-nail-files.html" target="_blank">shown in this post</a>]. this one isn't that unusual, it really just shows off the color and adds a little glitter for fun.<br /><br />I think either of these mint manicures would be a fresh and unique look for the holidays. what do you think... would you wear a colored french manicure or something with sparkle?

minty fresh [the nail files]

since I realize I haven't made a nail post in over two months, today I have not one but TWO minty fresh manicures to share. if you read ...

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a little bit of bling [the nail files]

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKytY1XFOyb-CdZQnMUIE6NLlDGZxqTyy_NcJeUFXroB0yCdgpL62yNRe6EwQkMVpnCM-2KytaKJwe4zH272jGZxrykF1t3xZTK2ITPEzzlLAblnaWAx_v5RxO9MDl9nZuR7dI2m7gkr5/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKytY1XFOyb-CdZQnMUIE6NLlDGZxqTyy_NcJeUFXroB0yCdgpL62yNRe6EwQkMVpnCM-2KytaKJwe4zH272jGZxrykF1t3xZTK2ITPEzzlLAblnaWAx_v5RxO9MDl9nZuR7dI2m7gkr5/s640/IMG_5270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qtQWl45Ysl6D9bRZ7m85E1xwW62Rv_tV90Rm64vIVdAU2cUzAwc1V3-5NQ9sUse6czrlEGJTy3o6_RYZN3pl3TGrjyO5yEayOf4Mam9OAS7QuSR5YSh5FZujt4vUpPM7Gv0aBpfnNlWV/s1600/IMG_5248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qtQWl45Ysl6D9bRZ7m85E1xwW62Rv_tV90Rm64vIVdAU2cUzAwc1V3-5NQ9sUse6czrlEGJTy3o6_RYZN3pl3TGrjyO5yEayOf4Mam9OAS7QuSR5YSh5FZujt4vUpPM7Gv0aBpfnNlWV/s640/IMG_5248.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaf-AIPGzwQiV2GDJl8TNrfbJ2lc5Z47e4dHGfaiLHN_rksfQyQj-LPMUjC0V_2Er2BSUjOKfbTUIew4z79e_g1UVaORtRmGiSN5nYTrEm-KURSp-_vMPnKDkaNZy4r9G-wuPMQ_HlE4X/s1600/IMG_5229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaf-AIPGzwQiV2GDJl8TNrfbJ2lc5Z47e4dHGfaiLHN_rksfQyQj-LPMUjC0V_2Er2BSUjOKfbTUIew4z79e_g1UVaORtRmGiSN5nYTrEm-KURSp-_vMPnKDkaNZy4r9G-wuPMQ_HlE4X/s640/IMG_5229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceGJ9-_cQWkSX3ikJ_SfG17dCtYFWzfDeJXqIJ7bzYH8rE7ktOa6tpV3zJQAupybCeAfoDH7LgFWyY8pmULo8aIYggTAgcPycgSZbXVjgjpqAQKG_PqOSV1nUIwiAeKF0Vbhckl6h9eDU/s1600/IMG_5277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceGJ9-_cQWkSX3ikJ_SfG17dCtYFWzfDeJXqIJ7bzYH8rE7ktOa6tpV3zJQAupybCeAfoDH7LgFWyY8pmULo8aIYggTAgcPycgSZbXVjgjpqAQKG_PqOSV1nUIwiAeKF0Vbhckl6h9eDU/s640/IMG_5277.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />it's not that I'm opposed to plain, solid, one-color nails. until a year ago, that was all I did. I just find that sometimes things are better with a touch of pattern, a little bit of bling.<br /><br />enter: the accent nail. [or in this case, nails.]<br /><br />I started with a base of creamy beige <a href="http://www.essie.com/shop/sand-tropez-p-366.html" target="_blank">sand tropez</a>, and coated my right thumb + ring fingers and my left pointer with <a href="http://www.essie.com/shop/set-in-stones-p-411.html" target="_blank">set in stones</a>. and that's it! just a small accent to bring a big impact to a neutral manicure. [though I guess it helps when the glitter in question is described as "disco mirror ball chaos"]

a little bit of bling [the nail files]

it's not that I'm opposed to plain, solid, one-color nails. until a year ago, that was all I did. I just find that sometimes things ...

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