Mani Monday: Southwest Print Nail Tutorial
This week’s nail tutorial was inspired by this ADORABLE Southwest print outfit. Will you try this mani yourself? Upload your best mani photos to Instagram to enter the #LULUSMANIMONDAY contest!
The Look:
Guest Blogger
Style Sessions pt. 2 with Kiara of Tobruck Ave.
Q: “I see so many people mixing patterns. What is the right way to mix different patterns to create an outfit?”
- Instagram user @xsambam
A: Mixing Patterns is sort of something that happens partially by accident. When I started thinking about how I make the outfit look like less of a mess and more planned, the rule of thumb I came to is; one pattern can be colorful and one more of a two tone print. Next up there should always be one tie in color, in my outfit it is the black outlines in both prints. Lastly, if you feel like you want to tone down the prints and step out of the house less loud, add a layer over your outfit, a jacket or a cardigan will do the trick. It helps tone down the idea of an all over print day. Since we are getting into details here, I chose black straps on my shoes as that was my tie in color in both prints.
Summer is all for fun and colors and I love mixing them in all kinds of ways! Key is to not be shy and, when in doubt, throw on a denim jacket! Happy Wednesday!
The colorful mixed print shorts and pineapple print top are instantly brought together with this versatile denim jacket and neutral wedges.
How-To: Getting the perfect Manicure Monday photos
When it comes to nail art blogging/sharing, though the art itself is important, the photos you take of your nail art are just as (if not more) important. So what makes a good photograph?
Nail Care:
Nail care and clean-up are the easiest ways to improve the general look of any photo you take. Making sure you don’t have hang nails, dry skin, or “flooded” cuticles can go a long way to improving your photos.
Before beginning your nail art, file your nails to an even length and do what you can to remedy any hang nails or dry skin. I use a glass nail file, a simple manicure kit, and instant cuticle remover every week or so to take care of my nails. I also like using a base coat and top coat for each manicure.
Clean Up:
While painting your nails is the fun part of the whole process, sometimes it seems impossible to avoid getting polish on your fingers and cuticles, or sometimes “flooding” your cuticles. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!
But don’t worry, there’s an easy fix for this! To get rid of flooded cuticles or uneven polish edges, use an angle brush or Q-tips dipped in acetone to carefully remove excess polish.
Removing this excess polish is without a doubt the most important part of a good nail art photo. You can have some beautiful nail art, but flooded cuticles will be the only thing anyone can see. Use some lotion to add some moisture back to your skin that the acetone may have removed. Now you’re ready for photos!
Camera & Setup:
While I use a Canon Rebel T3i for most of my photos, a fancy camera is not necessary! Many people use simple point and shoot cameras or even newer cell phone cameras to take their photos. Whatever camera you do use, you will want to get the clearest shot possible, in the best light possible. Setting your camera mode to “Macro” or some equivalent can often provide the best close up shot. Play around with whatever device you have and see what works best for your setup.
When it comes to lighting and location of photo taking, keep it simple. My setup is a dark blue piece of fabric that I hang over my computer monitor and I have one lamp with a daylight bulb directed at it.
- If you don’t have a good lamp for indoor lighting, go outside and take your photos in natural light.
- Try to take your pictures with a neutral/solid background so you don’t distract from your nail art.
If you have a camera with adjustable white balance, see if you can figure out how to set a custom one. This will allow you to capture the true color of your nail art.
Hand Poses:
The final piece of the puzzle is finding the right hand pose. There are only so many ways you can position your hand, but there are many minor variations in each of those positions. Choose what you like best, but keep in mind that most people respond best to the “knuckles up” or “knuckles to the side” look. There is also the option of posing with the polish bottle you’ve used.
The most important part of positioning your hand is making sure you can see your 4 nails clearly. If you want to include your thumb, that’s awesome, but make sure you don’t compromise the clarity of your 4 main nails to do so. Find what you like best and go for it!
xoxo, Lindsey @ Wondrously Polished
Style Sessions with Kiara of Tobruck Ave.
Editor’s Note: You asked and Kiara is here to answer! Thank you for submitting all of your fabulous questions! Stay tuned because each Wednesday in June, Kiara will be answering one of your most frequently asked questions in an outfit post!
Q: “Can you recommend an outfit that works well during a summer day and can easily transition into a cool outfit at night?! Thanks!”
- Instagram user Shelley G @elleyelectrix
A: I love taking looks from day to night. The least amount of effort, the better especially in California where going out means going from the beach to dinner and then wherever the night takes you. My key ingredients to taking a day look into the night is simple; add layers of jewelry, a clutch, sling on those high heels or wedges (replacing the flat sandals you wore to the beach) and add a layer to what you were wearing. In my case I chose a crochet kimono, which is perfect for summer nights out but a simple jean jacket or blazer would work just as well.
- xoxo, Kiara
Mani Monday: Taupe and Yellow Chevron Nail Tutorial
This mega cute chevron mani was inspired by the On My Side Taupe and Yellow Purse (see similar). This chevron nail tutorial is easy to do and looks cute in an array of colors. How creative will you get with this mani?
