Manicure: Sparks in the Crowd

Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Saturday night I posted a three part instagram photo which featured the manicure that this post is about. I have to say this method actually worked out better than any other method I've tried.

The three polishes that I used for the manicure. Ruby Wing Groupie and Crowd Surf, with Maybelline Lavender Sparks as an overlay. I actually found Lavender Sparks at Big Lots for a $1.00!

Step 1. Use a base coat. Any base coat will do. Let dry.

Step 2. Decide on your base color. Doing a gradient, I prefer keeping the base color light, but you can also do the opposite. Then paint your nails with the base color. I did two coats of Groupie, then allowed it to dry.

Step 3. Using some type of plastic, foil or anything that polish won't eat through, take the two colors you're going to use for the gradient (could be more than two of course). Generously paint them onto the surface, doesn't matter if they overlap, that actually helps out more in the end.

Step 4. Using a cosmetic sponge, tap the sponge over and over onto the wet polish, this'll blend the colors together. I should note, being my camera doesn't like Groupie and Crowd Surf together, Groupie is at the very top of the sponge, while Crowd Surf is below it.

Step 5. While the polish is still wet on the sponge, start tapping the sponge over the nail. The darker color should be closer to the tip, unless you want the gradient to go in the reverse. Which actually doesn't seem like a bad idea.

Step 6. Allow to dry and clean up, unless you use the tape method to keep the skin around the nail clean.

Step 7/8. Taking Lavender Sparks, I started at the free edge of the nail and dragged the glitter down towards the cuticle. This was tricky though because the polish is thicker than I'm used to. Some nails ended up with too much glitter! Once the glitter is dry, add your favorite top coat!

End results...

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