Snow Leopard Nails

Shellac Snow Leopard Manicure

This manicure is way easier than it looks.  The entire design is done freehand with a dotting tool.  The irregularity of leopard print makes this a very forgiving pattern -- any mistakes look like they are supposed to be there!

After applying and curing base coat, I started with 3 coats of Harmony Gelish in Sleek White.  Then used a large dotting tool to make the centers of the spots with CND Shellac in Cityscape.

After that, I used a smaller dotting tool to make the outer edges of the spots with CND Shellac in Asphalt.  To do this part, you simply make oblong marks on three sides along the edges of the center spots.  I added some tiny dots with the Shellac Asphalt as well.

The last step is to finish with a coat of CND Shellac Top Coat.

Star Trek Nails

Star Trek Science Officer Nails

Star Trek The Next Generation, to be precise.  Think Counselor Deanna Troi, on the few occasions where she was actually in uniform.

Below I've outlined a step-by-step guide for this manicure:

1. Paint the nails with CND Shellac Base Coat and cure in UV lamp for 10 seconds.
2. Paint entire nail with 1 coat of Harmony Gelish Ooba Ooba Blue and cure in UV lamp for 2 minutes.
3. Mix Harmony Gelish Ooba Ooba Blue and CND Shellac Hotski To Tchotchke in a 6 to 1 ratio.  Use this to paint 2 coats over the entire nail. Cure each coat in lamp for 2 minutes.
4. Use nail tape to make an angled line at the tip of each nail.
5. Paint the tips with one coat of CND Shellac Shellac Asphalt (a black color would have been ideal for this, but I don't have one!), using a small angled brush, being careful not to go too far over the tape line.  Before you paint each nail, be certain that the tape is firmly against the nail, especially at the edges.  Cure for 2 minutes in the lamp.
6. Use a dotting tool or nail pen to make the gold dots for the rank insignia.  Dip the end into CND Shellac Bronzed and then dip into gold glitter, picking up a small amount of each.  Then place the dots on the nail appropriately.  Complete step 7 before curing in lamp.
7. Using the nail pen or a fine brush use the same combination of CND Shellac Bronzed and gold glitter to draw the oval shape for the communicator badge on the ring finger.  Cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
8. Use a fine brush to draw the upside down "V" shape for the communicator badge on top of the gold oval, using Harmony Gelish Sleek White.  Cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
9. Overlay the white with CND Shellac Top Coat mixed with silver glitter.  Cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
10. Paint all nails with CND Shellac Top Coat and cure in lamp for 2 minutes.
11. Wipe nails with acetone and apply cuticle oil.

Products used are shown below.

CND Shellac Cityscape with Accents

Shellac Cityscape with Asphalt and Gelish Coba Coba Blue accents.

This stunning look is actually quite easy to do if you have the right brushes. Base is CND Shellac in Cityscape and accents are Harmony Gelish Coba Coba Blue and CND Shellac Asphalt. I used a small flat brush to swipe the blue across the corner of each nail tip. The Shellac Asphalt was applied using the smallest, narrowest brush I had. Although the photo doesn't reflect this, the blue looks like a very bright neon blue when viewed in direct sunlight, but appears as a deeper blue indoors.

CND Shellac Asphalt with Cityscape Tips

CND Shellac Asphalt with Cityscape tips.

This was a little tricky to do on my own nails, but the color scheme is nice despite the imperfections.

I used 2 coats of CND Shellac in Asphalt over the entire nail, then 2 coats of Shellac in Cityscape for the tips.  The red line is "My Forbidden Love" by Harmony Gelish, painted on with a very fine brush.

Harmony Gelish "My Forbidden Love"

Harmony Gelish in "My Forbidden Love"

Harmony Gelish in "My Forbidden Love". Rogue finger accents using CND Shellac in Beau and Asphalt.

Shellac Asphalt with Red Glitter

CND Shellac in Asphalt

CND Shellac in Asphalt with red craft glitter fade tips. Rogue finger accents in Shellac Cityscape and Harmony Gelish "My Forbidden Love". 

CND Shellac Cityscape

CND Shellac colors: Cityscape, Rosebud, & Asphalt.

CND Shellac Cityscape with rogue finger accents in Rosebud and Asphalt. Accents created using nail art pens.