I'd love to have a more uniform shape to those lines, but hey, I'd love a pony too. This is easily the best result I've managed with a ruffian, so I'm not going to complain. The gold is Zoya Ziv, which has become one of my favourites, and the teal creme is Skinfood BL514. By the way, Skinfood or Skin Food? I've seen it both ways. Their websites use Skinfood more often, though, so that's what I'm going with for now. Anyway, I think using this polish made all the difference because in addition to having a reasonably wide brush, it's easy to control, and it's also pretty much a one-coater. That meant I didn't have to futz around with trying to go back and build my top colour without messing up the ruffian line.
This combination gave me an idea for something extra, but since I knew I'd run screaming into the night if I messed things up by overcooking my first successful ruffian attempt, I went ahead and top coated, took my pics, and made sure I had at least one decent one to use. Then I did a saran wrap manicure on top of the ruffian with more Zoya Ziv. I think it looks a little like turquoise jewelry!
So, what do you guys think of the ruffian look? It's a tricky one to pull off--at least for me--and I think the right colour combination can make a big difference. I can't wait to see what my fellow Twinsies picked for theirs!
Amanda at Amandalandish
Anna at Going to the Showing
Anne at Grape Fizz Nails
Ashley at Art Evolve
Brandi at The Beaulieu Review
Chelsea at Nailed Blog
ChiChi at I'm Just Me...ChiChi
Cordia at Seriously Swatched
Elizabeth at Did My Nails
Jamie at Polish, Please!
Katherine at Haul of Fame
Maribeth at Obsessive Cosmetic Hoarders Unite
Marisa at Polish Obsession
Meredith at Polish and Charms
Nory at Fierce Makeup and Nails
Rachel at Top Coat It
Sarah at See Sarah Swatch
Tara at Polishy of Truth
I sooooooooo love the colors you chose! This definitely gave me a 'happy' and not a 'sad' when I looked at it ;-)
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you so much, Maribeth! It gave me a happy too. ^_^
DeleteOh come on.. I didn't doubt you for a second! You are like my nail art inspiration! These are gorgeous. I especially love the antique-y look in the last photo!
ReplyDeleteYou are the sweetest, Brandi--thank you!!
DeleteThis is stunning!!!! O_O And happy birthday to your mother in law! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you and thank you, Ash!! :o)
DeleteBeautiful mani! The gold & teal look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I usually prefer silver to gold, but something about these colours just looks "right" together to me. ;)
DeleteThis looks amazing, but don't think I'd be able to make it look as nice!
ReplyDeleteBeeauty Geek xoxo
Thank you, Sarah! It took a bit of trial and error--mostly error--on my first couple of attempts, but with the right top polish it's much easier.
DeleteI just LOVE turquoise and gold!! What a great combo! I love the way your ruffian turned out, and I love how you spiced it up with some saran wrap! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jamie!! :D
DeleteLovely colour combination!! So pretty :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! :)
DeleteI love what you did with the gold over the blue! It's so creative!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Heather! I really like this combo too, and I'm such a sucker for saran wrap--I think it's my "go to" nail art for anytime I'm pressed for time or inspiration. It's so easy and fun to do! :P
DeleteThats wicked. I love the colour combo. GORGEOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very, very much!!
DeleteIt's a beautiful combo - love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Maria! ^_^
DeleteThis is so stunning! I don't love gold, but a gold and turquoise combo is to die for! Makes me want to get a gold polish. Uh oh...
ReplyDeleteHahaha, thank you, Candice! It took me a long time to find a gold polish I really liked, since I'm not really partial to it myself either, but I'm a big fan of Ziv. It's not too brassy but still has a nice warm tone to it, and it's very easy to apply. Of course it's about as fun to remove as any metallic foil is ever gonna be, but I don't mind it with this one. ;)
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cordia! :D
DeleteAs always, I LOVE this. Beautiful colors!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Anne! ^_^
DeleteThe colour combination looks really nice and I love the saran wrap method on top, I find that so fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you bunches, Choi! I'm such a fan of saran wrap nails--they really are fun to do, and they're so quick and easy! ;)
DeleteI'm so in love with this color combo!! I especially love the addition of the gold with the saran wrap. Nice touch!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Marisa! I really was happy with how well these guys played together--and so relieved that I didn't overcook and spoil things by trying to do too much. Sometimes I don't know when to quit. :P
DeleteThose look amazing! The colors are fabulous! The entire mani is perfect <3
ReplyDeleteNory, thank you so, so much!! :o)
DeleteDamn girl! You make me like this look! I have about 4 sads from this challenge. Love the color combo. Did I mention you always rock? Or is my little Elizabeth crush getting creepy?
ReplyDeleteAw, Tara, thank you!! Creep away, please, 'cause you know it's mutual! ^_^
DeleteI see you've returned to teal ;)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Big surprise, I know. ;o)
DeleteBoth of these are absolute perfection. The colors are great together. I literally LOL'd at your "I'd love a pony" comment. Too funny!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katherine! Hehe, that's my standard answer for whenever I want (or hear somebody say they want) something that's just not gonna happen. I want to find a good polish remover that won't yellow my nails, but I also want a pony. :P
DeleteI *love* these colors together! They look so ornate!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I can definitely live with "ornate"--thank you, Chelsea!
DeleteGorgeous mani!
ReplyDeleteThanks, veronica! :D
DeleteI love this color combo. I agree the ruffian has to have the right combo, (color and finish) or it can look weird. I have not perfected that at all... Plus whenever I do it my nails look really short, so it's not often that I attempt to do one. But I do love how you did a saran wrap on top and it does look like jewelry! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you said that, Jenni--I thought my nails looked shorter too! Very happy I'm not going crazy. Or if I am, I'm in very good company! Thanks so much!! =)
DeleteI love the saran wrap and ruffian combo! Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you very, very much! :o)
DeleteI love the ruffian look - awesome combo of colours! Did you do the line free-hand? I think it looks great - really neat!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous, with and without the saran special touch...
ReplyDeletexoxo