Galaxy Nails

It's been a while since I did galaxy nails (since last May, in fact), and wow, a lot has changed since then! I've gotten better at shaping my nails, I think. I no longer feel the need to cram my awkward thumb into every other picture, and my cuticle gap isn't quite large enough for small children to play hide and seek in after school anymore. I've even started to wrap my head around the concept of adequate lighting and have at least a clue what my camera's white balance is for, so, yay for progress!

When it came to doing the actual galaxy nails, though, I did everything pretty much the same way as I did in my tutorial, even down to using most of the same polishes, and I love this look every bit as much as I did last year.

One difference this time was that instead of a straight black, I started with a base of Bandi G703, Glittering Dark Khaki. Oh, MAMA, this is a fabulous polish. I might wish for it to be a bit thicker--by the time it built to opacity, I was 4 coats in, and the "khaki" is only a hint of olive to the black. Whatever, next time I'll layer it. And top coat it so that all the pretty bits can really shine because it is packed with flakies and holographic glitter.

Yeah. Flakies and holographic glitter. I can only imagine what this is going to look like on its own, all top coated and shiny. If I hadn't had my heart set on galaxy nails, that's exactly how I'd have worn it, and I'm glad I thought to take a picture. Love! (Sidebar: Isn't it insane how pale my fingers get next to polish this dark?! Same lighting, but my hand is suddenly the Ghost of Manicures Past.)

Of course, then I went and covered most of the base, so buh-bye, sparkling flakies, and hello, swirling nebulae! You still get a hint of the bits in back, though, so I'm definitely glad I tried the Bandi with these. I did sponge less of each colour this time and kept going without letting things dry--which let them blend and swirl together a little better, I thought--and I also did fewer stars. Didn't quite nail the attempted shine lines on the bigger ones, but I won't complain. I also added a drop of China Glaze Pink Plumeria to brighten the Max Factor Deep Mauve (for the fuchsia highlights), and I used Orly Shine On Crazy Diamond for the dusting of glitter on top. Oh, and I also mixed some OPI Don't Talk Bach to Me in with the OPI Did It On 'Em to mellow the lime green a bit, as well as sponged a tiny bit of Revlon Stiletto (black) along some of the edges of the clouds to blend them out.

I forgot how much fun it is to do galaxy nail art! Definitely not going to wait another 10 months before I do these again--maybe next time I'll get really daring and try a new colour scheme! I'm in no hurry to take these off, but I'm going to redo my nails tonight because...drum roll, please... tomorrow is my birthday! Woot! Husband is taking me to the ballet to see Sleeping Beauty, and then we're going to eat all the Korean BBQ. I haven't decided exactly what I want to do with my nails yet, though. Part of me says something ballet-related; part of me wants some bright, colourful cupcakes. Part of me says pandas. Because pandas are cute. No telling where I'm gonna come down on this one.

Won't have those done and photographed to post tomorrow, but I will be posting something else--I'm having a birthday giveaway! ^_^