OK so here is my failed first attempt at a gradation mani. Why am I showing you a failed attempt? Well, I think the colors I used look amazing together, so you may want to experiment with them yourself. Also, I have some vague idea of why this failed, so I can share that with you and maybe try this again successfully. I think first attempts at nail art never come out that great, so bear with me here!
For this gradation, I started out with two coats of Sally Hansen Black Platinum. I let those coats dry completely before starting the next step. I read a gradation tutorial that recommended waiting for the base color to dry, but I think this would have come out better if I had done the next step when the polish was wet.
Next, I started about 1/3 of the way up the nail and did a coat of NARS Desperado. I let that dry also. I went up a bit more on the nail and did another coats of Desperado. I let that dry. Then I coated the tips of my nails in Desperado and let the whole thing dry (but obviously not for a long enough time as the color is pushed back at the tips a bit). I picked up a cat hair in the middle nail somewhere along the way, lovely.
So, my main problem with this gradation is the presence of the obvious lines where I started each coat. The tutorial I read said that a coat of top coat would blur those together. That obviously did not happen. The next time I try a gradation, I am not letting any of the coats dry. I think the polish will blend together much better if I do all of the coats while it is wet. Maybe even just do one nail at a time, so the polish is really fresh and moves around more.
My other problem is that this takes a LONG time to dry. I didn't use a fast dry top coat with this, obviously I will next time. It ends up being about 6 or 7 coats of polish at the tips, that doesn't dry very quickly!
Have you tried a gradation before? How did it work out? Is this color combo sick, or what?
(I'll have a full review of NARS Desperado up later in the week, by the way!)
While I do like the color combo, the lining is very obvious. Maybe if you'd use a sponge to create the next layers? You get a softer look and line I think :). On the other hand, I've never did a gradient myself ;).
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this "fail". I learn so much from things I try that don't work out and appreciate you letting us learn from your first go at gradation. I've never tried one though they do intrigue me. The lines in yours don't bother me really since they're pretty straight and even--it's like a regimented gradation or something.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I think it would actually eliminate the lines if I did all of the coats while the polish is wet! Son that's what I plan to try next time!
ReplyDeleteKarenD, you're welcome! It's definitely going to take some practice to perfect this look, but I think it looks cool enough to try again.
I love the colors you chose. So, when you do this again, please do post! I'm learning stuff as well from your fail. (though I know I wouldn't have been able to do anywhere near as nice as you did.)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kimberly! I definitely will post this again, hopefully better looking! I'm going to try it again this coming weekend!
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