Monday, February 13, 2012

The worst French ever


I had a disaster of a time trying to apply this. I had a job interview the next day so I decided that the thing I absolutely had to have to look professional was a French manicure. Something I haven't tried in a year but obviously thought would be easy peasy. IT WASN'T. It was difficult difficult lemon difficult*.



First I tried stickers. Painstakingly applied base coat and one coat of an Essie sheer. Left it overnight. Applied stickers and..ripped off the polish in chunks. Swore a bit, took it all off, started again. Applied Base coat and one of polish, very carefully freehanded tips, painted over the top...didn't leave enough time and streaked the tips. !@£$%?.

So this was the third attempt. Nails Inc Kensington Caviar base coat, two coats OPI creme of crete for tips, and two of OPI samoan sand for over the top. I refreshed it with some TC before I took these. It looks nice, but it'll probably be another year before I voluntarily go through that again.

*I will give a prize to the first person to get this reference.

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13 comments:

rae said...

easy peasy lemon squeezy!! and it isn't THAT BAD. i think some of us just weren't meant to wear frenchies anyway! live in colour!

Never Enough Nails said...

It's Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, but the opposite because it wasn't easy!
I have difficulties with French manis too. Luckily, I usually just don't do them!

Gina Marie said...

Don't give up on the french...you have great nails for it! And your reference is from In the Loop. LOL

Epurica said...

Why not try duct tape for french manis? I've always been horrible at freehanding and gave up but I discovered duct tape and it's pretty ok :) it's not as sticky (i usually stick it on my hand once or twice to remove some of it) and it's easier to manage than the special french tape or scotch tape :) hope it helps!

Em said...

Its from In the Loop!!!!

Gwendellyn said...

Oh, I love In the Loop! I just watched it again last night :)

Anonymous said...

This looks very natural!

The Glitterati said...

I've never tried a french! I have shorties, and just don't have the patience, could never get it to look that nice.

It still throws me to see Chad (aka: "the boy from The Shining") on The Office (US version).

The Lacquer Tracker said...

I once tried to freehand a french manicure- it wasn't pretty. Nothing but frustration! But yours looks fantastic for something you did freehand! And I like that you did a very natural looking french- no start white tips.

Good luck on your job interview!

Katie said...

OMG, you make it so much harder than it needs to be, woman! Tape off your French, base coat the top, do the top, rip off the tape, clean up edges. THEN do the rest of the nail. So much easier and you won't screw up the base coat of the rest of the nail...because there isn't any! Granted, I can't get the curve right...but it's ten times easier! I do it for all my nail art that involves anything "Frenchy!"

Grace Thomas said...

Rae, Never Enough Nails - thanks ;) I don't think the end result was too bad, but oh my gosh, the process! Yack. I've just filed my nails short, anyhow, so no frenchies for a while!

Gina Marie - Ding, ding! We have a winner! If you could use the 'contact me' button up the top to send me an email that would be great, since for various tedious reasons I can't access your email through your profile. Thanks a lot :)

Epicura - I did try duck tape once and found the stick level was just right, but the lack of curve was tricky on my nails since they're naturally quite rounded. (Here's a duck tape mani: http://polishorperish.blogspot.com/2011/09/glitter-french-butter-london-rosie-lee.html)

Em, Cookie - so sorry you weren't first! But yes, quite right. It's one of my favourite films, along with Four Lions. They both make me laugh like a drain. I don't have a very proper sense of humour, I don't think…

ChromaCraze - thanks! And your avatar is amazing…

The Glitterati - ha, I quite like the US office - they were sensible enough not to try and recreate Brent. Ricky Gervais makes me laugh until my sides hurt, though.

Lacquer Tracker - thank you! It went well, or at least one of them did (I had two, it was an all day boot camp affair). I've been told verbally that I got the job, but I have yet to see the piece of paper, so I',m not holding my breath!

Katie - does this surprise you?! I am the master of making life hard for myself! I will have to try that when I decide to put myself through this again. Lol.

-Caroline- :) said...

Ugh I just had that same streaking problem, except mine wasn't a french.. I keep thinking I must've done SOMETHING wrong since I waited a good 20 minutes before applying the top coat :/

Anyways, love your blog! Can't believe I hadn't come across it yet! Followed!! :)

Lucy said...

I would have given up & used a neutral shade. I've only done a Frenchie once. It's was one with color tips. I'm not that crazy about Frenchie's. My nails are always so short. So no Frenchie for me.

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