Wednesday, December 17, 2014

My Happy Hanukkah Nail Art: A Blue Ombre Manicure

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Happy Hanukkah, everyone! Hanukkah is my all-time favorite holiday -- and it's not because of the presents. I've always loved lighting the menorah and singing the prayers, which instantly connects to my religion in a way that goes back thousands and thousands of years. (And, come on -- a holiday that centers around oil, meaning I get to eat latkes and doughnuts? Cosign.) I wanted to do something special with my manicure to celebrate, so I decided to do a blue ombre manicure.

I have done ombre manicures within other color families in the past (like my Zoya Naturel purple manicure, my green ombre manicure and my pink ombre manicure). I always turn these manicures into such a huge production -- I have to pull out every single polish within the color family and spend tons of time testing out different combinations before I'm satisfied. And, true to form, such was the case with this manicure when I started the process last night!

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I try out a LOT of colors and combinations when I swatch my ombres.

I really wanted all five colors to complement each other. I also wanted to use colors from five different brands so I could really share the love. This actually proved to be quite difficult -- I have SO MANY gorgeous blue polishes from Zoya, Deborah Lippmann and Essie specifically. I also couldn't include every brand I would have liked to since I only have five fingers on each hand (my apologies to NARS, Maybelline and Chanel)! But here's what I ended up choosing.

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The polishes I ended up choosing for my Hannukah blue ombre manicure. With a backdrop of my swatches, of course.

Thumbs: Deborah Lippmann Glitter In The Air. This is one of those colors that makes me so intensely happy every time I put it on. I used three coats here, which created almost full opacity -- four seemed like overkill. But you definitely get more scattered glitter the more you build this one as well.

Index Fingers: Essie Bikini So Teeny. This is one of the colors from the Essie Summer 2012 Collection and it's just as fabulous to me now as it was then. There is some very faint shimmer present if you look closely, but I also just love the perfect shade of periwinkle.

Middle Fingers: RGB Cerulean. Want a nail polish whose name perfectly describes what it is? This is it. The color is divine and the shimmer makes it all the more special. One of the best nail polish purchases I ever made, hands down. (Pun intended.)

Ring Fingers: Rescue Beauty Lounge All About Yves. This is one of the colors from the new R29 + Rescue Beauty Lounge Collection -- and it's one of the two I absolutely HAD to buy the moment it became available. It's extremely similar to Essie Butler Please (though it's just a shade darker). Two coats yield perfect, even color. Glorious.

Pinky Fingers: Zoya Song. I've owned this one, which is from the 2012 Diva Collection, for quite some time. And just look at that stunning deep navy that's just packed to the gills with blue and silver shimmer! I had actually forgotten I had this one, so I'm glad I rediscovered it while putting this manicure together.

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Another shot of the manicure. I love the way the bottles are arranged here.

I really, REALLY love the way these five shades play against one another. Each flows seamlessly into the next and remains on the blue side of the color spectrum rather than pulling grey, which was happening with some of my other color choices.

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Final closeup shot of the manicure!

And, full disclosure, I made my friend Jenn take these photos. She got on a table at work and started snapping away for me. So huge props to her.

Happy Hanukkah, everyone! Love and light to you all.

9 comments:

  1. These came out great! Love that you did an ombre!

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  2. We're just lighting the candles now as I look at your fab mani! I like Hanukah, but it is actually one of the newest Jewish holidays ;)

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  3. That's a nice way to do ombre <3

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  4. Love this ombre look - so festive!

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  5. What a good idea! Love an ombre.

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  6. Happy Hanukkah! It makes me so happy to see your beautiful Hanukkah mani!

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  7. I love this! So many beautiful holiday blues to play with. I've actually had the same thought but can't seem to find the time so I'll ogle your nails instead ♥ I LOVE that Zoya!

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  8. I love how you tested so many combinations! That's dedication <3.

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