We've all been there before, you're perusing the nail polish in the beauty department and behold! Before you lies what seems to be the most amazing color you've ever laid eyes on-just what you've been looking for. You snatch it up, finish your shopping, and quickly return home so you can test out your shiny new lacquer. After cleaning your nails you carefully swipe on the shade, only to be sorely disappointed. Yes, it happens to the best of us.
With Valentine's day coming up I've been looking for the perfect deep red shade to grace my tips and toes. Alas my search has so far been in vain and am currently trying to find that elusive romantic red. About a week ago I thought I found it, it was a feeling of love at first sight. I headed home and tried out my polish and it turned out to be a dark, rich brown color. Lovely shade but not quite my cup of tea and certainly not what I was hoping for. So I put it in my stash and tried to think of other uses, accent for nail art perhaps- who knew. It was a few days later that I- again perusing the beauty aisle, thought I spotted a red that would hold up to my standards and be the perfect polish to don on V-day. So I purchased it and again was let down. Why there couldn't be a great red anywhere near me was unfathomable. I was about to give up when a thought occurred to me that I might try topping my rich brown with my bright, fierce red. It was a big hit, and here's the proof;
Both colors are by Sinful Colors Professional. On the left we have Rich in Heart- believe me, in the right light it looks like a deep, tantalizing red. On the right we have Sugar Sugar- reminds me of the candy Red Hots, just in polish form. All around they're both nice colors, just not exactly what I was looking for.
The remedy: I decided that since I didn't want to throw these shades out, it couldn't hurt to try layering them together. While you don't always need two coats of color, I generally opt for two anyways so it works out to just use both. One coat of the dark brown, and one of the red.
Here is the brown on it's own:
Here is the red:
The completed look:
The difference:
I started out with one coat of the brown. After that dries I added the coat of red on top of it, achieving that vavavoom red I've been after.
You can add as much or as little of the red as you'd like depending on the look you're going for. I prefer an even coat of the red on top, and only one application, so that the brown is still somewhat visible. You can try this technique with just about any color combination to find just the right shade you're looking for. The end of throwing out nail polish is here. Give it a shot- you might happen upon an even better color than you thought!
As always, thanks for the read! Enjoy! xoxo