Easter leopard print nails!

So for Easter, I decided to do a leopard print nail design with pastel colors as a background.

Step 1: I used Salon Sciences Instant Artificials ($8) (Purchased at Sally's.) as a base coat.

Step 2: Then I used Sinful Colors Professional Nail Enamel in Tokyo Pearl ($2) (Purchased at Wal Greens for $.99!) as a colored base coat to make the colors pop- this part is optional. You could use any shade of white.

Step 3: I used Sally Hansen Extreme Wear in Lacey Lilac ($2.50) (Purchased at K-Mart)
I painted my nails in thirds, and used this as the third closest to my cuticle, because it was the  darkest of the three colors I chose.

Step 4: I used Sally Hansen Extreme Wear in Mint Sorbet ($2.50) (Purchashed at Wal Greens)
This is seriously one of my absolute favorite nail polishes ever. I always get compliments on this color. This was the second section of my thirds.

Step 5: I used Sinful Colors Professional Nail Enamel in Unicorn ($2) (Purchased at Wal Greens for $.99!)
This color is quite thin and with only one coat, it appears streaky. I had to do two coats of this to achieve a yellow that showed up. This was the third section of my thirds, the one closest to the edge.

Step 6: I used L.A. Colors Topcoat/Basecoat ($1) (Purchased at The Dollar Tree)
I used this while the three colors were still wet, to try to blend the colors a together a little so there wouldn't be a messy line between the colors. Keep in mind, if you do this step, it may make your clear polish milky colored, as wet polish may go back in the bottle.

Step 7: I used L.A. Colors Art Deco in Black ($1) (Purchased at The Dollar Tree)
This line of polishes comes in a small tube with a long striping brush as the applicator. I have a really hard time with striping brushes, because the brush is so long and flimsy, I can't control it very well. (The same concept applies to liquid eyeliner brushes for me.)
I used this to make the outline for my leopard print spots.

Step 8: I used L.A. Colors Color Craze in BCC 571 ($1) (Purchased at The Dollar Tree)
I don't know why these polishes aren't named? For a "cheapy" brand nail polish- this color really delivers! It's a great glitter PACKED metallic silver. Very opaque with one coat.
I used this to dot in between my black leopard print outlines. I just used the brush it came with, but wiped off most of the polish on the lid. Once again, this is a great polish for $1.

Aaaaaaand Step 9: I used Sally Hansen Hard As Wraps Nail Gel Hardener as my Top Coat. (Around $7) (Purchased at Wal Greens)
I know, it's not a top coat. I bought this to use as a base coat, but it made all of my polishes peel right off. It dries to a shiny finish, and you want a tacky finish for base coats, to make sure the "grab on" to the polish. So, I've been using this as a top coat, so it doesn't go to waste.
I will not repurchase this. It's so thick and gloopy, that it dries around the inside of the lid every time I use it, wasting a lot of product.

Well everyone, as I've purchased 10 bottles of nail polish this week alone, more nail tutorials will be coming along the way.
Shout out to my friend Sally who told me that Sinful Colors Professional Nail Enamel is on sale at Wal Greens this week for half off- at $.99 a bottle. AMAZING.


Happy (late) Easter Everyone!
The day after Easter is one of the best days of the year for me- ALL the Easter candy is 50% off everywhere! <3