Basecoat comparison for holos

So, a while back, I mentioned that I'd stumbled on a trick for tricky-to-apply holos (using the Maybelline Mirror Image base). I still haven't had a chance to get the Nfu-Oh Water Base, which I hear is similar, and I don't own Chanel Holographic (comes with its own base), but if you've got Mirror Image around, this really does work.

Index, Barielle Natural Nail Camouflage. Middle, Maybelline Mirror Image base

Between henna and nail polish, wow, my nails are stained. 

Nfu-Oh 65, normally a streaky hot mess to apply

First coat

Second coat. The nail with the Mirror Image base is basically done.

Third coat on the index and I still see bald spots in real life (still two coats on the middle)

Milani 3D Holographic Hi-Res

When I first saw this while on my no buy, I wasn't all that impressed. But reviews on the blogs and the nail board said it was way better on the nail than in the bottle, so I picked it up this evening, and yes. Yes it is. Two coats over the Mirror Image base, but I don't think I needed it. Diamont top coat, no dulling of the holo. Happy day before cheap chocolate day, nails!

Pretty, isn't it?

Tomorrow's polish today: OPI Designer Series Glamour

I love the OPI DS polishes. I do not, however, love the price. Once polish prices get double digit, I start to get twitchy. It's easy to justify a $2 bottle, not so easy to justify a $12 one.

Lucky for me I managed to score a whole bunch of discontinued ones at Trade Secret when they were at 60% off.

Tonight's DS is Glamour. It's my second favorite of the DS polishes I own, behind Desire. Glamour's a rich blurple, with one of the brightest holos in my collection. The formula's a little on the thin side, so cuticle flooding and drips are a risk, but the application is smooth, and you can almost get away with two coats.

OPI Designer Series Glamour

Tomorrow's polish today: China Glaze LOL

See the previous post for the application warning. Like many holos, this one's grabby, so let each coat dry before putting on a new one.

I was able to get away with two coats per nail, once I put the Mirror Image base on, but I suspect with a regular basecoat, this polish would take three.coats to get even.

The OMG line holos are smooth, and the holo effect is very impressive under bright light. It also photographs well.

China Glaze LOL, (l-halogen light, r-fluorescent light, injury on middle finger from a tragic gate accident.)

The finish on this when it dries is almost satiny, which, combined with the slight grey tones in the base color, just makes it look like a muddy purple in dimmer light. This is one holo where I think it's worth the slight loss of holo effect to throw on a top coat. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails (technically a treatment), the one the MUA nail board posters have recommended, seems to work pretty well, with minimal dulling. Over all, a decent purple holo, but not one that makes me weak at the knees,

LOL with Hard as Nails on top.