China Glaze - Wireless Holographic Top Coat

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I have to be honest.  I did not think the China Glaze Wireless Holographic Top Coat would work.

I really thought that China Glaze had set themselves an impossible task.  The top coat needed to be sheer enough that the original lacquer colour shone through, but needed to have enough 'holo-icity' (I think I just made up a word) to make it worthwhile ( I know that reader, Millie, likes her holos strong and present).

So did it work? I tested it against four colours - Chanel (that's right, I holo-d a Chanel), kit, Mecca Cosmetica and BYS.  Check out the skittles after the jump, including mega closeups of my favourites.

Glimmer Shimer - 'Bad Boy'

This lacquer from Glimmer Shimmer (sorry I don't know anything else about this brand) is nameless. If you have a great name for the little orphan, let me know in the comments.  I'm naming him Bad Boy. Read on to find out why.

Now, I really love this colour on the nail.  It's a beautiful, burnt brown with shimmer all the way through it. It only took two coats to get to opaque and a high shine.

BUT....

Check out the bottle.  Look closely.  It's plum right?  And now look at my nails.  Not plum.  This lacquer is so bizarre.  It's like two different colours and I can't figure out how the heck that happened.

Secondly, the formula itself is weird.  For those of you familiar with gel nails, that is the consistency of the lacquer.  It's so thick that it makes a quick manicure out of the question.

Finally, and compounding the formula issue, the brush is a weapon of mass cuticle destruction.  The brush on this is like a toilet brush.  It spreads the lacquer everywhere, resulting in me having to do major cleanup.

This lacquer is like a bad boy at a bar.  You know you shouldn't but it's just too hot to ignore.  So I will indulge, despite the pain it brings, because life is too short not to enjoy bad boys.  Even ones who look totally different in the cold light of day. ;-)

City Girl 2000 - #19

I often equate my approach to a  lacquer with its price.  $50 and it had better be worth it.  $1.50 and I'm expecting it to turn me blind.

So I applied this with all the cheeriness that comes when you're a kamikaze manicurist (seriously, if anyone is looking for a new blog name, Kamikaze Manicurist is an awesome one).

And I didn't go blind!

This is most definitely a layering lacquer.  It might go opaque but the formula is kinda gluggy and thick and slow drying.

This is three coats over a single coat of RBL's Sheer White.  It's a beautiful, pearl-esque lacquer with flashes of blue throughout.  For a lacquer that is super cheap, I'm quite surprised at how lovely this is.

I might use this over another of the manicures later this week, just to show you how it can transform a colour.  I suspect it might not be dissimilar to the CND Colour Effects, albeit alot cheaper.

Naily News #32 + You've Got Face

I'm calling for last drinks on this months' giveaway.  There's still time to enter so click here!

Any lacquer called Beanie has my vote.  Check out Rebecca's lovely swatch.

It's just a preview at this stage, but Mary has the Milani Liquid Metals collection in her beautifully manicured hands.

It's nail polish, but not as we know it.

I have a crush on Kitty to Karen's nails.  My parole officer says I need to stop stalking her but the heart wants what it wants.

All You Desire comes up with a beautiful, summery combination.

La Di Da is Ooh La La.

Kellie Gonzo takes a standard Barielle to new heights.

When I see Megan's swatch, I think of the Village People.  Click and you'll instantly see what I mean.  Do not blame me for the song that will inevitably play over in your mind for the next few days.

My beautiful little sister does a fantastic gradient manicure.

Charlotte rocks a Psychedelic Sister.

If you have a great nail post, paste a link in the comments.  Share the link love!

And read on to find out about my big news!

LA Splash - Blue Splash

You guys saw this earlier in the week, albeit under the Debbilia #74.

Now it's time for this little baby to stand all on its own.

For  a lacquer found in a darkened alley in Fiji, I think this is extraordinary.  I had no expectations and was happily blown away.

The formula is lovely and only took two coats to get to opaque.  No problems with the brush at all and no cleanup required.  That fudge on my middle finger is entirely operator error.

So tell me, ladies, what's been the best lacquer find you've had.  It can be either a Chanel found in a thrift store or a lacquer that was soooo ugly it was great.  Let me know, paste a link, in the comments.