♡ ♡ ♡ NAIL POLISH BASICS ♡ ♡ ♡
- What's your favourite nail polish?
- That's like asking me what my favourite kind of kitten is... I LOVE THEM ALL. But my fav types of nail polish are holos, holo glitters, flakies, and multi-chromes.
- What's a holo?
- Are you an alien? Holo is short for holographic, which means sparkly and reflects rainbows of awesomeness and magical wonder no matter what base colour it is! Just check the holo tag on my blog to see what I mean. Chances are 80% of things I swatch are holo anyways.
- Where do you get your nail polish?
- ONLINE! No, there is rarely epic nail polish sold in drug stores, sorry. For standard polish like OPI, China Glaze, Essie blah blah blah yes these are sold at drug stores but they all so basic. I get most of my amazing quality holo/glitter/multi-chrome/otherwise awesome nail polishes on the internet!
♡ ♡ ♡ BASE COAT, TOP COAT ♡ ♡ ♡
- What kind of top coat do you use?
- hehehe
- What kind of base coat do you use?
- Depends what I'm doing! Most of the time I use a peel off base coat since I switch my polish so often, especially when swatching. Watch a video on using a peel off base coat here. Peel off base coats aren't just great for glitter, I use them for swatching multi-chromes or other polish too and thus use minimal amounts of nail polish removal for the little pieces that are left behind.
- However on my oThEr HaNd, because I want my nail polish to stay on for a long time, I use either a long-lasting base coat or a ridge-filling base coat to help smooth out my nails. (FYI: my right hand has eczema that has also impacted my nails on that hand, making them more ridgy/uneven/pitted. A ridge-filling base coat helps with this!)
- What's your favourite nail strengthening base coat?
- Noneeeee!! I used to use OPI's Nail Envy but then it made my nails so hard they would snap/crack/break more easily. Watch my video on how to grow your nails, I explain why I don't use a strengthener anymore :)
♡ ♡ ♡ NAIL CARE ♡ ♡ ♡
- How do you keep your nails/cuticles/hands so awesome looking?
- In a nutshell, DIY nail oil for nail strength, flexibility, and supple and tight cuticles. I apply this oil 2-5x a day, avoid soaking in water, and moisturize my hands a lot. No strengthening base coats (don't need 'em! They only make my nails too hard and prone to snapping/breaking).
- My nails are really brittle, they peel, and they keep breaking. What can I do to stop this?
- Same answer as above: nail oil oil oil! Apply it several times daily, avoid soaking in water, and try stopping the use of strengthening base coats.
- What's your favourite nail/cuticle oil?
- I've been making my own for years now! See how in this video on my YouTube channel.
- How do you get rid of yellow nails?
- I have no idea. But, it doesn't even matter. Watch my video on why yellow nails don't matter here.
- Things I have tried didn't really work, or they would require eating at the top layers of your nail to shed the yellow tint which is something you DO NOT want to do unless you want brittle thin breakable nails. I have come to accept that yellow nails come the the territory of polishing my nails up to dozens of times a week, no matter what base coat(s) you use.
- How do you file your nails?
- From edge to centre using a glass or crystal nail file. Glass files are more efficient at filing down the nail and leave cleaner edges with lesser splits. Watch my video on how to shape and file your nails on YouTube.
(note: last updated in 2016)
- What kind of camera do you use?
- I take my pics and film my videos with a Nikon D5300 camera body and a Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR lens. Prior to about October 2014 I was using the same body with a Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX lens.
- What takes better pics/videos, Canon or Nikon?
- Personally I think they both major DSL-R brands take great pics, but it's not always about "WHICH CAMERA IS BETTER JUST TELL ME SO MY PICS WILL BE BETTER"... there is so so so much more to taking a great photo than having "the best" camera, a concept which is extremely subjective anyways.
- You actually have to KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR DSL-R CAMERA. Which means understanding how to work in full manual mode (you'll need to if you want the most control over your pics = better pics that look like how you want them to look), and then you'll need to understand all the functions of manual mode. Do you know what aperture is? Shutter speed? ISO? Do you know how they work together to take a great photo? If not then I promise you, so long as you do your homework (read up on DSL-R manual functions, watch YouTube videos on it), then your new Canon or Nikon will take great photos, whatever brand you end up choosing. If they turn out shitty and assuming you bought a somewhat recent and fully-loaded DSL-R, then it's probably because you didn't know how to use it. Tough love, eh?!
- What kind of lighting do you use for your pics and videos?
- I used just 2 x 5200k 28W CFL (compact fluorescent lighting) bulbs screwed into regular 'ol desk lamps for the longest time. Around mid-February of 2015 I added a third CFL, 5000k 43W plugged into an Illumi softbox reflective umbrella contraption on a Mantis 3m stand. I got these at my local photography store but I've seen many similar items on Amazon like this PBL Photo Studio softbox, or kits out there like this one that come with it all. I still use my desk lamps as my major source of light as they are easy to aim/angle, but the large umbrella stand thing helps give an overall greater light exposure.
- Do you edit your nail photos?
- Yes, in Adobe Photoshop CS6. I use it to adjust light exposure levels, colour balance, add my watermark, make swatch/brush porn collages, memes, etc.
- How do you film/edit/export your nail art tutorials?
- Read and watch my video and blog post on how to make amazing nail art video tutorials! I cover everything from backgrounds to lighting to camera to editing and exporting to Instagram!
- I used to use iMovie, but recently I've switched to Final Cut Pro X because it lets me do some more complex stuff.
- Where can I watch your video stuff?
- I upload my full mani nail arts to my YouTube channel, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss my next full minute video!
- I also post 15sec versions of my nail art tutorials on my Instagram account.
- Where can I see some nail porn tho???
- Right here on the o the Nail Porn page! Nail porn is like porn for nail polish freaks - multiple-angled shots of gorgeous polish bottles, seductive brush moves, and sensual slow-mo glitter shots. You can find mine along with others' renditions under the #simplynailporn hashtag on social media. Head on over to the Nail Porn page to see all my videos so far!
♡ ♡ ♡ BORING STUFF ABOUT ME ♡ ♡ ♡
- When did you first get into nail art?
- I started doing stripes on my nails as early as 15... which was 11 years ago (do the math and you might just figure out how old I am). But at the time nail art wasn't a "thing", it was more or less considered tacky. So I was pretty much alone painting all my nails different colours, being obsessed with Sally Hansen Prisms and people thinking I'm a freak.
- When did you start blogging/Instagramming?
- In late February 2014 - here's my very first blog post! What took me so long? I never even realized there was an online community for my passion (obsession). That and I never had time previously to realize it as I was finishing grad school and the like. So when I defended my thesis in January 2014, I knew the first thing I was going to do was start a blog. YAASSS CAREER GOALS.
- Do you swatch for a living?
- HAHA, um, NO. I'd be poor AF and living out of a cardboard box if I did. I work full-time for the Canadian government as a crime statistics analyst and yes, I spend 99% of my time off work doing da nails.
- What do you do in your spare time outside of work and nails?
- Nothing... I'm in the stay home club.
- What's your favourite nail design ever?
- I gotta say the scaled gradient... represent!!!
- Can you please post a water marble tutorial?
- No.
- Can you do my nails?
- Can you bake me some cookies?
- Why are you so sarcastic?
- I have no idea what you are talking about?
Any more questions you'd like to see here that weren't answered? Comment below and I'll add them... maybe ;)
I had no idea I was already a member of a club! The stay at home club! I totally am :) Loved your FAQs!
ReplyDeleteYASSS STAY AT HOME CLUB MEMBER WUT UP
DeleteWhat's the music you are using on your intros? I went back on your first and last videos with it and I search the ones you put in the description box but I guess you always skip the main one.
DeleteWhat's the music you are using on your intros? I went back on your first and last videos with it and I search the ones you put in the description box but I guess you always skip the main one.
DeleteU rock simplynailogical
DeleteI would love to bake you some cookies!
ReplyDeleteCOOKIESSSSSSSSSSS
DeleteI started my instagram on May 2014 and we have the same amount of followers but yours has a k on it 😧
ReplyDeleteStay home club, is the best club ever! :p
ReplyDeleteIt's very odd to read someone else's lingo that sounds so much like yourself! We could be friends LMAO. Thank you for all of your tips. LOVE GIVERS, takers can bugger off!
ReplyDeleteDo you usually paint nails on both hands? Or just one hand?
ReplyDeleteGTFO...I totally JUST got a Gemma Correll Stay at Home Club shirt. I'm saving up for a Sulk sweater.
ReplyDeleteAre you my Canadian love child? Sarcasm, nails, SAHC, holowhores, sarcasm, bad shelf making skills? Coincidence?
Totally read that from your voice in my head!
ReplyDeletehttp://glamxur.blogspot.com/
One of my nails is weird as, like, looking down on so you can see the end of the nail, the left half is curved, and the right half just goes flat and doesn't curve to the other side of my nail, any tips on how I could change the shape of my nail or do I just accept this as my nail of shame?
ReplyDeleteI think we'll just have to accept it as it. Mine do the same thing. Annoying as all heck!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAre you affiliated with bliss kiss? You use a lot of stuff by them...simply blah blah blah, and your youtube name is the same as your fave peel off latex
ReplyDeleteI can't get the code to work :c
ReplyDeleteI can't get the code to work :c
ReplyDeletewhats does that symbol mean next to your name?
ReplyDeleteThe little pencil thing next to Cristine's name??
DeleteIt means since she is the editor of the site she has that little icon next to her name so we know its her.
DeleteIs "simplynotlogical" your account on Instagram?
ReplyDeleteIt is
DeleteHow tall are you
ReplyDeleteHi there, I was wondering if you keep the nail design for the week or take it off and just do same colour like the other hand for work?
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm having trouble with Unt peel off base coat. I tried one and two coats, but it's like it sticks to my nails too much. Any tips?
ReplyDeleteMake sure it's not on your nail. It's only supposed to be on your skin. I think anyway.
Deleteunt base should work like Cristine's and no it should go on your nail its a peel off base
DeleteBUT back on track try letting it dry completely and if not i can't really help u more sorry :)
hi there, I am new to your world. wondering which other blogs/youtubers you like and would recommend for someone who is interested in all things nails - and glitter :D
ReplyDeleteYou at least wash your hands right?
ReplyDeleteWhy are your nails yellow(I'm new to this holo world)
ReplyDeleteLook up her video in youtube "why yellow nails dont matter" she might have a post on this site about it but im mot sure. But basically its becuse she paints her nails so much.
DeleteHow old are you
ReplyDeleteCristine! Can you tell me how you get your unt peel off base coat to last so long? I know it isnt supposed to last too long, but I cant seem to make mine last 24 hours! Any advice would be much appreciated!😸
ReplyDeletePretty much the same thing here. I've heard Cristine says in a couple of videos that she has her mani's lasting a week with UNT peel off base coat but the longest I've gotten out of it was 36 hours. I was only getting 24 hours but I cut my nails down, a LOT, and buffed them really well and used alcohol to dry them out to get the base coat to stick as much as possible. I would be happy if it lasted 3 or 4 days but I can't get anywhere near that and I don't have the time to paint my nails every day so I wind up going back to Orly rubberized base coat to get a lasting manicure and just dealing with the acetone when it comes time to remove it. I really was looking forward to being able to wear glitter polish without having to soak it off.
DeletePlease help with this! I have the exact same issue. My hands aren't in water constantly and I do cap the nails. The whole thing pops off like a Lee Press-on Nail! 😿
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favorite glossy taco? I have trouble finding a really good one.
ReplyDeleteHi. What blogging platform do you use? e.g. blogger or wordpress? and what is the current theme you are using? Thanks
ReplyDeleteCristine,
ReplyDeleteYou are my 100% inspiration in life. I've had a really rough past few months and I just want to say thank you so much for awakening the homosexuality in me, leading me to soar to new heights. Whenever I watch your videos, all of my problems get washed away by the river of holo. I'm not allowed to have any social media, so I can't follow you, or else I would have long ago:(. I've only been watching your videos for 3-4 months and I've seen all of your videos at least 5 times each. In your old intro, what is the pink holo polish in the last slide? It's such a beautiful polish and I'd love to buy it! Is it menchiethe cat? Or something else? I'd really like to know what it is so I can buy it!
I want to know how much time do you let each coat dry?
ReplyDeleteWhere can I get your Holo nail polishes (in what site and where in Canada, Montréal) ?? BTW I have a little Holo bag for makeup and nail polishes
ReplyDeleteI have this problem where my nail polish peels of after a shower, even when I polished the nails a day ahead.
ReplyDeleteHOW IS THIS POSSIBLE AND IT'S SO FREAKING ANNOYING ERMAHGERD HALPp.
Good excuse to get the polish out again though...
What is your opinion on gel polish? c:
ReplyDeleteSo I avoid nail polish even though I love it. Mainly because I work in a school kitchen and my hands are in water a lot because of dishes (horrible, I know! Believe me...I wish I didn't have to put my nails through that). But I get the summers off and I'd love to play around with nail polish. However, I'm always disappointed. I'll paint my nails all pretty and then sleep (after they dry, of course) and when I wake up the next morning they'll be worn off/chipped off. How in the world do I prevent this? I use a top coat (and even a base coat last time it happened). Is it because my polish has usually been the cheap brands?
ReplyDeleteCould be. Different brands have different durability. It could also be your nails, maybe you need to dry them out with alcohol before applying the base coat? Maybe you need to cut them shorter to make them last? The shape of the nail matters too. Try different brands of nail polish, I am sure that there is something out there that will work with your body chemistry, it is just a matter of finding the right one. You could start with drug store polishes (like Wet N Wild or Sally Hansen) and go from there. Live Love Polish is a great place to get indie nail polishes, they have so much to choose from, if you want something special and like to order online. Good luck!
DeleteCould be. Different brands have different durability. It could also be your nails, maybe you need to dry them out with alcohol before applying the base coat? Maybe you need to cut them shorter to make them last? The shape of the nail matters too. Try different brands of nail polish, I am sure that there is something out there that will work with your body chemistry, it is just a matter of finding the right one. You could start with drug store polishes (like Wet N Wild or Sally Hansen) and go from there. Live Love Polish is a great place to get indie nail polishes, they have so much to choose from, if you want something special and like to order online. Good luck!
DeleteI love cats and holo too Cristine, YELLOW NAILS MATTER, (I have yellow nails and I love them!!! COVER THEM WITH HOLO, RIGHT?)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteso you sad what water is not good. I need help about sinking my nails in ,,nail bath''. And i'm doing it because i though it's good for my nails. it is? or i can skip this shit and forget to waist my time helping nails grow?
Did you ever display your collection of peelies in a video or somewhere online?
ReplyDeleteHow do you get your nails to dry so easily? Mine tend to take 3 days to completely dry. I don't think i'm putting it on any thicker than you are.
ReplyDeleteCan you please have an Ottawa meet up, I love you soo much and I live in Ottawa.
ReplyDeleteSame! I would love to meet her!
DeleteI NEED the intro music PLZZZ!
ReplyDeleteDo you have an updated favorite quick dry top coat? The marvel Liquid Macro Top Coat is out of stock :(
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi, I´m fairly new but I´ve already watched almost all of your videos and love them. Huge thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI don`t do my nails very often, but when I do, I have one issue, maybe you can help?
Even when I use a top coat, the tips of my nails give off the color, I leave stupid red marks on paper, which ist a bit embarassing at work. Wrong taco? Any ideas?
I´m not a native speaker btw, so please forgive any weird language ;)
My nails are white, tho. My index fingernails don;t grow!!! I waited a Month!!!
ReplyDeleteIt varies for everyone. It takes my nails about 1 month to get good nail quality. For some people it takes months.
DeleteI'm a good baker!!! I'll make you all the cookies you want. What'd ya say? I bake you cookies and you paint my nails? Yes, yes?
ReplyDeleteWhenever i paint my nails i always end up with little bubbles in the polish. I shake the bottle, roll the bottle, use thin coats, thick coats, normal, clean my nails, everything and it's slways the same!! Help
ReplyDeleteCould you do nail art for the nub club? Like on bens nails or something??? I have really short nails and nail beds so I can just about fit a gradient! Even the video on designs for short nails were too big!! XD XD
ReplyDeleteI could watch your videos all day! I found out I was a holosexual, the day I found u! Like, 2 months ago! HOLO, ITS ME. I HAVE ONE OF THOSE SHIRTS YASSSSSSSSSS, I LOVE U SOOOO MUCH ❤️
ReplyDeleteHello Cristine,
ReplyDeletedue to your YouTube-channel I got inspired to revive an old Hobby of mine, which I haven't been celebrating for a Long time:
Growing and "Styling" my nails! :D
Back then I had no clue and tried all those total beginner Fails, like using usual tape to try to draw a straight line and such, but your channel inspired me to get some more "pro" Equipment to try out other things now. :) I can't wait to get my first holo-polishes and the Equipment for various designs being delivered! :D
I also read your nail-care-guides and your Infos about how to make your mani last, same as your FAQ, but there are a few more questions, which I'd be happy to get your advise for.
You suggest not to go "naked", but to always wear nail-polish to protect natural nails. What would you say is the Minimum number of coats of polish one should wear to have a good Support for your nails? (For example when I'm about to attend to a very serious appointment, where I can't wear colorful nails, but would rather wear clear polish only to Keep my nails protected from breaking)
My Impression is and always has been, that each extra coat of polish needs more time to dry. What do you suggest how Long to wait after each layer before applying the next coat, if you want to fully dry each?
How do you check, if you nailpolish is dry without staining it?
Best,
Oase :)
what University did you go to? I also live in Ottawa and Im a big fan!
ReplyDeleteWill you reply to emails?
ReplyDeleteWhen you use peel-off base coat, is it possible to keep the nail polish you peel of and wear it later (assuming it all comes off in one satisfying peel-porny piece)?
ReplyDeleteso I know you dont really use gel polish but if you were to were gel nails, which line would you recommend? Because Im looking for something that I can just get online without a license. Just like there are freelance makeup artists, Im getting into freelance nail artistry and got all my acrylic jazz down but need some quality gel polish (which no one wants to sell me since girl got no license Dx)
ReplyDeletewhat is menchies birthday? or how old is she? i think our cats might be sisters
ReplyDeletefor the giveaway, if your viewer is under 18 and needs to send you the letter, where do we send it? do we email you or send it from your p.o box?
ReplyDeleteI was entering your giveaway and when I was done Google docs said there was to many request and to try again later. I did and it still didn't work
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us so much about u!! U rock. Love your blogs and videos!! You are such a nail fashionista. I wish I was too. Look forward to more vids and blogs
ReplyDeleteIf I bake you some Triple Fudge Deluxe Chocolate Cake will you paint my nails for free?
ReplyDeleteDo you still respond to questions here?
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of nail lamp do you use?
ReplyDeleteWhere can I purchase your "Holo It's Me t-shirt"?
ReplyDeleteDear Cristine,
ReplyDeleteCould you please add proper subtitles to your video "What's a holo?"? I am not a native English speaker and my English is not so good, so I cannot understand you completely. Please help! :)
Thank you!
Hi,Cristine
ReplyDeleteHow to enlarge my nail beds
What's your nail bed size
ReplyDeleteVery nice article. The way you presenting is very good. Before and after photos gives a clear understanding about it.
ReplyDeletevinilos decorativos