2017 Favorites

Kind of a mish mash year with a ton of old photos discovered.

There were, however, a few standouts that strum the heart strings.


Milani Showy Sea Green

This baby really just got me, but good. Love it a lot.



Dance Legend Chimera

Shimmery metallic blurple that just stole my heart. And kept it locked up!



Layla Flash Black

This black holo made the venerable OPI MPJ step aside: the complexity and depth of this one. Wow! It's a beauty!



Zoya Serenity

Pantone says purple for 2018, who am I to argue? I've been saying "purple" since 2010!
You go Purple!



Bees Knees House on Haunted Chill

While toppers are always a good thing, this one takes it to the next level for sheer glass fleck multichromicity.



El Corazon Kaleidoscope Leo

This baby is absolutely a stunner and I have a hard crush on it.
Darling!!




A short list, but all are so nice!

Thanks for reading my little nail journal.

Happy New Year!!!

Layla Hologram Effect Part 2

Here is part 2!

For part 1, please click here!

Here's a recap of my previous post:

How they apply

1 - All of these are three coats - a must.
2 - Chipping -because of the rigidity of holo pigment, a good layering system helps with wear:
     Normal mani
     Add top coat
     Top off with another layer of polish
3 - Flame and top coats - Layla's flame is sensitive to top coats, I've watched while holo flame                  vanished with top coat application. The layering technique in 2 helps.
4 - Balding - these will pull up pigment with a second coat. I used a ridge filler and had no issues. 

Back to the swatches!



Layla Hologram Effect 05 Jade Groove

A very pale neutral green. It almost looks like a silver, but it's a green. They came out with a better green in their second batch, called Emerald Divine. I'd recommend this if you love a seafoam type of green.



Layla Hologram Effect 06 Mermaid Spell

A gorgeous light blue. I think it ranges from a soft periwinkle almost to a peacock. It's a pastel and it's beautiful.



Layla Hologram Effect 07 Ocean Rush

Bright medium blue. More color pigment this time around and it really pops as a blue polish.



Layla Hologram Effect 08 Flash Black

A favorite. Black holos are hard, but this is really a charcoal due to all the holographic pigment.
I love how it has such a warm golden flame. It has the full rainbow, but the cool shades are more diffused.


There you have it.

I did try some stamping with these polishes, but didn't post. These work out very nicely as stampers, some are stronger than others, so I need to get a post together on that aspect, too. Coming soon!

I came in to polish from a time when the concept of stamping with a holo felt extremely wasteful with a rare commodity. Well, times have changed. I love stamping and I really think it's time I played with some holos!

Layla does not have these polishes on their site, so I am sure they are discontinued. Even they knew the formula was tricky with pulling up on a second coat (they sold a buffing stick that I didn't use), so perhaps they couldn't support it in the way they liked.

I like them a lot, they are traditional holographics, with a few twists, and a strong holo presence.

They are priced competitively on eBay and some crazy price points on Amazon. I'd prowl eBay.
(I have a few listed on my mom's auctions, too, for full disclosure)


Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Layla Hologram Effect Part 1

When these came out the flame was just beginning with the indie holos, so these were not merely epic, but had a strong holographic flame that was longed for and well missed by those who loved the old China Glaze and OPI offerings.

This is for polishes 1-8, but they released more. All are readily available on eBay.

Pigments that seemed to be gone were not merely back, but mind blowing-ly back.

How they apply

1 - All of these are three coats - a must.
2 - Chipping -because of the rigidity of holo pigment, a good layering system helps with wear:
     Normal mani
     Add top coat
     Top off with another layer of polish
3 - Flame and top coats - Layla's flame is sensitive to top coats, I've watched while holo flame                  vanished with top coat application. The layering technique in 2 helps.
4 - Balding - these will pull up pigment with a second coat. I used a ridge filler and had no issues.

To the polishes!

Layla Hologram Effect 01 Mercury Twilight

A cool, classic holo silver. gorgeous.
Not much more to say here.
Oh. Wait. Gorgeous!



Layla Hologram Effect 02 Coral Glam

A copper pink that tends toward an earthy coral in most light. My photo pulls a little blue and softens it up.
At the top of nail on the pinkie and index, you can see the warmer copper shade come out.
A favorite, and very unique.



Layla Hologram Effect 03 Retro Pink

A soft red toned pink that is very nice. Classic and neutral.



Layla Hologram Effect 04 Ultra Violet

A classic true purple. Not a plum, not a violet, just a gorgeous purple.
A favorite!


Part 2 in a day or two!

Thanks for reading my nail polish journal!