Homemade Nail Polish: Create Unique Colors and Designs For Stunning Nails

By Allison Rose Spiekermann

Learn how to make your own nail polish colors to create personalized, customized looks just for you.

With this book and some imagination, you’ll be whipping up gorgeous polishes in no time. Learn how to:

• Fashion vibrant crèmes, shimmers, and shades
• Sparkle with glamorous glitter
• Craft adorable labels and gifts
• Paint perfect patterns with pro tricks
• Style one-of-a-kind nail art

Whether you are looking to match your nails with a specific dress or just have fun playing with shades and hues, this book’s step-by-step instructions, color photographs, and detailed recipes offer everything you need to make the color of your dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: May 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781612433318

Book preview

Text copyright © 2014 Allison Rose Spiekermann. Photographs copyright © 2014 Allison Rose Spiekermann except as noted below. Design and concept © 2014 Ulysses Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Published in the U.S. by

Ulysses Press

P.O. Box 3440

Berkeley, CA 94703

www.ulyssespress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61243-331-8

Library of Congress Control Number 2013957315

10987654321

Acquisitions Editor: Kelly Reed

Managing Editor: Claire Chun

Editor: Kate St. Clair

Proofreader: Barbara Schultz

Cover design: Michelle Thompson

Interior design and layout: what!design @ whatweb.com

Cover photographs: front © Meera Lee Patel; back © Allison Rose Spiekermann

IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS: This book is independently authored and published and no sponsorship or endorsement of this book by, and no affiliation with, any trademarked brands or other products mentioned or pictured within is claimed or suggested. All trademarks that appear in directions, photographs, and elsewhere in this book belong to their respective owners and are used here for informational purposes only. The author and publishers encourage readers to patronize the quality brands and products mentioned and pictured in this book.

To Max, for everything

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

Ingredients: What They Are, What They Do, and What to Look for

Chapter Two

Equipment: What You’ll Need and Why

Chapter Three

Recipes and Techniques

Polishes Made with Eye Shadow

Combining Nail Polishes

Loose Glitter and Glitter Mixes

Special Effects Additives

Jellies

Deconstructing Nail Polish

Naming and Labeling Your Creations

Chapter Four

Nail Art Ideas Using Handmade Polishes

Resources

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

Wearing nail polish is a fast, fun, and easy way to express your creativity through color and design. But have you ever been inspired to wear a color that just didn’t exist? Or wanted to create a polish inspired by a picture you’ve seen or to match an outfit for a special occasion?

This book is designed to teach anyone to be able to mix unique nail polish colors quickly, easily, and consistently — and often using nothing more than what is available at your local drug store. A detailed section on equipment and ingredients will explain what each item can be used for and its benefits to you as you begin your mixing adventure.

Interested in glittery polishes? Learn about the different colors, sizes, shapes, and finishes of glitter — and which are best suited for use in polish. Have you tried mixing polish but ended up with separated or lumpy polish? I’ve also included techniques that will help you improve existing polishes using a combination of mixing and application techniques.

By following the more than 30 recipes provided here, you will become familiar with the concepts of mixing colors — even adding special-effects pigments to make your creations really stand out. Along the way there are photos and instructions to guide you and, ultimately, prepare you to begin mixing your own unique color combinations!

Finally, there are chapters that cover nail polish application and nail art techniques so you can best showcase your handmade polishes.

Chapter One

Ingredients: What They Are, What They Do, and What to Look For

Before you begin making your own nail polish, it’s helpful to understand what the main ingredients are and what they do. All nail polish begins with basically three types of ingredients: film-forming agents, plasticizers, and solvents. Different manufacturers will use various ratios of these ingredients (a closely guarded secret!) in an effort to optimize wear, application, and appearance.

The main ingredients, the ones usually listed first, are solvents. These are what help keep the polish a workable consistency that can be applied to the nail neatly. A combination of quicker-and slower-evaporating solvents are used so that immediately after application,