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Monday, May 14, 2012

Nail Polish: Inspired!

I've decided to answer in more length the question that I've frequently been asked lately; which is 'how exactly do you make your own nail polish?' I am in no way to the stage where I formulate a polish with a company and then order x-amount of it bottled, but I am excited to say that I've sold several bottles on Etsy this week, and  I get excited every time I get that email saying that someone bought something.


So let's start out with what I *do* use.
This is my current collection of supplies: glitters in the back in tubes and baggies, shimmer powders and flakes to the left, and nail polish colors and base to the right.

I like to mix in jelly jars because they're easily cleaned out and re-used to mix (or for food, after I've cleaned them out eight times and then washed them with soap about the same), and because that lets me make a big batch for sale all at once. If you're just getting started, mix in an empty nail polish bottle that you already have so that you don't waste too much.

I start off by going to my color chart, where I keep a swatch of every complete color I've already made. This gives me a good idea of what types I've already covered, and what I can work with or build on.


Then, I look for a source of inspiration. Today, it was my little sister, Maia. One of her favorite colors is orange, and she's not that much into sparkly things. With the name I've already picked out in mind, 'Maia Papaya,' let's get started!

Select a basic color you want, and decide whether you want it sheer or completely opaque. Then, start mixing, a little bit at a time!


I wanted to make a really nice warm orange that's on the creamy side, so I started mixing an orange with a creamy yellow.


But it needed a little more depth to the color, so out comes the darker and shimmery orange.


Mix it all together really well, and then add the nail polish base to make it as sheer as you'd like.



Then, it's time to pick your additives. What glitters do you like? What ones will really spice up the color you've selected? Maia isn't into super glittery things, so I just added in some red sparks, which will give it a nice red shimmer.


And then it's time to mix, mix, mix again!



Those bubbles you see in the jar are air bubbles that will 'pop' out with time. The best way to mix nail polish so you don't get those is by using a stick or 'rolling' the jar between your hands until everything is mixed evenly. Once you've got everything mixed up to the point you like it, it's time to bottle!


And no nail polish is complete without having some pictures of it being used.





So now I have a wonderful new color, Maia Papaya, added to my color chart, and hopefully you understand what goes into making personalized polishes a little better.