A long time ago I did a very average version of Pshiiit’s tutorial for opal nails. This has some similarities but is altogether more successful. So here goes my Opal Nails Pshiiit -style for the second time! I’ll run through how I did it, because it is a little different from the original tutorial.

Polishes:

Chanel Attraction
Orly Skinny Dip
Kiko 388 Caribbean Green
China Glaze What a Pansy
2true Aphrodite
Essie Kisses and Bises and Shine of the Times
Dance Legend Avada Kedavra

Attraction was the base, with sponged colours (on a sponge dampened with thinner to sheer them out a bit) and Kisses and Bises in between the sponged layers to keep it all pearly-looking. Flakies on top, 1 coat Shine of the Times and 2 coats Avada Kedavra.

Opal Nails Pshiiit -style

Opal Nails Pshiiit -style

Flakies – and lots of them – were the key to this look.  They didn’t come out so well in these photos, but there were a lot. Three coats! I think next time I try this I will attempt a jelly-sandwich effect with the flakies, I think that will help.

Opal Nails Pshiiit-style

Opal Nails Pshiiit-style

Opal Nails Pshiiit

Some of the best opal nails I’ve seen use cracked ice or mylar flakes in the design – I’ve tried this but I may have used too many, because I couldn’t get them to lay flat. They create a more chunky effect that the flakies in polish but look very realistic. I think I needed more white showing alongside the colours to balance this design out – it looks a bit too blue.  Maybe more green next time too.