MenuBack

REVERSE FRENCH MANICURE: GOTH NAILS WITH BLACK RED NAILPOLISH, WHITE TIPS.


Count D, my late cheeseball taste tester, bestowed upon me a $40 spa gift card that he found while cleaning his bedroom. (Yes, I have an odd life.) Now, I’m not a spa type; Goth aesthetics and spa esthetics don’t exactly mesh. In all my years, I’ve never gotten my nails done – unless you count a few neon paintjobs from LA’s Beauty Bar and NYC’s now-defunct Spirit. In fact, I’d almost rather have my fingernails ripped off than mince around with a dainty French manicure.

But massages and facials were out of the question, since I hate when random people touch me. (Yes, I’m an odd person.) So I thought – why not use this opportunity to get some crazy nail art, like the Vampire of Rose photos I posted?

Crazy nail art drawing, French manicure design with alternating nailpolish colors.

I left an enthusiastic voice message. The woman who returned my call chose her words carefully: “I’m sorry, but I must regretfully inform you that after having a conference with our resident artist, we’ve decided that our team will not be offering services in the direction of nail art…” (Seriously, she spoke as if Basil Farrow had been run over by a car.) Then her voice lifted: “How about a French manicure?” I held back my nausea and croaked out a “yes”.

But it was going to be on my terms. On the day of the appointment, I handed my baffled esthetician the above drawing. “But… we don’t have black nail polish, only shades of pink!” “Not to worry,” I said and pulled out three bottles from my coffin purse.

Following my instructions, she alternated red and black, with white tips and moons. I’m quite pleased with my reverse French manicure. They complement my blackened teeth (it’s MAC Fluidline eye liner), leather choker (made from an old guitar strap), mourning veil, and corset… just a typical day at the office.

Reverse French manicure on Christian Dior runway, Tracy Reese 2007 collection, Japanese yamamba girl with nail art.

I can’t claim to be Christopher Columbus on this one. Have you ever come up with a seemingly original idea, only to Google it and discover that a dozen people have done it already? At least I’m in good company: Christian Dior, Tracy Reese, and Japanese yamambas (left, center, right).

Twas a nice experience – but $60 for a reverse French manicure? Methinks I’ll be sticking to my usual self-inflicted, badly-peeling black polish.

SHARE & COMMENT

Filed Under Fashion, How-Tos
50 Comments

50 Comments

  1. Inspiration
    Posted July 13, 2008 at 11:13 pm | Permalink

    Interesting nails. I should do something like that. n__n

  2. /facepalm
    Posted July 13, 2008 at 11:13 pm | Permalink

    Your nails looks really nice!! I find it disappointing sometimes when I think I'm like the first one to try it out, but find that others already did it xD

  3. lacarmina
    Posted July 13, 2008 at 11:14 pm | Permalink

    Merci! I'm sure you can replicate it on your own with a steady hand and several coats of white polish… give it a try!

  4. Inspiration
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 6:13 am | Permalink

    Interesting nails. I should do something like that. n__n

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 14, 2008 at 6:14 am | Permalink

      Merci! I’m sure you can replicate it on your own with a steady hand and several coats of white polish… give it a try!

  5. /facepalm
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 6:13 am | Permalink

    Your nails looks really nice!! I find it disappointing sometimes when I think I’m like the first one to try it out, but find that others already did it xD

  6. Ari
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    i always have black and pink!i thought i was the only one who did this!Yaiii!oh!but you sure make it better than me^^!

  7. Gabe
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    :Laughs: i am so lame. standard black at all times. i am really bad with applying nail polish. i put it on and then i have to wait till its dry and take a q tip to the sides with nail polish remover to take away the slobbyness. but after you wash your hands a few times you can't even tell. hah.
    so if you have to go somewhere, paint your nails the night before. lol.
    still very creative and cute.

  8. Tiffany
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    Really really really good!

  9. Sutera Chan
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 10:01 am | Permalink

    ohhh i read much lol
    you don't do ama lolita..? i like ama lots and i'm pretty sure it will look good on you ^.
    ^

  10. lacarmina
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 10:02 am | Permalink

    I'm just as laissez faire… I can't be bothered to use a nail file or top coat, let alone clean up the edges! :)

  11. lacarmina
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 10:03 am | Permalink

    I don't think I've worn pink since 1995! ;]

  12. Ari
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 4:58 pm | Permalink

    i always have black and pink!i thought i was the only one who did this!Yaiii!oh!but you sure make it better than me^^!

  13. Gabe
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 4:58 pm | Permalink

    :Laughs: i am so lame. standard black at all times. i am really bad with applying nail polish. i put it on and then i have to wait till its dry and take a q tip to the sides with nail polish remover to take away the slobbyness. but after you wash your hands a few times you can’t even tell. hah.
    so if you have to go somewhere, paint your nails the night before. lol.
    still very creative and cute.

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 14, 2008 at 5:02 pm | Permalink

      I’m just as laissez faire… I can’t be bothered to use a nail file or top coat, let alone clean up the edges! :)

  14. Tiffany
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 4:59 pm | Permalink

    Really really really good!

  15. Sutera Chan
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 5:01 pm | Permalink

    ohhh i read much lol
    you don’t do ama lolita..? i like ama lots and i’m pretty sure it will look good on you ^.
    ^

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 14, 2008 at 5:03 pm | Permalink

      I don’t think I’ve worn pink since 1995! ;]

  16. The Mighty Odinsbacklash
    Posted July 14, 2008 at 10:52 pm | Permalink

    I like the alternating red and black.(And I liked seeing you in eyeliner like that too.)In fact,I often alternate the colours on my nails,especially if I have wardrobe planned for 2 consecutive days and I want my nails to match both days clothes..As far as the polish that gets on my cuticles,I just let it dry then scrape it off with the edge of a dry nail,or the edge of a piece of paper.A wet washcloth works well too.Just make sure thre polish is dry before trying that!

    I do my own nails too.I can't see the point paying good money for a job I can do on my own.And….any oil like baby oil or salad oil,will help polish to dry much faster.I learned that in beauty school,lol

  17. The Mighty Odinsbacklash
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 5:52 am | Permalink

    I like the alternating red and black.(And I liked seeing you in eyeliner like that too.)In fact,I often alternate the colours on my nails,especially if I have wardrobe planned for 2 consecutive days and I want my nails to match both days clothes..As far as the polish that gets on my cuticles,I just let it dry then scrape it off with the edge of a dry nail,or the edge of a piece of paper.A wet washcloth works well too.Just make sure thre polish is dry before trying that!

    I do my own nails too.I can’t see the point paying good money for a job I can do on my own.And….any oil like baby oil or salad oil,will help polish to dry much faster.I learned that in beauty school,lol

  18. kagitsune
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 8:39 am | Permalink

    You can actually do the reverse french manicure yourself quite easily. They sell little stick-on templates for you to paint over at drugstores. ^^

    I've only gotten a pedicure once…. I've been blessed with really beautiful fingernails, so I never feel the need to paint them! ^^

  19. kagitsune
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

    You can actually do the reverse french manicure yourself quite easily. They sell little stick-on templates for you to paint over at drugstores. ^^

    I’ve only gotten a pedicure once…. I’ve been blessed with really beautiful fingernails, so I never feel the need to paint them! ^^

  20. Lady Julianne le Fay
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 11:22 am | Permalink

    $60, when you provided the polish! Ludicrous! But I love the look. Would like to see how you do your eyeliner, too. I am terrible at trying to do it all around my eyes like that.

  21. lacarmina
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 12:41 pm | Permalink

    Thank goodness for the Count's $40 gift certificate!

    Great idea – I should do some makeup how-tos… maybe videos…

  22. Lady Julianne le Fay
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 6:22 pm | Permalink

    $60, when you provided the polish! Ludicrous! But I love the look. Would like to see how you do your eyeliner, too. I am terrible at trying to do it all around my eyes like that.

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 15, 2008 at 7:41 pm | Permalink

      Thank goodness for the Count’s $40 gift certificate!

      Great idea – I should do some makeup how-tos… maybe videos…

  23. YOURSOSTUPID
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 10:37 pm | Permalink

    Why…the FUCK would you put eyeliner on your teeth? ARE YOU MAD, WOMAN? You need some serious fucking help.

  24. lacarmina
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 11:06 pm | Permalink

    Ahahah! It's a tribute to the Japanese teeth-blackening of days past. It was known as Ohagura and was believed to enhance attractiveness – in addition to maintaining healthy teeth.

  25. Memnoir
    Posted July 15, 2008 at 11:22 pm | Permalink

    so dead sexy

  26. YOURSOSTUPID
    Posted July 16, 2008 at 5:37 am | Permalink

    Why…the FUCK would you put eyeliner on your teeth? ARE YOU MAD, WOMAN? You need some serious fucking help.

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 16, 2008 at 6:06 am | Permalink

      Ahahah! It’s a tribute to the Japanese teeth-blackening of days past. It was known as Ohagura and was believed to enhance attractiveness – in addition to maintaining healthy teeth.

  27. Memnoir
    Posted July 16, 2008 at 6:22 am | Permalink

    so dead sexy

  28. Frida
    Posted July 16, 2008 at 4:27 am | Permalink

    I must say I LOVE your blackened teeth!
    I can't imagine myself in it, but on you with that hair and that outfit, it's drop dead gorgeous.

    I never thought I'd like Ohagura, but I guess I haven't seen any pictures of it.. at least not of a person who wore it with a fitting attitude like you :)

    I like the nails too ^_^

  29. :)
    Posted July 16, 2008 at 4:33 am | Permalink

    You look like a hot mess, woman.

  30. Frida
    Posted July 16, 2008 at 11:27 am | Permalink

    I must say I LOVE your blackened teeth!
    I can’t imagine myself in it, but on you with that hair and that outfit, it’s drop dead gorgeous.

    I never thought I’d like Ohagura, but I guess I haven’t seen any pictures of it.. at least not of a person who wore it with a fitting attitude like you :)

    I like the nails too ^_^

  31. :)
    Posted July 16, 2008 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    You look like a hot mess, woman.

  32. lacarmina
    Posted July 16, 2008 at 2:06 pm | Permalink

    hahah merci beaucoup!

  33. Anh
    Posted July 17, 2008 at 10:12 pm | Permalink

    Love what you did with your nails!

  34. Anh
    Posted July 18, 2008 at 5:12 am | Permalink

    Love what you did with your nails!

  35. Misora Yoru
    Posted July 19, 2008 at 11:01 pm | Permalink

    aw,I like your clothes ♥

  36. Misora Yoru
    Posted July 20, 2008 at 6:01 am | Permalink

    aw,I like your clothes ♥

  37. Akari
    Posted July 21, 2008 at 6:48 pm | Permalink

    That's ridiculous and outrageous for nails @_@
    I paid $33.00 for my fake nails, and got them decked out in black and white stripes, not too mention they are long.

    Btw, La Carmina, have you seen Alchemy jewelry? It's got a very goth look with coffins and such. I love it considering I'm a coffin fan and bought a coffin ring that's pewter and dark purple with a person inside of it! ^^

  38. lacarmina
    Posted July 21, 2008 at 6:55 pm | Permalink

    Ooh thanks for the link! I'm fond of coffins too, ahah

  39. Akari
    Posted July 22, 2008 at 1:48 am | Permalink

    That’s ridiculous and outrageous for nails @_@
    I paid $33.00 for my fake nails, and got them decked out in black and white stripes, not too mention they are long.

    Btw, La Carmina, have you seen Alchemy jewelry? It’s got a very goth look with coffins and such. I love it considering I’m a coffin fan and bought a coffin ring that’s pewter and dark purple with a person inside of it! ^^

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 22, 2008 at 1:55 am | Permalink

      Ooh thanks for the link! I’m fond of coffins too, ahah

  40. nomuna
    Posted July 29, 2008 at 12:53 am | Permalink

    like dior..

  41. nomuna
    Posted July 29, 2008 at 7:53 am | Permalink

    like dior..

  42. Nail Polish
    Posted August 19, 2008 at 3:05 pm | Permalink

    Thank you for such great information..
    Thanks

    http://www.nailpolishcare.com Nail Polish

  43. Nail Polish
    Posted August 19, 2008 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    Thank you for such great information..
    Thanks

    http://www.nailpolishcare.com Nail Polish