Omg I love those designs!

Knerd: I did ones JUST like that 3rd picture in the spoiler bar you posted. I just made it up off the top of my head, and they look almost identical to what I did!
I've done my nails GB inspired now. Red all over and blue sponged onto the ends of them all.

Connielass: I heard one of the commentators say that there was a nail art salon in the Olympic Village. They get masses of food and stuff too.

Ooh, sounds like the olympians have some nice things to do in their downtime. ^_^

I think I tried painting my nails when I was younger. In high school perhaps? But it got cumbersome because my nails grew too fast and I'd have to clean them off and paint a new coat. I think I do not have such patience. Haha

I can live without my finger nails being polished. But it's hard going without my toes getting something done.

This month, China Glaze, OPI, and Essie are all releasing their fall colors, and my craft job already has Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations out, so I'm in the fall mood. I'm going to take off the silver polish and put on Essie's Lady Godiva. I just really, really wish Essie made a gel line with the exact same colors like OPI does. The OPI gel is great, but I'm not so keen on their colors, with a few exceptions (Kyoto Pearl, Brisbane Bronze, Passion). I love Essie.

I just redid my nails last night with a beautiful derp blue/teal color but my top coat is too old and thick do I'm already having problems with them. T_T

---------- Post added 08-10-2012 at 12:19 PM ----------

I love your avi Pancake!

Speaking of fall.. Hey zigbigadorlube: what's that fan in your avi's hand?

It's from the most recent CI. I think it's called Tomoko? Something with a T anyway. >_< It's really pretty isn't it?

---------- Post added 08-11-2012 at 08:57 AM ----------

Tengu. I believe that's it actually.

Anybody have a recommendation for a good base coat? I'm almost out of mine and I'm not sure why, but I'm not pleased with it and want to try something different.

I've been using an Essie base coat and it seems to work pretty well for me. It's my first base coat though, I haven't tried any other brands for comparison. What were you using before?

Ooh, your avi is neat, Zig.

I've been using a Revlon base coat. It's also the only one I've ever tried. It has some strange qualities that I'm not sure how to explain.

I've kinda stayed away from Essie because I thought it was overpriced, but if it's a good base coat I'll think about it.

I use Palladio, which I bought at Sally's. It's lasted for at least a year and still hasn't gotten thick, even after being left in the boiling heat of the car for a couple days.
I absolutely love it!

I've been wanting to go to Sally's lately, so I'll look into that! The major issue with mine now is that it's getting thick and base coat is just one of those things you can't thin down.

@ Fate: I've been having the exact same problem with my top coat. >_<

Yeah, top coat is another thing. I haven't been able to find a top coat yet that doesn't get thick.

When it's new, Seche Vite is my absolute favorite. But it does tend to start getting a bit thick, and they need to work on the sturdiness of the brushes they put in those bottles.

I don't think there's a top coat around that doesn't get thick when the bottle is about half empty. Mine is really bad about that because it's an instant dry top coat, but it's so damn good that I just can't stop using it despite the fact that it gets thick.

I usually use Sally Hanson top coats but they keep getting thick on me. I think I'm going to try Essue next time I need to get a new bottle.

I use a Sally Hansen topcoat, and I love it. It makes my nail polish last a week without a chip, so I can deal with it getting thick. It still lasts about five-six months before it gets thick, so it's worth it to me.

I really just want to test if other top coats would thicken as well. Sally Hanson works okay for me but I usually get some chips after a few days.

Seche Vite finally started selling their topcoat and base coat in Wal Mart where I live, so I've been thinking I'll give them a shot, myself. I've heard a lot of good things about them.

Oh it's the best! Especially when you put it under the UV light for a few seconds or so, and THEN go under the normal wind dryer.

But as I said: I've had issues with the brush falling out, and it getting a bit thick as most top coats do.

Elysium: I would go for the top coat, but I got the duo pack of base and top coat and I threw the base coat away in a drawer after one use. Unless you are fine with having a thick layer, just for the base, I would skip it. However, I did not apply any colour over the top, and so I don't know how it fairs as a base coat in that aspect.

The top coat is lovely though, it doesn't feel like an extra layer, it's like it melts all the layers together and makes it really nice and shiny!

Everyone who has told me about Seche Vite says that it shrinks the tips so I'm not sure I'd try it myself.

The base coat or top coat shrinks the tips?

I can tell you all that Revlon base coat shrinks the tips, and that's mega irritating.

I guess I won't be trying that one anytime soon then. >_<