Layla Ultra Violet

I had no intention of taking off Zoya Blu as early as I did, but I woke up to a surprisingly clear and sunny morning and I was suddenly afflicted with holo fever.  Here's Layla Ultra Violet.  You've seen this one many times before, but it's my first holo of the year and I'm excited. ;)

You probably remember the big to-do about needing a special buffing stick, not using base or topcoat, and what a pain in the neck this stuff is to apply, anyway... I've been using Duri Rejuvacote as my basecoat exclusively for the past three months or so, and I just slapped on this holo with no prep work, nothing over or under, and I had zero issues.  It applied like butter; no tugging, patching, or balding.  The only issue I have with these Laylas at this point is the fact that half this mani will be gone by the time I get home from work.  It does not adhere to the nail, and for $14 a pop, it's hardly worth it.  I picked this up for $7 while the whole collection was on clearance at Ulta and while it's still pretty steep for a mani that doesn't last, the rainbow is gorgeous and it's got a remarkably quick dry time, making it perfect for something fast,easy, and really cool.

Thanks for reading! ☼

Layla Mercury Twilight

 

Hello, Layla Mercury Twilight!  THIS is how a silver holo ought to be; strong, light searing through your nails, high visibility under any light gorgeousness.

Let me address the issues I've read about and the issues I actually had with this.  First off, this polish needs to be shaken well, and often (like, between fingers).  It will clump, because it's so highly concentrated.  I used my standard basecoat, Sally Hansen Triple Strong, and I let it dry entirely before applying my polish.  There was, even so, a certain amount of balding.  The remedy is to put on a nice, thick coat so that you don't have to go over it at all.  It won't pool; just use a steady hand.  If you do experience balding, let it dry (and this dries in record time, seriously) and go over it again.  There are complaints about flaws in the nails being visible if you don't use the buffer the company recommends, but enough people have gone without the buffer that I feel it's pointless (and buffing weakens your nail!).  Three good coats left my nails satisfactorily smooth, and honestly, the holo effect hides much of that, anyway.  Finally, my topcoat did dull the effect.  I redid that nail.  I use Out The Door, and apparently not every topcoat will dull it, but this one did.  

I know this sounds like a lot of info and it probably makes these holos sound like a pain in the neck to deal with, but even as this was my first time using this polish, it was the single fastest manicure I've ever done.  And the payoff?  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

This polish is worth it.  I've heard a new lineup of darker holos are on their way, and I can't wait for them to hit the States.  

Thank you for reading!  Have an amazing Friday. :)