How Do I Get French Tips w/ a Rich Pink Clear?

I saw this ad on my Facebook today:

Photo by...some advertiser.

Does anyone know how to get that rich, rich, rich pink transparent nail bed, w/o staining the white tips pink?  Do I have to do the nail bed 1st & the white 2nd?

Or are there any strong-pink clear topcoats that nevertheless won't mess up white?
Also, any recommendations for a brand & color?

French Manicure with Essie Mademoiselle and Essie Marshmallow

My first "lookit ma polish" post

First off:
Photographing nails is hard. Wow!

My French style comes from The Polish Addict's Essie French Manicure and Nail Fanatic's replica, as well as tips I picked up from Sarah the manicurist and various places on the internet.

• Base coat:  Opi Nail Envy in matte.
• Whites:  Essie Marshmallow (2 coats)
• Nail Bed:  Essie Mademoiselle (as little as I can)
• Top coat:  Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle - Salon Strength 
• (slow to dry, but I already owned it & it does seem to last)

DIY French #4:  Finally good enough to photograph
(Gotta moisturize those cuticles before my next glamor shot!)

This combo was instantly serviceable, perfect on attempt #4.


#1:

• After Orly, I'd learned to move my hand, not the brush, for whites.
• Tip wear--learned after this to wrap them.
• Mademoiselle really dulled the white--boooooo.

#2:

• Essie Marshmallow is forgiving when you're sloppy w/ the whites.  As is my husband's eye--he loved it anyway.
• Wrapped tips; lasted 5 days (w/ touch-up mani lasted 8).
• Mademoiselle trick:  Paint just the nail bed, then spread it at the last minute over the whole nail.
• I used too much Mademoiselle & obscured my nail beds' natural pink.

  

  Au naturel:  Pink nail bed, ivory tips

#3:

• Dishes & Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle don't mix.  Destroyed!
• Started coveting a collection of simple colors for Sunday nights w/ 1 hour left & lots of chores.

#4:

• Mastered the Marshmallow (granted, it's on my non-dominant hand)
• Mastered the Mademoiselle
• Only my right hand is painted (left will get done after chores, before studying, 3 hours before bedtime tonight)

Next up:  Adventures in non-french colors.  Color.  I only have one bottle so far.  Hopefully that'll change.

Welcome to Grad School Nails

Technically, I should be studying.

But my husband did just coo, "Are you having a relaxing Saturday afternoon?" before he left me to my homework & housework.  So this falls under that, right?


The nail obsession started around New Year's.  I'm a lifelong nail biter who quit for my wedding.  I've been on-and-off since then.

January 1 I vowed I would grow my stubs out, and get a french manicure from Sarah, the woman who did my wedding nails, in time for my first night of grad school.

Pre-Wedding Practice Run
Photo credit:  My husband.

Wedding Nails
Photo credit:  My wedding photographers.

Wedding Nails, rocking a 90's full-sleeve dress
Photo credit:  My wedding photographers.

Two weeks later, I knew I wouldn't last if I didn't polish them, stat.  I bought the Orly French Manicure kit at Sally Beauty Supply, thinking, "I'll just do this myself!"

What a disaster.  The clear American-style pink I was so excited about turned the white tips the color of the Crayola neon markers I loved as a kid.  I wish I'd taken pictures.


If all else fails, read the directions.

After hours on Gooogle, I found The Polish Addict's Essie French Manicure and Nail Fanatic's replica and determined I could do this myself--especially since Walgreen's carried the two essential colors, Essie Marshmallow & Essie Mademoiselle.

The good news:  I've since learned to do my own French manicures.  The bad news:  I became addicted to polish blogs.


"If I'm going to spend so much time on polish blogs," I thought, "Why not join the community and start my own?"

So welcome to Grad School Nails.  Enjoy the site and, if you see me post too much, ask me how my homework's going.