Back in high school, a large group of my friends and I rented a limo and went to the prom together.

It was a night that I still look back on and smile about because, as corny as it sounds, my experience was like that out of a teen movie. I was really living in the moment, enjoying every second of it!

I got my hair done, did my own makeup, and wore a blue/purple duochrome dress that had a corset top with a large layered, tulle, Cinderella-style bottom. Yes, I felt like a princess!

Interesting thing: Before I went shopping for my prom dress, I actually drew a colourful sketch of my dream prom gown. The very first place I went shopping at with my best friend, I struck gold. Literally, I found a dress that matched my drawing exactly, and it was hung on a hanger that was close to the ceiling of the store! (That never happens, so I knew it was destined to come home with me.) I half expected to see angels floating down and playing harps when I caught sight of it! My dad bought me the gown for my birthday (which was an atypical splurge), and I was ecstatic!

I danced spastic in my crazy high heels that night, slow-danced with the guys, took some photos, and felt so pampered in general. Up until that point, I had never been to such an elegant venue or treated to such attentive service from waiters! It really added to the magical experience, and being able to share it all with close friends made it even more amazing!

It was really amazing to see how great the guys looked! I couldn’t believe how they passed as gentlemen. A guy in a suit or tuxedo instantly makes you forget that just days ago, he was in the school hallway cracking jokes about flatulence! Haha!

Recently, Nicole by OPI teamed up with Prom Canada and invited me to participate in an exclusive nail challenge, which you’ll remember me blogging about yesterday.

(You can still VOTE FOR ME, by going to that Facebook link and clicking “Like” on my manicure photo! Please vote and help me to spread the word! Thank you so much!)

We were asked to choose 3 shades from a pre-selected list of Nicole by OPI nail polishes. I chose Nicole by OPI Dream Maker (shimmery pink), Nicole by OPI Please Red-cycle (creme red), and Nicole by OPI Candy is Dandy (textured pink glitter).

I came up with a look that features a prom couple and some hearts.

Come see my Prom Nail Art Tutorial with step-by-step written instructions and photos to show you how you can achieve the same look!

(If you try it out, please share your manicure with me. I’d love to see your creativity at work!)

Prom Nail Art Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener (Used as a base coat)
• 3 coats of Nicole by OPI Dream Maker (Provided by PR)
• Red: Nicole by OPI Please Red-cycle (Provided by PR)
• Pink Textured Glitter: Nicole by OPI Candy is Dandy (Provided by PR)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Natural Light Photos

Sunlight Photos

Flash Photos

*~* Prom Nail Art Tutorial *~*

What I Used:

1. OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener (Used as a base coat)
2. Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
3. Nicole by OPI Candy is Dandy
4. Nicole by OPI Dream Maker
5. Nicole by OPI Red-cycle
6. Konad Nail Stamper & Scraper
7. Bundle Monster Image Plate BM-317 (Check out my review on the 2012 Bundle Monster image plate set it’s from here!)
8. Tweezers
9. Cotton Ball
10. Piece of foil
11. Daniel Stone Art Tool #2

Step 1: Apply a Base Coat

Step 2: Paint Nails a Base Colour

I went with a light, shimmery pink, Nicole by OPI Dream Maker.

You could also use a peach, shimmery white, or another shade that better suits your skin tone. You’ll want to keep it a light colour, though, just so the design will stand out on top.

Step 3: Begin the Tuxedo

You may remember a long time ago, I did a Tuxedo Nail Art Tutorial on here. You can use the same steps to create this ring-finger design.

Apply some red nail polish onto a small piece of foil (that will act as a palette). Dip your dotting tool in it, and create 3 dots as depicted below.

Tip: If you don’t have a dotting tool, you can also use the end of an old makeup brush handle (that you don’t care about getting dirty). Or, you can buy some inexpensive Dollar Store paint brushes and use the ends of those. Also, sometimes pen caps work.

Step 4: Create the Bow Tie

I suggest using a smaller dotting tool to do this. Create two triangles on either side of the top dot. You’ll want to use a stippling motion rather than a dragging motion.

Step 5: Don’t Go Shirtless! Paint One On!

Here, you could use a nail striper to get crisper lines, but I just used the brush from the bottle and went slowly.

Start with your brush on the bottom, outer edges, and angle it inwards so that they join and form a point as shown below.

Step 6: Now to Start the Dress!

Create a sweetheart neckline for the dress by painting on what looks like the top of a heart.

Step 7: Add a Sting of Pearls

Use a small dotting tool, and add dots in a “U” shape to represent a pearl necklace.

Step 8: Add Some Glitz

Spice up the manicure so it has more dimension. Use a glittery nail polish to add some accents to the dress, middle of the bow tie, and along the tuxedo’s shirt.

Instead of just painting over the entire sweetheart neckline and shirt, I chose to use stripes, so the glitter wouldn’t be overpowering.

Step 9: Stamp a Cute Heart Design on Your Index Finger

Nicole by OPI Red-cycle can be used with nail stamping because it’s pigmented. It shows up lighter than when you paint with it solo, but for this design, it looks like a complementary reddish pink.

For the circular heart design, I used Bundle Monster Image Plate BM-317.

If you’re interested in seeing that image plate up close, check out my Bundle Monster 2012 Image Plate Set Review where I show you this and all the other plates in the collection.

(Also, I recently reviewed Bundle Monster’s 2013 Holiday Collection Image Plate Set. Click on the link to check it out!)

Step 10: Stamp on Another Heart Design for Your Pinkie

You could use the same heart design you just created, but I think it’s more fun to have a different design that still ties into the theme.

Here, I used another image from the same Bundle Monster image plate.

At this stage, it’s important to wait a good 30 minutes (or more, if possible) to allow all your designs to ‘set’ a little. If you rush now and apply a top coat, you risk smudging your design, especially the dots, which have thicker polish. (Be patient, and wait! It’s worth it!) 🙂

Step 11: Apply a Top Coat

I’m glad that I participated in this Nicole by OPI / Prom Canada nail challenge! It definitely was a challenge for me because these are colours that are out of my comfort zone. That being said, I was happy with the final look because it was fun to wear, and it was totally a ‘me’ manicure!

Contests like this are cool because they push you to try something different and see what you can come up with.

Be sure to check out all the entries from the talented participants. And please VOTE FOR ME – just click on that link and click “Like” on the Facebook page. (I would also greatly appreciate it if you helped me spread the word!)

Did you go (or will you be going) to the prom? What did you (or will you) be wearing on your nails for prom? If you didn’t go to prom, what did you do instead?