Hard Candy Wild Child reminds me a lot of my prom dress, which I wore many martian moons ago. đ
It had a cobalt blue satin corset and princess-seamed skirt. Beneath it was a petticoat with several mesh layers to help puff out the bottom. Then, on top were a couple of layers of purple tulle that, from various angles, made my dress shift like a duochrome from purple to blue.
This was my fairytale dress, as only the night before shopping, I had done a quick sketch of what I planned to look for. Then, hung on a rack near the ceiling of an evening gown store (the first boutique I went to, which was also on my birthday), I looked up and saw the dress I drew right before my eyes. It was meant to be. *Cue the song “So This Is Love” from Cinderella*
Since then, a lot of time has passed. For instance, dinosaurs no longer roam the earth. Also, wheels have gone from being square to becoming round. đ
Despite the passage of time, I still feel nostalgic whenever I see the colourful combination like the magic contained inside Hard Candy Wild Child. It’s my prom dress in a bottle!
Hard Candy Wild Child Pictures
Artificial Light
Natural Light
Artificial Light
Natural Light
Hard Candy Wild Child Swatches
All swatches have:
- OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener – Maintenance version (Used as a base coat)
- 2 coats of Hard Candy Wild Child
- Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Artificial Light Photos
Natural Light Photos
Claim: TRUSTED
- Purple (Yes)
Key Notes
- Name:Â Hard Candy Wild Child
- Amount:Â 7.8 mL (0.26 fl. oz.)
- Retail Price:Â $4.98 CAD
- Disclosure:Â This was provided as a press sample by PR.
- Where to Buy:Â Walmart stores (At the time I prepared this blog post, it wasn’t available on Walmart’s Canadian or US websites.)
Hard Candy Wild Child Review
Colour
Wild Child by Hard Candy is predominantly grape, but certain angles bring out a blue flash with flakes that transform this polish from pretty to mesmerizing!
Due to the saturated hue, I think that a wide variety of nailphiles will be able to sport this with confidence, as it’s hard to clash with a jewel tone.
It’s rich without being too dark in all different lighting, which is a bonus. You’ll get to appreciate purple instead of a near-black polish.
Finish
The finish is pearlescent, which alone can make it seem dated, but the bold blue flakes sprinkled throughout keep it looking fresh and interesting.
Yes, it has a ‘throwback vibe’ due to my old prom dress, but I view it like a classic colour, seeing as I wore a lot of purples when I first started collecting nail polishes more seriously in 2008.
Application & Formula
The first coat was very watery, sheer, and streaky. It tended to pool onto the sides of my nails, so the colour looked darker in those spots. With a second (and final) coat, the coverage became even and opaque. Plus with the second coat, the pooling on the sides wasn’t noticeable anymore.
I recommend that you use a thin first coat. (Don’t load up the brush.) Then, with your second coat, you can use a medium coat to get the desired coverage and pigmentation.
Due to the pooling on the sides of my nails with one coat, I wouldn’t suggest using this as a layering polish because it won’t appear seamless.
Pros
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Cons
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Final Verdict: 8/10
Wild Child by Hard Candy allowed me to relive wearing my high-school prom dress! đ Naturally, I have a soft spot for this colour combination, and despite the formula leaving something to be desired, it wasn’t unmanageable. As long as you expect the watery consistency and you’re careful when you paint your nails, you’ll get great results.
What did/does your prom dress look like? If you’re a guy reading this, what did you wear to your prom? Which celebrity comes to your mind when you think of a ‘wild child’? (For me, it’s Drew Barrymore. Her rise to fame in early childhood was laden with partying and substance abuse. It’s a testament to her and the people who love her that she was able to battle her demons, especially as a star in the spotlight!)
Ohhhh my my my my! Absolutely beautiful purple. Love this color. I will add to my list. Very smooth looking color. Looks beautiful on you.
Hey Robbie!
Thank you so much – THF! đ
Such a pretty color. and being a duochrome it’s like getting 2 polishes in one. LOL It looks gorgeous on you Mary! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Melissa!
That’s a good way to look at it. Duochromes are particularly great when you want to wear more than one colour and can’t decide. They’re the best of both worlds!
You’re too funny! I feel the same way when looking back at prom…it was a loooong time ago. Thanks for another great review!
Hey Beth!
Thanks for reading my reviews and supporting me over the years – means a lot! đ
My memories from then are still very vivid, and it’s amazing how so much time has passed. So thankful to have those precious memories to relive.
My prom dress was lilac with intricate design on the top with tiny pearls and beads stitched on. There was A LOT of cancan under my dress so you could see my feet when I was walking. It literally looked like I was gliding. The traps had a criss cross design in the back. I felt like such a princess in that dress! I got so many compliments for it and I have to thank my aunt for taking the time to make it for me from a picture that I printed offline and shown her! I still have it up to this day and I don’t think that I would ever be able to get rid of it. This is a gorgeous color and at lest you have your dress in a bottle :P.
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Hey Sasha!
Wow, your prom dress sounds like it was very intricate, and what a beautiful shade – lilac! (That’s my favourite flower, by the way.) Plus the way you described your dress, I can picture it in my mind, and I bet you looked like an elegant princess.
Must have this! Loved the story about the prom dress!
I prefer your “wild child” example of Drew Barrymore, she turned out great. Today’s wild child girls are still in the annoying phase đ
Hey Arathael!
It definitely takes a certain presence of mind and strong character to be resilient enough to navigate back to the straight-and-narrow path after losing control. For that reason, I respect Drew Barrymore.