You’ll remember that just a couple of days ago, I posted what I thought were Ruffian Nails when actually they were Half Moon Nails. (Then I edited the post so that the description was more accurate.)

Well, today I actually have Ruffian nail art to show you. Hehe! It’s my first attempt, and I used Zoya Suri and Duri Divas Only.

If you compare the two, you’ll see that a Ruffian manicure follows the curve of the cuticle, whereas in a Half Moon manicure, you have the curve following the tip of your nails. Subtle, but important difference.

Out of the two, I think that the Ruffian design is growing on me, whereas I’ve always loved Half Moon designs.

P.S. Just realized that I used polishes that rhyme (Suri and Duri)! 😀 It’s like they were meant to be together…like the Alice in Wonderland twins, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

Ruffian Nail Art Swatches

All swatches have:

• CND Stickey Anchoring Base Coat
• 2 coats of Zoya Suri (This purple was provided by Zoya.)
• 2 coats of Duri Divas Only (purple-green duochrome)
• 1 coat of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Duri Divas Only Picture

Although I had to photograph it in dim natural light (not the best), I had to show you a bottle picture of Duri Divas Only. It’s really pretty in the bottle. It’s like magic in a bottle.

Tips on Creating Ruffian Nail Art

Sure, you could freehand this, but why not make it easier on yourself? I like to simplify nail art. When it comes to my life, though, I tend to be very complicated. 😉

• Do This on an Existing Manicure – I actually wore Zoya Suri as a full manicure for a day or two, so I did the Ruffian design on that existing manicure. I think it’s a good idea to use a Ruffian design to freshen up an old manicure. Not only will this ensure that the base colour is fully dry, but you can enjoy two manicures with less effort.
• Use French Tip Nail Guides – If you want a crisp line, use these stickers. On top of a fully dry base colour, position all 10 stickers so the curve roughly follows your cuticle. The part that you cover will be how much of your base colour will show. You can make this as thin or as thick as you want. (I prefer it to be on the thick side. Do what makes you happy.)
• When & How to Peel Off the Guides – Paint the nails on your first hand. Once you’re done, don’t wait for it to dry. Peel the guides off slowly from left to right or from right to left. (Doing this slowly helps you get the cleanest line. And peeling it off while the polish is still wet reduces the chances of getting bumpiness where the two colours meet.) Then, paint the nails on your other hand. To remove the guides on that hand, I suggest using tweezers so that you don’t accidentally ruin your now-wet nails on your first hand.
• Wait for Everything to Dry More – You don’t want to ruin all your hard work, so make sure to wait at least 15-20 minutes before you go adding a top coat. If you rush at this point, you might get bleeding colours, which I think detracts from the sharpness of the look.

Nail Guides I Used

Haha, I found it particularly funny how on the top right, they say “Half Moon”. It’s like they know about my ‘mistake’ earlier and want to confuse me more about Half Moon vs. Ruffian manicures. 😉

A closer look:

Which do you like more? The Ruffian design or the Half Moon design?

P.S. In case you didn’t see it the first time around, here’s a link to my blog post featuring Half Moon Nails.

P.P.S. In case I don’t say it often enough, I want my blog readers and supporters to know that I appreciate you all! I want to sing this to you, but I think Tina Turner’s better. 😉 You’re simply the best!