this week’s tuesday talons is dedicated to my friend vanessa, who asked me recently if i could do a gold leaf manicure tutorial on the blog. i didn’t have anything else particularly exciting lined up for this week, so here it is! we are ever so obliging here at pb.

there are a number of gold leaf tutorials floating around that do a smooth, flat, entire nail covering gold leaf. but personally, i preferred this gold leaf-flecked look. two reasons: i had a little pot of crumpled gold leaf handy rather than a flat sheet, and attempting to smooth out a crumpled gold leaf is like trying to cram your sleeping bag into that little sack after camping. it will end in tears.

also, gold leaf is so delicate that no matter how good your top coat, little pieces will inevitably peel off within a day of application. this look is far more forgiving, allows for a few mistakes and if anything looks nicer as it gets more ‘flecked’ due to wear. if you want a smoother gold leaf look, the beauty department do a tutorial here.

i opted for a clean clear base and gold flecked tips. paint on your clear base coat and wait about five to ten seconds for it to become tacky. using tweezers, apply a piece of gold leaf to the end of the nail and gently pat down with a dry finger. wait a minute and apply two clear top coats to lock in the gold leaf. when dry, file down the excess gold leaf.

i had lots of little bits of excess gold leaf, so decided to make the thumb nails accents with a smattering of gold leaf over the entire nail. again, the look improves with wear, i think.

i adore the antique feel of the flecked gold leaf and how the design changes within hours of application as you go about your business. it’s one of those forgiving manicures where you’re not aiming for perfection – my favourite kind.

do you have a manicure in mind that you’d like to see on pb? let us know! i’m always open to suggestions and requests so if you have something in mind, tell me in the comment section, on twitter: @peanut_buttered or @andreamagrath, or on facebook.

p.s. peanut buttered were featured on the blogger spotlight on one of our favourite nail brands, mavala, this month! you can read our interview here.

p.p.s have you entered our giveaway yet? to win a gorgeous ppq shangri-la palette, either:

• follow peanut buttered on twitter, and mention us in a tweet with ‘i love ppq and peanut buttered’
• like us on facebook and write ‘i love ppq and peanut buttered’ on our wall