I was so excited about trying this flower manicure out – it’s so perfect for spring nails and just cheering everything up. However, unless you have the skills of Marian Newman and/or the patience of a saint, it’s extremely difficult to achieve anything like the results shown on the box. And, for a good portion of Sunday morning, I really tried hard with this.
The little flowers are real dried flowers – bursting with colour and detail – the kit comes with a quick dry top coat, a mini pink polish in Candy Floss (gorgeous colour), two little pots of dried flowers and tweezers to help you to place the flowers.. and you will need them because it’s a delicate operation. The problem is that the flowers are extremely delicate – they break quite easily, and while you need to put them on wet polish so they have something to adhere to they do not want to lie flat, so you end up pushing them around a lot. I had to try three times with the white flower which has lots of little fronds to it and the result wasn’t great at all because I couldn’t get them smooth; even when I did get the fronds lying flat, you get a raised result nothing like the picture on the box. Also, what happens if you are too generous with the top coat is that it then disintegrates the flowers anyway, ending up in one hot mess.
I’m so disappointed with this – and that’s unusual for me because I’m a real fan of Ciate – and would have to say that unless you have sublime skills with nails give it a miss. I think, while the idea of real dried flowers is absolutely lovely, water decals would perform so much better and give a smooth result.
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12 comments
Woah that’s completely different to anything I’ve ever seen and the overall effect is gorgeous.
I definitely want to get my hands on this kit!
xx
nailsandteapots@blogspot.co.uk
Thats a shame, because it looks so pretty in the ad but I don’t have any patience so wouldn’t be good at this.
http://thebravestindividual.blogspot.co.uk/
Ciate really irritate me with all their “innovations”. They just take something commonplace to anyone interested in nail art, package it up and and slap a hefty price tag on it. You can buy small packets of nail art dried flowers for less than two quid and buying bigger quantities works out even cheaper!
That said, it is such a pretty look and I think you did really well!
I love the Ciate nail polishes but I find the kits far too fiddly! I think I’d be there all day! I have to say though, the mani does look fabulous!
Stephanie (@hopefreedomlove)
http://missstephanieusher.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3436251/hope-freedom-love
xxxx
I have to agree with Charlie – Ciate are right buggers, you can buy dried flowers for nails very cheaply! Also the image on the box is either shopped to hell, or the flowers have been embedded in gel or placed petal-by-petal instead of the whole thing or… I don’t know, something’s been done! You did a lovely job though and the colours are well paired.
I think you did really well Jane! I love the look in the image but would not have the time or patience to recreate it. Maybe one flower on an accent nail, but if they’re cheaper elsewhere, that’s where I’ll be looking!
Nic x
Sounds like more effort than it’s worth but I do think your nails still look really good, for an at-home job. The product seems like a dud though.
Iram @ Lovestruck for Louboutins
Can always trust Ciaté do come up with something unique – very interesting look, although I’m not sure how practical it’s going to be :o). Xx
Makeup by Candlelight
Aww that’s a shame because it is a lovely idea. It looks to me like the flowers you get are a lot bigger than the ones pictured though, maybe that’s half the problem?
Fiona x (www.pownails.co.uk)
That’s a shame. The idea is great and it looks so pretty but I can barely paint my nails, let alone apply real flowers. Your efforts paid off, I think your nails look great!
http://tashasface.wordpress.com/
i think i will give this mani set a try because after your review i have made myself an idea of what i could do for the manicure to actually be a little bit more effective. My idea is actually separating petals from the flowers and maybe try to cut some voluminous areas of the flowers out so that they can lay flat on the nails. i will make those operations first, to make the application easier. why don’t you give it another try and see what happens?. Maybe you get better results, but i do find this mani quite original. Also, does it come with a mini paint pot or a full-sized one?
Ro
http://pinklillyland.blogspot.com.es
What a shame application is so difficult! The result is so gorgeous!