I gots trans stuff on the brain.

I went to CLF worship last night, and the person who was hosting coffee hour went by multiple pronouns and specifically said they like switching it up, and that was very very nice.

I talked with my partner about maybe possibly someday considering doing the hormone thing.

I gotta figure out how to come out to the people I live with. (I am…extremely not expecting any problems here, just, how do come out? It hard.) And also at some point I should do a Facebook coming out.

{PR} Fun in August is the @AdoredColors Polish of the Month. A super sparkling effect topper filled with assorted silver holographic glitters and reflective glitters. 💅🏽 Available for $11.50 at adoredcolors.com on August 13th at 10 am eastern time. . . . . . . #adoredcolors #funinaugust #polishofthemonth #potm #effecttopper #topcoat #holographic #holo #reflective glitters #glitternailpolish #holographicglitter #august2022 #aloominousswatches #indiemade #macrophotography #photocollage #nailpolishswatch #glossynailpolish #mattenailpolish #macroswatch #bottlemacro #nailpolish #indienailpolish #pr #prsample https://www.instagram.com/p/ChIZEX0OCx6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hello! What top coat would you recommend for nails?

My current stuff is just not holding up to my day-day and chips so fast now since my usual top coat brand went out of business.

Do you have any suggestions? Just plain top coat would be preferred. Love a good holo, but I do nail stamps and don't want to lose some of the design.

Definitely love a holo base for a stamp tho!!!

JUMPS OVER A FENCE yes!! I actually do have a strong preference, my fav top coat is the ella+mila "in a rush" topcoat. Initially I just picked it up because it's one that's toluene free- but it performs really really well imo! I've tried a few of the other ones people are hype about, and I've tried both of the ones that Holo Taco has, too. (I think they're kinda ass) The ella+mila one is really good, holds up and dries quickly BUT!! It's my christian duty to tell you that the brush that comes with it is also ass. That's the only complaint I have with it tho!

Finally got to use my new holo topcoat! It's SO pretty in the sunlight!

Today's polish is one of my favorite purples which is saying something cause I have a lot of purples. 👀😂 I freaking LOVE the base color, but then you add that fine holo sparkle and that shimmer and this one is *chef's kiss*. It actually reminds me of the intense twinkle you get from a reflective glitter polish but without all of the sandy texture and the 7 coats of topcoat you need to smooth it all out. 🤪 I included a blurry picture cause it was hard to see JUST how much sparkly holo was in this one. This is Venetian Sky from Cirque Colors.

This week's nail art is a brick... house.

I probably should have used a matte topcoat over this, but... 1) I didn't think about it until just now, and 2) I knew I would be doing yard work today and matte topcoat + dirt is probably not the best idea.

Polishes used:

Holo Taco - Smoothing Base

essie - not a phase

essie - truth or bare  

essie - hay there

OPI Nail Lacquer - Alpine Snow

OPI Nail Lacquer - Black Onyx

Revlon Nail Enamel - 905 Sophisticated

Holo Taco - Glossy Taco™

Also used:

bits of torn up makeup sponge

a striping brush

Cannabliss + Delirium from Cirque Colors 💅🏿

I love pairing magnetic polish with a holo topcoat, the shine is UNREAL and the look totally changes from different angles 😍

These were done yesterday. Older sets will be posted again soon 👌🏿

🌬️🌿💚

Spring? Summer? Kinda works for both right? Love quick easy manis like this

Used in this mani:

Holo Taco - Cyantific, Sea Foam Home

Moonstone - Eternal Sunshine, White Rabbit, Emo For Life

Glisten & Glow Topcoat

hobrinthian nail polishing date with a movie playing in the background while they heckle each other.

the corinthian does some red to green multi-chrome because it’s complex. it has layers. hob’s like “i really like a glazed donut nail. think I'll give that a try”

corinthian ribs him about his “basic ass choices” (hob likes a frappacino! sue him!) and hob’s like “i date a guy with teeth for eyes how am i fucking basic?”

dream is in the corner, putting a matte topcoat on his black nails like “he is right my nightmare”

(he’s not a third wheel. it’s like having a couch date with their cat except their cat is the anthropomorphic personification of “will not socialize unless forced” (and dreams and nightmares or something))

the corinthian hands dream a holographic topper like “no one asked you my lord” and dream is pleased enough by the offering that he does not make a threat. he removes the matte topper with a thought and puts on the holo. 

hob kinda likes that and he steals it when dream is done. he leaves the glazed donut nails underneath. 

(dream misses the matte black so he puts another layer of matte over the holo topper. he is disappointed when he cannot have both matte black nails and highly sparkly glitter, but he values the matte more than the sparkles.)

Corinthian smears Hob's nails on purpose after Hob puts on the last top coat so he has to start over.

(Hob isn't mad because now that Corinthian has put on his last layer of top coats and it's dry to the touch, Corinthian is willing to do the nails himself.)

He does a black and gray holographic gradient on Hob's right hand and a purple base with a multi-chrome topper that matches corinthian's nails on his left hand.

Hob tries to go to the bathroom and corinthian tells him that he can hold it until the top coat dries or he can lose an eyeball.

hob stays seated. dream does not interfere.

First mani of 2023! 💗🌹 Super simple and blingy 🤩 Used Prism Polish Sugared Rose for the base, which is a thermal so changes colour in warm and cold 😍 Then added AEngland The Holo Wizard Topcoat over it. Stamped from Moyou London Princess 19 #nails #nailart #nailsofinstagram #nailinspo #naildesign https://www.instagram.com/p/CncUcUKsJxt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

i made an insta story (reaching out to the community) about hunting for a hot pink holo. here are some of my finalists, if you're interested: a england dracula. i think this is too dark and muted for what i'm looking for, but i may have convinced myself that because i didn't think i'd be able to get it but now i see they have it at beautometry... f.u.n has some incredible glitters which are not what i want but enticing me. the magenta one is too dark, the lighter pink one isn't what i want for this prompt but wheeeeeew opi teenage dream!!

ilnp has several options that don't feel right--bouquet toss and paige are too light, play date is too warm, bikini bottoms is too dark and not holo enough, too many options over there, high risk

kbshimmer might be my second choice but it seems more pale in some swatches, which is just a problem i have with holos anyway

i scream holorama is MAGNIFICENT but i know a neon can't really accomplish the holo i'm looking for. i'm gonna do a true neon mani to quench this urge. would love to buy from them!

I was drawn into starrily because I also need a holo glitter topcoat and theirs (a collab with a swatcher I like) is the one that I think I want most. (though the more i look at it--i think i want something chunky!) their gamma ray is straight perfect but I'm worried about not having seen enough swatches to really judge. also, they are one of the most expensive. their chunky pink holo glitter is like a combination of all of my all time favorite polishes and their opaque teenage dream thing is so good.. which leaves me with holo taco. hot wire pink is the safest bet, widely swatched, good reviews, i think exactly the color i want. but i wanted to do a true indie... i don't really like any of her holo topcoats for what i'm looking for but i could use the opportunity to get a new glass file. plus the prices have come down...

I did these peppermint inspired nails a few weeks ago and I am finally posting them! This mani was way harder to paint than I thought it would and I had to redo my pinky nail because I messed it up 😭 This mani turned out so good and I am happy with them ☺️ Products Used: @holotaco - Smoothing Base, Not Milky White, Scattered Holo Taco @mooncat - Speed Demon TopCoat @applebarrelcrafts - Acrylic Paint #christmasnails #holidaynails #holidays #nails #nailsofinstagram #nailsnailsnails #nailstagram #nailinspo #nailinspiration #nailideas #happyholidays #christmasnailsart #manicure #prettynails #lovelynails #nailpolishlove #nailpolishes #nailpolishcollection #inspo #insponails #naturalnails #indienailpolish #indienails #nailstagram #nailslove #nailspolish #nailpolish https://www.instagram.com/p/CmPCcMSs_TO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Same anon as before asking about base coats, do you also have any recommendations for fast drying top coats? I unfortunately have the attention span of a gnat and get easily distracted with other tasks while waiting for my nails to dry and almost always end up messing them up 😞

ah!! I haven't tried a HUGE number of topcoats and basecoats, only a Selection. but the favorites I use: For basecoat, I almost always use holo taco's long-lasting basecoat, or ORLY's Bonder if I'm out of the HT one. My favorite ridge filling / nail foundation basecoat is the Mooncat one, "Getting even" The only good top coat I've ever liked is the ella+mila "in a rush" quick dry top coat, though I wish they used a paddle brush! Even tho the ella+mila one IS very good, and does dry down quickly, there's still always the possibility of denting ur nails... it's not for everybody, but maybe if you're someone who gets restless waiting for your nails to harden / you multitask / you forget your polish is still soft, etc, maybe you'd like giving yourself gel manicures a little better? where when you're done painting your nails, you're actually Done Painting Your Nails. It could be worth a try!

I had some thoughts about gender as I was trying to fall asleep last night. (And I did the responsible thing and prioritized sleep over posting, and I still want to post now even though it is later and my brain rarely holds on to motivation for this sort of thing longer than whenever the next distraction is. Miracles sometimes happen.)

So, nail polish. I like nail polish. But I started getting into nail polish as an adult, and there’s sort of a social expectation that when you’re a kid or maybe a college student, nail polish can just be about fun and personal enjoyment, but by the time you start holding down jobs nail polish should look “professional” or be absent. Relatively subtle (boring) colors, no chips, etc.

Anyways, as somebody new to nail polish (and tbf, most of the time someone who wasn’t “employed”), my nails often didn’t actually look very good, and I was more interested in having fun and experimenting and doing artsy things than in it looking, well, polished. Still am. I got dark blue nails with holo topcoat right now. Topcoat that got smudged a lot while it was drying.

Early on I decided I was going for “interesting” rather than “perfect”, and that’s spared me a lot of stress when something goes wrong. As it often does.

I think gender can be looked at the same way. There’s different ways to do gender, and one is about being polished and looking good while staying within societal rules. And one is about making your own damn self happy. And while people just don’t start identifying as trans unless they’re giving a lot of weight to their own happiness over fitting in, right, this is actually mostly independent of being trans vs cis, cis people also have a choice about whether they want to experience their gender primarily in terms of measuring up to societal standards or primarily in terms of pleasing themselves.

You can experience gender a la carte, based on what does and doesn’t make you happy.

For guys, this can look like: am I a sports fan kinda guy or a nerdy kind of guy or both or neither, am I a car appreciation guy or not, how much do I care about being a husband and/or father and what kind do I want to be, how much do I care about things like how I dress and how my home is arrayed, and if I do care do I prefer a fancier aesthetic or a more casual aesthetic or something else, what do I want to do about hair on my face and about hair on my head, what is my relationship to conflict and violence going to be, what is my relationship to my emotions going to be, what is my relationship to my own health going to be, what is my relationship to relationships going to be.

For gals, this can look like: maybe I like long skirts but not sexy mini skirts, maybe I like mini skirts and girlboss feminism but don’t expect me to cook, maybe I love cooking but will not smile at strangers or refuse to interrupt when everyone else is doing it, maybe I barely even know what mascara is but am more interested in forming connections with other human beings than with career success or in looking out for #1.

(And this can get really complicated when people straddle cultures, classes, even just different families with different understandings of what men and women should be like. Sometimes you have two immigrants from the same culture marry each other and one assumes they’ll live as much like they’re grandparents as possibly and one figures the best thing about not being in the old country is you don’t have to do that any more. While pretty much everyone’s got concepts of male and female, none of them entirely match up with each other.)

And it’s not an accident that a lot of feminism is about… having women and girls take on more traditionally guy roles. More on girls playing sports and women climbing the corporate ladder than boys playing with dolls and men figuring out their feelings and working on their communication skills and caring for their one children. One of these is more in tune with the life-destroying priorities of capitalism than the other, and when you try to swim across a current you get swept downstream.

I think there’s often a strong connection between what individual people need most in the depth of their souls, and what is best for people as a whole, and one of the most important tools of societal repression is alienating people from their heart’s desires.

Which means one of the most important tools of collective liberation is reconnecting with your body and your feelings and what you want most in your life.

I didn’t get at first what queer stuff had to do with the rest of it. But that’s it, isn’t it? Not everybody is gay or trans or etc, but everybody does have some way in which who they are, fundamentally, doesn’t match who they’re supposed to be, and that difference and what you do with it matters.

Today's polish is another jelly sandwich! While not my usual vibe, I ended up really enjoying this combination of a pale lavender jelly with a silver flakey topper. It was just so delicate and ethereal and pretty. 😍 When I first put this on I had it glossy, but this morning I added a matte topcoat and I think I might actually like it matte (middle picture) even more. 😱 I would definitely wear this combo again. This is Silver Flake Taco from Holo Taco with Lavender Sky from Cirque Colors.

Got some new fall nail polishes from Holo Taco, excited to try out the "Fallen Flake Taco" which is a gold and red flake topcoat. I have several shades I tested and I'm torn.