It Starts With Coffee

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of The Ring and the Crown

Melissa de la Cruz’s The Ring and the Crown recreates 20th century England by adding dark magic to the monarchy. To get a little “dark magic” of your own, check out this tutorial inspired by the book …..

In the Spring and Summer we are encouraged to abandon our dark nails for pastels and pinks and bright colors. In my opinion this is not the case! You can have gorgeous dark nails all year round and even add a little twist to them!

Im a huge fan of a good Dark Ombre Nail. The first time I tried it a while back I thought it would be super tough but as long as you have a little patience and the right materials its actually a really fun and easy look that wont cost you a trip to the nail salon.

Here is what you will need and what you should do:

You will need:

2 Complimentary dark nail colors. I chose one dark purple-ish color and a slightly lighter plum(nearly the same color but makes a great ombre look)

Base and top coat optional

Sparkle color optional

A foundation sponge

Q-tips for cleaning around the edges(think coloring outside the lines)

Step by Step:

First make sure your nails are free of any polish if not use nail polish remover and remove excess polish.

Wash and lotion your hands just like they do in a salon 🙂

Now we get down to business….

Put on your base coat if you desire(not required but will help the nails stay for longer)

After that has dried completely Put on your lighter color on each nail and let dry then reapply again

Now comes the fun part…

Take the foundation sponge and brush across the base color at the tip of the sponge a few times

Next Take the complimentary color and brush that across right next to the base color a few times(this helps to blend the colors) I went back and forth over the colors a few times alternating the base color and complimentary color over one another on the sponge. This helps the effect of the ombre look.

Now take the sponge and gently go over the top of your nail where the tip to middle are from side to side now do that again but at the bottom of your nail where the cuticle is to the middle from side to side. You can do this as many times as you want until the desired effect is reached. For reference I did this two times.

Let it dry completely and apply top coat if you desire

Another before top coat option is to add some sparkle with a glitter polish on the ends. Thats if you want to get super fun and creative!

I like using a hair dryer at the end holding it about a foot away from my nails and having it on medium to let them dry. It helps if you have someone handy around to do it for you. I utilize my fiancee when he’s feeling really nice about it. Otherwise carefully do so yourself.

Voila! You now have Dark Ombre Nails! You can do this with any color palate your heart desires this just happens to be my favorite and like I said I think it looks great all year round!

I personally think this is a super fun way to paint your nails as well as easy.

It goes so great with the concept of this dark book as well. Even the colors match the book!

 This is the Trailer for the book and its very cool and interesting! Take a look!

About the book:
Magic is power, and power is magic…Once they were inseparable, just two little girls playing games in a mighty castle. Now Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the mightiest empire in the world, and Aelwyn Myrddyn, a bastard mage, face vastly different futures. Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second. With the help of her Merlin, Eleanor has maintained a stranglehold on the world’s only source of magic. While the enchanters faithfully serve the crown, the sun will never set on the Franco-British Empire. As the annual London Season begins, the great and noble families across the globe flaunt their wealth and magic at parties, teas, and, of course, the lavish Bal du Drap d’Or, the Ball of the Gold Cloth. But the talk of the season is Ronan Astor, a social-climbing American with only her dazzling beauty to recommend her. Ronan is determined to make a good match to save her family’s position. But when she falls for a handsome rogue on the voyage over, her lofty plans are imperiled by her desires. Meanwhile, Isabelle of Orleans, daughter of the displaced French royal family, finds herself cast aside by Leopold, heir to the Prussian crown, in favor of a political marriage to Marie-Victoria. Isabelle arrives in the city bent on reclaiming what is hers. But Marie doesn’t even want Leopold-she has lost her heart to a boy the future queen would never be allowed to marry. When Marie comes to Aelwyn, desperate to escape a life without love, the girls form a perilous plan that endangers not only the entire kingdom but the fate of the monarchy.

I actually really loved the book. I read it in about a day and a half and for me to read a book that fast I HAVE to love it. I think if you love things like Game of Thrones, or really any fantasy type book you would love this.
Ways to find out more about the book:
Visit the official website

 Follow Melissa de la Cruz on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr

Follow Hyperion Teen on Twitter and Tumblr

I really hope you check out the book and try this tutorial. They are both fun and both something you wont regret! Plus if you want a low key night in they go great together! What girl doesn’t love a good book and great looking nails?
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of The Ring and the Crown