Back in September, I saw a post on TheNailPolishProject.com in which the author, Jen, presented her response to the 31DC2013 day one challenge: red. Jen created her red manicure by layering what she called her "holy trinity of red polishes," three China Glaze lacquers: China Rouge, Ruby Pumps and Ring in the Red. I LOVED the look and her photos and the whole idea of layering glittery reds. Ever since I saw Jen's post I've been harboring inspiration to try my hand (I didn't do that on purpose) at her layered red manicure and now is the time.
I have Ruby Pumps and Ring in the Red in my collection but not China Rouge, so I had to pick a base red. I wanted a polish that I'd not posted about before so I could show it to you and that limited my choices. It needed to be at least a neutral if not cool red and medium-toned to fit with the other two, and that further limited my choices to two OPI polishes, A Oui Bit of Red and Double Decker Bus. I chose Double Decker Bus.
OPI originally released Double Decker Bus as part of it's British collection for fall 2003. It's a medium dark neutral red creme with an ever so slightly milky look, which adds some bricky undertones. My bottle has a black label so it's from back in the toxic days of toulene, formaldehyde, dbp (dibutyl pthlalate) and god knows what else. The formula was one of those thick but runny ones and I had some anxious moments trying to control it during application. Double Decker Bus dries naturally to a nice glossy finish.
Photos show two coats of Double Decker Bus over treatment and basecoat with no topcoat.
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| OPI Double Decker Bus |
Now for the fun part! Over Double Decker Bus I first layered one coat of China Glaze's venerable Ruby Pumps, a deep crimson red jelly filled with red microglitters. Over that I layered one coat of China Glaze Ring in the Red, a medium-light very bright gift-wrap-ribbon red jelly containing bright red microglitters and small scattered bright red hex glitters. I finished with a topcoat of Seche Vite.
The results....
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| the trifecta, l to r: OPI Double Decker Bus, China Glaze Ruby Pumps, China Glaze Ring in the Red |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
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| ChG Ring in the Red over ChG Ruby Pumps over OPI Double Decker Bus |
I have to say, layering Ring in the Red over Ruby Pumps over a red creme is genius (Jen's). Ruby Pumps adds depth and dimensionality to the brightness of Ring in the Red, which is pretty sheer on its own.
I have mixed feelings about my choice of Double Decker Bus for the base creme. It works, I think, but it's a little different than what I expected/hoped. You can't tell from these photos, but the slight milkiness of Double Decker Bus makes it very flat under the two jellies. I think a creme with more of a jelly-like finish itself would provide much better depth and continuity to the overall look.
Big fun!
love,
Aunt Liz
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