Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Nails Inc Baker Street

In nail polish culture, Baker Street by Nails Inc is an icon of sorts. It is to bright blue what China Glaze Ruby Pumps is to red. Of the many online reviews I've read of Baker Street, I've only come across one that wasn't entirely favorable and most are unapologetically effusive. So I'm thrilled to finally have my very own bottle of this blazing blue beauty and now that I've got it on my nails I can justifiably say that there is indeed substance beneath the fervor.

Baker Street is a medium-toned well-saturated electric cobalt blue. The color is rich and profoundly vivid, with a neonesque intensity. At the same time, there's a sleek creaminess to it that keeps it from being totally stark or harsh or garish. Still, it's hard to imagine a blue of this depth being any brighter than Baker Street is. Fuzzy called it "improbable." *lol* Fuzz tends to get spooked by insufficient subtlety and however wonderful this polish is, subtlety is not within the scope of its raison d'ĂȘtre.

Application was dreamy. The consistency is fluid, smooth, creamy and dense. It has just the right balance between fluidity and viscosity to make for a very satisfying, easily controlled application experience. I had wondered whether the cap, which is relatively wide, would be awkward to hold, but surprisingly I adapted to it almost instantly. The formula is so outstanding you could probably hold a can of beans with a wand attached and manage a fine looking manicure no problem. Pigmentation is excellent with near opaque coverage in one medium coat and complete opacity in two. I experienced no streaking or patching of any kind. Cleanup is easy and straightforward with no staining of cuticles or nail environs left behind. Baker Street dries naturally in good time to a smooth, slightly rubbery-looking finish that loves a nice topcoat to make the most of the sublime blue color.

Photos show two coats of Baker Street over Seche Rebuild treatment and Butter London Nail Foundation basecoat with a topcoat of HK Girl. Mortifications du jour: acetone residue left after cleanup and, yes, those glitters you see lodged in my cuticles and elsewhere are mementos of yesterday's CrowsToes Heartless manicure. My apologies!


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street


Nails Inc Baker Street

One of the nicest things about Baker Street besides the spectacular color is how beautifully it finishes up. The silky smooth, perfectly even, inscrutable depth of color is just so satisfying to the eye and makes for a truly impressive manicure. I can see this as a refreshing pop of color with charcoals, greys, browns, black or white as well as a happy companion to bright prints and similarly bold vibrant colors. 

It's also one of those polishes that as good as it looks in the bottle, it is infinitely more magnificent on the nail. Baker Street is my first experience with Nails Inc. If this is an indication of the general quality of their offerings, count me in for more of them!

love,
Liz

7 comments:

  1. Outstanding!! No wonder this is a cult classic. That blue is magical and your nails look like perfection. Bravo!

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    1. You sweetie, thank you! Baker Street is awesome. It reminds me of your favorite Sinful Colors blue, what's the name of that one? Endless Blue?

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    2. Yes. .. That one is decadent!

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  2. This polish looks amazing on you! It's such a gorgeous blue. I don't have this one but I need a blue like this in my life.

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    1. Thanks a bunch Melissa! You do need this blue, pronto!

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  3. Months later, I'm so glad I found my way here through today's Elevation Polish Pic de Sotllo post, if only to read what Fuzzy had to say about this one :) Spooked by insufficient subtlety, hahaha. Fuzzy is my absolute favorite.

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    1. Fuzzy is hilarious. She really knows how to pin something down in the most wry way. We laugh a lot in this house. :)

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