KBShimmer Band Geek

Band Geek was originally released by indie polish maker KBShimmer as part of the Clique collection in 2012 and is now part of the core line. This polish was inspired by the classic ensemble band, with a black crelly base to represent the woodwinds and variously sized hex glitters in gold, copper and silver to represent the flute, horns and drums. Not only does it work, the result on the nail is pretty flippin' classy. I read several reviews where polish enthusiasts were using this luxurious, sparkly polish as their New Year's Eve manicure, and I can see why. It was recommended to me by the effervescent Thithi of ::pretty::tough::nails::, which seems to be on hiatus at the moment but is still a great resource for indie polishes especially. Thithi, this one's for you!

Application was amazing. I think I am prouder of this manicure than any other glitter mani I've ever done. Since Band Geek has a crelly base, I was going to layer it over a black creme. But when I tested it out on a swatch palette and saw how lovely the formula was and how easily it built to opacity, I decided to forgo the undies and bravely set out to apply it on its own. 

The consistency of this polish is wonderful: fluid and smooth with excellent suspension and self-leveling properties and an easy, user-friendly flow over the nail. Glitter payoff is great: a Goldilocks amount of glitters per brushful disperses easily over the nail with no tumbling or stacking and very few protrusions over the free edge. Pigmentation is beautifully balanced for building to opacity without compromising view of the components. Safe to say Christy's formulary skill with colored crelly based glitters equals that of her white crelly based glitters, they both apply, build to opacity and display their glitters in a deceptively effortless fashion. I used three coats of Band Geek for this manicure and I think it needed all three to avoid show through when backlit. It can end up looking sheer over the tips, so make sure to wrap them carefully. Clean up is easy and straightforward, even with the tiny silver hexes that I was sure would be difficult to remove. Band Geek dries naturally in fairly good time to a shiny finish with a bit of texture from the components. I used a coat of Gelous to even out the surface, follow by a topcoat of Seche Vite. The glossiness of the Vite is especially becoming to the black base of this polish.

Photos show three coats of Band Geek over treatment and basecoat with a smoothing coat of Gelous followed by a topcoat of Seche Vite. Please excuse the massive finger pinkage. When the sun is bright and strong in my lightbox bathroom, there's a pink emphasis that is especially strong in photos. It's not an effect of the polish.

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

KBShimmer Band Geek

This polish has a classic formality to it that would make it great for special occasions but it's also just plain fun to wear. It somehow avoids the usual chaotic nature of my glitter manicures with a grounded, pleasingly spare sensibility. But the sparkle is not sacrificed in the least. I love it, it's perfect! If you've found that you shy away from black-based glitter polishes for whatever reason, here is one that will suffuse you with confidence and expand your aesthetic. It's glamorous and sexy in exactly the same way as your little black dress. Wearing them together would be KILLER!

I was not a band geek myself. I was a chorus geek. But I've loved many band geeks over the years including my nephew William (clarinet), my sister Kate (clarinet and sax) and the sassiest high school sweetheart a girl could ever have, Bill Hamrick (sax). Even though I loved singing, I secretly envied my band geek friends, especially during football season when the marching band was rocking. Just thinking about those crisp autumn nights and the drum cadence as the band took the field makes all the hair stand up on my arms!

Gotta love a band geek!

xo,
Liz