Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Shifting gears now after that run of neons from my KBShimmer spree, I have for you today another holographic polish from indie polish maker Too Fancy Lacquer. Seems like whenever I'm about to run out of new holos to swatch, I find myself on the Too Fancy page at Color4Nails or Llarowe working on another purchase. Yes, I have a little problem. I blame owner and holo creator extraordinaire, Charlene. Her offerings have become easily one of my favorite indie sources for holos. If you've tried them then you know what I'm talking about.

Come to the Dark Side is a black linear holographic polish bearing, in addition to the holo pigment, the unusual appurtenance of stealthy pink-to-gold colorshifting microflake shimmers. Apparently there are two versions of Come to the Dark Side; this is the second. The first, from what I've seen, had less holo pigment and a more jet black appearance. This one, like many black holos, carries a silvery sheen over the black that softens the color a bit. In direct sun there is a sparkling prismatic flair with full rainbow colors riding in a flame-shaped bend over the base, from which emerges a shrouded golden pink sheen with a beautiful gothic quality to it. In a unexpected twist, I find Come to the Dark Side to be quite the palate cleanser after so many bright lacquers. There's a serenity to it, a quiet dignity that is soothing in its silvered, shimmering darkness.

Application was fantastic. In typical Too Fancy fashion, the consistency of Come to the Side is fluid, creamy and dense with a perfectly balanced viscosity for user-friendly painting, a velvety glide over the nail and excellent self-leveling properties. Pigmentation is also excellent, with opaque coverage in one coat, although you'll definitely want to add a second for richest color and to make the most of the pink microflakes. Cleanup is easy, with a tiny bit of pigment travel and the occasional sticky microflake. Come to the Dark Side dries naturally in very good time to a flat finish with a slightly grainy texture from the microflake shimmers. Topcoat adds shine and enhances the presence of the microflakes without diminishing the holographic effects in any way. 

Photos show two coats of Come to the Dark Side over Pretty Serious Rock On treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side

Too Fancy Lacquer Come to the Dark Side, bottle shot showing pink microflake shimmers

The addition of the gold/pink colorshifting microflakes gives Come to the Dark Side a unique twist. It's not an in-your-face shimmer, not enough to classify it as a "shimmolo" (tip of the hat to Pam of Girly Bits, who coined that term), but it adds dimension and a unique gleam to the prismatic display plus the delicious grainy texture to the finish of the polish even when the holo and the flakes are in stealth mode. It's a subtle boost to the polish's complexity that sets it apart and makes it special. 

I like it. I like it very much.

love,
Liz