NAILS | Happy Anniversary to the Original Amino Acid Molecular Nails! #ManiMonday

Five years ago, I decided to try something that I had never seen before on nails - molecules. I planned for months what to do and finally decided on this. This was when I first started doing nail art and didn't know a lot of what I know now so I thought that on this anniversary, I'd clean up my cuticles, spruce up the colours and give you a non-blurry photo!

These nails have actually been copied a few times as well as mislabeled as "Feynmen Nails" which they are not! This idea gave much inspiration to a lot of the science nails I do and it was all done to show that just because you are a girl does not mean you can't love beauty AND be intelligent. When I was in school doing cell biology and later on computer science, being a girl was one thing, but being a girl that liked doing her nails or makeup? Obviously, that meant you spent more time on your looks than in your books! It also wasn't just men that treated me differently, but WOMEN too. It's like the ones that didn't wear makeup (which is fine!) thought I wasn't a hard worker and would coast on projects. Thankfully, I found some great people who were more progressive as well as a great boss in bioinformatics who loved genetics as much as handmade Italian shoes! So, here's to science, more money in science and women who can do it all!

Alrighty, so I started off with FOUR coats of OPI - Chiffon My Mind* from the Soft Shades 2015 collection. Next time, I will layer this over white because anything over three coats is just too much! I was looking for a white base that wasn't stark white like in my previous version and this one had a slightly iridescent shimmer that was pretty without detracting from the molecules.

Using black acrylic paint and a fine nail art brush, I hand-drew the amino acid molecules. When I first did this manicure, I used a black striper polish which definitely didn't give the same control. Acrylic paint is just so much easier to work with as a medium and I am happy to have discovered it!

Carbon bonds are represented with black lines while everything else has been colour-coded with brightly coloured nail polishes. The blue is Dior - 795*, red is Avon Gel Finish - Roses are Red*, green is CND Creative Play - Happy Holly Day*, yellow is Ceramic Glaze - My Dance Card's Still Full* and orange is Sinful Colors - Feel that Vibe. Top everything off with a shiny top coat and you are ready to be a beautiful nerd!

Did you ever have an experience where someone misjudged you based on your looks or interests?