DIY: Nail Bleaching

FOREWARNING: Heavily picture ladened.

So Valentines Day came & went so I decided to do a little home pampering. I stripped my nails of my polish & I was thoroughly disgusted by the site on my nails. They look like smokers nails! & I don't even smoke! So I scoured Pinterest for the tutorial I saw on how to "bleach" your nails at home. Here is the original article. Okay, so it's not really an article.. it's more of a picture with caption I found. Same thing, right? Anyway! I did a nice little mani spa day type... thing. ^.^;; & I took some horrendously ugly pictures of my nails before the treatment. I want to warn you, this picture is not for the faint of heart. You have been warned.

 LEFT: With flash.
RIGHT: Without flash.

See? Horrid. I am ashamed. *hangs head* -.-;   & that, my dear loverlies, is why I so desperately needed this "bleaching" treatment. No more diddly dallying around.. lets tackle this monstrousity.
 

First things first, you're going to need your supplies.

- Peroixde
- Baking soda
- a teaspoon
- a plate or bowl
- Nail Polish Remover & cotton balls {not shown}
- a small cup to soak your nails in {also not shown}

 

Next you're going to take a little baking soda - I used about a teaspoon. The picture on Pinterest said a tablespoon but you definitely don't need that much. Then mix a little peroixde in to create a thick paste.

 Now here comes the fun part: glob a massive amount {ok, not really.. just enough to cover your nails} onto the whole nail bed & let it sit for 5 minutes.

 5 minutes later.

Scrape the goop off & then take some nail polish remover to my nails to get any residue off. I then decide to take this a step further & soak my nails in peroxide for 2 minutes.

 Dry off those tips & they're all ready looking better!

Now it's time to finish off my slightly better looking - but still yellow. Blah! - tips by clipping, filing, & polishing.

 MIDDLE: With Flash.
RIGHT: Without Flash.

I must say they do look better but still are yellow ):  I will do this probably once a week until I get shiny pink cuticles again. (:  I did follow up with some cuticle cream afterwards & then painted my nails with my Valentines Day mani {post here}. What do you ladies think? Have you tried this technique before or do you have another "bleaching" trick?

Until next time!

xox.