China Glaze – Hologlam Collection 2013 pt. 1

Disclosure: Press samples

CG Hologlam pt. 1 opener

This Spring, China Glaze released a collection of 12 holographic-type lacquers, the ‘Hologlam Collection’, in a broad range of colours and with varying intensities in their prismatic finishes, but even if you’re a “colour purist” like I tend to be, there’s no denying the almost magnetic pull of these polishes. I’ve broken the collection down into 2 parts – the warmer group, as shown here today, with the cooler group to follow. While some of these shades tended to be more vibrant than others, they all shared the following characteristics:

medium thick formula that bears an odd elasticity to it — almost a spring-back effect
very fast drying
non-staining with an easy removal

Application tips:

ridge-filling base coat applied first will ensure a smoother surface to work on
load enough polish on your brush to deposit a full coat per nail
the “3-stroke” method works the best (ie: 1 swipe down the middle, then 1 swipe down either side of that)
do not fuss with the first coat too much, in order to avoid potential bald spots
wait a minimum of 2 minutes between coats, to eliminate any lumps from forming
top coat optional; while I always apply a top coat for extra protection, I found that it dulled the effect on these lacquers

China Glaze – Hologlam Collection 2013 pt. 1

Get Outta My Space – lilac hue, both warm & cool leaning and with some grey undertones, gentle linear prismatic effect. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

China Glaze – Get Outta My Space

Not In This Galaxy – warm rose hue with visible orange tints in the base, bearing a slightly scattered prismatic effect. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

China Glaze – Not In This Galaxy

Astro-Hot – pink/lavender hue that can lean both warm & cool, bearing a stronger linear prismatic effect. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

China Glaze – Astro-Hot

Infrared – magenta hue with hints of red in the base, strongly pigmented and bearing a scattered prismatic effect. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

China Glaze – Infrared

OMG a UFO – olive green hue with gold reflects, bearing a more diffused linear prismatic effect. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

China Glaze – OMG a UFO

When Stars Collide – plum/burgundy base hue with the deepest pigmentation of the group, bearing a strong linear effect seen in sunlight. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

China Glaze – When Stars Collide

Last word: If you’re looking to add a little pizzazz to your nails, but don’t want the headaches (ie: removal issues) associated with glitter lacquer, then the prismatic finish of China Glaze’s Hologlam Collection may be just what you need. With the exception of ‘When Stars Collide’, I found the holographic effect to be more on the subdued side with this group, definitely making these shades more work-place friendly than party/clubbing — a definite plus in that respect. Once you’ve “nailed” down the proper application method, you’ll find the results pay off – and a great way to ease yourself into the world of polish holographics.

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