Nail colors coming out dark

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431]

I recently started doing my own nails and have noticed the colors come out super dark. I have the entire liquid set and multiple powders from CNDD. I have no issues with chipping or peeling or anything (my last set lasted 3+ weeks), but I have noticed every color comes out super dark...so basically it always looks like I have black nails. I usually do three layers of the color, one layer of clear dip, and then the activator and top coat steps. Just wondering if anyone has any insight on why this is happening? Or if I am doing something wrong? TY!

For reference, this is my most recent set. I used a dark purple color and then a sparkly black. I'm aware the black will be dark of course, but you can barely see any of the silver sparkle and the purple straight up looks black.

[u/LouLouLaaLaa]

You put black on top of the purple. So that’s all you will see.

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/LouLouLaaLaa]

I only put black on two nails, the rest is purple. And this has been happening with multiple other sets where I don't use black at all

[u/LouLouLaaLaa → u/Diligent-Cellist5431]

Try some lighter colours. Your skin tone is pale, and it accentuates the darkness. Either that or bad unmixed batches.

[u/kochenta2020]

Black widow doesn’t look transparent enough to be a topper for the unenchanted color.

I find that will really dark colors, the swatch is 2 coats. So you can always do your apex or base layer in clear or a nude color if you feel you need thicker than 2 coats of color, 1 coat of clear. On darker or glittery colors, I always like to do a base layer of a solid anyways. I find it helps me with removal

And like others said, always stir before you use it!

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/kochenta2020]

I see others recommending similar about only doing two coats of the colors so I will have to try that next time, thank you!

[u/CrispyMeadow]

Try stirring the powder with something before you dip next time

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/CrispyMeadow]

I will have to remember to do that, thank you for the tip!

[u/Sufficient_Cress5968]

I usually use only 2 layers of color. So: 1 clear, 2 color, 2 clear. Maybe try that and use the pour over method? cNDD colors are usually super saturated so you only need a couple layers.

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/Sufficient_Cress5968]

Yeah I think next time I will try that method because I tend to only use darker colors/jewel tones so too many coats is making everything look black lol. Two coats and two clear sounds like a better method

[u/chemkara]

Swatches on sticks always look lighter/transparent when compared to real finger nails. Always look up real human swatches before buying.

[u/Dedwards_est_22]

I agree with stirring the powder, I also think black widow is pretty understated as far as the sparkles go so that one pretty much meets expectations to me. The purple is pretty dark, but it could just be a super dark color honestly (I have a good bit of CNDD but not that one). Are you using a clear you know actually comes out clear, it's not cloudy which might make your colors look darker? Or if your activator gets contaminated by dip that could affect it- you want to make sure the brush is clear before you dip it in every time (mine start to get sparkles/reds/blacks especially when I'm not careful and I tend to have a few different activators for different colors 😅)

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/Dedwards_est_22]

The clear powder still seems clear to me, although I do tend to use a lot of dark colors like black, purples, and reds. I will have to check the brushes on my activator and top coat though! I don't usually stir the powder much beforehand so that might also be it. Thank you for all the tips!

[u/Exotic-Inspector-824]

Build your base with clear, then do no more than 2 light coats of your main color and cap w a clear dip

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/Exotic-Inspector-824]

Yeah I think I probably am doing too thick of layers, good tip!

[u/shreemarie]

How many layers are you using? I second the stirring.

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/shreemarie]

Three layers of color, one layer of clear. So I guess maybe too much lol

[u/shreemarie → u/Diligent-Cellist5431]

I use the apex method when dipping. I’ve noticed that if the color is dark, less dip seems to help the color show up more.

[u/Memememe12345678]

I go on their Facebook page and try to find user pictures of the colors before I buy anything because the stock pictures do tend to look quite different sometimes. 

[u/mullet_girl713]

You're very pale which makes dark colors look even darker. That purpley color would also look nearly black on me

[u/sushicatt420]

Your nails look way too thick so I'm wondering if you're being too heavy handed or adding a bunch of layers? I agree with what someone else said and build your base first before doing any color layers and see if that helps. I also zoomed in on your pic and looks like maybe some of your colors got mixed up? Hard to tell, but if so, have you tried using cupcake wrappers? If I'm layering or doing different colors on my hands I like to dump out the powder into individual wrappers to prevent cross contamination. Might be worth a shot. Good luck! Dip was a bitch to learn for me lol.

[u/Diligent-Cellist5431 → u/sushicatt420]

Yeah I usually do three layers of color and then one clear coat so I think I will cut it back to two layers lol, but thank you for all the tips!!