every nail swatch celebrity on Instagram or YouTube has the same story: "i was nail-biter all my life until ..." it all ends in glory in stardom. well, i'm no celebrity ... and i was never a serious nail biter. however, until recently, i have lived a life of short-short nails. i then embraced a few simple rules, and everything changed. it took about two years, but i turned around my nail game and i am finally seeing real length. everyone is different, but this is what has worked for me. here are 6 rules to try for yourself! don’t clip with nail clippersrule 1: (toenails are okay). clippers create tiny cracks that make for very brittle nails, especially at the very tips. this made it impossible for me to get any real growth. using clippers created peeling, brittle ends to my nails that easily split and snapped. once i stopped cutting my nails, i saw a real difference. don't use abrasive-style nail filesrule 2: use a glass or crystal file. there is some debate about this, but i find that i got better, smoother results and eliminated brittle edges when i stopped using emery boards. a good glass file is not that expensive. i picked up the above file at sally's beauty for less than $4. and h&m sells a good glass files for $5. plus, glass or crystal files last quite a bit longer than any emery board. many advise to file in one direction, instead of sawing back and forth. the importance of this is debatable. i think that the right file is far more important. don't forget your vitaminsrule 3: for me, a good vitamin regime is a must. in addition to biotin, i also take a daily pre-natal mulit, calcium citrate, and vitamin e. this nail cocktail may not be right for you. i encourage you to take, at the very least, a daily multi-vitamin; then ask your doc about what additional supplements are right for you. since starting this cocktail, i have enjoyed better skin, longer, thicker hair, and stronger nails. don't buff your nailsrule 4: i used to buff my nails to get rid of the natural yellow-staining that occurred whilst living the polished-life. (it is widely known, that those of us who don nail polish at all times, often have very yellow nails underneath). i thought that the yellow-stains were an unhealthy sign. however, further research has revealed that it is not a sign of a problem ... and that buffing or sanding the tops of your nails to eliminate stains actually weakens them to an extreme degree. so does using whiteners, bleach-treatments, or lighteners on your nails. if you want to eliminate the appearance of bare, yellow nails, see rule 6 for a great tip! use a growth or repair serumrule 5: i begin every manicure with a thin coat of this rapid growth serum on my bare nails. since i started doing this, i have noticed significant strength to my nails, and longer lasting manis. this is controversial: some nail experts don't think this is necessary, and some think that over strengthening your nails leads to easy breakage. but i have found success with this serum. it is vital to my process. don't go nakedrule 6: my mother-in-law has very long natural nails. her philosophy is one simple rule: don't go naked. always wear polish, because polished nails are stronger and less subject chips and breaking. if you don't like wearing polish everyday, might i recommend a clear coat of opi's nail envy or zoya's naked manicure system? for those of us with naturally yellow-stained nails, the latter option will eliminate that look from our nails. i use the lavender and the buff perfector on my my nails for a natural, bare look.
what are your nail-rules to live by? thanks for reading. happy nail growth, bitches.
0 Comments
hello. fall collections are my favorite. at first glance, this fall 2018 collection from orly looks downright boring. but swatching these dusty neutrals is a far different story. want creamy one-coat cremes? and a bronze metallic to die for? orly's got your autumn covered. bytheway, i get these fabulous collections via the orly's color pass subscription service. i highly recommend it: for 12-free, cruelty-free polishes, that are not just vegan, but made in the u.s. your one-time yearly fee gets you all four of the year's 6-piece collections for roughly $4/bottle. plus, there are little added bonus gifts in each box. that's responsible polishing. olive you kellyi would classify this khaki green as military. the creme is near perfect. could be a one-coater with a thicker application. i love this shade and the formula is amazing. this polish is your autumn. fall into mei was super disappointed when i saw this shade in the mix. i feel that orly has included a neutral metallic polish in every collection this year. but. but. but. this bronzey shade is amazing. opaque in one coat and i think a better application would avoid the brush strokes. orly keeps surprising me with these sneaky brushed metal looks. trust me: give it a chance. cashmere crisisdon't you want to cozy up in a sweater with this shade all october and november-long? this shade is dusty with a drop of lavender. beautiful in only one coat, this opaque creme is exceptional. nothing you've never seen before, but the formula is the epitome of what you want in any shade. the only crisis here is that you don't have this yet. snuggle uplast week, i offered this neutral as a dupe for essie's famous "topless and barefoot." this gorgeous girl is giving you everything: opacity, creamy near-perfect application, neat and clean. sure to be a stand out of the season, this nude is too pinky for my coloring, but still looks le gorg. mauvelousthis shade looks a bit like a nudey version of my mother's living room curtains from the 1980s. "mauve" indeed. i like the creaminess of this pink/coral shade. all of the polishes in this collection have fantastic formulas, so this is no stand out. where this excels is in the subtle sophistication of the color itself. it should be a classic spinster shade, but instead, this is a modern take on a sentimental favorite. side note, i own another shade from another brand called "mauvelous" that is a dusty purple shade. orly's color is closer to my estimation of the hue. what does "mauve" mean to you? seize the claynot very "clay" looking is the only complaint i have about this pinky-red opaque creme. i live in a place with clay/red earth ... the dirt of which looks nothing like this. never something i would pick out myself, this polish is something special. not a classic red: we own too many of those already. this is not the red you want, but it is the red you need. the bonus extrasthis quarter's box came with nail art extras: nail foils; and orly flash dry drops. i have yet to try these items. i will let you know my thoughts. all in all: must have. between this and the spring collection, orly is providing the classy neutrals you need. i love a good quality creme, and orly is bringing it all night long. thanks for reading. happy neutral-ing, bitches. i'm back to the blog, bitches. thank you for your patience. i'm so excited to share with you my summer fun nail colors. it's been quite a hot time. after glow & blazing sunsetorly 2018 summer "neon earth" collection these two polishes are stand out. "after glow" is a dead-on dupe for the famous china glaze "flip flop fantasy" (original formula), but with a buttery, near-perfect application. "blazing sunset" is a creamy neon hot pink that goes on flawless in two-coats. these two must-haves are stand-outs in a collection of stand-outs (see below). sands of timeorly 2018 "neon earth" collection sadly, the lighting in this photograph does not convey the near neon peach glow of this sneaky neutral. in the "magic hour" sunset glimmer, this opaque color blazed off my nails like a beacon of unique awesome. opaque is two easy coats, the new-ish orly paddle brush provides the easiest application of the summer. this may not look like a "must-have" at first glance, but trust me: five stars. zoya naked manicurelavender perfecter, buff perfecter, tip perfecter, base & top coat i spent most of july performing in a play set during the french revolution. (not le miz). didn't have much time for my typical summer neons on the daily. i wanted something that "perfected" my bare yellow-stained nails, but i couldn't go full-out french manicure (although, that might have been appropriate). this actually forced me to use the gorgeous zoya naked system. this system is amazing for some low-key classy looking hands. i highly recommend. caramellokl polish debut collection look at what is back in stock. youtuber, kathleen light's brilliant debut collection boosted this rare jewel. kl's subsequent collections have all been mad quality stylish. i have wanted "caramello" since the 2016 holiday season. buttery and smooth, opaque in two coats. sadly, the second coat darkened up the polish too much. it moved passed the squashed colored ugly-pretty and landed in place too close to brownish baby poop. festival funfrom the new festival themed collection from color club mood-changing this neon yellow polish goes on quite sheer, but gets opaque on it's own in three coats (here, i layered it over a base coat). the change to a bright orange shade ... i never saw it. orly's neon earth collection(clockwise) "valley of fire," "desert rose," "blazing sunset," "after glow," "sands of time." i stole this mani-look directly from the orly collection marketing. it eliminates the one "meh" polish in this 6-piece collection: "moon dust." a neutral metallic that is somehow included in every orly collection this year. a perfectly okay polish, but for those of us who have seen it repeated far too often, it seems like something orly should abandon. getting warmercolor club another mood changing polish: great formula, but very little on the color changing front. could it be the weather? or a bad bottle? for the glowy peach color, i prefer orly's "sands of time." i hope that your july was amazing and you're enjoying your august, thoroughly. thanks for reading. happy end-of-summer, bitches.
the most famous spokespeople for nail polish in our modern world are the women of the british royal family. when american actress, meghan markle, joined the clan, we lost our collective nonsense over her adherence to the queen's order for "no trashy nail polish." apparently, to the queen, dark nail color = wire hangers. but that's okay, because the fallout means that classy, pale pink and light neutral nail polish is on a comeback. specifically, essie brand polish: the queen's long-time favorite. essie's reputation for classy colors, but horrible formulas (that and my personal experience on that final front), has kept me far away from the brand for years. however, i decided it's finally time to invest in the royals' reportedly most worn essie nail colors, because, dammit, i'm a princess. and i deserve it. here is what happens when i try out these royal-approved shades. ballet slippersi begin with the queen's personal favorite, "ballet slippers" which she began wearing in 1989. reportedly, the queen has some intense beauty rules, which really limit a new girl's nail choices. luckily, this pale pale pink has been welcomed into the fold and deemed "acceptable." i was hesitant to try any of these polishes, famous or not. my past experience with essie polishes have left me unimpressed, at least formula-wise. you might say that my expectations were in the dungeon. but, i admit, i am pleasantly surprised. still sheer at three coats, "ballet slippers" is surprisingly lacking in streaks, doesn't slip or pool, and aside from some bare spots, self-levels like a boss. so "a-minus" for quality and application. the color: i love it. pale pink without looking chalky and very wearable. so yeah. the queen's no dumby. now for the million-dollar (or million-pound) question: is "ballet slippers" the original crelly polish? created in 1982 by essie weingarten, this shade has some interesting history. it is certainly build-able. maybe at four coats, it's completely opaque? but i adore it despite the glimpse at my visible nail line. the verdict: it's a classic for a reason. wearable, sweet, and easy to love, if you don't mind three+ coats. mademoisellethe breaking nail news this month is meghan markle's newest-worn, royal-approved nail color: essie's "mademoiselle." reported by vogue and allure magazine, meghan's take on all things royal gets a slight refresh of polish. "mademoiselle" is described by essie as a delicate sheer pink that is perfect for french manicures. looking closely at the above photo of markle, it appears that her shade is opaque (or very nearly), not sheer. my application of "mademoiselle" was not as opaque. like "ballet slippers" there were no streaks, and no pooling. since after three coats, it's looks like an even, but milky nothing on the nail, "mademoiselle" would make a terrific base polish for a french manicure. but i shudder to think of how many coats it would take to make it opaque, markle-style. verdict: a good formula for a sheer. a bit "blah" if you like a more substantial look. a definite "no" if you want an opaque look. topless and barefootwhile it has been reported that kate middleton has donned this racy-ly named essie polish, middleton is most photographed wearing no polish at all. but, truly, "topless and barefoot" proves to be my favorite of the bunch. opaque in two coats, and a sweet and soft, pink/nude/neutral shade, this polish is good enough for any princess. of course, i prefer the most opaque polish. the polish that is most decidedly the "least royal." "topless and barefoot" is even, good and dependable. could be one of your hardest working polishes. verdict: a good polish: solid formula. good-to-go dupe alertyou want something even better? orly just released an incredible line of fall neutrals: the new neutrals. amongst the collection, a dupe for essie's "topless and barefoot" with a far superior formula: a one-coat wonder called "snuggle up." do i feel royal?final verdict: the attention on these essie polishes are not completely undeserved. and the best part is, you can buy them at your nearby drugstore. keep in mind, "ballet slippers" is the only must-have in the lot, so don't go nuts.
does this polish make me feel "royal?" maybe ... a teeny bit. but as lorde says "we'll never be royals." thank god! i'd get sick of sweet, pale pinks in a hurry. it's summer, girl: bring me my neons! thanks for reading. happy ballerina-ing, bitches! this side of four years ago, i asked everyone with great nails my "how to?" questions. "how do you get nail length?" "how do you do a neat and clean manicure at home?" "how do you select a good nail brand?" "... a good top coat?" "... a good base coat?" through trial and error and many youtube tutorials, i have found the perfect method for flawless at-home manicures. here is my tried-and-true step-by-step for the perfect polish-job. 1. cuticle push-back: wooden orange stick with a cuticle softener. wood tools are gentler than metal tools, and this cuticle softener (left: Orly cutique) is my hands-down favorite. i scrape off any dead skin on around the nails to create a good, clean surface. 2. scrub nails, removing any excess cuticle softener and oils. you can get these nail brushes at any drug or dollar store. 3. apply lotion to hands: i skip this step because i have very oily skin, but many find it vital to keeping soft skin throughout a process fraught with chemicals. 4. clean nail beds with rubbing alcohol or 100% acetone. not everyone needs to do this. for me, it helps to eliminate all oils before applying polish. 5. nail growth treatment: allow 3-4 minutes to dry. one thin coat on the bare nail will, over time, encourage strength and growth. here is w7 rapid growth treatment. this is my favorite, but i've heard good things about sally hansen's growth treatment. 6. base coat: allow 4-5 minutes to dry. one thin coat. a good base coat will add longevity to your manicure, and eliminate any danger of staining on the nail. 7. two coats of polish: allow 3-4 minutes of dry time each. even with a one-coat-wonder, two coats will ensure that your manicure lasts 8. clean up edges and cuticles with a small nail or concealer brush dipped in 100% acetone 9. top coat: i like a super shine top coat, one thin coat: allow 5-6 minutes of dry time. this seals in your polish and will smooth out any streaks or imperfections. 10. one coat of fast dry top coat (let dry for 7-10 minutes). adding this second top coat helps to prevent chipping and speeds up your dry time significantly. 11. Apply small amount of cuticle oil (or jojoba oil) to cuticle areas. Let sit for 2-3 minutes
12. Lightly rub oil into skin around nails 13. Apply a generous amount of hand lotion and lightly rub into nail area 14. Wait another 10 minutes, or until you can rub your nails gently together without tackiness. use the these steps to create a flawless look at home and save the $$ you would spend at the nail salon. since perfecting this method, I have experienced nail growth and a consistent look of expensively groomed hands. thanks for reading and happy diying, bitches. sorry, i've been gone. i've been on the road. here is a list of my traveling companions. on-the-road-mini-mani kit this blue zip bag is deceptively plentiful. it also has sturdy vinyl sides that help protect all my treasures from the hazards of travel. clean up brush this well worn concealer brush offers snappy clean up on the go. dipped in a tiny pool of acetone, this brush offers clean lines and clean cuticles that polish off any hotel room mani. travel pure acetone yes, you can travel with a small of amount of acetone for personal use: in both checked baggage and carry on. https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety/ top2bottom base coat orly at home, i prefer a base coat that doesn't pull double duty. whilst traveling, i find this two-in-one comes in handy. travel sizes bliss kiss glass file this is one of the best glass files that i've ever used. here it is in a handy ready to travel size. handbag holiday cuticle oil butter london even more handy in mini form, this oil is perfect for post mani conditioning. mainstream minis picking up some small basics to populate my travel kit has served me well. the only problem? i forgot a mini basic red. "dory" zoya mini zoya minis are huge compared to opi or china glaze. if you want more polish, seek minis from zoya or orly. "chip skip" mini opi
this teeny bottle is applied prior to base coat to clean and prep the nail. helpful when i am not armed with my full mani kit. whats in your travel kit? happy trails, bitches. thanks for reading. today, i offer you my current favorite nail products of the non-hued variety. a successful at-home manicure is determined by much more than a flattering polish with a good formula. here are the nail products that make the good manis possible (for me). here are my favorites in prep, base coats, top coats, etc. "cutique" orly why is this not available at sallys beauty nor ulta? it seems that all other orly nail prep products are at my fingertips, except this amazing cuticle softener and remover. luckily, it can be found on amazon. the most effective cuticle remover i've ever used. cannot live without it. "nail tek intensive therapy ii" quite effective for treating peeling nails, i apply this first on the bare nail, in a small amount, at only the source of cracking or peeling. i follow this process with the next product, over the entire nail for overall strength and growth. after i apply 1-2 coats of polish, i use nail tek again as a topper and wrap the nail tips. since i've done this, i've noticed a marked improvement and less breakage. "rapid growth" serum w7 if you spot this at your local t.j. maxx or marshalls retailer, i urge you to pick it up. i've not found it online nor available at any brick and mortar. this serum is the real deal. it all changed about a year ago when i began using this under every mani. my nails are naturally weak and short. this offered strength and small amount of length. "smooth operator base coat" h&m i wished i had known about this base coat before h&m began it's hard core discount and discontinuation. it really does smooth everything out tremendously. no bumps nor bubbles since i began using this magic. "girl on the run" quick dry formula top coat from pure ice this discount brand top coat has been recommended all over the web. i finally checked it out and discovered the value. works just as well, if not better, than quick dry top coats 5x the price. get it at walmart. "matte top" orly this is my favorite matte top coat. i remember searching in 2014 for a matte top coat and coming up empty. this matte is perfect and velvety and doesn't ever quit. (yes, i've had matte top coats "quit" on me). gives any polish a modern and interesting effect, but also smooth. "nail lacquer thinner" orly
been using 2-3 drops in many a polish lately and found terrific results. this spruces up any old polish, but also makes a brand new bottle more than reasonable. doing an at home manicure? this is a must in your supply kit. what is your non-polish favorite of late? i must know. happy mani-cares, bitches! thanks for reading. i have nothing of note to say about january. my feelings are inaccessible at the moment. i know that i'm not particularly downtrodden, but i'm not tapping into anything. just a numb trajectory of narcissist ambiguity. bring on february. this month, i offer you something more powerful than the new. i offer you nostalgia. many of my january favorites have been featured in posts throughout the month. join me in a retrospective dance of the grayest month in the year (weather-wise). "portafino" h&m featured in my two-part h&m haul, this polish photographs more neutral tangerine than is true. ilr this polish is a sweet stucco coral. the color breathes into my senses like memories of vacations not yet taken. "silk cocoon" h&m the shimmer here is so subtle, but in bright sunlight you can see the violet shinning out the cremey pearl. this was one of my hands-down favorites this month. too unique to be typical, the photo does not capture the fuss that was made over this polish. "potpourri" h&m i featured this as a near alternative to the pantone color of 2018. i can rave about most all of the h&m polishes for formula. which is why their deep discount (due to discontinued use) stings bitter-sweet. pick some up if you are able. "lap of luxury" h&m bronzy metallic anyone? i forgave the brush strokes of this luxurious polish. not my typical jam, this baroque style polish called to me. "masala chai" h&m the only complaint, is that it took more than 2 coats to get opaque. no streaks, though. whilst i usually demand complete opacity, i'm a sucker for this off white marshmallow creme. even if a vnl peaks through. "go nuts" h&m this dusty chocolate covered hazel nut creme is aptly named. overlooked by my fellow enthusiasts, one can forget that a flattering, medium brown, with a terrific formula, can be one of your hardest working polishes. "it's a sauna out here" color club mood changing hot orange to bright pink, i dove head first into the heat-index side of the pool this month. a 50% off sale at walmart helped. i'm addicted. "skylight" h&m from an undocumented supplemental haul, this sheer shimmery polish is never gonna get opaque. i tried. photoed is a whopping four coats on the nail. even with the fail, i still liked the effect. i want to see this over a white base coat, though: gonna pop. "hot n' steamy" color club mood changing the final chapter in my heat sensitive novella, "hot n' steamy" had the least significant color shift, and was the darkest horse for my affections. i kept this polish strong on my nails for almost a solid week. she my unexpected fav. "stay off the lawn!!" opi from my recent swatch drawer files, this formula cannot be beat. from the fall 2016 washington, d.c. collection, i once thought this polish leaned too teal to be flattering. i was wrong. "kristen" zoya
this is not new in my collection, and frankly, I don't wear it enough. as i mentioned on instagram, all the love goes to zoya's "dove:" the slightly paler version of this blue leaning grey creme. "kristen" deserves her time in the sun. zoya's secret best? perhaps. what was your favorite january polish? happy february, bitches. thanks for reading. what's in my swatch drawer? my yet-to-wear nail polish. where is my swatch drawer? in my hemler (swedish for nail polish holder). when i buy polishes, i horde them away in my swatch drawer until i'm able to grant that polish a full wear, a.k.a. minimum of 24 hours on the fingers or toes. this week: i profile the opi's in my drawer. most of these were purchased at sally's beauty supply (on sale, of course), or t.j. maxx. looking for my profile on china glaze? see here. "going my way or norway?" fall 2014 nordic collection i feel like the most popular polishes from this collection are "my dogsled is a hybrid" (a dusty sea foam creme) and "my voice is a little norse" (a holographic glitter topper). from this collection, i personally own "how great is your dane" (a dark chocolate creme) and "can't afjord not to" (a coral that never looked good on my skin tone). the formula for " ...norway?" was a little streaky (as you can see) and the color a bit too yellow to be flattering on me. but, overall, i am sucker for a neutral. will i keep? yes. should i? nah. "color so hot it berns" fall 2010 swiss collection confession: this has been featured in many a favorites blog post, but i have yet to give it a 24-hour wear test. so smooth, buttery and amazing, this creme is one of the best formulas i own, hands down. also, this is one coat. i think i might be worried that once i put it on, i'll never want to take it off. "my twin mimmy" winter 2016 hello kitty collection i've heard great things about the formula of this bright yellow creme, but not experienced the magic. it was okay, not streaky, but after two coats, there were still some bare spots on my nail. i feel like i own this color already. nothing to rave about. "suzi & the 7 dusseldorfs" fall 2012 germany collection i picked this up for $1 at a dollar tree earlier in 2017. never-been-my-style, this raspberry shimmer is actually quite stunning on the nail. bit on the thin formula-wise, this is worth the time. "stay off the lawn!!" fall 2016 washington dc collection
this green creme separated in the bottle, but was solid in one coat on the nail. this grass green leans a bit teal, and has incredible opacity. i think it's a better formula than "christmas gone plaid" from the holiday 2014 gwen stefani collection. what's in your swatch drawer? happy shopping and stocking, bitches. thanks for reading. as the new year dawned, we have busied ourselves digesting the 2017 "best of" lists from many bloggers and youtubers. (here's mine, if you missed it). thus, i am sure, we have updated our own "must get" lists. lemmings? some. shoulda woulda coulda? of course. here is what is on my new and improved wishlist. "caramello" kl polish www.klpolish.com/products/caramello this unique candy creme from youtuber, kathleen lights, seems to be on permanent sold out. i've had my eye on it since it's release. for now, i'm also researching dupes. "street regal" collection - 2017 fall collection from china glaze yes. the whole collection. a stand out is "accent piece." there are a couple of polishes that i can live without, but overall, how did i miss this collection? between orly and china glaze, fall 2017 was a very special season. "is this a kissing book?" moonshine mani no. not the whole collection. but three are very intriguing. new for 2018, this indie collection is from another youtuber, pheobe moon. i am not a slave to the innovative holo-flakey-shimmer-ness of the indie world, but i am loving "anybody want a peanut," "princess buttercup, " & "hello, my name is inigo montoya." p.s. also loving the theme of this collection. princess bride is required viewing (but slightly disappointed that there is not a polish called "rodents of unusual size.") what's the take-away? i am craving caramel and/or mustardy cremes this winter. ory "breathable"
while everyone was sh*tting on the la-la-land spring collection in 2017, orly's breathable polishes sat silently being incredible. incredible formula, incredibly safe and dare-i-say incredibly healthy? (or the healthiest a polish can get, frankly). i will be picking up breathable polishes this year, damn-it. cremes in terrific colors. what could be more me? what's on your new and improved wishlist? happy listing and wishing, bitches. thanks for reading. |
AuthorI try to paint my nails adequately. CategoriesArchives
November 2017
|