Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A Visit To The Nail Salon
This video makes me laugh every time. Working in a nail salon, ran by Vietnamese (My bosses are very fluent however) but I do hear these things daily, and after seeing this video it's hard not to laugh. The Nail part doesn't start until half way through so make sure to watch the whole thing.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Get Gellin'!
I figured I'd give all you nail junkies, my own personal review of Shellac Gel Polish and OPI Gel Polish.
In case you've never heard of gel before, its a great alternative to acrylic nails & it LASTS. Gel polishes are supposed to stay on natural nails on average two weeks. Its bringing back the all natural look. And making it possible for people to wear polish and grow nails LONGER. It adds a little thickness to the nail, making it possible for people with weak brittle nails to achieve some length. There's no damage to the natural nail, and no drilling or excessive filing like with acrylics. And removal is pain free, and requires soaking in acetone for only a few minutes!
Shellac was the first gel polish i used. I really like the product and I feel it does last. However its thick and difficult to work with. It tends to shrink up under the UV light. When doing a french manicure, it tends to bubble, and drying times are somewhat longer then other gel products. I had one lady make a french manicure with Shellac last for 4 and half weeks however, which is truly amazing. Overall its an awesome product, for vacations, weddings, or people who need there Mani to last much longer. However if your a polish junkie and you like to change your color daily, it might not be best for you. (Shellac is typically $20-$30 in most salons)
If you use a light gel color, or do a french manicure, regular polish can be put on top of the gel polish you have on, but removing the regular polish might also remove the shine from the gel, or stain it.
The new OPI Gel Color, is my favorite so far. They have thirty shades to choose from, all the same names, and colors as there regular nail lacquer's. So now people can have their favorite colors, have them last longer, and color coordinate them with their regular polish on their toes. The OPI LED light dries the gel in an amazing 30 seconds, per coat. The polish goes on smooth, and thin, and the bottle is easy to hold and the same type of brush used in regular OPI polishes. In a salon the cost is usually the same or a little more then shellac, so you can plan on spending $20- 30. I feel that since OPI goes on more smooth and thin looking, but still offers the strength of a gel, that it lasts longer, but that is just my personal experience with it.
UV lights are somewhat affordable for people who would like to buy one , Sally's Beauty Supply, Cosmo Prof, EBay and other beauty suppliers offer them. The gel polishes typically run between $12-$20 per bottle, and aside from the gel color, you also need to purchase a gel top coat and base coat. The 30 second LED light by OPI however is very pricey about $400, so its not very affordable for at home use.
If you have any questions comment or tips feel free to leave feedback, thanks!
In case you've never heard of gel before, its a great alternative to acrylic nails & it LASTS. Gel polishes are supposed to stay on natural nails on average two weeks. Its bringing back the all natural look. And making it possible for people to wear polish and grow nails LONGER. It adds a little thickness to the nail, making it possible for people with weak brittle nails to achieve some length. There's no damage to the natural nail, and no drilling or excessive filing like with acrylics. And removal is pain free, and requires soaking in acetone for only a few minutes!
Shellac was the first gel polish i used. I really like the product and I feel it does last. However its thick and difficult to work with. It tends to shrink up under the UV light. When doing a french manicure, it tends to bubble, and drying times are somewhat longer then other gel products. I had one lady make a french manicure with Shellac last for 4 and half weeks however, which is truly amazing. Overall its an awesome product, for vacations, weddings, or people who need there Mani to last much longer. However if your a polish junkie and you like to change your color daily, it might not be best for you. (Shellac is typically $20-$30 in most salons)
If you use a light gel color, or do a french manicure, regular polish can be put on top of the gel polish you have on, but removing the regular polish might also remove the shine from the gel, or stain it.
The new OPI Gel Color, is my favorite so far. They have thirty shades to choose from, all the same names, and colors as there regular nail lacquer's. So now people can have their favorite colors, have them last longer, and color coordinate them with their regular polish on their toes. The OPI LED light dries the gel in an amazing 30 seconds, per coat. The polish goes on smooth, and thin, and the bottle is easy to hold and the same type of brush used in regular OPI polishes. In a salon the cost is usually the same or a little more then shellac, so you can plan on spending $20- 30. I feel that since OPI goes on more smooth and thin looking, but still offers the strength of a gel, that it lasts longer, but that is just my personal experience with it.
UV lights are somewhat affordable for people who would like to buy one , Sally's Beauty Supply, Cosmo Prof, EBay and other beauty suppliers offer them. The gel polishes typically run between $12-$20 per bottle, and aside from the gel color, you also need to purchase a gel top coat and base coat. The 30 second LED light by OPI however is very pricey about $400, so its not very affordable for at home use.
If you have any questions comment or tips feel free to leave feedback, thanks!
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