Nail Harmony Gelish is Amazing!

I cannot say it any other way. I started with potted brush-on coloured gels (think OPI Axxium but cheaper) and really kind of hated the idea. Not because it was cheap - I'm not a huge fan of Axxium either - but because it was clumpy and unwieldy.

Clumpy, gross off-brand gel.

I mean, look at that! And that's my non-dominant hand too! I tried it a few times but never really got better at what I was doing. Even worse, it would pop off each nail in a single solid piece within 2 or 3 days. SO not worth it.

I was convinced that gel was the nail colour of the future, though, so I decided to give Nail Harmony Gelish a try. It is inexpensive, has a very wide colour selection, and mini starter kits are available at Sally Beauty Supply.
Even so, this is another one of those things I'd recommend just to a professional. I know it seems as simple as normal nail polish but there's some stuff goin on and you don't want to get it all over your fingers or anything.
Thankfully, I'm a professional so I only screwed up my first try a teensie bit. ;)

The first time I used Gelish, I knew that I only had a Monday to do my nails for a dance the following Saturday. In between was 3 days of art classes where I deal with chemicals, abrasives, adhesives, solvents, and all mess of other nasty stuff and 2 days of work where my hands were going to be in the water all day long. If I used a conventional nail laquer, I would have had a chipped mess by the time Saturday rolled around.

It wore for a week and a half. One nail finally popped up when I slammed my finger in the door.

I've worn it a few times since then and each time I do my nails I get better and better at it. So today I decided to try some very simple nail art.

Here we have Gelish Black Shadow topped with very fine holo glitter in a reverse french then topped with one of their Aurora toppers before the final gloss coat. I'm not sure which topper I actually have. The name belongs to the pink one, but the fine holo shimmer is more blue.
Anyway, it's simply amazing not only in design (to toot my own horn) but also Gelish is amazing in its ease of application and longevity of wear. I can't wait to fully invest in a Gelish collection. It's just wonderful wonderful wonderful.

So enough words, check this out!

Legit, pics don't even capture it.
I could not be happier with this product.

China Glaze Crackle Glaze is HOT.

I feel like I'm late to the Crackle/Shatter party here. Just because I haven't purchased or wrote about it doesn't mean I didn't desire the ever living heck out of it.
I've just had a lot on my plate.

Yesterday I took a bit of time for myself and went over to Sally Beauty after work. The one down the street from my salon is open until 9, which is totally awesome because I get off at 8.
I was gonna check out the new Finger Paints, but as soon as I walked in China Glaze was sitting right there in front beside the register!
Oh, let me tell you I wanted to buy every single one but I had a slow day at work and didn't have much in the way of tips to be spending. I started my collection with Cracked Concrete and Broken Hearted.

1 coat Broken Hearted over 2 coats OPI Who The Shrek Are You?

The premise behind these crackle and shatter nail polishes is pretty simple:
1. Put on a base if you like to (I didn't here)
2. Put on a coloured nail polish.
3. Wait for that coloured polish to completely dry. Not tacky dry. Not "yeah, this'll do" dry. TOTALLY dry.
4. QUICKLY brush on a coat of crackle. I doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, it's probably not going to be so I wouldn't try if I were you. Besides, it's gonna crack up undoing all the smooth beautiful work you just did.
5. Watch the cracks form! For this China Glaze, it started happening almost immediately. The tag on the bottle says 3-5 minutes but my first finger was already cracked when I moved on to my next.
6. The crackle polish dries with a matted finish and is bumpy, so finish up with a good thick top coat. I used 2 coats of OPI Rapid Dry, but only because that's what I had handy right there. I'm not sure that was the best for this polish.


I can say with absolute certainty that I LOVE crackle polishes. It's such an easy way to have interesting nail art that everyone will go bonkers for. I like that I was able to wear my two fave colours without looking like a kandyraver kid. Not that there's anything wrong with kandyravers, I just think I'm too old for that.

Bundle Monster Contest!

A few weeks ago, I got my first Konad set. I loved it. LOVED it! So of course my broke ass went out and got the Bundle Monster set. It's way cheaper than Konad and works really awesome. Sure, it has some problems - the plates are un-backed and kinda sharp and the full-nail designs are too skinny for thumbs - but there is a whole new set coming out that addresses those issues!!

To celebrate, Bundle Monster is doing a contest where the winner gets the new set!
I'm sure all the established nail bloggers have this wrapped up, but even so I'm entering. I love doing the stamping plates so much and I get so many complements on my nails. Today, the lady at the bank was gaga over it!
I feel so pretty!

Martha Stewart Manicure

I almost didn't want to post this because it didn't really go well...
...But I really love Martha Stewart and her signature motifs.

I used China Glaze For Audrey and and old Nubar Nail Art Pen. I had a lot of trouble over the control of the nail art pen. Kinda sad about that.

For Audrey is supposed to be a Tiffany Blue (cuz, you know, Breakfast at Tiffany's... Audrey Hepburn...). Martha Stewart Blue is more of a pastel blue shade and not as green as Tiffany Blue is.
A while ago, I made a Frankenpolish trying to get Tiffany Blue before I knew of For Audrey. Something was a little "off" about it and I added a dab of China Glaze Four Leaf Clover but I didn't get it green enough. That Franken is probably more of a Martha Blue.

I had the most problem with the M on the thumb. It's all bubbly and strange. Same with the wreath on the ring finger.
I'll probably practice it more. Maybe I'll even do it with Martha's glitters!!

News?

Do I finally have relevant news? Goodness, I hope so!

I put nail stickers on my Japanese Rose Garden. I got them from XXI about a year ago...

They're.... okay. They were cute and I had fun with them but they chipped off quickly. At the salon, I have my hands in water all day so I really need longevity out of my stuff. I have a lot of polish that will last a week or so, but even the polish - not just the stickers - peeled off. Lame.

But that's okay!

It's time for a celebratory change anyway....

NEW SHELLAC COLOURS DUE OUT SPRING 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


In addition to the current offerings, CND will be adding to the Shellac line:
Mother of Pearl
Beau
Clearly Pink
Gotcha
Hollywood
Decadence
Masquerade
Iced Coral
Cocoa
Rock Royalty
Black Pool

and....

HOT POP PINK!

Ooh, Hot Pop Pink was one of my most favourite colours. I still have the entire Hot Pop collection, as well as a display backer card I stole from the beauty supply store. Man, I even have a binder from beauty school that I did completely Hot Pop themed.
So yeah, I'm obviously.... stoked....?

Hm. This is not the Hot Pop Pink I remember. It's a bit washed out because I couldn't get the camera to white balance for anything but the flash, but that is pretty dead-on as far as the shade goes.
It's Barbie pink.
Not that I have a problem with Barbie pink, it's just that Hot Pop Pink was so loud and in your face and WOOO LOOK AT ME I'M PINK!!!!!
This took 3 coats for even a streaky coverage and is still sticky without top coat a half hour later.

This is not the Hot Pop Pink I remember.
Has anyone else had problems with their older polishes getting strange like that? Everyone seems to talk about needing to thin it out and having stringy application. This was quite unexpected.
I'll be swatching the rest of my Hot Pop collection to see if it's just a pink problem and will be hoping hoping HOPING that the polish, not my memory, is faulty and the Shellac will be nice.