Weekly Manicure: Ombre

According to one of my fab friends who works in the magazine industry at very well know beauty/fashion publication nail polish is the new lipstick! What do I mean by that? Well, back in earlier recessions Leonard Lauder (chairman of Estee Lauder), consistently found that during tough economic times, his lipstick sales went up. Basically, we as consumers turn to less expensive indulgences, such as lipstick, when we feel less than confident about the future. Therefore, lipstick sales tend to increase during times of economic uncertainty or a recession. It has been a reliable measure over the years but, in this current economic mess that we find ourselves in it’s not lipstick that we are splurging on it’s nail polish and other manicure tools AKA the "lipstick effect" Do you think you are part of this phenomenon?

I can say that I am part of this trend without even realizing it. More recently I have been putting time and a little monies into my own mani/pedi fun. I am consistently disappointed when I splurge on a manicure at the salon only to have it chip within a day or two. Why bother spending the money on that when I can do it myself? And why not share it with you? I am always trying to spice it up so there will hopefully be some things that help/inspire your own manicure fun.

This week, I decided to take some inspiration from the official start of spring and do a manicure with one of my new fav warm weather colors, lilac! This is also in keeping with what my mother had planned for the family’s Easter ensembles, more on that later... I wasn’t sure if I should keep it simple or try something fun with it… I decided to try something new and attempt an ombre manicure. As I’m sure you know ombre is one of my favorite things and I’ve been watching video after video on how people make it happen… why can’t I? I used this ombre manicure tutorial from lizzypunch, it was the simplest to follow in my opinion and didn't require lots of polishes, sponges, etc.

The first step to a good long lasting manicure (ombre or otherwise) is starting with a very clean slate. It helps the polish to adhere to your nail.

I followed the steps that had been lined out in the tutorial but, there were a few tweaks that I would definitely stress. One of two drops of clear nail polish with a little color will work for every two/three nails but, I had to mix up a a few batches while I was in the process of doing the manicure. Also, a piece of aluminum foil works just as well as a small plastic container for your palette. 

This is the first layer which is 4/5 drops of clear nail polish mixed with 3/4 drops of color polish. One of the reasons why I might have had some challenges with this was because the polish is already a little sheer. You have to play around with your polish until you find the level of translucency/lightens that works for you.

 

For the next layer I used a few more drops of the lilac polish to deepen the color on top of what I had used for the first layer. I only painted that shade on half of each nail to give the fading ombre effect. It didn't really come out as definitively in this picture but, you can definitely make it out in the right light.

This is the finished product. I just used the lilac color without any additional clear nail polish for the tips. I also put a top coat which really helped smooth everything out but, only for the nails where I was able to go through the process quickly.What do you think of my ombre manicure?

Some nails came out more blended than others but, this was my first attempt at the ombre manicure. Have you tried it before, how did it work for you?  What do you think of my end results? Yes, I also did my toesies but, not in the ombre fashion. I don't think there is enough "canvas" to work with for that. They had to settle for a coat of Dr. Remedy's Lively Lilac.

Weekly Manicure: Rawr

While I enjoy the options and creative possibilities that nail polish allows I have not yet perfected the manicure process to the point where I can avoid chipping. I think I am in line with what most would consider “best practice” but, still see my manicure falling to pieces (literally) after two or three days. What advice would you have to create or maintain a long lasting manicure? I’d be happy to put this into practice next week when I sit down and do my nails.

Based on this seemingly inevitable manicure disappointment over the past two weeks I have decided to go with Sally Hansen Manicure Strips this week to avoid (almost) immediate chipping. I picked this specific pattern up on complete impulse when I saw it at CVS. I just can’t ignore that lipstick nail polish effect especially when it’s something new and exciting. There have a bunch of fun colors/patterns in this Rock of Ages collection but, Rock N' Roar was the only one calling to me as I glanced over my options. Who can resist a good animal print? That’s right, nobody…

Ironically Sally Hansen Manicure Strips would be against the “advice” of a mall kiosk person I met last weekend. Let me set the scene: I was shopping with my cousin and giving consultative wardrobe advice. As we were crawling the malls near her I spotted a kiosk that sold Incoco strips and Konad plates. I was super excited because I haven’t had the option to buy either in person yet. When I walked over to browse I was immediately assaulted greeted and the salesperson asked if I wanted to try a sample. I said yes (to a Konad design) but, she assumed that I meant the Incoco strips and proceeded to try to remove the polish (gasp) I had on my nail.

The crisis was averted and she stamped my nail, it came out really well. I suggested that my cousin try the strips because of their convenience and ease of use. While I tried to tell my cous about my personal experience with Incoco the conversation was peppered with comments from the sales person. While I said they were similar to Sally Hansen she insisted they were nothing alike and that Incoco is superior. When I said they were both nail polish strips she said Sally Hansen was plastic and Incoco was seven layers of polish. When I said that they lasted for at least a week she insisted that it was more like 14 days. The only thing that she didn’t contradict me on was when I said that there were a lot of great patterns on the website. It was a very awkward experience especially since I am familiar with/an advocate of Incoco nail strips.

While I went Sally Hansen this time around I think my nails came out pretty well, don’t you?

Do you utilize manicure strips or do you think they are just a passing trend? If you do are you a Sally Hansen or Incoco person or do you use some cool new thing that I’ve never heard about?

Nail Files: Expressionist

As you might have seen there was a flurry of articles this week regarding health concerns and abhorrent conditions for nail salon workers in New York City and surrounding areas. You didn't see them? Well, if you were following me on Twitter you would have. The articles definitely made me think about this industry that I have been partaking in (however irregularly) since high school in a different light and right as the pedicure season is upon us... But, do I really want to support an industry that does not properly compensate their hard workers? How about one that puts them at risk for major health problems? Not, really. How about you?

This weekend I gave myself a mani/pedi. It wasn't as intricate as last week but, thanks to Nailipop manicure strips it didn't have to be to look that way. I love all the colors in this design and putting them on was a piece of cake. Here are some things that I know to be true about putting on manicure strips:

1. Make sure your nails are super clean before you start.
2. Make sure that you hold the nail strip to your nail for at least 30 seconds so that it adheres effectively. The stickiness of the strip and the heat from your hand should help create a strong bond.
3. File the manicure strip in a DOWNWARD motion it’ll help keep the end of the strip from lifting with a small grit file to create and even/clean edge.

These tips works with every type of nail strip I have tried so far. Do you use nail strips or do you stick with polish? If so, what types of polish strips do you prefer. 

Work With What You've Got: Leftovers

I know everyone is familiar with Sally Hansen Manicure Strips. If you're not then you need to get with the program! They are pretty fantastic, allowing people to have some of the snazziest nails without the painstakingly long trip to the actual salon.

But, when all that is said and done you still have 6 additional strips that didn't fit on your digits! And as economical as these nail strips might seem they actually cost more than a manicure in some stores... not cool! What's the point of doing it yourself if you are going to pay more?

I have seen lots of other people do only the ring or pointer finger but, I wanted to try something different! So I decided to do a little patchwork... I started out with a basic manicure using Maybelline's Salon Expert Nail Polish in Sheer Ballet Pink. Then I did some of this:

 

You can cut and place them anyway you like. I cut them in half/thirds and placed them in a symmetrical patterns on my nails. I also ended up painting another coat of nail polish on one side so that the nail strip wasn't dramatically higher than the rest of the nail bed. As great as these nail strips are one of the best ways to ensure a long lasting manicure with them is to start with very clean nails and I don't think manicured nails qualify; We'll see how long it lasts...

Either way I like the finished product! It is unique and it's subtle. I also think it would look great with a more noticeable contrast like lace and maroon, lightbulb! No one has given me any feedback yet but, I think it's only a matter of time... Have you thought of any cool uses for your extra polish strips? 

Review and Giveaway: Incoco Nail Strips

Remember a few posts/a month ago when I went to all those Fashion Week events? Well, when I was at Robert Verdi's Luxe Lab the first thing I did was have a manicure at the Incoco table and I fell in love! These nail strips are perfect for every fashionista coming in a variety or colors and patterns with no hassle application and staying power. I was so thrilled when I reached out to them and they responded promptly with samples!

Check out all the options! I'm glad that someone else picked them for me because after browsing through their website I wouldn't have been able to make up my mind, they have so many great patterns! Not only was I noticing great things for myself but, fun colors and patterns that would make ideal stocking stuffers for the impending upcoming holiday season.

I'm wearing Casting Call which was also seen on the Spring 2012 Vivienne Tam runway!

I decided to try the sample I found most impressive (and was thrilled they included) the French Manicure strips... No one makes anything like this and the idea of being able to do my own (successful) French Manicure was a no brainer! I wanted to see how easy it would be.

That was simple now wasn't it! Seriously, it really was... after filing your nails to the desired shape/length and cleaning them thoroughly (that is important for a longer lasting manicure) you start with the white tips. This was the trickier part for me because I wasn't sure how much white tip I wanted but, I did the best I could. Then came the sheer strip which, as you can see in the pic, is really sheer. And voila, instant(ish) French Manicure.

I am already seeing some chips but, that is my own fault. Like I said the while tips were tricky for me... My advice would be to make sure that you are 100% sure before you apply the strip to your nail. Do not pull it off and reattach it five or six two or three times. The full sheer pink part (or other nails strips in general) are much less tricky to apply because the beginning point is your cuticle.

Now for the fun news for you! I am so happy to be able to share some of the Incoco swag with you. I will be giving away one of the samples that I got "Suit Up", a 7 way nail buffer, and some nail polish remover pads!

This giveaway will be until October 17, 2011 and is open to ALL readers! I will pick the winner via Excel/random.org. Here are the rules: become a follower in Google (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on this post letting me know what Incoco pattern or color is your favorite... Don't forget to add your email so I can contact you! For bonus entries:

• 1 bonus entry - "Like" 260 Days, No Repeats on Facebook. Leave another comment letting me know you did this.
• 1 bonus entry - Follow 260 Days, No Repeats on Twitter. Leave another comment with your twitter handle.
• 3 bonus entries - Re-post this giveaway on your blog. Leave another comment letting me know you did this with the link.
• 5 bonus entries - Add 260 Days, No Repeats to your blogroll. Leave another comment letting me know you did this with the link.

Weekly Manicure: Barielle Lemondrops

A few weeks ago I won a blog giveaway from my friend The Beauty Gnome for a set of Barielle nail polish. I had actually never heard of that brand before but, was excited to expand my polish repertoire! Besides, if it's for free it's for me...

Barielle has actually been around for over 30 years and was one of the first companies to make nail polish without Formaldehyde, Toluene or Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) AKA chemicals that are suspected to be harmful. Instead they use effective and natural alternatives such as Keratin, Proteins, Vitamins, and Oil and Plant Extracts. Learning all these great things about this nail polish made me even more excited to try it out. 

The set of polishes that I won came with some greens, sparkles, and a fab coral shade but, I couldn't resist the vibrant, fun yellow for this week's mani/pedi. Maybe I'm lamenting the seemingly rapid close of summer and this color almost makes me feel like it's just getting started all over again! Next time I might use it as an accent color, there are so many manicure possibilities. How would you wear this nail polish? 

Weekly Manicure: Half Moon Cheetah

Last week I found my manicure in pretty good shape at the end of the week, despite the warnings from the Incoco kiosk person. The only major issue was the fact that my nails had grown a bit (as they tend to do) so, I decided to try something new instead of giving myself a whole new manicure. 

Enter, Half Moon Cheetah! Most half moon manicure tutorials tell you to start with a single color and then use some sort of round stickers to mark the half moon part while painting a second color on the upper part of your nail over the base color. Since I already had the color I wanted on the upper part of my nail I needed to try something a little different to get the desired effect. Using "old-fashioned" hole protector stickers I laid out a half moon shape at the bottom of each of my nails. It was a little tricky on the bigger nails (ex: my thumbs) but, I by cutting them in half a bit off center I managed to finagle them into a shape that worked.

They were was perfect for the task at hand and I painted a few coats of Sally Hansen's Nailgrowth Miracle in Wholesome Earth  in the half moon shape at the bottom of my nail and violá an easy, do-it-yourself half moon manicure!

One of the things that I would be cautious about is making sure that the area you paint is very dry before you remove the stickers or you might mess up the edges. You could seal it with a top coat if you want but, I didn't and it was fine. This is an excellent way to spice up your existing manicure and make those nail strips last one week longer if they are holding up to your daily wear and tear!

How do you think it came out?

Weekly Manicure: Lilac Polish, Silver Accent Nail

Guys, I have to be super honest. I am in LOVE with my manicure this week; Every time I move my hand it catches my eye. Lilac is one my favorite warm weather manicure colors and this particular shade (Revlon Colorstay Provence) is absolutely perfect. While it would have been ok to rock the pseudo neutral lilac manicure I thought it best to spice it up with an accent nail, that really pulled the whole thing together. Although, I think next week I am going to skip the polish and try nail strips again... decisions, decisions. Which one do you prefer for your own manicures?

Weekly Manicure: Accent Nail

This week's manicure was really all about complementing the ensemble that I wore to my cousin's wedding on Saturday. Sure, I could have gone with a classic french manicure but, I wanted my mani/pedi to be a little more interesting. Of all the fun manicures that I have tried I haven't done the whole trendy one accent nail thing and that seemed like a good option. I wanted to use baby blue and silver nail polish so it complimented my labrodorite jewelry as opposed to purple or pink which would have been beyond matchy matchy. I think the manicure came out great and it went perfectly with my dress. What do you think?

Weekly Manicure: Dashing Diva

I would like to share a great manicure experience that I had during my mini Thanksgiving stay-cation (Yes, this has been in the works for a while.) Have you guys ever been to Dashing Diva? Dashing Diva is a fantastic nail salon committed to “re-inventing the nail salon experience,” that has locations all over the New York City and the world. I went to the one on the Upper West Side for a mani/pedi and some rest and relaxation. I didn't make an appointment prior to going (silly me) so, I was a little worried that everyone else had the same idea and I would be waiting a while. Thankfully  that was not the case and they seated me right after I picked a color from their selection of OPI and Essie colors. I appreciated that because normally they only have Dashing Diva polishes but, I like the idea of being able to head to a beauty store and pick up a bottle of the color I choose for future use.

Image courtesy of www.shensaddiction.com

The lady who did my nails communicated very well AKA spoke English clearly and wasn't super pushy. This might seem like a strange comment but, if you're from New York City you know what I'm talking about. It often seems like workers at nail salons are more interested in getting you in and out as fast as possible but, not before trying to sell you a 10 minute back or foot massage in addition to whatever else you're getting done in awkward broken English... While I don't mind that type of environment for a quick mani/pedi it's not something that I consider extremely relaxing so, Dashing Diva was a welcomed change for my vacation manicure. 

Because it was right before Thanksgiving I looked for a color that would work with potential undecided holiday ensembles. After staring at a (literal) wall of polish colors I settled on Essie Hot Coco from the Winter 2010 collection. It was ironic to me that it had never popped out at me before. I really like the way the manicure came out and it worked perfectly with the outfit I picked for Thanksgiving and other subsequent outfits because of the neutral tone. Have you given yourself or gotten any fun manicures lately?

Weekly Manicure: Incoco Champagne French Manicure

This Last week I needed a polish change. With so many choices in my nail polish arsenal I wasn’t really sure how to proceed so I decided to keep it simple. You guessed it, a french manicure. Thankfully, I had some Incoco french manicure strips to make the process easy and frustration free. How do you think the french manicure came out? Really, I think it’s fab too! I also came to an unexpected realization about how long my own natural nails have gotten.

 

I have a confession. When I was younger I used to bite my nails and it was bad! I’m not quite sure why I felt the need to gnaw on my fingers or why it continued as long (into college) as it did but, it did. There were stretches of time where I wasn’t compelled bite my nails (I was getting regular manicures or I had acrylic tips/wraps) but, the minute consistent stress or boredom crept up on me I found myself right back where I started.

Fast forward to now… I don’t really have problem anymore. I’m not quite sure how I kicked it. Maybe there is always something for me to do (thanks phone) or I’ve learned to cope with my stress differently; Your guess is as good as mine. But, when I went shopping with my mom this past weekend I (proudly) showed her my nails and we both marveled over the fact that I used to pay to have manicurists put acrylic on my nail to make them just as long as they are naturally. How times have changed! Did you ever have a problem with nail biting? How did you move past it?

 

Weekly Manicure: Mint Sorbet

While I don’t own any mint colored clothing it is one of the Spring 2012 trends that is calling out to me. I was trying to think of a (cost-free/low-cost) way to bring more mint into my life when I remembered Essie Mint Candy Apple polish. That would be the perfect way to incorporate the mint trend everyday next week without breaking the bank or buying any new clothes. With no time to order, I decided to stop by my local CVS and see what I could find in their beauty department.

As expected I came across a few similar shades of mint green from Revlon and Sally Hansen. While I was excited that my plan was coming to fruition I was also overwhelmed with all the choices; Did I want Revlon Minted? How about Sally Hansen Nail Growth Gentle Blossom? Perhaps Sally Hansen Smooth & Perfect Color + Care in Sea? So many choices! I’m glad I stopped with those two brands. I ended up picking Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet. Why, you might wonder? Because, it was the cheapest one they had by a (considerable) margin; It was only $3.59, about half the price compared to other iterations of mint and most decent quality nail polish in general! I found it in a commonly overlooked place, at the bottom of the shelf. Don’t let stores trick you into buying the first thing you see! Take time and look high and low (literally) the best deals are normally in places that you wouldn’t check at all!

What spring trends (nail polish or otherwise) are you most excited for? 

Weekly Manicure: A Classic Combo - Neutral Nail, Bold Toe

When I think of a versatile and neutral manicure nothing comes to mind faster than a classic French manicure. When I want thinking ahead to all the activities and events I have going on because of Fashion Week and life in general I wanted my manicure to last and be appropriate through it all; Enter Incoco French manicure nail strips! I've tried them before and know that they are fantastic so it was really a no brainer to go that route again. I did them last week and they are still perfectly presentable in all situations despite the everyday wear and tear of my life.

While I love the French manicure there was still the question of what to do in terms of my pedicure. I don't know about you but, I think French pedicures look weird; Kind of like the toe nails are too long or the person is trying to highlight their natural toe which doesn't work for me since I'm not a huge fan of feet in general... I could come up with a bunch of reasons but, in the end, I just don't like them and wouldn't elect to  paint my tootsies that way. O good, I'm not the only one! Instead I went for a dark purple color which screams fall to me. I sense a manicure in that polish's future sometime soon but, not too soon... summer isn't  over yet! What color did you paint your nails this week?

Reminder: Incoco Giveaway

Don't forget I am going to share some of the Incoco swag I got with you. I will be giving away one of the samples that I got "Suit Up", a 7 way nail buffer, and some nail polish remover pads!

This giveaway will be until October 17, 2011 and is open to ALL readers! This is your last weekend to enter!! I will pick the winner via Excel/random.org. Here are the rules: become a follower in Google (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on the original post letting me know what Incoco pattern or color is your favorite... Don't forget to add your email so I can contact you! For bonus entries:

• 1 bonus entry - "Like" 260 Days, No Repeats on Facebook. Leave another comment letting me know you did this.
• 1 bonus entry - Follow 260 Days, No Repeats on Twitter. Leave another comment with your twitter handle.
• 3 bonus entries - Re-post this giveaway on your blog. Leave another comment letting me know you did this with the link.
• 5 bonus entries - Add 260 Days, No Repeats to your blogroll. Leave another comment letting me know you did this with the link.

FBFF: Manicures, and Pedicures, and Nails... Oh My!

I'm sure you've noticed that I have really gotten into doing my own nails. After looking at some amazing nail  blogs I thought, "Everyone has to start somewhere" or "Practice makes perfect" or some combination of those things. That feeling combined with my new(ish) found inability to spend money has been an inspiration and motivated me to lacquer it up.

While simply painting my nails is great practice I have also been trying to mix it up: making my own colors, trying out different types of polishes, using different patterned nail strips. I know it's nothing crazy but, everyone DOES have to start somewhere!  

June 5, 2012: How To Incorporate Color Into Your Work Wardrobe

If you asked me what colors I thought personified summer I would say orange/coral and turquoise. Those three two colors just scream sun kissed fun in the sun to me. One of the things that I have been trying to do with them is incorporate them into my work wardrobe in fun and appropriate ways. While little pops of color are always most appropriate in very corporate environments, I think this outfit might push the envelope a bit... or maybe I'm just totally paranoid about dressing for work. After thinking about it here are a few tips and tricks I have under my belt for bringing more color into my (work) life:

• Neutral + Pop Of Color - One of the easiest and least jarring ways to accomplish the goal of incorporating bright colors into a work wardrobe is by including small amounts of color in a largely neutral or basic outfit. And this rule applies  The easiest way to do this is with jewelry but, really any small amount of color thrown in there does the trick!

• Nail It - If you can't reconcile wearing bright colored clothing or accessories in the office then maybe you can get on board with polishing your nails in a stand out shade. This is a good first step for those who might have an aversion to color generally.   

• One Focal Point - It is also easier to wear a bright color when you create one point to focus on so, instead of wearing multiple eye catching pieces you just wear one and anchor your look with that. It could be a a simple shirt, a piece of jewelry, or a pair of shoes... whatever works for you.
  

• Fun shoes/Fun tights - I feel like this tip might be a little trickier to pull off especially when it comes to tights. People might do a double take if you are wearing some killer shoes in an eye catching color but, probably not think twice about it. However, Tights occupy alot more space on your body, naturally and draw significant attention. Purple and teal are normally safe bets. Get ready for the comments either way!

And now onto what I wore... I guess with this outfit I combined a few all of the rules but, as we know I'm not afraid of color. I think overall it's still work appropriate but, bright and perfect for the summer. How do you incorporate color into your work wardrobe?

• Top: orange crochet embellished shirt, LOFT (same shirt different color here, here, here, here and here); beige blazer, Tahari via Loehmanns (part of this suit)
• Bottom: gray pants, New York & Company
• Shoes & Accessories: turquoise peep toe flats, xhiliration for Target; turquoise and silver earrings, Pennyweights; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF    

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Giveaway: Zoya Nail Polish

I've got one more giveaway for you guys this month! You are entering to win the Mirrors Collection from Zoya. These are some fantastic fall and winter colors with just the right amount of sparkle and shine that makes it the ideal polish for New Years Eve.

This giveaway will be until December , 2011 and is open to ALL readers in USA! I will pick the winner via Rafflecopter. Here are the rules: become a follower in Google (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on this post letting me know what your doing for New Years. Check out the Rafflecopter widget for more ways to enter! Keep in mind that this is just one of a few fun things I have going on this month there is more to come...

a Rafflecopter giveaway