When Katy Perry TwitPic’d her nails late night on Saturday, I knew Celebrity Manicurist Kimmie Kyees had to be the brains behind this look.  Sure enough, I check my inbox to find that Kimmie had done Katy’s nails for the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. For Katy’s nails, Kimmie created custom tips using Milani Hi-Res from the 3D Holographic collection.  She randomly placed square, round and heart shaped nail gems in a rainbow of colors for a fun and funky look.  One look at Katy’s dress and you can see how the stones played into the overall look.  You can never accuse Katy of being afraid to “go there” with her look.

What do you think of Katy’s nails? Would you ever wear this in real life? Where?

I wasn’t quite sure why True Blood star Deborah Ann Woll was at the Oscars but I couldn’t help but get excited over her grayed purple nails.  It complimented her gown well though I’m not sure it worked with her hair and lip color.  It’s almost like we’re seeing two different looks from the head up and head down.

Get the look with Color Club Uptown Girl from the Rebel Debutante collection or OPI Parlez-Vous OPI?.

What do you think of Deborah’s look?  What nail color would you have chosen for her?  Does anyone know why she was at the Oscars? Did she present?  Is she married/dating/related to a nominee?

I read some comments referring to Amanda Seyfried‘s Armani Prive Oscar gown resembling bubble wrap but I loved it.  She always looks beautiful on the red carpet even if her style choices skew a little older sometimes.  I mean, that’s a LOT of dress.  I can only imagine how much it weighs.

Regardless of how you feel about her dress you’ve got to give her props for wearing a mushroom-y taupe like Chanel  Particuliere, one of spring’s hottest nail shades.  Makeup Artist Monika Blunder used Chanel products to create Amanda’s makeup look so I can only assume that she wore Particuliere on her nails.

Get the look for less with Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Commander In Chic and butter London Fash Pack.

What do you think of Amanda’s look for the Oscars?  What nail color would you have chosen for her?

image credit: Celebutopia

Happy Friday Fanatics! I know things have been a bit quite here on ALU but it’s been a crazeballs week for me. Thanks for your emails to check in on me! You are all so sweet!  Since I’m getting ready for my trip to NYC for New York Fashion Week I’ve been running errands and doing a lot of behind the scenes type work this week.  Plus, my nails were looking pretty beat so a little nail R&R was in order.

However, I’ve received quite a few emails and tweets about Rihanna’s nails at the Grammys.  Someone wondered if she was wearing some crazy CalGel design, traditional nail art or Minx.  Those of you who guessed Minx were dead on the money (no pun intended) and  thanks to the people at Minx and Celebrity Manicurists like Kimmie Kyees, I’ve got the scoop! Rihanna, Beyonce and Keri Hilson all rocked Minx on the Grammy red carpet, check out the detailed pics after the jump!

Celebrity Manicurist, and friend of ALU, Kimmie Kyees Minx’d Rihanna on Saturday for Clive Davis’ Grammy Party using a custom Money Minx.  It looks like a $100 bill has been stretched across her nails.  Very unique! Then for the big show, Kimmie added some extra bling attaching colored crystals along the detail lines of the bill.  For an event like the Grammys you have to go all out and Rihanna certainly did that. Did any of you catch Fashion Police on E! Monday night?  There was quite a debate about Rihanna’s dress.  What do you think?  Thumbs up or down on this look?

New York-based Celebrity Manicurist Lisa Logan flew to California to add some holographic style to Beyonce’s Grammy look. The multiple Grammy Award Winner word Golden Hologram Minx that gave off a rainbow effect in the light.  At first I thought she was wearing the same Golden Lightening Minx I tried last year and I was just seeing the reflection of the lights.  But knowing they have holo Minx now… so cool!

New to the Minx lineup of patterns and designs is the Tease Me line.  Tease Me Minx are like duo-chrome polishes in that they flash different colors (red & gold, blue & silver, green & gold).  To complete her Grammy ensemble Keri Hilson wore Tease Me White Minx that flash both white & silver. Houston-based manicurist Athena Elliott applied Keri’s Minx for the night.

Did you watch the Grammys this year? Personally, I was disappointed in the MJ Tribute. I didn’t know about the 3-D aspect so it just looked fuzzy. And where was Diana Ross? I did love the performances by Pink, Lady Gaga & Elton John and Beyonce but the rest left me saying “meh” I mean Stevie Nicks and Taylor Swift? Are you kidding me with that? How she won Album of the Year is beyond me. She’s adorable and all and I don’t hate her music but let’s get a tiny bit real people. Was the teenage population voting? Anywhoodle, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the show, the fashion, the nails. Anyone stand out to you?

To get Minx’d in your hometown, check the Minx website for salon locations near you!

image credit: Kimmie Kyees, Celebutopia and Adam Orchon.

ps. I’ll post the rest of the OPI Hong Kong polishes in the next couple days!

Big Love “sister wives” Ginnifer Goodwin and Jeanne Tripplehorn braved the rain-soaked Golden Globes carpet together looking, quite frankly, like a mother-daughter duo.  Jeanne’s matronly dress does no justice to her beauty though she does score points in the nail department for donning a chic, browned-grey nail. As mentioned on E!’s Live From The Red Carpet, the co-stars spent their pre-show time together as well, with pampering manis & pedis at Recess Organic Nail Spa in LA accompanied by Ginnifer’s mom.  Get the full scoop on their nail polish choices and see my color swatches after the jump!

After their Recess Basic Manicure & Pedicure with Organic Foot Scrub for extra exfoliation, the ladies relaxed with a hand & foot massage and warm bamboo towel treatment. To compliment her vibrant cobalt gown, Ginnifer chose famed metallic, Chanel Gold Fiction.  As you know, Gold Fiction was a limited edition shade and no longer available. Jeanne selected a Chanel polish as well, opting for the recently launched Particulière. Ginnifer’s mom who attended the ceremony with her daughter went for a classic, Chanel Vamp.

Chanel Gold Fiction

Chanel Particulière

Chanel Vamp

Chanel Particulière and Vamp are currently available on the Chanel.com website for $23/ea and at Chanel counters nationwide.

How did Ginnifer and Jeanne do in selecting their nail shades? Would you do it differently? How?

image credit: WireImage & Celebutopia

If you haven’t seen Up in the Air yet add it to your to-do list ASAP. Not to take anything away from George Clooney but Golden Globe nominees Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga are so brilliant in it.  Total scene stealers.  Kind of like how Anna Kendrick stole the show when she sang “The Ladies Who Lunch” in Camp. So when I saw on Twitter that Celebrity Manicurist Jenna Hipp worked with Vera on her nail look, I had to get the scoop. According to Jenna, “Working with Vera is always a pleasure…it reminds me of when I was a little girl watching my big sister get ready for a big date. Though she’s naturally glamorous and sophisticated, her demeanor is also very soothing.” “For shape, I narrowed the sides a bit to elongate her fingers and rounded the corners ever so slightly with a glass file to avoid snagging her dress.” “For color, I used Orly’s Angel Face topped with Deja-Vu. Orly’s Bonder Basecoat and Sec n Dry Topcoat.”

Regarding Vera’s choice of a neutral nail, “I’m so glad Vera decided on this very clean, neutral nail because it doesn’t compete with her incredible dress and makeup.”

Jenna also spilled some amazing makeup news.  Tina Turnbow created Vera’s look using “the richest mix of brown eyeshadows I’ve ever seen.” Those shadows will be part of the palette Tina helped create for eco-friendly brand Tarte Cosmetics.

How do you feel about Vera’s look?  Do you agree with her natural nail look or would you spice it up with color?

“Mannequin Hands” made their way down the Golden Globes red carpet on the tips of Fergie and Mariah Carey last night.  What a fun coincidence that they are both singers in nominated films rocking the flesh toned polish.  Of course you need to look past Mariah’s in-your-face cleavage to even notice her nails but perhaps that why she chose such a subdued shade.

Those of you who have seen Nine, is there any angle I can sell the boyfriend on to get him to see it with me or is this strictly a take-your-girlfriends type of flick?

What do you think of their mannequin hands? Are you feeling Fergie’s extreme oval shape?  What colors would you guess they’re wearing?

Kate Hudson surprised me on the Golden Globes red carpet.  Known for her boho chic style, this structured Marchesa gown threw me off guard and I seriously don’t know HOW she made it through the night in those shoes.  I feel wobbly just looking at them. To contrast the bright white hue of her dress, Celebrity Manicurist Deboarah Lippmann chose a cherry red creme for her nails.  See which shade she used on Kate and check out my swatch of the nail polish after the jump!

Deb selected Lady Is A Tramp from her eponymous polish line to pair with Kate’s dress. The polish is described as a creme and although there isn’t any shimmer, the formula has a glaze type feel.  It’s like a cross between a creme and a jelly in that it’s so well pigmented yet it allows for thin, smooth coats of color.  I’d liken it to a mix of OPI Malaga Wine and one of my all time fave reds China Glaze Masai Red.

To get Kate’s nail look, pick up a bottle of Lady Is A Tramp online at DeborahLippmann.com and Beauty.com or at your local Nordstrom for $16.  To find additional brick & mortar retailers check the store locator.

What did you think of Kate’s look?  Which nail polish would you choose to wear with that dress?

image credit: Celebutopia

I have yet to see Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire but from what I hear, Golden Globe Nominee Gabourey Sidibe, gives an amazing performance.  Considering how much the Hollywood Foreign Press tends to favor the new kid on the block, I was actually amazed that she didn’t take home a golden statuette last night. In the sea of purple, black and gold dresses on the red carpet last night, Gabourey really stood out in her emerald green gown.  Though what caught my attention was the bit of bling on her tips that matched her sparkly clutch.  It’s a party after all, why not add some glitzed out glamour? Celebrity Manicurist Kimmie Kyees was on hand to tend to Gabby’s manicure and she used a layering combo for maximum bling.  At first glance I thought she was wearing silver chrome Minx but instead Kimmie layered the glittery Essie Silver Bullions over metallic silver Essie Loophole.

Both Essie Loophole and Silver Bullions are available online at Essie.com and in salons including national chains Regis, ULTA and Trade Secret.

What do you think of Gabourey’s nail look? What would you have paired with that gorgeous shade of green?

image credit: WireImage & Celebutopia

This really is Sandra Bullock‘s year.  Not only was she a double nominee at tonight’s Golden Globes but she WON for The Blind Side.  I have yet to catch the film but just the trailer makes me tear up.  I may have to wait for it to hit DVD so I can ball like a fool in the privacy of my own home.

Most people probably noticed her vibrant purple gown but I narrowed right in on her greige putty-ish tips.  I immediately thought Chanel Particulière. Come to find out Angela Levin did Sandra’s makeup using Chanel products. I don’t have confirmation on the exact nail color but if I was a betting woman, I’d put my money on Particulière. Here’s the scoop on the rest of Sandra’s look from Angela:

“When I walked into Sandra’s room, I saw that she was in an incredibly relaxed, happy and free spirited mood. I wanted her makeup to reflect her serene state of mind!”

“I prepped Sandra’s skin with CHANEL Hydramax + Active Cream. Her eyes were a mixture of CHANEL shadows – Silky Eyeshadow Duo in Orient-Express, and Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Trace. I then lined the eyes with CHANEL Long Lasting Eyeliner in Violine, a deep, soft purple shade. On her cheeks, I used CHANEL Tweed Blush Duo in Tweed Rose.   Finally, on her lips she wore CHANEL Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Beige Felin.

What do you think of Sandra’s look? Do you agree with my Particulière prediction? If not, what’s your guess?