Some of you may remember me talking about the Fish Pedicure last year after seeing Wilhelmina Slater plunge her feet into a tub of "Dr. Fish" on Ugly Betty. Well, as I discovered on the Solessence blog this morning, those little skin eating babies have made their way Stateside.
Previously found only in Turkey and Asian countries, the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Virginia is the first location in the U.S. to offer this treatment. Owners John Ho & Yvonne Le have brought in more than 1,000 garru-rufa fish to serve their clientele. The service costs $35 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes and is followed by a standard pedicure.
Now I'm sure that like me you're wondering how any of this is sanitary or regulated. Unlike the communal pools seen overseas, the state board required the owners to create individual tanks in which the water is changed for each customer.
So how many of you are dying to try this out? The customers interviewed all said they just felt a bit of tingling or slightly ticklish sensation. Maybe I stand alone but I'm so ready to hop a plane to D.C. and try it out.
Images and info: FoxNews.com
The Fish Pedicure Has Hit the U.S.
Isn't Sheeee, Pretty In Pink (Creme)
I'm not a girly pink loving kind of girl. I give that title to my girl Nikki who is pink personified. However, this summer in addition to my major orange fetish, I'm all about a glossy pink nail. But I'm not talking about baby pinks or sheers here. No it's all about bright, bold, hot pink cremes. Creme finishes give these vibrant hues a chic spin that keeps them from being too garish.
And I'm not the only one feeling this trend. Celebs like Lindsay Lohan, Vanessa Mannillo and Miley Cyrus have all been caught rocking the pink. And even though the hamsters on Big Brother 10 have only been streaming live for a couple days now, one of the contestants, Keesha, has already delved into the nail polish stash to pinkify her nails.
If you want to join the Pretty In Pink-ness here are the shades I recommend. For a slightly softer pink that still makes a splash try: Wet N Wild Dreamy Poppy, Essie Movers & Shakers, OPI Elephantastic Pink, Essie Guilty Pleasures, Orly Butterflies, Nubar Camelot Blossom
And if you want to go for full-on bright, in-your-face fuchsia look for CND Hot Pop Pink, Zoya Jewell, OPI That's Hot Pink, NARS Schiap, Lippmann Angel Eyes and Nubar Geisha Blaze. (Note: Geisha Blaze & Angel Eyes have extremely subtle shimmer but it doesn't show on the nail)
Now the trick in pulling this look off is perfect application. Any bubbles, dents or ridges will only be magnified with a creme so prep is the most important step. If you aren't going to a salon (I don't) make sure you buff out any flaws and use a great ridge filling base coat, like Seche, to give the lacquer a smooth application surface.
Nail Trend Alert - Orange
Rihanna is the one celebrity I can rely on to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to nail trends. She isn't afraid to be bold or take risks. While most of the red carpet clan is playing it safe with french manicures and sheers, there are few that dare to be nail fashion forward.
Rihanna's red carpet look at the 2008 Grammy Awards in February was one of those stand out nail moments. Her fiery tangerine hued talons were most definitely noticed. If you want to be in vogue this summer you'll want to rock a similar look. Personally, I'm not a fan of long bright nails so I'll be sporting an active length version.
My top picks are all cremes and range from muted mango to blazing traffic cone orange so there's something for everyone. With such a bold shade you don't need the extra glitz just high shine so cremes fit the bill. It's more chic and modern.
(clockwise from top) China Glaze Orange Knockout, OPI Osaka-To-Me Orange, China Glaze Japanese Koi, OPI Tangerine Scene, Orly Crush On You, Nocti Bikini
The featured China Glaze, OPI and Orly polishes are all available on http://www.8ty8beauty.com/ and http://www.head2toebeauty.com/ and Nocti can be purchased online at http://www.nocti.com/.
What are your feelings on the orange look? Fun and sassy? Too bold? Not flattering? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Look Who's on Allure.com
It's me! I was honored when Jessica from Allure's Daily Beauty Reporter requested an interview for a post on summer nail trends. Even though she was under the weather and I had TERRIBLE phone reception it was great chatting with her about my favorite shades from the spring/summer collections. Head on over and check it out!
Fashion Forward with CND
The ribbon cutting to signify the official start of New York Fashion Week is less than 24 hours away. The backstage madness is about to begin for all the models, makeup artists, hair stylists and nail techs. And this season yours truly will be joining them to report the upcoming nail trends straight from the tents, as they’re happening. That’s right, I’ll be at Fashion Week!
So to get an idea of the kind of preparation and backstage frenzy that surrounds Fashion Week, I had a nice little chat with Roxanne Valinoti, CND’s Backstage Nail Team Manager. An accomplished nail artist who has worked with countless celebrities, Roxanne is an International Educator for CND who has been part of the Fashion Week team from the very beginning. During our talk, we not only discussed Fashion Week but also CND’s Spring trend forecast and manicure techniques.
Fashion Week
Last September, CND ascended on New York Fashion Week with a team of 20 artists to tend to more than 37,000 fingers and toes at 62 shows in only 10 days. Now that’s a lot of polish!
So what goes into the planning and preparation for taking on such a venture? Two months prior to show time the CND team starts working with the fashion designers to plan the right nail look to showcase their collection. And at the two week mark, a team of three artists get to work in CND’s production suite creating pre-made tips.
The creative process is a collaborative one between the designers and CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. Even though each designer has a specific look they want to convey, Jan is always at the ready with ideas for different nail styles, designs and colors. When needed, colors will be custom blended to match a pantone or fabric swatch. Last season there were custom blended shades making their way down the runways at 3.1 Phillip Lim, Akiko Ogawa, Benjamin Cho, Costello Tagliapietra, Karen Walker, Malandrino, Ports 1961, Three as Four and Twinkle.
Then there are the designers that really take it to another level with custom designed nail tips. For example, when Kimora Lee Simmons announced the Russian theme for her Fall 2007 Baby Phat show, Jan showed her handmade badges she brought back from Russia. Kimora wanted them on every nail of the models hands but production for that would have taken months. In all 40 badges were made from a mix of liquid and powder that were then painted and embellished before being attached to each model’s thumbnail. Last season, L.A.M.B. had reverse french tips, Renee Larc requested a pink and white moon manicure and the Snoopy For Fashion charity show featured Peanuts characters. They were all created in advance and applied with a nail shield that peels off to prevent damaging the nailbed.
Trends
When it comes to nail trends, CND doesn’t follow them, they set them. And this is what they see for Spring 2008.
Healthy, clear pastel tints, like lip gloss for the nails
CND’s spring collection, Plexi Pop is filled with sheer, glossy shades, resembling lucite. They were shown on the models at BCBG, Behnaz Sarafpour, Chaiken, Chris Han, Douglas Hannant, Luca Luca, Peter Som and Rachel Roy just to name a few.
Bright pops of hot pink
Brights including pink popped on the runways at DKNY (Hot Pop Pink and Hot Pop Orange), Lyn Devon (Passsionfruit Poppy) and Pegah Anvarian (Studio 54, Burn and Orange-a-Peel).
Dark nails are the new classic for dressed up events
Chic dark tips and toes graced the scene at Badgley Mischka (Fedora topped with Decadence), Marchesa (Nail Noir), Max Azria (Limited Edition) and Proenza Schouler (Moroccan Ruby).
Techniques
Working in such a fast paced environment takes poise, patience, skill and the right products. Roxanne shared with me some of her favorite products and techniques for surviving the backstage insanity.
- 5-6 designers requested a matte finish. To achieve the look wait for you top coat to dry and hit it with the gray side of the girlfriend buffer.
- When it comes to mixing polishes, be careful. Roxanne suggests you stay within the same brand to avoid any dangerous chemical reactions.
- CND Air Dry is the preferred top coat for its shine and drying time even though Speedy is faster.
- CND Serenity is the backstage basic nude and all around go to color for a clean polished look.
So now that we've seen what Spring has to offer, I look foward to bringing you with me as I go backstage to see what Fall 2008 will be all about. Stay tuned!
Chrome-tastic Nails
To celebrate their silver anniversary, Nails Magazine had nail tech Tom Bachik create these mirrored silver tips.
Quite a few of you have been wanting to find a polish that dries to a perfect mirror finish. Regardless of the various "chrome" polishes that have come and gone on the market, nothing has ever come close to these.
The look was created using a product called Minx; a solid nail coating that comes in foil and sparkly metallics, photo-quality designs, and any color under the sun. Minx is made of film and not polish so they can be customized with any picture, photo, or logo.
Celebrities, including Beyonce at the American Music Awards, have had the coatings applied to complete their red carpet looks.
An added bonus to using Minx; they are a green product requiring only a heat source and gentle side-to-side peeling to remove them. You can leave the nail polish remover behind.
Minx nail services are only available at salons and spas so check out their Salon & Spa Finder for a location near you.
photos: Nails Magazine and Getty Images
International Nail Trends
As I start to focus on dark colors for fall, in the Southern Hemisphere our fellow nailies are gearing up for Spring and Summer. It's so easy to forget that we aren't all on the same page seasonally. Thanks to a lovely reader, H. from South Africa, we get to peek at the nail fashions from her part of the world.
Excerpt from: Watch Your Step by Sandie Cormie. Dischem Benefits Magazine, Spring 2007.
There was time when red toenails were taboo since this was associated with a certain profession. But thankfully, the generation responsible for preserving this notion is nearing extinction and we are free to wallow in glorious, rich reds without damaging the family name.
The colours for the season are bold and vibrant – fabulous reds, pinks and corals. Remember the fashion of the 60s where lively, psychedelic designs and colours pulsated from the pavements? It was a period of rebellion, liberation and new thinking, everything was orchestrated to generate fun, shock, and to elicit a reaction. It worked, and now the 60s are back!
But remember, bold, bright, colours draw attention so it it absolutely essential to have neatly-manicured feet. These lively colours look wonderful on darker skins and tanned feet. They will look sensational on a bare foot at the beach and around the pool and do great justice to the peep-toe espadrilles that will be strongly in evidence this season. Red, particularly, adds sophisticated drama to any animal print peep-toe shoe or sandal. These gorgeous colours will also be a knockout when worn with glitzy high-heeled sandals adorned with diamanté and coloured crystals – essential to making a statement at any party, wedding or evening celebration. Please – just remember the Cinderella principle!
The deep wine, red-black “gothic” colours remain very popular and are best suited to a short squared toenail on a pale and slender foot. It represents the dichotomy between bold and frail.
Metallics never lose their appeal and gorgeous golds, bronzes, coppers and pewters are still very glamorous. These colours look fabulous in any strappy or peep-toe sandal and will lend an air of contemporary sophistication whether you’re heading for the beach or the office.
The classic French manicure is eternally elegant on any foot. Neutrals represent elegance, grace and a stylish understatement that will never date.
Make Prada proud! Live is for living so have great fun trotting around in wedge heels, satin covered shoes, peep-toes, espadrilles, ankle ties, animal prints, diamanté et al! Be sure to shock people with your great sense of style, fun and those fabulously manicured and feminine feet.
While H. doesn't necessarily agree with everything in this article she loves the idea of dark shades on pale feet. Personally I abhor the french pedicure but I agree that metallics are sophisticated and glamorous. It's a shame they didn't hit big this past summer here in the US.
Nubar Halloween Nail Art Pen Kit
The Trick or Treat Creativity kit from Nubar is perfect for your Halloween nail art needs. Like say, if you wanted to enter a certain CONTEST.
The set includes nail art pens in pumpkin orange, jet black creme and sunny lemon yellow and a bottle of Diamond Seal & Shine Top Coat. The tiny brushes on these nail art pens are perfect for detailing.
Ok now don't laugh too hard but, I decided to try out the kit on a nail art wheel to see how easy they are to use. I've never attempted this type of detail before and even though my first try (seen below) isn't exactly award worthy, it was fun to do. I suggest buying some blank press on nails or tips at your local drugstore or beauty supply to practice on.
Let's Talk Trends - Fall 2007
Fall has officially started people. So why am I roasting and wanting to turn on my A/C? It just doesn't seem right that I packed away my capris and t-shirts while the thermometer reads 73 degrees. Regardless, I am thrilled to pull out my fall polish shades and get a little vampy. Now that I've tested and reviewed the majority of the fall collections (fall not holiday), I'm going to break down what I see as the big trends for fall and give my top polish picks for each one.
All of the lacquers I will show you are currently available for purchase. Either as part of a fall or classic collection. When possible, I've included links to my past posts with swatches.
Like I said last summer during my interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, I'm seeing three big trends emerge as we head towards cooler weather; Red, Jewel Tones and Gunmetal Gray.
Red isn't exactly a groundbreaking color. It will always be popular and the shade women turn to for instant glamour. Red makes you feel sexy, bold and classy. This season mid-tone true red cremes are at the forefront. Already seen on the tips of some Hollywood's most stalked after starlets, glossy red nails aren't just for evening. It's a shade you can wear day or night.
(l-to-r) Zoya Andi, China Glaze Masai Red, China Glaze China Rouge, OPI Vodka & Caviar, OPI Quarter of A Cent-Cherry, Creative House of Rebels
Of all the jewel tones (navy, emerald, plum, ruby) navy seems to be the prominent shade this fall. It's one of the those colors that suits most skin tones. For me personally, blue comes in a close second to green as my favorite nail color to wear so, seeing navy become so popular tickles me.
Maybelline Acoustic Azure, OPI Russian Navy, China Glaze Up All Night, N.Y.C. Skin Tight Denim, Zoya Indigo, NYX Sapphire
The fun thing about purple/plum is that, like navy, there is a shade for most skin tones, depending on which way it leans on the color chart. The warm red based plums and cool toned purples below were originally my prediction for the big color for fall but I don't think it will hit like navy. It's still a gorgeous tone to wear.
Zoya Lael, Orly Plum Noir, Creative Rock Royalty, OPI Lincoln Park At Midnight, China Glaze VII, Carolyn New York Mugged On The Six Train
Deep burgundy and garnet shades make me think of the holidays, leaves changing and sipping on a glass heart warming red wine. Their berry toned bases really do suit the cool gals best but when there is a bit of gold shimmer running through, they become pretty universally flattering.
Sally Hanson Wine Not?, China Glaze Cranberry Flame, China Glaze Vertical Rush, Creative Crimson Uprising, Misa Wine Burgundy
I can't help but bounce up and down with glee over all these pretty new greens on the market. For the gun shy, I suggest trying it on your toes. I promise it won't look like you have a disease. Green might just surprise you. When I have a great emerald shade on my tips to wear with my all time favorite eBay purchase, an emerald cut emerald and diamond ring, I never feel more myself.
Zoya Suvi, Rimmel Play Fast Camouflage, China Glaze Outta Bounds, Sinful Colors San Francisco, NYX Las Vegas.
Gunmetal Gray is this year's black. Less shocking and in your face than black, this season's deep metallic grays are just as chic but more muted and wearable. The main problem I have with wearing black creme is keeping it looking fresh and glossy. These shimmery grays take care of that issue.
Zoya Freja, Carolyn New York Subway Surfin, CND Hyde In The Dark, China Glaze Beatnik, China Glaze Black Diamond, Lippmann Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Not ready to jump onto the dark polish bandwagon? Are you a pink or sheer wearer that wants to be trendy but isn't ready to take the plunge? For a sheer alternative, check out these new shades from Lippmann Collection. They're the perfect way to wear the red and navy trend without making the commitment to full on opaque color. An added bonus; the glossy, jelly finish is to die for.
Lippmann I Want Candy & Rehab
Now it's your turn, what trends are you seeing? What do you love, what do you hate?
Customization: Frankenpolish & The Art Of Layering
Ask any beauty junkie and we'll admit, no matter how many shades, fragrances or formulations are thrown our way we are still restless for more. Even if we find that perfect product, after a while we'll wish it was a bit more "something". Deeper in color, smoother in feel, slightly more floral, etc. Let's face, it we're just never satisfied.
As we've learned from magazines, makeup artists and our fellow product junkies, beauty is like Burger King; we can have it our way. All it takes is a little customizing. Whether it's layering your favorite perfumes to create a signature scent, mixing your moisturizer in with your foundation to make it sheer and dewy or blending eight different shadows to achieve that perfect smokey eye we love to alter and combine our favorite products.
In the world of lacquer it's no different. When we can't find the color we want we become kids again, mixing lacquer like we used to mix our finger paints. It's all about experimenting, letting your imagination go and relying on our childhood art lessons about the color wheel. Say it with me folks, yellow and blue make green. Now I'm having Ziploc commercial flashbacks.
There are two methods of customizing polish:
- Layering - Using multiple layers of different colors to create the desired shade
- Mixing - Combining two or more lacquers in a bottle (aka Frankenpolish)
First let's discuss the easiest way to customize your color, layering. It's very no muss, no fuss. The only real trick is making sure the edges of each layer line up. If you have a shade that is too light or dark, layer it over white or black. Is your polish to sheer? Layer it over a similar hued opaque formula or black. Everything looks more intense over black. Love the shade of your chrome or metallic finish polish but hate the brush strokes? Add a sheer on top to achieve a smoother finish. Here are some examples from my own experiments.
I was so excited when I got China Glaze Kaleidoscope Him Out and He's Going In Circles because not only are they holographic but they're blue and green holos. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that the green and blue made enough of an impact.
So I layered them over opaque creme lacquers and pow! Instant intensity.
Here's an example of how I combated brush strokes in a metallic finish. I love the color of China Glaze Open Sky but the finish left something to be desired. So I turned to a holo for help. Adding a layer of OPI Blue Moon Lagoon didn't alter the beauty of Open Sky, it just added a little bling and a smoother look.
These two were just for fun. I love my greens but a girl can never have enough options.
Now on to the science project that is the Frankenpolish.
My first try at making my own polish was to mix MAC pigment with clear lacquer. Mixing pigments can be a lot of work but if you have a gorgeous shade that would look great on your nails, it's worth it. I buy Milani clear polish but others like using Sally Hansen Insta Dri. I add 1/4 tsp. of pigment at a time and mix, mix, mix before I test it on the nail. Just keep adding pigment until you've reached the desired opacity. If you can, add a couple mixing balls because the pigment will settle out when not in use.
Here are the results of my first ever pigment mix. This is MAC Entremauve in Milani Crystal Clear lacquer. The pink sparkles in Entremauve really pop as a polish.
The other method for mixing your own polish is to combine different lacquers to create a new shade. The true Frankenpolish.
Disclaimer: Due to the volatile nature of nail lacquer ingredients I do not condone or promote mixing formulas from different manufacturers. There is no way to know if they will safely combine. So franken at your own risk.
For great tips on the supplies, process and recipes, check out the Frankenpolish Notepad on Makeup Alley. Bravo to Christine from 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic for creating it and to all the lovely MUA members that contribute to it.
These lovely frankens are the creation of MUA member jennyferr.
45% OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, 10% Black
Camouflage, 1/3 Zoya Tangy
Now it's your turn. Share your favorite layering combos and recipes.
photos: All Lacquered Up and jennyferr on MUA
NY Fashion Week Nail Watch - Charlotte Ronson
At the Charlotte Ronson show, bold funky french nails using pink, blue and yellow base shades with stark white tips were quite a contrast to the muted fabrics used in the clothing.
photos: Getty Images/Thomas Concordia
Celebrity Nail Watch - Big Brother 8
Ok so they're not exactly celebrities, more like "celebrities" but CBS's Big Brother and it's cast is one of my guiltiest pleasures. My summer addiction. I subscribe to the live feeds, watch the online talk show and vote in all their silly polls. My secret is out, I'm a reality TV addict.
Not only do I love to catch all the drama, showmances and random acts of silliness on the live feeds but I also love getting to see the beauty regimes of the contestants. I know it sounds odd but being a product junkie, I like to see what products other people use and how they use them. This season, one ritual has stood out. Not so surprisingly, it's the hamsters' (as the online communities call them) focus on nails.
Now I've always caught contestants giving themselves pedis over the years but never before has polish been as noticeable as it is this season. And the girls aren't the only ones getting in on the act.
Nick, the hunky All-American stud from Minnesota, who's super comfortable in his sexuality and crushing hardcore on Daniele has been letting her play manicurist on his hands. I'm not a fan of the hot pink but I give him credit for sporting such a bold shade in front of millions of people with pride.
Then there's the tattooed, rocker wanna be, Evil Dick (a self appointed moniker), who in the tradition of many a rock star (e.g. Dave Navarro) is "rockin" black nails. It works for him and after watching so many hours of him on my laptop, it would be odd to see him with bare nails.
What do you think about guys wearing polish? Is it sexy or weird? Does it only work on certain types of guys?
photos: WeLoveBigBrother.com, TV Fan Forums and Morty's TV
The Lubu Manicure
Originally created by Zoe Pocock of the Charles Worthington salon in London, the Louboutin Manicure received a lot of press and attention from the fashionistas and nail lovers alike.
Inspired by this sensation, China Glaze has come up with their own take on this fashion forward look. Using the uber sparkly Ruby Pumps as the "sole" and their newest creation, Lubu Heels, for the "upper", the Lubu Manicure is a glitzy, more Hollywood version of Ms. Pocock's design.
Lubu Heels is a shade I know a lot of you have been waiting for. For anyone with Rescue Beauty Lounge Revamp or Revlon Black Strobe on your wish list, you can cross it off. Lubu Heels is the black polish with red glitter that you've been dreaming of. As is typical of most glitter polishes, Lubu Heels has that familiar bumpy texture and I'm sure it will be a pain to remove but that's the price we pay for glittery glam.
Lancome Le Magnetique
Hold on to your hats everyone, this has got to be one of the most unique concepts I've seen in nail lacquer. New from Lancome as part of their fall limited edition collection comes Le Magnetique. It's not just a rich reddish brown shimmery lacquer. The bottle comes with a magnetic sleeve that, when held up to the polish, creates a gold starburst pattern on your nail. I'm heading to Nordstrom ASAP to check this ingenious new polish out for myself.
A huge thank you to TobyWoo for allowing me to share her fabulous pictures with you all.
With a retail price of $17, is this something you'd want to try or is it too gimmicky?
NOTD - China Glaze For Audrey
I decided to wear China Glaze For Audrey during the photo shoot for the article coming out this Sunday. It's very on trend and a brilliant tribute to Audrey Hepburn and Tiffany & Co. What girl doesn't love Breakfast at Tiffany's and Audrey Hepburn?
For Audrey is inspired by the famous Tiffany blue not a dead on dupe. I find the polish to be a bit more muted and dusty though definitely in the same vein.
I picked up For Audrey from Head2Toe Beauty. 8ty8 Beauty carries it as well. If it is out of stock, don't give up hope. Email both suppliers to see if there is more bottles on order before you give in to the eBay scalpers.
Wear The Rainbow
"Skittles Nails" is a trend that's been popping up on the Makeup Alley Nail Board. Partially inspired by our constant multi-colored swatching of new nail polishes and also by the Zoya Candy collection, this look is for the bold and whimsical.
I've seen it done on toes and I think it's totally fun for summer. The look I'm sporting below is using 5 of the 6 Candy shades; (thumb to pinkie) Sweet, Yummy, Creamy, Tangy and Juicy.
So, what do you think? Over the top? Fun and fashion forward? The look of a psych ward patient? Let's hear what you have to say.
Let's Talk Trends - Summer 2007
So we've seen the summer collections, I've tested them and picked my favorites. Now let's talk about the trends for this summer. While I still find a shiny black nail very chic, the trend is dead people. Time to move on.
Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the official start of Summer in the northern hemisphere. It's going to reach a balmy 80 degrees here in the burbs of Cleveland, Ohio and I'm ready to talk trends.
I'm calling this summer as being all about Blues, Whites and Brights. And you can quote me on that. I know there's been talk of a metallic trend and yes the OPI Night Brights has a silvery lavender and two gold tones but, I just don't think it's hitting like expected.
For the Blue trend people will transition from black to navy, go outside their comfort zone with royal shimmery blue and for the color shy, it'll be baby blue on tips and toes. I've selected my favorite blues from my collection. Some are new, some are old and the majority are still available for purchase.
So you still want to be vampy but not dated? Check out these dark blues. Revlon Midnight Affair is a limited edition shade, part of the Dark Pleasures collection. I've seen it at Ulta and other drug store chains. Fingerpaints Summer Nights is only carried at Sally Beauty Supply. It came out with their summer collection but Fingerpaints tend to sell out fast so this one may be hard to come by. China Glaze Up All Night is a classic navy blue. Even though it's technically a shimmer, it looks like a gorgeous creme when applied. As part of the Patent Leather In The City collection, Up All Night fits the bill with it's high gloss shine.
Wanting a little glitz with your blue? Then check out OPI Ink from the Night Brights. It's smooth purple and blue glitter will get you noticed. The holographic glitter in Glamour from the Designer Series will turn your toes into rainbows while you lay out at the pool. NYX Sapphire has a somewhat foil appearance that is bound to get attention.
Feeling brave and wanting to go full on blue? You're a gal after my own heart. These next 3 sets of pics will fill that need.
Creative Blue Nirvana from this spring's Optix collection is a unique periwinkle shade. OPI Blue My Mind is from the original Brights collection but is still readily available. China Glaze Drinkin' My Blues Away from the Tequila Toes collection has that famous glass flecked formula and can be found easily online. Zoya Tart is from the Candy collection. Check the Zoya site for salon locations and purchase info. N.Y.C. Skin Tight Denim is a great drugstore find. A blue for the budget minded polish fanatic.
China Glaze Sexy In The City is also from Patent Leather In The City. I feel it was overshadowed by Beauty & The Beach from the Fiji Fling collection but that it's a much better blue. Nubar Mali-Blue can be purchased directly from Nubar. NYX South Sea can be found in many beauty supply stores, outlet malls and online. Color Club All In is a bold blue creme, very unique. I buy Color Club online from e-tailers like Head2Toe Beauty & 8ty8 Beauty.
OPI Just Groovy from the Psychedelic Summer collection and Zoya Yummy from the Candy collection are both cremes and could be sisters their shades are so close. Orly Turquoise Charm is from the Year In Rocks collection. The 12 shades are all inspired by birthstones. Turquoise Charm is my favorite of all the twelve and if you can find it, a must have in my opinion. The glitter is a pain to remove but the color is gorgeous.
Ok, so blue scares you a bit but you're still curious. You prefer pale shades but want something different. You like sparkle but not dark blue. Well, here are the polishes for you.
Creative Aqua Jet from the Optix collection has a great iridescence to keep it from looking chalky. China Glaze Moody Blue from the original Patent Leather collection gives off an amazing high gloss shine and makes a for a gorgeous pedicure. And China Glaze Kaleidoscope Him Out from last fall's Kaleidoscope collection is blingtastic.
When I think of White polish, my first flash is to the sheer boring shades that my mother wore for the majority of my childhood. Pearly, dated and blah. My second flash is to white out chalky tips. Very mod but so hard to pull off. This summer white is making a comeback in a bold and fun way that's still extremely wearable. Whites should be opaque with iridescence or sparkle.
The three main shades for this summer are China Glaze White-Kwik-Silvr from the Surf collection, Creative Hyper Fresh from the Optix collection and OPI Fit For A Queensland from the Australia collection. White-Kwik-Silvr is my favorite. It's a glass flecked white that will suit most skin tones. Hyper Fresh and Fit For A Queensland are bit trickier to pull off but they both have iridescence to make them wearable.
If you can find those three polishes, pick up any old white creme and make it better with a sparkly sheer white layered on top. These three aren't the easiest to find but there are lots of alternatives out there. I just happen to own and like China Glaze Straight Up, OPI Elle's Pearls and OPI What's Dune? What's Dune? from the Summer for Shore collection has a fine holographic shimmer that I adore.
I know, I know, Brights for summer is nothing new. Brights and warm weather go hand in hand. I'm not exactly Kreskin by calling them a summer trend. However, instead of the typical bright pinks, corals and reds that tend to be the norm, this year yellow, orange and turquoise are in the spotlight. Fluorescent is the way to go. It's not like we haven't seen these colors before, they just haven't been mainstream.
Being a green lover, turquoise and teal are a great way for me to be summery and get my green fix. Nocti Nip Tuck, China Glaze Passion in the Pacific from the Fiji Fling collection and Turned Up Turquoise from the ongoing Wow Factor collection are all shimmery bold turquoise shades while Creative Hotski To Tchotcke leans more towards teal.
I know yellow is a bit too much for most people. It was a bit too much for me until I wore it. But, yellow is everywhere. Even it the idea of yellow on your nails makes you squeamish, you should at least pick up a yellow accented bag or shoe for the season. China Glaze Yell-O Neil from the Surf collection & OPI Cabana Banana from the Summer Splash collection can look like you had an accident with some Gulden's mustard but I think they're fun. Zoya Creamy is a much gentler yellow with a glossy finish.
Where would warm toned gals be without orange or coral in the summer? While these shades may suit the cooler skin tones, they are designed with the warmer gal in mind. Nocti Bikini is a traffic stopping day glo orange while OPI Tangerine Scene from the Psychedelic collection is a bit more subdued. Misa Um You're Too Delicious from the Love Connections colletion reminds me of a nectarine and China Glaze Orange-Pacific from the Surf collection has smatters of glorious gold glitter.
What you thought I'd leave out pink and fuchsia? Don't be silly. They'll always be big in the summer. These just happen to be my favorites. Divine from the Designer Series is one of my all time favorite shades. The holo glitter and bold shade are to die for. Misa Ur Beautiful is a bit on the cool side for me but still a gorgeous fuchsia creme. Creative Scorch from this summer's Flash Point collection has hot pink shimmer and the name says it all for China Glaze Shocking Pink from the Wow Factor collection.
Check It Out
We've been blessed with a visit by the brilliant Zoe Pocock, creator of the Louboutin inspired manicure. Check out what she has to say about her famous design and how she creates the look on short nails.
Exploring New Nail Territories
Go Fish - Fish Therapy
So I'm watching Ugly Betty on Sunday on my DVR and what do I see? Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) soaking her feet in flesh eating fish to make them smooth as a baby's bottom. I was shocked, disgusted and intrigued all at the same time. My first thought was, "yeah right!" But, knowing that some of the craziest stories on television are based in reality I decided to do a little sleuthing.
Lo and behold, this is an actual treatment in Japan. They call the little guys Doctor Fish (actual name garru-rufa) and they feast on dead skin. They don't have any teeth just a suction cup type mouth that removes the skin, leaving it glowing and smooth. The sensation has been described as tingly or ticklish. Oh and it's not just for the feet. If you're brave enough, you can immerse yourself for a whole body exfoliation.
Exploring New Nail Territories
I consider the Makeup Alley nail board to be the most creative nail geeks I know. From layering polish, to custom mixing colors to applying nail gems, decals and stamps, I thought I'd seen it all. Silly us, we didn't even think about the underside of the nail.
Inspired by the famous Christian Louboutin red sole, Zoe Pocock, of London's Charles Worthington salon has come up with the "Louboutin Manicure". Polishing the top of the nail with the clients' color of choice, she then applies a bright red creme to the underside. It certainly is a heck of a lot cheaper than splurging on a pair Louboutin heels.
Meanwhile, over at the Baby Phat fashion show, the manicurists from Creative Nail Design adorned the models with bold, bedazzled talons. Not only did they apply gems to the upper nail bed but also to the bottom.
So ladies, what do you think of these fashion foward manis? Is it something you'd try? Think it's great for fashion but not for everyday? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
photos: Grazia magazine scan by Fifitrix at SalonGeek.com, Baby Phat photo from Elle.com
