Mani To-Go

Nails break & chip at the most inconvenient times! Keep an Mani To-Go kit handy for on the go nail repairs & touch ups.

Nail clippers: bring along a small pair of nail clippers for chips that are too deep to be filed down

Polish remover: use a travel container to carry polish remover without lugging around the whole bottle, or purchase a polish remover pen at your local drugstore for small touchups

Cotton balls: if you plan on repainting your nails while out you might want to include some cotton balls

Cuticle clippers: if you have a hangnail or just loose skin around the nails these can make for easy and painless removal

Nail file: when you chip a nail they don't always chip smoothly, use a file to smooth the rough edge so it's not bothering or hurting you for the rest of the day

Clear polish: if you feel like your nails could use a little shine while you're out a quick coat of clear polish can make you look more put together

Color polish: you can also bring the polish that's already on your nails in case you need a touch up

Top Coat Reviews

Insta-Dri (Sally Hansen): The brush really depends on preference. It has a wide set of bristles which can make for thick application. The consistency is neither too thick nor thin & applies evenly. The drying time is decent but doesn't live up to the "Insta-Dri" promise. Overall, the nails will have an even shine & lasts for a decent amount of time.

Top Coat (O.P.I.): The brush is a standard polish brush size. The consistency is a little thin but nothing too discouraging as it applies well and does not run. The dry time isn't instant but it is a reasonable amount of time. Overall, O.P.I. never disappoints & protects nails from chipping for an extended time.

Good To Go! (Essie): The brush is thin & makes for a more difficult application. The consistency tends to run on the thinner side which would explain the almost instant dry time. Overall this top coat doesn't protect from chips & many have reported their polish peeling off almost completely a couple days after applying. Disappointing for Essie.

Extra Life/No Chip (Revlon): The brush tends to be flimsy but the consistency is acceptable. The dry time is a little longer than anticipated but the overall look is satisfactory. However, the extra life, no chip title does live up to the name.

Dry Fast (Seche Vite): The brush is perfect thickness and length which makes applying the polish easy and smooth. The dry is the is quick and leaves the nail looking shiny and sleek. On top of scoring four stars out of four in all four categories, Seche Vite Dry Fast keeps nails from chipping for more than the anticipated amount of time.

Confetti Polish

Confetti polish is different than regular glitter polish. Glitter polish consists of a translucent base with glitter throughout. Whereas, confetti polish is an opaque polish, meaning it has a non-clear colored base, loaded with brightly colored glitter! It is also easier to remove than glitter polish, which is a huge plus! Here are a few polishes we love!

It's A Trap-Eze! by China Glaze: white base with rainbow, circular sparkles

Girly by Revlon: one of two new Revlon nail enamels released this month, pink base with circular pink & purple sparkles

Spumoni by Lynnderella: only available on Lynnderella's eBay page, mint green base with square shards of black, white, pink & red confetti

Candy Shop by Deborah Lippmann: bubblegum pink base with multicolored, hexagonal glitter

Rock n Roll Handmade Nail Polish by Kiwi Bear via Etsy.com: handmade nail polish only sold on Etsy.com, teal base with rainbow hexagonal sparkles

Tip: click the name of the nail polish for a link to where to purchase

Gingham Style Nails

Gingham nails are cute and sweet! You often see the pattern on picnic blankets which makes it a great look for Spring 2013!

1) Start off with two coats of white polish and let it dry for 2-3 minutes (which is about the time it take you to paint both hands)

2) If your polish's brush isn't thin enough, use a small small paintbrush to brush two lines down the length of your nail & let dry for at least 5 minutes

3) After the two vertical lines are dry enough, use your brush again to paint horizontal lines down the length of the nail

If you've pulled the look off successfully you should have lines that darken when they cross, giving you the perfect gingham effect!

Look Polished

Smudge Quick Fix: if you smudge a nail while it is still wet you can wet your finger slightly and rub it along the length of the nail gently (you can even use saliva)

Cooking Spray Finish: spray your freshly painted nails will cooking spray to prevent smudging and increase drying speed

Vaseline Prep: rubbing vaseline around your cuticles before painting catches the excess nail polish and can be easily rubbed off after nails are done drying

NO Fans: many people will hold their hands to a fan to speed up the drying process, however, fans will promote air bubbles in the polish

Paintbrush Clean Up: dip a small paintbrush in nail polish remover and sweep it across the cuticle line to clean up the excess paint and create a sharp line

Bloody Mani

Halloween is coming up quick so there's no time to spend on tedious nail designs. This blood splatter technique is easier than you think!

1) Start by painting all your nails with two coats of white polish

2) Using tape, line your fingers as best you can to avoid getting paint smudges on your fingers, this will make clean up much easier

3) On a paper towel, or ziploc bag, make a small puddle of red polish and dip the tip of a drinking straw into the puddle

4) Point the straw with the polish on it toward your finger and blow on the end without paint until the polish splatters on your nail, repeat 3 & 4 until you've achieved your desired look

5) To clean up your nails just remove the tape and apply a layer of clear coat

Now you've got an eerie nail design for Halloween!

Spider Mani

Halloween is coming and nothing is more festive than a spooky manicure!

1) Start by applying 2 coats of orange (or any color) nail polish
2) Using white polish, make a arch halfway up the nail and fill in to the end of the nail as shown
3) Using the orange you began with make dots around the around large enough to just touch each other
4) Using a thin brush or toothpick, make straight lines coming from the corners to a center focal point to make the main part of the web
5) Finish off by using the brush, or toothpick, again to make small curves in between the lines to finish off your spider web

Now you have a spooky & stylish mani ready for Halloween!

Tip: You can even add a spider by using two dots of black polish and a toothpick to add legs!

Unstuck Polish Lid

Crap... the lid of your nail polish is stuck and no force on earth is strong enough to pry it free! Well don't waste your time banging it against the counter, or mangling with a pair of pliers, there is a much easier way to unstick that lid.

1) Get a cup of hot water and submerge your polish in it being sure that the water reaches the base of the lid where it's stuck and leave the bottle for 5 minutes
2) Remove the bottle and twist the cap open, it might be a little tough but it should give
3) Make sure you take a cotton swab with acetone and clean off the mouth of the bottle to avoid having your lid stuck again!

We Heart Polish

Painting designs on nails is difficult & tedious. You can create designs before painting them on your nails for an easy, clean application!

1) Start with 2 polishes that will look good mixed together and swirl them on a plastic baggie
2) Let nail polish dry over night and, using a heart shaped paper punch, punch out 10 hearts (if your punch is dull, remove the polish from the baggie first)
3) Place the shapes on your nail and finish off with a top coat

You now have a cute, mess-free design that is totally heart worthy!

Simple Polishes with a Twist

Sometimes you want your nails to really pop but there isn't always enough time in the day to check out designs on pinterest and do a bunch of fancy designs. Well these polishes don't require any extra fuss when applying, but they sure do sparkle!

Essie LuxEffects: Pearlfection: This polish consists of iridescent flakes of glitter that shine a different color each time the light hits.
Nicole by O.P.I. Kardashian Kolor: It's All About The Glam: This might look like a simple white polish, but don't be mistaken. This color consists of tons of small flecks of white glitter.
Sinful Colors: Nail Junkie: This color is made of more glitter than polish! With specks of green, yellow, turquoise & teal this oceanic look is sure to make a splash.
Revlon: Scandalous: This polish is just that! It's a simple black polish made scandalous with its combination of small and large purple sparkles.
Nicole by O.P.I. Kardashian Kolor: Follow Me On Glitter: It may seem like a glitter gray polish but look closer and you'll see tiny specks of rainbow glitter strewn about. It's sophisticated with a pinch of fun!

Mani in Minutes

The newest nail trend this season has been the reinforcement sticker mani! And why not? It's quick, it's easy & it costs a lot less than going to the salon!

1) Go to your local store or office supplies shop and pick up a 2$ pack of hole reinforcement stickers.
2) Place stickers accordingly to how thick you want your manicure to be. Be sure to keep stickers at a consistent thickness and smooth them down completely.
3) Use the polish of your choice and coat the tips of your nails two times. Let dry and slowly remove stickers.

Coat with clear polish and wala! You have a perfect manicure and 20 extra dollars in your pocket!