Nail Trend: Glitter Toes

Glitter Toes: Who Wears Them? What Are They? Where Can I Get Some?
While April showers would have us think otherwise, sunny days are here again, at least intermittently, and feet everywhere are looking to come out of hiding. While this means pedicure – stat! – there are other ways to bring sunshine into your life via toes: Glitter Toes.

That’s G-L-I-T-T-E-R!

Who Wears Them?
Glitter Toes are for everyone.   Most recently I’ve done a “Something Blue” set of toes for a bride-to-be, created a blueberry/green holographic for a woman leaving to intern in Nicaragua for a month, created a matching hand & foot pink gradient fade for a doctor’s wife vacationing in Europe, and created white gold toes on for a conference speaker.  This is a popular option for people in professions where a more overall conservative look is needed during the week (my multitude of attorney clientele) but the client likes to have fun once they kick off their heels. Glitter toes are also popular options for children as they are durable and last during most vacations. My youngest clients start at 5 years old and go up from there – it is that trouble free.

What Are They?
Glitter Toes are glitter embedded into gel. It is a simple 30-60 minute procedure (depending on glitter & pedi selection) layering glitter onto the nails, ending with a super smooth and shiny top coat. There is some cuticle cleanup and nail shaping in this procedure, but if your feet are really in need of TLC, a pedicure should be scheduled a week or so prior. Pedicures can be performed same day after  Glitter Toes but not before, because the water will cause the nail to swell, interfering with adhesion. It is best to maintain the look with daily application of cuticle oil or lotion to help keep nail bed hydrated.

Once your final layer is cured, you are ready to go. There is no additional dry time. The product lasts 3-5 weeks. It can actually grow out with the toes, but it is best to schedule removal. However, the look is so affordable and fun, you will probably find yourself selecting new colors and styles instead of going bare!

The owner of these toes exclaimed, “It’s like jewelry for your feet!”

Where Can I Get Some?

In the Milwaukee/Whitefish Bay/Mequon/Shorewood area:

2317 E Capitol Drive, Shorewood WI

A multitude of colors and embeds are available.  I’ve done gradient art with multiple color (I sported a gradient black/pink/purple for Karen Rabinovitz’s HSN launch) to match mood or event.  Give it a try!

Bonus Round: How does this differ from a glitter polish?

There are great glitter polishes out there (China Glaze’s limited release Ruby Pumps is one of my fav) but there are distinct differences between the types:

Glitter Polish

• Not meant for long term wear
• Prone to chip, crack, peel
• Limited color selection

Glitter Toe Gels

• Long term adhesion perfect for low maintenance, vacation mode
• Rarely chips, cracks or peels
• Unlimited color – can make custom colors on the spot
• Multi-dimensional color that is highly pigmented
• Super shine top gloss

Glitter Toe gels give a high end look to your digits, I really can’t explain it otherwise.  You also can’t beat the durability.