One of my favorite brands, Spa Ritual, is wrapping up a video contest focusing on their Believe collection. Do these 6 beautiful colors for spring inspire, ignite passion? Put together a clip on what matters to you, and you could win $500 of this vegan body line, including the polishes. Take a few minutes to let us know what you believe in!
OPI’s wonderful nail tech (manicure and pedicure) tool line gets a pretty upgrade.
To see an updated review of the full rainbow titanium wallet click here
I recently mentioned the love of my favorite cuticle pusher from OPI’s TOOLing line, but they’ve gone and made the entire line even better. The form has not changed, but the metal has been upgraded to titanium, meaning an extremely strong and long lasting implement. Titanium is usually an attractive gray, but OPI took it an extra step and anodized, creating a rainbow effect:
Holy glitter & unicorns, is this stuff pretty. I’ve gone through a dizzying array of nippers, and in a work environment the cuticle nipper can get used for clipping things that should not be clipped! With my rainbow titanium AccuNip, it is clear this pair is hands off and for cuticles only.
I know this particular tool looks somewhat unwieldy, compared to all of the small, sleek nippers out there. I can tell you this is not the case. The titanium is very light, the nippers very sharp, and it is actually quite ergonomic and easy to control. All of the things you want in a nipper.
The entire TOOLing set is available in rainbow in the OPI Wallet. Very professional, if a tad blinding.
Check OPI or your local distributor to purchase.
Note: Anodized titanium is a surface treatment created by oxidization. It will not fade, but does scratch. If this happens, it is possible to re-treat by a metalsmith or jeweler, but I don’t have any ballpark on cost. Also, OPI’s sharpening services continue with this version – $9.95 to maintain precision.
Looking for information on Shellac? These posts might interest you: Swatches , FAQ link , 27 Days of Shellac , Removal
Milwaukee/Mequon/Shorewood area: Make your appointment now for this 14-day Shellac manicure online or call (414) 964-9311
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Seeing is believing! Here are the Shellac colors, from L to R:
Top Row: Cream Puff, Negligee, Romantique, Strawberry Smoothie
Middle Row: Rose Bud, Tuttie Frutti, Tropix, Hot Chile
Bottom Row: Wildfire, Red Baroness, Iced Cappuccino, Fedora
Techs getting the salon rack starter kit will get the six colors listed in BOLD (No substitutes)
For more information on Shellac, click here
Got word on Friday from Chicago’s matte nail designer, Marc Paez of Manglaze, of their latest release.
Franken Steins (aka Franken Juggs) are a wide mouth jar used to mix and blend custom nail polish colors. The wide mouth makes it easy to add, and there is a brush attached to the cap. I think this could also work for mixing custom glitter colors and gel or acrylics.
These are the same jars he used to mix the custom colors for Gareth Pugh’s Paris Fashion Week show. You know, the guy they suggested might reign supreme after Alexander McQueen’s untimely departure? Kind of a big deal.
As per their style, the bottles are adorned with fantastical artwork, this by Tegan Coddington. Whether it is your style or not, it is hard to deny that talent.
The items are up on the website now.
Looking for information on Shellac? These posts might interest you: Swatches , FAQ link , 27 Days of Shellac , Removal
Milwaukee/Mequon/Shorewood area: Make your appointment now for this 14-day Shellac manicure online or call (414) 964-9311
Wondering if a 14-day no chip mani w/10 minute removal is right for you?
CND unleashed one of the big industry buzzes at America’s Beauty Show in Chicago. Shellac, what CND calls their “hybrid nail color” brushes on like a polish, wears chip free for two weeks like a gel and comes off in 10 minutes.
As always, CND packaging is slick. At first glance a few common questions are asked:
Shellac is brush on, and comes packaged just like nail polish. The product is only promoted to have a 2 week wear time, surely to account for nail growth. It doesn’t require bonder or buffing of the nail. In this way, it doesn’t seem too different from Axxium or a gel like Bio-Sculpture or Calgel. And because it is a hybrid, it has the flexibility of a gel but does not provide additional strength, like a polish.
The soak off procedure seems to be the biggest deal. Whereas most brands have a between the lines “10 minutes for every layer applied” CND promises Shellac is a 10 minute soak off in their special nail jackets, with any remaining polish flaked off via orangewood stick. Not bad. Customers were finding themselves in Acetone bowls for 20 – 45 minutes, sometimes having had the first layers of their colors drilled off to speed times. That is gone with this brand.
Here is what to expect during service:
Apply one layer of Shellac base coat to each nail/extension and cure under UV lamp
Apply two layers of Shellac UV Color Coat, cure under UV lamp
Apply one layer of Shellac UV Top Coat
Cure under UV lamp. Clean, apply cuticle oil.
Remove with Shellac Wrap. 10 minutes w/acetone, twist off, flake off, voila!
Nail Professionals: CND offers a very competitive package, with decals announcing the salon is a Shellac service provider. Demand has been very high since release, and CND reports sales have been 3 to 4 times initial production. You should contact your local distributor to find out their order status and see if there is a wait list you can get placed on.
Consumers interested in the Shellac manicure should talk to their salons!
There are currently 12 shades available and the line is hypo-allergenic without formaldehyde, toluene or DBP.
It’s official – We’ll be offering Shellac from the first wave of shipments. Make your appointment now for this 14-day manicure online
