Monday, March 28, 2016
THE HER-STORY OF NAIL POLISH!!!
It's the last week of March and I can't let this month go by without a little celebration of Women and a little nail polish herstory lesson...
We have been pampering ourselves for a VERY long time and caring for our nails has been part of that process for just as long.
Here's an article I enjoyed reading from Nails Magazine (my favorite magazine of course!) that offers some facts about nail polish that you may not have known about before:
www.nailsmag.com/news/95483/a-history-of-nails
Enjoy!!!
Belkise- The Nail Navigator
Thursday, March 3, 2016
The Furry, Hairy Nail Trend...
As a person, I try not to bash others and their style choices, but this, I can't let slide by.
A number of people have texted me pictures asking me what my thoughts are on this trend, and I have to say, NOT GOOD.
I don't know why its catching on but it is. There is a salon in Bergen County that is actually doing a version of this nail trend to many of its customers (more of a fuzzy nail trend.)
I can't see how you would cooks a meal, wash dishes or even bathe or how it can be hygenic to have furry or hairy nails. And I don't like the look of it at at all. I don't even like it when cotton gets stuck to my nails while removing glitter polish, so why would I like some hair on my nails?
You've seen the pictures...you decide!
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As a person, I try not to bash others and their style choices, but this, I can't let slide by.
A number of people have texted me pictures asking me what my thoughts are on this trend, and I have to say, NOT GOOD.
I don't know why its catching on but it is. There is a salon in Bergen County that is actually doing a version of this nail trend to many of its customers (more of a fuzzy nail trend.)
I can't see how you would cooks a meal, wash dishes or even bathe or how it can be hygenic to have furry or hairy nails. And I don't like the look of it at at all. I don't even like it when cotton gets stuck to my nails while removing glitter polish, so why would I like some hair on my nails?
You've seen the pictures...you decide!
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Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Don't Let Dry Hands Bring You Down...
When I was younger, I never drank water and I HARDLY used lotion... NOT GOOD I KNOW!!!
But with age comes wisdom...
Its very important to stay hydrated during the winter months. And this winter has been a dozy- from -25 degrees to 52 degrees in one week.
Even though you aren't sweating as much as you would in the summer, that winter air is drying out your skin! Staying hydrated doesn't just mean drinking water. You have to seal that moisture in by using lotion, or even better, some type of body or hand butter, depending on how dry your skin is. My skin is often super dry so I opt for "butter."
I was blog surfing and came across Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and Burt's Bees Almond and Milk Hand Cream.
The Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is not at all oily and has a delicious citrus smell.
The Almond Milk Hand Cream is great. It's a little oily but a little goes a long way. After one use, my hands feel much less dry than than they did before I used it. And its Burt's Bees so its all natural which I love.
Remember ladies, you can have poppin' nails but if your hand are dry and rugged then, whats the point?
But with age comes wisdom...
Its very important to stay hydrated during the winter months. And this winter has been a dozy- from -25 degrees to 52 degrees in one week.
Even though you aren't sweating as much as you would in the summer, that winter air is drying out your skin! Staying hydrated doesn't just mean drinking water. You have to seal that moisture in by using lotion, or even better, some type of body or hand butter, depending on how dry your skin is. My skin is often super dry so I opt for "butter."
I was blog surfing and came across Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and Burt's Bees Almond and Milk Hand Cream.
The Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is not at all oily and has a delicious citrus smell.
The Almond Milk Hand Cream is great. It's a little oily but a little goes a long way. After one use, my hands feel much less dry than than they did before I used it. And its Burt's Bees so its all natural which I love.
Remember ladies, you can have poppin' nails but if your hand are dry and rugged then, whats the point?
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Fabulous February
This February has been full of holidays and celebrations...
Here are the most prevalent holidays and colors associated with them:
February 8th: Chinese/ Lunar New Year - Red & Gold
February 9th : Mardi Gras- Purple, Gold and Green
February 14th: Valentine's Day- Red
February is also Black History Month. We CANNOT forget that.
The birthstone for February is Amethyst- a violet/purple
So for the remainder of this month, be sure to get some color in your life with a warm red. I like Really Red by Essie. Or a deep purple; I love a nice purple for this month as well, since it is the color of intuition and spiritual energy. My favorite is Essie's Sexy Divide. I also love a fun gold... my favorite is Going for the Gold by Sally Hansen.* I havent mentioned green because I personally leave my greens for March...a nice deep green for St. Patrick's Day and a nice pastel for Easter (which is in late March this year) *
As usual, thanks to my friends for sending me their pictures of their manicures. These pictures were submitted by my friends Grace, Sandra, and Saroya from top to bottom.
Next up... keeping those hands hydrated.
This February has been full of holidays and celebrations...
Here are the most prevalent holidays and colors associated with them:
February 8th: Chinese/ Lunar New Year - Red & Gold
February 9th : Mardi Gras- Purple, Gold and Green
February 14th: Valentine's Day- Red
February is also Black History Month. We CANNOT forget that.
The birthstone for February is Amethyst- a violet/purple
So for the remainder of this month, be sure to get some color in your life with a warm red. I like Really Red by Essie. Or a deep purple; I love a nice purple for this month as well, since it is the color of intuition and spiritual energy. My favorite is Essie's Sexy Divide. I also love a fun gold... my favorite is Going for the Gold by Sally Hansen.* I havent mentioned green because I personally leave my greens for March...a nice deep green for St. Patrick's Day and a nice pastel for Easter (which is in late March this year) *
As usual, thanks to my friends for sending me their pictures of their manicures. These pictures were submitted by my friends Grace, Sandra, and Saroya from top to bottom.
Next up... keeping those hands hydrated.
Friday, January 29, 2016
French Manicure Fridays
French manicures are everything.
I tend to reserve them for weddings. I haven't gotten a classic french manicure since April 27, 2013; my wedding date.
I think they are super classic and love the way they look on other people. My daughters has a friend whose Mom only does a french mani and it always looks so nice on her.
Could it be that I'm not fancy enough to rock a french? Maybe I'm not really as classic as I would like to think. Maybe, I just love all the different color options available and I feel like I'm missing out with a french manicure.
Today, however, there are so many different variations of the classic french mani. There's the gold tip french mani, there's the pastel. I mean, today you can do a mani with any color combo and rock it with confidence!
I do believe that a gel french manicure is worth it, but a regular polish french just is NOT. I hate to see the white polish chip after about 3 days. Perhaps I will give it a try after I try out all my new polishes.
The above picture was sent to me by long time Framily member Massiel Hunter. She's rocking the hell out of that French. It is gel polish on top of an acrylic set.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
The Importance of the Emergency Nail Salon
Happy Snowy Saturday!
Its Snowy Salon Saturday--but we're snowed in, thanks to Winter Storm Jonas. My husband is not a happy camper right now. We were under the impression that the snow totals would be 8-12 inches... Mother Nature had different plans.
Today I want to talk to you about the importance of having an Emergency Nail Salon. I have one that is located on the main street of my town. I go there for two reasons: 1. when I want to save money and 2. when I just don't feel like going too far for a mani/pedi.
My most favorite nail salon charges $25 for a pedicure alone, but my EMERGENCY NAIL SALON charges $25 for a mani/pedi. I soaked off my gel polish and got a regular manicure so I can start to use my Zoya nail colors. Also, my most favorite nail salon is a town over, and sometimes I just want to keep it local. They do a pretty good job as well, and the salon is clean.
Do you have an emergency nail salon? I'd love to hear the reasons who its YOUR emergency salon!
Here are a few pics from my emergency nail salon...
Stay warm and dry and enjoy your snowy Saturday!
Its Snowy Salon Saturday--but we're snowed in, thanks to Winter Storm Jonas. My husband is not a happy camper right now. We were under the impression that the snow totals would be 8-12 inches... Mother Nature had different plans.
Today I want to talk to you about the importance of having an Emergency Nail Salon. I have one that is located on the main street of my town. I go there for two reasons: 1. when I want to save money and 2. when I just don't feel like going too far for a mani/pedi.
My most favorite nail salon charges $25 for a pedicure alone, but my EMERGENCY NAIL SALON charges $25 for a mani/pedi. I soaked off my gel polish and got a regular manicure so I can start to use my Zoya nail colors. Also, my most favorite nail salon is a town over, and sometimes I just want to keep it local. They do a pretty good job as well, and the salon is clean.
Do you have an emergency nail salon? I'd love to hear the reasons who its YOUR emergency salon!
Here are a few pics from my emergency nail salon...
Gel Manicures from my Emergency Nail Salon (ENS)
Stay warm and dry and enjoy your snowy Saturday!
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
And the color of the year is.....
ROSE QUARTZ AND SERENITY
For the first time ever, the color Gods and Goddesses have chosen TWO colors as the pantone color of the year!
With people looking more to inner peace and mindfulness, these two colors have been chosen as the "it" colors of 2016 which is AWESOME!!!
I personally am loving "Serenity". I happen to be a sucker for blue nail polishes and with the light baby blue in the spotlight this year, I am going to have fun experimenting with different textures and shades. I am a fan of the Rose Quartz and hope to see more variety among the pink hues. I also like to use Rose Quartz as a neutral, if you will, and will probably add it to my "in between seasons" color scheme.
The great thing about this years colors is that there is so much to choose from. I'm a fan of Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel and they have a spot on Rose Quartz as well as a beautiful Serenity hue. I'm excited to see if the other companies follow the trend or go out on a limb for their seasonal colors.
Companies like Sephora have already started selling make up featuring the pantone color(s) of the year...except that I am not too crazy about the light blue lipstick. My 12 year old, however, is a huge fan.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Happy Belated New Year!
Eleven days into the New Year and I have not submitted ONE post to my blog. With the craziness of my day job and with all the holidays behind me, I'm ready to post away. And today I have posted 2!!!
I have to say that I am so thankful to all of you who have been following and reading. I also truly appreciate all the people who send me things to write about. As you know I especially love the pictures of your nails and I promise to feature each one of you. Whether you have natural nails, gel nails OR acrylic, send me those pics. I'm an equal opportunity nail blogger. I will post whatever you send.
I think I mentioned in a previous post that I do get gel manicures during the holidays. Mostly because I'm home with my three kids for at least 10 days and with the craziness of Christmas and New Years cooking and cleaning I dont have the time to do my nails. I have two pictures of my nails... one from right around the holiday and and from last week. I do have a gel manicure.... but due to the ZOYA BUY 4 NAIL POLISHES FREE AND PAY ONLY SHIPPING FEE, I'm pretty sure I will go back to doing my nails myself.
This Zoya promotion usually takes place each year and this time (beginning of the year) but I don't ever remember it being THIS GOOD... 4 for $15. Each bottle of Zoya nail polish will run you about $9 so it's a steal. Zoya prides themself on being chemical free and the polishes are worth it. I have two colors from years ago and they havent separated in the bottle at all.
There are two days left (ends on January 13th) and I say take advatage of this promo... go to www.zoya.com. You will see they have an excellent selection of colors and textures.
Get outta here and get to shopping...www.zoya.com
xoxo
Belkise
I have to say that I am so thankful to all of you who have been following and reading. I also truly appreciate all the people who send me things to write about. As you know I especially love the pictures of your nails and I promise to feature each one of you. Whether you have natural nails, gel nails OR acrylic, send me those pics. I'm an equal opportunity nail blogger. I will post whatever you send.
I think I mentioned in a previous post that I do get gel manicures during the holidays. Mostly because I'm home with my three kids for at least 10 days and with the craziness of Christmas and New Years cooking and cleaning I dont have the time to do my nails. I have two pictures of my nails... one from right around the holiday and and from last week. I do have a gel manicure.... but due to the ZOYA BUY 4 NAIL POLISHES FREE AND PAY ONLY SHIPPING FEE, I'm pretty sure I will go back to doing my nails myself.
This Zoya promotion usually takes place each year and this time (beginning of the year) but I don't ever remember it being THIS GOOD... 4 for $15. Each bottle of Zoya nail polish will run you about $9 so it's a steal. Zoya prides themself on being chemical free and the polishes are worth it. I have two colors from years ago and they havent separated in the bottle at all.
There are two days left (ends on January 13th) and I say take advatage of this promo... go to www.zoya.com. You will see they have an excellent selection of colors and textures.
Get outta here and get to shopping...www.zoya.com
xoxo
Belkise
All that Glitters
All that glitters.....
really is gold. I was excited to try this gold/metallic Instant Dry by Sally Hansen for the Holidays. I used my favorite top coat Out the Door on top of the shimmery gold and it was a huge hit. I got tons of compliments about my nails and extremely happy with the color and shine. Unfortunately because I didn't use gloves while washing the dishes (waaaah) and because of the texture (waaaaaaah), my polish chipped on my left pointer and my right thumb.
If you want some beautiful DIY gold nails then I definitely recommend Sally Hansen's "Go For Gold" with a top coat ( that's a necessity). Its perfect for the upcoming holidays and it lives up to the name "instant dry" but don't expect it to stay perfect for more than a couple of days. Here's a pic of the fingers that did last longer than two days.
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