Monday, January 20, 2014

Do you believe in Magic?

I do!
And all you have to do is see Zoya's new Spring Pixie Dust Collection 2014, and you will too.

image

I've been seeing this all over the internet and blogasphere but no release for sale date. Just a pre-order from Zoya site and it doesn't tell you when it will come. Don't get me wrong that didn't stop me from pre-ordering my Magical Pixie Dust Trio.
 
Here is Zoya's pres release information on the Collection.

Believe in it…


Zoya Magical Pixie - a new Pixie Dust formulation, amped up with spectacular sparkle creating the most magical, Zoya Pixie Dust ever! Three new never before imagined textured, holographic beauties for spring 2014…

ZOYA MAGICAL PIXIE

• ZP717 – Cosmo: Silver Crystal Sparkle, Textured Pixie Dust with Mega Hex Iridescent Particles, Full Coverage Formula.

• ZP718 – Vega: Blue Opal Sparkle, Textured Pixie Dust with Mega Hex Iridescent Particles, Full Coverage Formula.

• ZP719 – Lux: Rose Quartz Sparkle Textured Pixie Dust with Mega Hex Iridescent Particles, Full Coverage Formula.

These are probably my favorite Pixie Dust Colors colors yet. They just keep getting better. I am thinking I might have to press the issue at the salon! I need to be able to use these at work, and my clients need then. Yes, NEED!

$10.00 ea. (US)


For BEST RESULTS when applying Zoya Pixie Dust: apply 2-3 thin coats of polish for full coverage to a clean oil free nail surface. Allow product to dry completely for full effect. Do not use a base coat or top coat. Top coat can be applied for additional glossy effects.


Zoya_Nail_Polish_Monet_Launch_2014_image4

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer and $20 PayPal Giveaway

Indie Wednesday Kick-Off


Welcome to Indie Wednesday::

My Indie Wednesday series is a collection of blog post I plan to do tho highlight and help support the Independent help promote homegrown businesses and handcrafted products in the industry as much as I can. I will try to do at least one a month and I am really excited of Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer the first Brand in the series! To further support and give you all a chance to try her polish I am sponsoring a Giveaway. We are giving away Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer's Valentine Day Duo and a $20 PayPal credit.

 Valentine's Day Duo and $20 PayPal Giveaway

One Lucky reader will WIN Shirley Ann Nail Lacquers Valentine Day Duo and a $20 PayPal credit to pick out your own Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer.
 
 
Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer's Valentines Duo
 
 
 $20 PayPal Credit to buy more Shirley Ann Polish**
 
 
Follow the Rafflecopter instructions for your entries

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, January 13, 2014

Review and Interview of Indie Brand Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer maker

 Meet the Maker


The word "Indie" means an independently owned business/brand.  In the world of nail lacquer these brands are mostly developed, produced and marketed by an individual or small group of friends or family.  Other brands are still called Indie but are owned and operated by one person, but the polishes are made in a lab. Usually because they have become more successful a business then can be maintained in a basement, garage or extra bedroom. They are not mass marketed, mass produced outside of their founders control and design.
This week, my first of many I hope, I would like to spotlight a truly Independent Nail Lacquer brand/maker Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer.

Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer is owned and produced by 25 year old Cherish Furr, and named for her late mother. Cherish is supported in her passion by her Fiance with techie and marketing help and from her brother who she may call on to help develop names for polish and the like. Starting with name and creating the polish from there, Cherish produces her polish as an outlet for her creativity. While working a full time job and working to complete her business degree she has sold almost 300 bottle of polish in the first 11 months of Shirley Ann Polish. That's right an Anniversary is around the corner.

With School, Work, Dominick (a Queensland Heeler) and Molly Mae (a black Lab) underfoot and a least one new polish released each month this Small patch Indie nail polish maker was kind enough to take a moment and answer a few questions for me.......Not mention let me get a few early bottles of her New Valentines Day Duo, released TODAY, so that I can do an interview and review the day of it's release. XOXO

Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer started with it's first color Alaskan Tree Frog and currently has 25 nail lacquer colors and glitters available on Etsy at shirleyannnails, including Cherish's own favorite, Sea Glass.

It takes a lot of drive and desire to start, not just your own business, but your own business producing and selling your own creations. Like other artists Indie Polish makers are craftsmen who pour their heart and soul into each bottle the make. I am excited to try and review Shirley Ann Nail Lacquers and work with a quality hand made product. I definitely share in her ideals of supporting peoples dreams and not spending my money on million dollar corporations if I can help it.

                                                                                                                                        Sea Glass

ShirleyAnn Nail Lacquer's Valentine's Day Duo lacquer review

Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer released their 2014 Valentine's Day Nail Lacquer Duo TODAY, and I received a couple of sets in time to try them out on myself.  I swatched them alone and together.


                Forever Yours                                                                Icing on my Heart
 
Forever yours is a glitter topper with white, red, and pink tones of large glitter pieces, fine pink over all and a less common pink bow. There is really good coverage with the fine pink glitter even with one coat. Being that glitter polishes that need 3-4 coats for more then a few pieces of glitter is a pet peeve of mine, I was a happy girl.  The larger pieces were plentiful and easy to find a strategically place where I wanted.  It's a really pretty combination of colors shapes. I really liked this glitter.
Icing on my Heart is noted as a white with Red shift. I would describe it to the layman as ever very lightly opaque white with a pink and gold shimmer. It's not the all to common opal white everyone has, and it's beautiful. Which is just another reason to check out Indie brands like Shirley Ann. I swatched it alone with 2 coats and it still had a bit of sheer to it.


Together these to lacquers helped me create the perfect Valentine's Day manicure.
I used 3 coats of Icing on my Heart as the base which really made a solid white shimmer I loved. I topped it with the Forever Yours glitter for a clean fresh and delicately romantic look.  I didn't get a good picture but my Valentines' Day Duo came with a good amount of extra pink bow glitter that I used to perfectly place bows on the tips of my thumb nails.

The polish went of beautifully and was so glad to see they use a flat brush. I was very impressed with all aspects of these polishes. I am not a glitter fan for the most part and don't use many but even the glitter was impressive. I wish I could have had more of the larger pieces but honestly, usually I am the one saying they are too chunky.

I am just getting to know the Indie polish market and it's brand but I am already won over by Shirley Ann's Nail Lacquer. I highly recommend trying the colors and glitters. I plan to try more of her polish in the very near future for my own use.

In addition to the Valentine's Day Duo I  got to review for this post I also got myself another set to GIVEAWAY to one of my lucky readers!!! Keep a look out for the Giveaway to include the polish and a $20 paypal credit to shop Shirley Ann if you'd like.

 
Besides the Etsy Shop, you can find Shirley Ann Nail lacquer info on her Facebook page and Instagram @shirleyannnaillacquer. Follow hers and my Instagram @inloveandlacquer and  my Facebook pages for updates and my Shirley Ann Valentine's Day Duo/PayPal Giveaway!



Thank you so much, Cherish, for all your help and time given for this post to support my interest in Indie polish.

 This interview, review and future giveaway was self-sponsored  by In Love and Lacquer and in no way did I receive any payment or product to facilitate it. I did a little research, picked an Indie brand from that and recommendations purchased the product and discussed the brand and product with owner of my own choosing.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Who gets nail art done, really?- Nail ART 101 For clients

Nail ART 101-For clients


Every so often I have a client in the chair that asks me, "Do people really get nail art done?".  My first thought to that is, "Are all my clients hermits??".  I look over at my coworker and wonder if she knows hers are all gloving up as they leave.....

I know that's not the case but I think when I ask people if they want nail art, they immediately think of the long bright nails on our salon magazine covers with 3D bows and dangling Navy anchors or pearl strands.  For example:
January 2014 Nailpro Cover by Max Estrada
 
That's a lot to take in, and it's not even one the more out there designs we see on our industries magazines and even shows.  But that's not all nail art is.
 
Nail art runs that gamete from crazy sculpted creations like Max Estrada's design on this month's cover of Nailpro Magazine to the simple pink and white French manicure that your sweet Mimi has worn since your mom was little.   Most people think of the Frenchie as less done then polish but it is in fact nail art. Some of my favorite nail art manicures are different French designs.
 
  Web Image search of 'Nail Art' produced these and hundreds more.*
 
There is so much and so little you can do to spice of your nails a bit.  They don't have to be all over the place and catching your clothing.  They can be! And I'd LOVE to plan something out with someone! =))

If you are interested in the bolder stuff but hesitant to do your whole hand, find as wild an design as you could wear and do it on one finger or two and match a solid color polish to the other nails.  A bold design on the index and ring fingers only is my current favorite format.

If you want something simple start with a single swirl or stripe on all 10 nails.  Really simple on 1 nails seems like a safe idea, but usually look like you thought about it and quit.

While writing this I decided I should do a quick little project of my own for the post, on my winter wrecked nails.  What do you think? Simple and I loved it because it was quickly done while I was finding images and writing this post.

 
If your curious at all about having some nail art done, ask you nail tech to show you her designs.  If you like her skills, ask her to try a couple ideas, you two come up with, and have them on swatch for you to see next time you come in.  I'd be glad to plan ahead so much, so my client leaves in love with her nails and I am sure your girl would too.

*None of these nail art images are from my clients or myself. You will find them in the top 100 images on bing images if you search Nail Art, January 9th 2014.


Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Blogger Opp with a Great Giveaway




Sign up!!


Prize:

HP 2000-2d62NR 15.6" Laptop Computer - Black Licorice $529 plus one year insurance (total prize value $588)






Info:


-FREE Link with announcement (Twitter or Pinterest)



-Giveaway date:   March  28 to April  18, 2014  (Closing March 19, 2014)

-Co-host $25.00
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2 Co-host pages

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Send payment to melisurveys1978@gmail.com




Sunday, December 29, 2013

Pedicure, anyone? Pedicure 101

Pedicure 101- Why you should get one.

"A person either loves Pedicures or they've never had one."


Those aren't just words those are facts!  If you've had one, you know.  If you haven't had a pedicure, you need to ask someone!  Even those with the ticklish of feet love them. Ladies, kids, and men all love a pedicure.  It's good for you and it feels amazing.


There are a lot of reason people have for not trying a pedicure or having them regularly.  I want to clear up some concerns about getting one and talk a bit about why to do it regularly.  I also want to give you some heads up on what to expect.

First and Foremost- Your feet aren't nearly as bad as you think they are! 90%  of the Clients who come in, even regulars, think they have the worst feet and are always embarrassed.  Are your toe nails yellowing, barely have a pinkie nail, thick, ridgy, cracked or feet have callus that are thick enough to stand off you foot?  Ya, so does everyone else we see.  Feet are functional and they all have plenty of wear and tear. Please don't fret about the appearance of yours when you come in.  Your feet needing help is the reason you come in a get a pedicure with a professional.  We got you.  That's what we do.

Besides just embarrassment or you may not feel like you'll be uncomfortable with a stranger messing with your feet.  That is a hard hurdle to talk someone over because it's one of those things that are all in your head and we can't show you different until you get over it.  I will say though, that just like manicures, when someone is touching and holding your feet and hands, your not going to be strangers for long.  It's human nature at it's best. Even when it tickles it is soothing and comforting for another person to to hold your feet in the firm secure way a Nail Tech does when they work on your piggies.  It's not stressful and after a few minutes it is extremely relaxing and comforting.

Once we get you in the pedicure throne, your going to love it, no doubt.  Your going to walk out of that salon or spa skipping on a cloud!

Why don't you all come back regularly?  Time, it's time, and we get that.  We just want you to remember to take that time for yourself.   Pedicures feel so good and make you feel better about yourself so you feel selfish taking the time too regularly.  I get that.  It's like that with so many things we should be doing to take care of ourselves.  That's about it! Seriously, there isn't any other reason people give for not getting them more ofter.....because pedicures.....are.....awesome!

Remember taking care of your feet helps with your overall health. You depend on your feet more then anything take care of them, they take care of you.

Here's a couple things you should know or be ready for when you are ready to come in for your first pedicure.

  • DON'T SHAVE!  It's the first thing you want to do to prepare, but the last thing you should even think about doing before a pedicure.  Shaving makes your skin more sensitive.  We use a lot of products that open up your pores and such so you shouldn't take any chances of razor burn or the such.  Shave in early morning if you need to but we would rather you get the best experience from our service and the day before is best.
  • Don't make plans you need to wear your heals to, for a while after your appointment.  We give you thin disposable ones to wear so you don't have to dent your new polish, but they aren't for formal wear. :))
  • Let us know your ticklish.  1/2 our clients are.  If you let us know we can hold foot more firmly which easy enough really does make a world of difference.
  • Don't let anyone use a razor on your feet.  It's not necessary and can hurt you even if there is no pain.  Callus and thickening can be taken care of better over time.  They are self protection, so if you take it all off it will grow back worse. Scrub, exfoliate, and pumus.  Those are the way to go.
Pedicures relieve stress, remove foot odor, better your feets appearence and relaxes the muscles and tendons you use the most. One last time: Take care of your feet, and they will take care of you.