OPI Brazil Bolds

This week I swatched the Bright from OPI's Brazil collection.

 

I have mixed feelings about these two bold colors from the 2014 Brazil Collection from OPI.  I'm not a usual wearer of dark or bold colors, but I like both of these colors at first glance.

 Red Hot Rio is a pretty middle of the road red. It's not a cool a red as I would wear but not too orange, for me to give it a try. But...I swear I have a bad bottle. It was so runny and we all know the consistency of mass produced polish. It's amazing. That's why I still use it at work. It is a high quality brand and I have never been let down by it's application until now. It was running into my cuticles well after I had moved on to my next nail. If that was it, I could clean it up as I had to do repeatedly to do.. It also had really poor coverage. I am guess from the same mixing problems. I did the teal first and as lazy as I am I didn't do the best job taking it off. After 2 coats of a supposed opaque OPI polish i could still see the dark teal under my nails. I am a big baby and I admit I am holding against this color.

           Red Hot Rio

Amazon…Amazoff is a gorgeous deep blue-green(Teal). Right up my alley! ;) This one did not disappoint. It went on beautifully and I wish I didn't have reflections on each nail making it not look so smooth. This is bold color but really looks good on any complexion. It's not too dark and even though not a conservative color doesn't look out of place even on a professional.

Amazon...Amazoff

 

 

I had real mixed feeling after swatching these today. On more push towards Indie Brands........

 

Have you ever had a bad bottle of big brand polish? Let me know you experiences in the comments please!

 

 

Friday I will do the Brazil Neutrals...my favorite of the bunch. And maybe I'll get to post about the gels if they EVER come in.

 

 

 



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.

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.

Polish other then CND, China Glaze or OPI?

Did you know there was Indie nail polish?  Yep, and we are going to file this under, things I am highly intrigued by.  And, not just because I'm thinking of the fumes in their homes, basements, and garages that I assume could get us high when they were starting out.

Indie nail polish isn't from India!  Well, maybe some are. Indie nail polish is generally a name for handmade, or craft, small batch nail polish and lacquer, or more literally independently own nail polish brands.  When someone is looking for an Indie brand they are usually expecting a unique handmade product, not from a manufacturer.

Indie polish caters to all sort of niche markets, but what seems to be the big draw are unique glitters, holo or multichrome polishes.  Although I am finding beautiful lacquer colors of all types, even my beloved cremes.

I plan to start doing a weekly post on Indie nail polish that will consist of either reviews and swatches of different brands or discussions on market itself.   I asked several makers if I can include there pictures in my initial post about this and I picked 4 very different makers.  In no particular order, they are Alter Ego Nail Enamel, Glitzy Glazes, Lacquer Lust (swatched here by Mucker Fusser), and Shirley Ann Nail Enamel.

 

Which of these amazing polish makers should I try first?

 I am going with what you pick so please leave a comment here or on my Facebook page.

Puh, Push it real good!

No???
I can't help it.  Every time I say, think, or hear the word push(er), those lyrics bust into my thoughts.  Can you imagine what it's like as a nail tech, using a cuticle pusher everyday.  The fact that I don't break out into my middle school dance routine to it 3 times a day is a miracle!  I only do it every now and then!

Today I want to talk about my favorite natural nail manicuring tool.  Can you guess what it is?

Not just any cuticle pusher, the OPI Pusher plus*.  I mean, I'm not breaking out in song and dance over an orange wood stick, folks!

Isn't it beautiful?  Seriously though, it's a nice looking tool, but that's not why I think it's beautiful. It has may qualities that place it ahead of other tools for me, and pushers especially.  I love this implement more then any another for the most important of reasons.

SANITATION!!!!!!!!!!

OPI's Pusher Plus is Made of high-quality, disinfectable, corrosion-resistant 420 stainless steel. Coated in Titanium that won't corrode with repeated disinfection. The ultra-hard titanium
gives unsurpassed precision and corrosion-resistance! Everything I've ever wanted in a cuticle pusher!

Most people worry about sanitation with acrylic, but it can be an issue with natural nails in manicures and pedicures too.  The implements your nail tech uses need to be more then clean. They need to be disinfected or sanitized. If it touches your natural nail, cuticle, finger or nail quick it needs to be able to be completely sanitary. The design of the tool has more to do with that then almost anything your nail tech can do. If the surface isn't completely smooth germ can hide from a disinfect. If it's absorbent, well, I'll just say, "gross", and leave it at that. I know they seem harmless but think about how many client we do. Have you ever been nicked or seen how the cuticle hoovers over nail creating a little germ hiding crevice? If the cuticle pusher presses germs against or under there you could be at risk for an infection. It won't always happen. Hopefully, never will, but it could. I don't want to be the reason it happens to anyone. 

The run of the mill metal pusher can corrode after repeated use of disinfectant solution baths. This orange wood stick can't even come sanitized because it's a natural product.  The plastic gets nicks and scratches on it just from being in a clean draw with other tools, that can hide germs safely away from even liquid disinfectant.  Think cutting boards....

This pusher has a wonderful shape that makes pushing back the healthy cuticle and removing the nonliving material from the nail quick and easy. It doesn't have sharp corners that can poke or cut into healthy cuticle or finger. I love the balance of it in my hand and it make me a lot more comfortable know while I do this I am using as safe an implement as I can on my clients.

This bad boy isn't that expensive, considering it last forever compared to others. So, if your nail tech isn't using the OPI Push Plus or another high-quality coated metal cuticle pusher, look around at her other tools and sanitation procedures. If they look questionable, find another salon! If she is using a sanitizitable pusher and you see she puts them in disinfectant solutions between clients or breaks and tosses orange wood sticks after each client, ask her if she's seen OPI's titanium tooling collection and what your learned about them. She may have a great tool she loves, but she may not know their are better options her customers may prefer.


*This post is not meant to be a review of the product mentioned. It is meant to be an informative piece on my choice of implements and client safety. OPI doesn't endorse my blog and has no knowledge of my post as of publish date.