Beauty Night!

[PacificBlue]

*grin*

I'm showered, scented, smooth, and almost done with my toes.

Cherry Berry is quite the color on my fair skin...

 

[LukkyKnight]

I'm sure it is, PB, but what color are your toenails?

 

[lisalove]

Before I had kids I would spend at least one day a week pampering myself completely...usually Sundays

Homemade face masks (honey, yogurt & oatmeal), cukes on the eyes, put on some jazz/blues/classical whatever the mood. Go back to bed for awhile, read, hair treatment, exfoliate the feet, nail polish (which I would promptly remove because I can never apply it without a huge mess all over my cuticles).

Ahhh throw in a sauna and a masseuse & I could sure go for a day like that.

 

[fonestud]

Applies for job as Lisa's masseuse

 

[PacificBlue]

I'm sure it is, PB, but what color are your toenails?

Why don't you come over and take a look

 

[LukkyKnight]

I'll have to see if I can call a cab - I surely cannot drive now.

 

[PacificBlue]

I'll have to see if I can call a cab - I surely cannot drive now.

The thought of my sexy toes and softly scented, smooth body to much for you?

*grin*

 

[LukkyKnight]

Nah, that would make me drive too fast is all. The rum, however, has me fighting with the keyboard enough I know that driving is right out.

 

[superlittlegirl]

<snip> nail polish (which I would promptly remove because I can never apply it without a huge mess all over my cuticles). <snip>

I have a mani/pedi secret for you, lisalovesit.

It's perfectly fine to go out of the lines when you polish your toes. In fact, I do it on purpose, because it's the best way to get complete coverage. If you put it on carefully, the edges are always too thin and they fade quickly. If you go out of the lines, however, and soak in a hot bath after the polish is completely dry you can scrub the mistakes off with a washcloth. The polish will not stick to your skin after a nice long soak. And then you will have a pedi that will rival both the salon kind and the most steady-handed home-painted variety. Try it! It really works.

--Freya

 

[lisalove]

Freya....hello!? and thanks for the tip. Can you do the same with your fingernails? (getting so excited to try this...)

 

[superlittlegirl]

Absolutely!

It works on both.

I like to do my nails late Saturday night, let the polish set overnight while I am sleeping (because it takes 6 hours for it to set totally) and then have a nice long soak on Sunday morning.

It works so well that the mani or pedi will last you until the next Saturday night. No chips or peeling, I just have to redo because of the nail growth. I also like to buff my nails before I polish to give the nail bed a little 'tooth' for the polish to stick to. It really helps extend the life of the paint.

Oh, and do 3 thin coats instead of 2 thicker ones. I have better results with that.

Have fun and let me know how it goes!

--Freya

 

[Silverlily]

Thanks superlittlegirl, I just got this great new nailcolor as a gift with purchase thingie, but completely suck at applying it myself. What the heck, I'll give it a go.

 

[superlittlegirl]

I forgot one last thing.

If it doesn't want to come off with the washcloth, try soaking for a little longer, and then use an old toothbrush (or a nailbrush) to scrub the excess off your cuticles.

Make sure to soften and push your cuticles back before you polish, and you'll get a much prettier result. I really like to use neosporin ointment for cuticle softening/pushing purposes because the antibacterial protects you from getting sore cuticles and it is extremely moisturizing.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Now I'm really in the mood to give myself a manicure!

You know, no matter what I do, or if I have it done professionally or not, the polish always chips within 2-3 days on my fingers.

 

[superlittlegirl]

give the buffer a try, Ruby.

I used to have the exact same problem until I started making the surface just a tiny bit rough. Buffers come in a few degrees of roughness, the secret is to start with a somewhat rough one and skip the final shiner-upper one. The manicurist does the final shiny step so you'll have to come back to her in a week, I suspect. Sally Hansen makes a very good high adhesion base-coat, too.

Also, I swear by O.P.I. Polishes. They last longer than anything else I've tried, and I've tried them all. My favorite color is a very red red called "Moscow Red". Tres sexy.

One other thing that factors into manicure longevity is the chemical makeup of the polish. Formaldehyde and Toluene are disappearing from most manufacturer's formulas because they are carcinogens, but they lend superior adhesion to the enamel. I look for the polishes that do have those two chems in them. I figure that since I don't smoke I can afford to make up for the health risk in the nail polish department.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Thanks Supergirl. OPI is my favorite too. I love Malago Wine, Mat-Adore Red and my newest red, The Thrill of Brazil.