Spring Forward PLEASE!

I noticed the other day that it’s been a bit since my last post. I sincerely apologize for my lack dedication lately!  I’ll try not to let it happen again.

Today I worked an event for CND at my local supply store. It was a Playstation, which means I get to…

• demonstrate how to use any of the awesome products that CND created
• troubleshoot with Nail Techs
• network with Nail Techs, Cosmetologists & the sales peeps in the store

But the best part is that I get to play with color!  It’s virtually limitless on what you can do with CND Shellac & their Additives!!!  (I also messed around with Brisa Lite and Vinylux with the Additives, but I prefer to use Shellac.)

Shellac – Open Road 2014

Of course the majority of my “playtime” consisted of using the new spring collection pictured above, because I’m DYING for this winter to be over!!!  Anyone else???  I even did my own nails last Friday according to that thought…

The colors used:

• 2 coats of Sun Bleached on all nails
• Using a fan brush, I feathered Mint Convertible from the outside in on the left side & Desert Poppy from the outside in on the right side.
• Next I used the fan brush to lightly feather Sage Scarf over the Mint Convertible & Sun Bleached over the Desert Poppy.
• After that I burnished a lemon glitter additive over the right side of the nail & Green Mirage additive over the left side of the nail
• Lastly, Shellac Top Coat

What do you think of the Open Road collection by CND?  Would you wear this design on your nails?  Be on the lookout for my upcoming posts containing the pics of my “playtime” from today’s Playstation!

Daily Prompt- Teaching

CND Vinylux & OPI Spring 2014

I’ve been reading a lot of nail related blogs lately, and it’s been quite enjoyable!  Most of them swatch polish/lacquer lines and give the readers their opinions on wearability (difficulty to use, how many coats it took to get the correct color, etc.).

Considering all of the spring collections are out, I thought I’d share a couple of links I enjoyed.  I decided to go with the 2 most popular brands that are carried in the local salons.  After all, why recreate my own when these lovely ladies have already done a beautiful job?!

• First up there’s Cynthia at Of Life And Lacquer.  I really loved all the swatches that she did of the new OPI Brazil Collection Spring/Summer 2014.  It contains not only the full 12 shade in the regular collection but the 4 liquid sand shades as well!  We currently have the 12 color display at No. 7 Salon and Spa, but my mini liquid sand set is still unfortunately on backorder from my local supply store.  Grrr
• Next I have Karen from BeautyGeeks with her swatches of The Open Road Collection of Vinylux by CND.   Although I find her swatches and the colors themselves to be beautiful, I disagree with her review of wear that she did in a different post.  As a Nail Professional for almost 16 years and a user of CND Vinylux since day 1, I have consistently had amazing results on my clients!  For a review similar to my results with Vinylux, check out Michelle from All Lacquered Up!

So what do you think of the OPI Brazil Collection and the CND Open Road Vinylux Collection for spring 2014?  Will you wear any of them?  Which are your favorite?

Super Bowl & Valentine’s Day Nails

There are various ways to express your sense of style…choice of clothing, how you style your hair, or the make-up you wear (or don’t wear for that matter). Then you can accessorize! This can literally be done from head to toe. As I shared a couple posts ago:

Nails are the period at the end of a sentence. They complete the look.

– Prabal Gurung

Nails most definitely complete the look!

This client completed her Super Bowl look by showing her support for the Denver Broncos. (Actually her allegiance truly lies with Peyton Manning since he used to play for our Indianapolis Colts!)

Another client this week wanted “the period at the end of her sentence” to have a sort of “rocker” effect. By the help of CND and their fabulous Shellac, she will get to “rock on” for the next 2 weeks chip free!

And then there were other clients this week that were in the mood for love and wanted their punctuation to have a little heart…

How do you express your sense of style? Do you use your nails to add that final punch to your look?

Colts Polish Haiku

Blue and white colors
Nails polished for the big game
Go Colts! Beat the Pats!

Feeling Blue on a Wall of Color

Right now I’m happily having a pedicure by my co-worker, Vanessa.  But thanks are actually due to my client who canceled on me at the last minute! 😉 Now if you are in the salon world, you are well aware that YOU are the last one to have your services done.  That being said…I was well overdue!  Of course the hard part is always picking out the perfect color that I will be able to live with for the next month (if not longer).

As you can see there are too many options, and the pic above only depicts 2 racks out of the 3 in the salon.  And I can’t forget the fall OPI collection titled San Francisco!  I usually pick one of CND’s Vinylux colors because they stay on soooo well, but today I am torn between 4 shades from the OPI San Francisco collection…

(From left to right) Incognito In Sausalito, Keeping Suzi at Bay, Dining at Al Frisco, and Haven’t the Foggiest

I still haven’t quite determined which to live with for the next month, but I’m leaning towards blue apparently!   Does anyone else have this problem of the ‘life or death’ polish decision???

Weekly Photo Challenge: Beginning

CND’s spring collection titled Open Road
-When I think of “Beginning”, I think of spring. The nature around us is waking up from its cold slumber and bringing with it a fresh batch of colors to entice our senses. CND does just that with their Shellac (Power Polish) and Vinylux (Weekly Polish) collections for 2014! Here are the names for the Shellac shades:
Powder My Nose
Sun Bleached
Desert Poppy
Clay Canyon
Mint Convertible
Sage Scarf

CND Launches Vinylux Weekly Nail Polish – Style – NAILS Magazine

CND Launches Vinylux Weekly Nail Polish – Style – NAILS Magazine.