I blame it on 22 years of nursing. I absolutely loved the job but it came with a number of restrictions: minimal jewellery, starchy uniform and NO nail polish. Painting my nails was something I literally haven't done for so long it wasn't even on my radar.
Then, just before heading off on holiday this year a friend asked what colour nails I'd be wearing. Odd question, I thought (apparently she changes her nail colour every other day!). But...the more I thought about it, the more I wanted the same shiny bright nails that she had. So I booked a gel manicure.
Enter the new world of nail bars....so many colours. So pretty. So very, very pretty. Too much choice. I wanted them all. I wanted a different colour tomorrow. I wanted....oh, my goodness, I was overwhelmed. Eventually I chose a colour called purple purple- which I was told was a brave choice for a first timer! (LOL) I also opted for little pink hearts on my pinkies (which in hindsight was a mistake, because every time I glanced down I thought I had chipped them!)
...I then had another manicure before conference...then one when I got back..then another before my recent trip to UK...and WOW- what a lot of money!
So I thought I'd save money and have a play myself. I bought some colours...again, too many to choose from. And I tried. Splattered. Smudged. Chipped. Accidentally touched them before they dried, took the polish off and tried again. And repeat.
What about you? Do you have any little indulgences that make you smile? Anyone an expert on nail varnishing and can give me some tips? Anyone ever tried nail art? (THAT looks AWESOME!)
I'm a huge nailpolish fan, I change the colour every couple of days.Unfortunately I had to leave my stash at home when I moved overseas, but I'm building it up again slowly. My biggest tip is to get a good quality top coat that dries quickly and use cuticle oil to keep the skin around the nail in good condition :)
ReplyDeleteHey Stefanie! Another colour fan!! See, I knew someone would give me some good tips! Cuticle oil? I'll have a look in my local pharmacy. Top coat! I did get some of that and it really makes them shine!
ReplyDeleteAw, Louisa, look at those nails -- they're so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI don't bother with my fingernails. I swear they're more like prawn shells than real nails, forever, breaking and peeling. Toenails, however, are another matter entirely. I love getting a pedicure with sparkly shiny polish on my toes. Whenever I wriggle them, they make me smile. :-)
Ooh, Michelle, I love me some sparkly toes as well. I'm looking forward to the summer when I can have bright shiny toenails. Question is, do we do matching fingernails and toes?
DeleteYes, folks, we deal with all the important life questions here at love cats!
Hey, Louisa, your nails look GORGEOUS. Love those bright, shiny colours. I admit I went through stage (it was like a decade, not just a flash-in-the-pan) of having acrylic nails done every month or so. Must admit I wasn't game for the bright colours though, I was more your classic pale pinks and caramels and suchlike. Boring. But I ended up with nail health problems and stopped to let them heal and, hmm, maybe it's time I splashed out again. With some nice bright nails.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, Bron, that my nails were starting to peel with the gel nail polish- apparently that can be an unfortunate side effect. Hopefully with just normal varnish things should be okay?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes! Get some sparkle on!
Hey, roomie, I did notice but didn't comment. Goes to show I haven't noticed you not wearing ail polish before. :)
ReplyDeleteMy indulgence is my hair. I'd have a full time hairdresser on hand if I could afford her.
Oh, a full time hairdresser? Yes please!!!!
DeleteI didn't bother about my nails for many, many years, and then I had some time to kill at Auckland airport and decided to have a French manicure. I LOVED it! So then I was hooked and had my nails done regularly at my local salon in lots of pretty colours...until I fell out of bed in a Melbourne hotel and pulled off one of the nails. It pulled my own nail out too and made a heck of a mess. I had to go to the doctor and he made me promise never to have acrylic nails done again. I've kept that promise, but now I'm thinking of buying some varnish...
ReplyDeleteYou fell out of bed in Melbourne? There's a story there???
DeleteNail polish isn't the same as varnish so your promise will be intact....go on, you know you want to!
Louisa
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teenager and then for many years after I always painted my nails all sorts of colours depending on outfits I wore and then I started working in kitchens and the nail polish had to stop and now I don't bother anymore finding the tme to sit and paint them and wait for them to dry and I alwyas end up chipping them LOL but I often think I should start doing it again it does make me feel good
Have Fun
Helen
Helen, I think it's quite meditative when you sit still and concentrate on something like painting your nails- so it must be good for you, and it makes you feel so nice when your hands are pretty! Go on! Treat yourself!
DeleteI hear you on the freedom of wearing nail polish after extended periods of not being able to wear it. Almost a year after leaving a job in fast food, I still love being able to paint my nails. As others have said, a good top coat is a must - although I have yet to find one that helps prevent my polish from chipping after 1 day of constant typing at work.
ReplyDeleteOnly other things I would say are that if you are using darker colours of any hue on your nails, make sure you use a base coat to prevent/minimise staining of the nails. Also, if you don't already, a good hand lotion is important - I find without it, the nail polish remover dries out the skin more than it already is. Doesn't seem to matter if I go for acetone or acetone-free either.
Oh, thanks for the tip about a base coat, I had no idea! I will add that to my shopping list! And I was given a lovely hand cream recently- I must start using it! Thanks!
DeleteYou are welcome Louisa. Most of the time it's fine, but if you have been wearing dark blues, blacks etc and want to wear a paler colour it's a bit difficult when the nails are stained.
DeleteLove the nails, Louisa.
ReplyDeleteI have horrible nails. I think is from years and years of clipping them short to play the piano and they've never recovered. After your lovely post, I might just go out and have them done properly!!
I think everyone deserves some pretty, Jen! Give it a go! x
ReplyDeleteJennifer, my nails aren't in great condition - although I stopped biting as a child, I still tend to pick at them and tear them when I'm bored. In addition to the supplements that are marketed as being good for nails (and usually hair and skin too), I've found the best thing for strengthening and helping my nails grow is Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle - which I use in place of base coat when I paint my nails, but it can also be used on it's own.
ReplyDeleteFor the Kiwis, I got it at Countdown, but I know The Warehouse also carries at least some of the range.
Louisa, I went through a phase of doing my nails regularly. Loved the bright colours and the little flicker of colour every time I moved my hands. I haven't been doing it since I've been writing because the polish was getting chipped and I keep my nails short now. Though now you've got me thinking again...
ReplyDeleteLouisa, I used to do my toe nails semi-regularly... and your post has made me realise that it's been AGES! maybe with summer coming up... Finger nails were always a bit of a hassle when I worked in the laboratory because the varnish would get trashed quickly. Of course I'm not in the lab now... but I am tinkering with the guitar so I can see that would make a nice varnish job pretty tatty pretty quick too! LOL
ReplyDeleteI have no tips for you because I was never that good at doing the varnishing - though cotton balls between the toes was good to stop them touching while the varnish was wet.