Black, Gray and White Nails

So I've recently been using black acrylic on some of my clients and I'm really lovin it.  Not too long ago, black nail polish was my fav color to wear..it reminded me of a shiny, black car (my fav also...ooh and black tints are now legal in Illinois in the front windows...just sayin)...My fav: black cars, black tints, black rims, black nails...I see a pattern here, hmm.

Now so far I've done all black nails on a client and most recently I did a "tuxedo" nail which consisted of a white tip and black base...this is all done with colored acrylic, not polish...therefore there is NO wear or tear.  Of course the finishing touch is the gel top coat that gives it it's ever-so-brilliant, never dull, cannot be penetrated, long-lasting shine!

I've been admiring these talons but did not want to duplicate on myself, I needed something original.  For those of you that don't know me well, I only do my nails...I am WAAAY TOO PARTICULAR for anybody else to do my nails...a fellow nail tech, whom I've asked to do my nails on occasion, WILL NOT cuz she knows my standards and frankly, gets nervous by my critiquing.

OK so, I'm still tryin to think of some cool creation with my black acrylic...IDEA: I narrowed it down to a black "french", ya know, instead of a white tip, it's black!  OK, so what about the base?  White...a reverse of my "tuxedo" nail?  NO! Not feelin the white.  I got it...grey!  Yes, that's what I want, black tip with grey base.

I don't have a grey acrylic powder but customizing colors is a fav of mine too and I have all the components I need: black and white make grey, right?  Perfect, let's get mixing!

I also have a clear glitter acrylic, so I decided to mix that in as well...So now I have a solid black tip with a sparkly, metal-grey base...LOVE IT!

I also love to stripe so after my finished product I messed around with some different striping designs.  This is easy to do when your nail and it's entire color, consists of only acrylic because the acrylic is set, no drying time. So if you're playing with painted designs and don't like it, simply wipe off with acetone and start over, never compromising the nail!

I ended up with a simple, diagonal line that goes from the outer corner to the inner corner of the nail... Viola, my design is complete...oh wait, not just yet...gotta seal it with my... handy-dandy notebook!  J/K, that was the Blue's Clues fan comin out in me (got kids)?  OK, I mean my handy-dandy UV gel topcoat/sealer, I mentioned earlier...this seals everything, even the acrylic!  Tid-bit: acrylic is a porous product, meaning it can be penetrated BUT gel is not therefore, slap that gel topcoat on and what you get is a super-shiny nail that will look as good as the first day you got 'em done, all the way up til your next fill, your nails are completely sealed, no worries...shine-on, baby! 

Longer-Lasting Manicures

Are you wondering if there really is a chip-free polish?  Well there isn't.  Don't get me wrong though, there is a gel lacquer that is considered to be chip-free but for those that are looking for a more natural alternative to a longer-lasting, not gonna chip in two days, manicure- then follow these simple steps...

1. Start of by giving yourself a mini-manicure: apply cuticle treatment CND a.h.a. Cuticle Eraser .5 oz., then gently push back cuticles, filing nails to desired length and shape, then buffing. Don't use a coarse buffer though, one that has a 180 grit or higher will do. Clean off dust particles, then follow up with massaging cuticles with CND SolarOil Cuticle Treatment .5 oz. , then wash your hands. Apply hand cream Aveda Hand Relief 4.2oz / 125ml.

2.  Prepping your nails for polish: This is a crucial step in preserving your polish because if the nail bed is not properly cleaned before applying polish, it won't adhere properly, which will cause peeling or chipping...not want we're tying to achieve here.  OK so, spray nails with alcohol - I prefer spray as opposed to wiping, the direct contact is much more efficient - my fav brand is from Sally Beauty supply stores, it has a cherry-almond scent, much more desirable than the hospital aroma usually associated with alcohol. Wipe with a lint-free wipe. This is important too because you don't want those pesky "fuzzies" interfering with your paint job.  Lastly, apply  OPI Bond-aid Ph Balancing Agent 1oz  which hydrates nail bed but assures all access oil is removed.

3. Applying Polish Coats: After your prep work is done now you can begin polishing.  Start with your base coat Creative Nail Design Stickey Base Coat 0.5 Oz. Be sure to cap the free-edge of the nail, this is VERY IMPORTANT with each coat, it will ensure your chip-freeness!  Follow with your desired nail color and honestly I don't believe any brand of nail color is better than the other, what matters the most is your prep work, base and top coat but most importantly, how each coat is applied...CAP YOUR EDGES!  Also, don't use thick layers or thick polish.  The exception to this rule however is with the top coat Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat .5 fl oz , this is the bestest top coat EVER! This coat should be applied generously.  Wait about 5-10 minutes and nails will be dry to the touch, however the under layers are not quite dry but no fear...take your Solar Oil I suggested earlier and apply to each nail; gently rub oil over nail and your safe to be carefully mobile without any smudging.

4.  Daily Care:  After initial application of polish, apply your top coat once daily.  This will preserve the brilliance of the polish and ensure no chipping.  After 7 days however you'll want to completely remove and start over...too many layers will begin peeling.

So there you have it, all the steps and products you need for an awesome manicure that everyone will think you went to the salon for...go ahead, you totally get bragging rights, here! =)