14 Day Manicure...All the Craze

So, you're having lunch with your BFF and you noticed her manicure and how gorgeous it looked.  You're absolutely positive she just came from the nail salon as recently as this morning or at best, yesterday afternoon.  Not thinking anything of it, you give her a compliment then ask her what the name of the color she's wearing because that's almost half the fun, learning of the hilarious concoctions of names these nail lacquers have.

To your surprise she actually said her manicure was a week old.  Still in shock as to what you just heard and looking at these shiny, still completely in-tact, nails in front of you, she begins to explain.

A week ago, she had what is called a no-chip manicure, this is the term it has become known as. What it is exactly, is a form of lacquer combined with a gel base, made in a huge array of colors.


It is applied just like a traditional polish however each layer is cured inside of a UV light, which bonds it to the natural nail, therefore securing it in place for up to two weeks with a brilliant shine...and yes, NO CHIPPING!


How does it come off, then?  After about two weeks, maybe even three, see the technician that originally applied it and she will gently remove the gel by simply soaking each finger with acetone wraps for about 15 minutes.  The gel eventually breaks down and crumbles right off. 

Seeing is believing and this concept is amazing!  Call around your local salons and find out which ones are offering this service.  It is rapidly growing, so you should be able to find one without a problem.  The average cost for this service is $40.

One definition of revolution means a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something...it's time we revolutionize our way of thinking, of what a traditional manicure should be...toss out the notion that it can only last a few days. There's a new Mayor in town and her term is...indefinite.

Contemporary Wedding Hairstyles

 

Born and raised in Chicago has given me an advantage in seeking and finding the most unique wedding hairstyles. The Windy City serves as home to the finest stylists in the world and it is my pleasure to be able to work with some of them. So if you're looking for something different when it comes to your wedding-day hair or bored with all the hum-drum styles you've been seeing in all those wedding magazines, then read on Ms. Bride-to-be...you're about to view the latest super-chic, ultra-modern wedding hairstyles this great city has to offer!

Ahh, that special day that you've been dreaming about since the days playing dress-up in your bedroom as a little girl. Fantasizing about the man that will one day sweep you off your feet and live happily ever after. On this day, you will transform into the most beautiful creature the world has seen! It's a day of very thorough preparation, made months or even years in advance. Every detail is accounted for to the table centers and gift favors to the special bustier that keeps the twins in place and that baby-gut-before-the-baby, nice and tight and right.

This day that I am referring to is YOUR WEDDING DAY!

So lets see, we got the man...CHECK...the ring...CHECK...the dress...CHECK...now it's time to complete the look. Aside from the dress of your dreams, one thing that is taken into great consideration is the hairstyle that you'll be donning as you're walking down the aisle...all the way to the stroke of midnight after some intense celebrating, that almost always includes alcohol and a little dancing. So one must ponder what style suits the dress and personality of the bride and can positively withstand the grueling activities associated which such a day.

Now, what I'm about to unveil (no pun intended) are some styles I picked out that fall under the category of modern-contemporary. There are short wedding hairstyles, long wedding hairstyles and everything in between... so let's get started!

 The first style I picked is a cross between 1st grade meets 20-something. It's basically a grown-up version of what is known as a "pig-tail".  The hair is parted and pulled tightly into two sections. Both sections of hair are piecy with straight and coiled  locks.  I really like this one!  This style is for the bride who will always have the inner-child in her, yet exudes sophistication and maturity.

Next up is a style that reminds me of The Princess Bride...remember that movie?  This is a very wholesome, innocent look.  It's best worn with medium to long hair lengths.  After damp hair is diffused, pieces of hair are curled toward the ends so that to leave hair smoother at the root.  The hair is tousled and slightly teased.  A middle part and and jewel-adorned pins on each side, complete the look.


This next style is like a 21st century, Bridget Bardot.  Again, made for medium to long hair types.  Big, loose waves are secured to one side by wrapping strands of hair around the "tail".  This is simple to achieve and works best with hair that is thicker than fine and is more wavy than straight...does that makes sense?






I have really short hair so it's only fitting for me to give you at least a couple short styles.  This one's super fun...and easy!  It literally looks like the hair is blowing in the wind...love Ashley Judd, too.

Alyssa's hair is long on top and short through the sides and back.  Long strands are curled and set off the face...hmmm, I'm getting ideas.

This style is pretty....elegant...soft-spoken...flirty...nuff said.

I saved the most unique style I found, for last. OK, so sections of hair are pulled up then painted...YES, I said painted...to add dimension and match the colors of the roses. Um yeah, this is pretty cool...what more can I say?

There you have it!  I hope that this serves as an informational tool to help guide you through the process of deciding, how should I wear my hair for the wedding?